The best foodie places to visit around the world

The kitchen is the heart and soul of the house. It is where friends and families come together to enjoy good company and tasty food.

Learning new recipes can sometimes be daunting and complex, that’s why cooking classes are the perfect way to improve your confidence in the kitchen, and enhance your cooking skills.

Searches for ‘culinary classes’ are up 67% over the past month and the hashtag #culinaryschool has over 137 million views on TikTok as users share culinary experiences from across the world. 

If you’re someone who loves food and likes to try different cuisines when travelling to new places, cooking classes are a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture.

That’s why at Magnet we have scoured the earth to find out which countries are the best for foodies. 

Top 20 destinations around the world for a foodie holiday

We analysed a wide range of data points to find out which make the best destinations for a culinary vacation: 

• Number of food classes in each country 
• Total number of reviews of culinary classes
• Average review rating 
• Average cost of food class in each country 
• Most popular cooking class genre in each country 
• Average monthly search volume for ‘cooking class’ in each country 
• Average number of employees by restaurant 
• Number of restaurants and takeaways 
• Number of food and drink activities 

Italy is the best destination in the world for food lovers 

Famous for the Renaissance, incredible artists and delicious foods, Italy ranks as the best country in the world for foodies.

There's so much to see and do when visiting such a beautiful country, but a food class and tour is one of the single best ways to immerse yourself in Italian culture.

Italy scores a total index score of 71 out of 100, the highest in our index. 

A pasta experience is the most popular food class in the country, and it is no wonder considering it is one of the most renowned dishes in the country, with 63% of Italians saying they eat pasta almost every day.

Tourists can expect high quality, fun and engaging cooking classes, as the average review is 4.84.

A food class in Italy on average costs £133.55 and there are over 1,297 classes to choose from if you plan to travel to the country.

When visiting Italy, cooking classes are clearly a popular choice of activities as search volumes for the phrase ‘cooking classes Italy’ are over 2,400 a month. 

One of the best rated cooking classes in Italy, according to TripAdvisor, is the ‘Cooking Class and Lunch at a Tuscan Farmhouse with Local Market Tour from Florence’ by Walkabout Florence Tours.

This hands-on experience allows visitors to delve into Italian cuisine by handpicking fresh ingredients from a Florence market.

India is the cheapest destination in the world to try out a cooking class

Traditional Indian foods are some of the most popular dishes on the planet, containing various spices and flavours.

From deep fried samosas to fragrant Shu’Bah, there are many unique dishes to test out.

India ranks as the sixth best country in the world for cooking classes, however it is also the cheapest, as on average cooking classes in the country only cost £51.00.

It’s easy to see why there is a high search demand (of 8100 a month) for cooking classes in India, considering the delicious food and relatively low cost of culinary classes in the country.

‘Veg and Non veg : Private Cooking Class in Delhi’ is the best-rated cooking class in India according to TripAdvisor. Immerse yourself in the local cuisine by cooking some of the most well-known dishes.

Travellers can even be picked up outside the Nagar West Metro station and then returned to the same point once the class has finished.

There are over 4.2 million restaurants in India, perfect for travellers who are wanting to try out some of the best locally produced dishes from different regions across the country.

If a cooking class doesn’t sound appealing to you, there are 3,297 food and drink activities to choose from when visiting India - the highest number of food and drink related activities in the index.

Japan ranks in the top 10 countries in the world for foodies

No surprise, sushi is the most popular cooking class in Japan. The country is known for the delicacy - which is loved by many across the globe. There are over 12,100 searches a month in the UK for ‘how to make sushi’, therefore there is no better place to learn how to make the dish than in its origin country: Japan. 

Japan has 277 classes to choose from, costing an average of £76.40. One of the highest rated sushi classes is the ‘Tokyo Tsukiji Outer Market Walking Tour and Rolled Sushi Class’. Guests can take a tour of the Tsukiji Outer Fish Market, then head back to learn how to make sushi at one of the largest gourmet cooking schools in Asia.

This class has a solid five stars on TripAdvisor and costs just £80.99 per person.

A tour guide will be waiting at the meeting of Tsukiji Honganji Temple where they will then take you on as your guide. 

If your obsession with sushi is heightened after your class, you’ll be pleased to know that there are over 1.4 million restaurants in Japan, serving some of the finest local cuisine.

Gin and cocktail making classes are the most popular classes in the UK

The UK is known for many classic, traditional dishes, such as fish and chips, roast dinners, and pies such as cottage and shepherds pie.

However, data has revealed that gin and cocktail classes are the most popular kind of food class in the UK. 

The ‘Gin School Experience’ in Stoke-On-Trent is one of the highest rated classes in the UK. With a five star rating, guests can expect to learn about the history of gin in a relaxing setting.

You’ll get to taste different gins and understand the manufacturing process behind the spirit. A light lunch is also provided and there is time after to browse the range of gins available to purchase.

Once you've delved into the various kinds of gins, you'll be an expert on which gins pair well with different dishes, and what better place to try this out than in the UK!

There are 35,129 restaurants in the United Kingdom, all serving a range of classic British meals and also international cuisines.

Each region has its own speciality dish, meaning there are various dishes to try out when travelling the UK.

Sweden is the best country to visit at Christmas to take a seasonal cooking class

If you're looking for the perfect festive destination, then Sweden should be up there on your list.

The country is known for its vast lakes, abundant forests and its iconic dishes, such as meatballs.

Although cooking classes in Sweden are some of the most expensive, at an average of £355.34, they are a great way to get into the festive spirit and delve deeper into Swedish culture.

The ‘Seasonal Cooking at Suderbyn Ecovillage’ by Suderbyn Ecoby is one of the highest rated classes in Sweden. The class lasts 3 hours and costs £99, and is perfect for those wanting to learn about organic cuisine and local production in Sweden.

Travellers can be picked up from their hotel to travel to the class, so there is no need to worry about getting lost along the way.