2013 gastronomic holidays with HomeAway

Eat and drink your way round the world's finest culinary destinations!

Gastronomic tourism is one of the finest ways to throw yourself into local lifestyles and cultures whilst on holiday. Touring local markets, visiting farms and vineyards and frequenting small, family run restaurants gives you an unrivalled insight into the daily lives of the local population, whilst allowing you to fully indulge in the finest foods and wines on the market, and even increase your culinary prowess.

Food always makes an important part of a holiday, and there is no better way to ensure that you eat only local produce than by taking private accommodation for your gastronomic holidays. Culinary tourism provides visitors with both an authentic culinary education and a far greater understanding, appreciation and connection to a destination. If you are a huge fan of a particular culinary delight, from champagne to Parma ham, exploring the region of origin can provide you with both magnificent recipes and a fascinating insight into the history, production and ideal preparation.

Great gastronomic break destinations

Top 5 gastronomic break destinations

Gastronomic holidays in France

France is known for having the best cuisine in the world. Every district has its own flavours, and with over 350 cheeses, thousands of wines and many traditional specialities, gastronomic holidays in France are the best in the world. 

Gastronomic holidays in Belgium

Belgians are extremely proud of their internationally renowned gastronomic heritage. There are regular gastronomic festivals and events celebrating all that is best about Belgian cuisine, from beer to chocolate, mussels to cakes.

Florida culinary holidays

Florida is known as an excellent gastronomic destination due to the incredible diversity of culinary cultures and cooking styles, from flavoursome fish fries to the gourmet delicacies of Florida's rich and rare restaurants.

Italian Gastronomic holidays

Italy is an international hotbed of culinary delights. The cheeses, wines, olives, pastas, truffles and honeys of Italy are delicious, and with so many food festivals, markets and cookery courses, you too can cook like an Italian chef!

Gastronomic breaks in Portugal

Food is very important in Portuguese culture, and the varied countryside has helped produce a wonderful variety of gastronomy. Famous recipes have emerged from regions across the country, and the tiny, family restaurants are not to be missed.

The finest gastronomic holiday destinations tend to seamlessly combine culinary delights with breath taking scenery and high culture. Gastronomic tourism in France, Italy and Spain is particularly good at this, offering a huge range of English speaking culinary education and cooking courses, allowing you to genuinely discover the best of local cuisine and cookery practices. Cooking holidays are a real treat, and after all, the best meals are always those you cook yourself, especially if you are eating it with a glass of local wine, looking out over sublime scenery from the veranda of your own, private holiday villa!

There is no purer form of indulgence than gastronomic tourism and cooking holidays under azure skies, surrounded by breath taking scenery. Choosing a gastronomic destination with plenty of activities means that you can work off a few pounds after a long, leisurely lunch, and build a healthy appetite before the evening draws in! So why wait? Its time to immerse yourself into the flavours and traditions of one of the world's finest culinary centres.