The World’s 10 Best Culinary Travel Destinations (According to People Who’ve Actually Been)

by Belt Drive Betty | Aug 14, 2026 | Travel Tips

The world map, for the serious food traveller, looks like the ultimate tasting menu. Every country has a cuisine shaped by geography, history, and culture — and the best way to understand a place is to eat your way through it. Here are 10 destinations where food is the reason to go, curated by Goway’s destination specialists who’ve actually eaten there.

France — The Birthplace of Fine Dining

France has more Michelin-starred restaurants than almost any country in the world, but its culinary greatness lives equally in the corner bistro, the regional market, and the cheese shop. Each region tells its own story — Brittany’s crêpes, Provence’s bouillabaisse, Burgundy’s wine-braised beef. “Is there anything better than chocolate croissants and French onion soup in Paris? There are honestly too many restaurants, cafes, and hidden gems to pinpoint as my favourite,” says Destination Specialist Teresa Dahl.

Japan — More Michelin Stars Than Any Country on Earth

Tokyo alone has over 200 Michelin-starred restaurants. Japan’s cuisine — recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage — is defined by precision, balance, and seasonal ingredients. Fresh sushi at Toyosu Market, kaiseki dining in a Kyoto teahouse, sizzling street food in Osaka’s Dotonbori — the variety is extraordinary. And Japan’s award-winning whisky distilleries are a revelation for anyone who thought Scotland had a monopoly on the spirit.

Thailand — The Street Food Capital of the World

Bangkok’s night markets and food courts offer everything from authentic pad Thai to Michelin-starred meals at extraordinary value. Thai cuisine’s regional diversity is part of its magic: Chiang Mai’s Lanna farm-to-table recipes, the fresh seafood curries of the south. “Green, Massaman, Yellow Thai curries and Pad Thai — of course!” says Destination Specialist Maria Spitman, who knows the country intimately.

Peru — The World’s Leading Culinary Destination

Lima consistently ranks among the world’s top 50 restaurants with multiple entries. Peruvian cuisine blends Indigenous, Spanish, African, and Asian influences into dishes like ceviche, lomo saltado, and causa. The World Travel Awards have recognized Peru as the “World’s Leading Culinary Destination” multiple times. And yet the most memorable meals are often in humble family-run cafés around the corner from the famous restaurants.

Italy, Morocco, India, Australia, South Africa, and Brazil

Italy’s culinary greatness lives in pasta-making in Bologna, pizza in Naples, and balsamic tasting in Modena. Morocco’s fragrant tajines and mint tea in Marrakech’s medina. India’s vast regional diversity — from Mumbai’s street food to Rajasthan’s royal kitchens. Australia’s world-class Barossa Valley wines paired with farm-to-table feasts. South Africa’s vineyards of Stellenbosch and “boma” dinners under the stars. Brazil’s churrasco in Porto Alegre and Bahian cooking classes in Salvador. The world is a restaurant — and it’s all open for business.