Best Vacations for Foodies: 10 Trips Where Every Meal Matters
The classic food cities
Tokyo has more Michelin stars than any other city in the world. A Tokyo food-focused week runs $2,500 to $5,500 per person for lodging and transit; add $500 to $3,000+ for meals depending on how many high-end reservations you make. Paris and Rome are the two European food capitals; a food-focused week in either runs $2,000 to $4,500 per person for lodging.
Regional cuisine depth
Bangkok and Barcelona both deliver regional cuisine at a level that cannot be replicated elsewhere. Bangkok Thai food week: $1,500 to $2,800 per person. Barcelona Catalan food week: $1,500 to $3,500 per person. Lisbon Portuguese food week: $1,400 to $3,000 per person. All three reward slow travel and multiple-restaurant days.
US food destinations
New Orleans and Nashville are the two strongest US food cities for weekend to five-night trips. New Orleans Creole and Cajun: $900 to $2,200 per person for four nights. Nashville Southern food plus hot chicken: $800 to $1,800 per person. Napa Valley is the wine-plus-food destination at $2,500 to $5,500 per person for a four to five night trip; the French Laundry requires booking exactly 60 days in advance.
Southeast Asia food trips
Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Ho Chi Minh City) is one of the single most-under-appreciated food destinations in Asia. A one-week Vietnam trip runs $1,600 to $4,500 per person with excellent Vietnamese food at every meal.
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