Food tourism

Food tourism (also called culinary tourism or gastronomy tourism) is a type of travel where the primary or secondary purpose is to experience a destination’s culinary culture. It involves exploring local cuisines, food traditions, and dining experiences to connect with a place’s customs, history, and lifestyle.

One of the main goals of food tourism is discovery. Travelers search for new flavors, ingredients, preparation methods, and dining styles that they cannot easily find at home. Some travelers even choose destinations specifically because of their culinary reputation.

Other motivations include a more personal or experiential focus, such as learning new skills through cooking classes, attending food festivals, visiting farms, or participating in wine tastings and brewery tours.

Food tourism spans all budget levels—from Michelin-starred restaurants to street food stalls.