Beautiful European spot named best food destination in 2026 — not Greece or Italy

One food spot scored an impressive 98 out of 100, beating the likes of Athens in Greece and Milan in Italy to the top spot.

By Chloe Dobinson, Lifestyle Reporter

11:50, Tue, Jul 21, 2026 Updated: 10:34, Wed, Jul 29, 2026

Chain Bridge in Budapest

The team looked at 125 European cities (Image: Getty)

Food can be a celebration of culture, and for many, it can be what holiday itineraries revolve around. Nearly eight in 10 Brits (79%) say finding authentic food is important when abroad; this is according to group travel brand Saga Holidays.

Meanwhile, three-quarters (75%) admit they struggle to know where to go beyond the tourist hotspots. To help tourists find a better food experience, Saga Holidays conducted a study to uncover Europe’s most authentic food destinations. The team analysed 5,000 restaurants across 125 European cities by looking at Google review data to track how often diners praised restaurants and dishes as "authentic".

Alison Porter, Product Manager at Saga Holidays, said: "Authentic restaurants often have menus only in the local language with minimal English; you'll see plenty of locals dining there, and they'll also have seasonal specials that change regularly.

"These spots are usually tucked away on side streets away from the main tourist areas, and the staff may seem genuinely surprised but pleased to see tourists.”

The results

Budapest in Hungary, ranked as the top European place for authentic food. The city scored an impressive 98 out of 100 and is home to dishes such as goulash and traditional street food like lángos, a deep-fried flatbread topped with sour cream and cheese.

Hungarian parliament building and Danube river, Budapest, Hungary.

Budapest was crowned the winner with the most authentic dishes (Image: Getty)

There is also food such as Kolbász, which is Hungarian sausages, and you can find smoked, cured, or fried at local markets.

Not forgetting Halászlé, which is a fiery, paprika-heavy river fish soup traditionally prepared in a cauldron over an open fire.

Ranking in second place is Piraeus, which is Greece’s largest harbour and is celebrated for its fresh seafood. Piraeus just missed out on the top spot and scored 97 out of 100.

Rounding out the top three is Athens, which scored 96 out of 100 and is home to favourites like gyros and souvlaki.

Boats moored in Zea Marina, Pasalimani Bay, Piraeus, Athens, Greece