For travellers who measure a destination by its flavours rather than its landmarks, Tripadvisor's latest rankings offer a useful starting point. The 2026 Travellers' Choice Awards, based on reviews and ratings collected over the past year, have singled out the world's best food, wine and beer tours — and Europe features prominently.
Topping the global food tour list is the Reykjavik Food Walk, a three-hour stroll through Iceland's capital that takes in six local venues, from food trucks to fine dining. Participants sample Icelandic hot dogs, cheeses, ice cream and other dishes that rarely appear on standard tourist itineraries. The tour's success reflects a broader trend: travellers increasingly plan trips around culinary experiences, a shift that Tripadvisor's chief communications officer Laurel Greatrix acknowledged in a statement. “Food is at the heart of how we experience a destination,” she said, adding that such experiences “can become a highlight of a trip – or even a reason to take one.”
European dominance in food and drink tours
European experiences fill seven of the top ten food tour slots. Lisbon's Undiscovered Food & Wine Tour, run by Eating Europe, takes second place, while Amsterdam's cultural tour with ten tastings ranks third. Croatia's Split-based excursion combines the Krka Waterfalls with food and wine tasting, and Rome's Trastevere evening tour is also among the top five. Barcelona's Montserrat trip with tapas and wine, Athens' Greek food walking tour, and Paris's Devour Ultimate Food Tour round out the European entries.
The wine and beer category is similarly Europe-heavy. Florence's Tuscany wine safari, which visits three estates and includes olive oil, cheese and cured meat tastings alongside a traditional lunch, comes second globally. Prague's historic pub tour, with drinks included, ranks fifth. Other European highlights include a Mykonos vineyard tour, a day trip from Florence through Siena and San Gimignano, a Madrid-based excursion to Toledo with wine tasting, and a Santorini sunset tour with dinner. London's Royal Historic Pubs Walking Tour also makes the list.
The rankings reflect a growing appetite for experiences that go beyond sightseeing. As travellers feel freer to break their own rules abroad, food and drink tours offer a structured yet immersive way to engage with local culture. They also align with the broader shift towards travel predictions for 2027, which highlight authentic, experience-led journeys.
For those planning a European getaway, the list provides a practical guide. Reykjavik's food walk is ideal for a short city break, while the Tuscany tour suits wine enthusiasts. Prague's pub crawl offers a social, history-rich evening, and Lisbon's tour combines food with the city's vibrant neighbourhoods. Even Slovenia's compact playground for active travellers could be paired with a culinary stop in nearby Trieste or Ljubljana.
Tripadvisor's awards also recognised top restaurants globally, across categories such as fine dining, hidden gems and plant-based meals. But for many, the tours are the real draw. As Greatrix noted, they can be “the highlight of a trip – or even a reason to take one.” With Europe dominating both lists, the continent remains a prime destination for food-led travel in 2026.
