It seems ‘Gastro-Tourism’ has reached dizzying highs (or lows depending on your personal taste) – we’ve just read that Burger King have introduced a ‘Burger Pilgrimage Trip’ around the world, where you can trace and taste the origins of the humble hamburger for a hefty sum.

Now we love a greasy burger as much as the next person, but surely there are tastier holidays to be had? After all ‘gastro-tourism’ is on the rise, with foodies all over the world holidaying somewhere purely to sample the local produce, whether it’s touring vineyards in Tuscany or crossing Colombia for the perfect cup of coffee.

Getting hungry for a foodie holiday? Avoid overpriced culinary tours and wine trips where you’ll pay a premium for a watered-down and tourist-friendly version of local food – whet your appetite with our guide to the best new places to gorge yourself on a budget! 

Even we don’t have the stomach to eat our way around the whole world, though, so we’ve had to miss a few tasty trips off the menu – just think of this as an appetiser!

Singapore, Malaysia

One of the reasons Asia is so popular with backpackers and budget travelers is the abundance of cheap and delicious food. In fact it’s pretty hard to narrow down just one great foodie destination when you can stuff yourself in India, Vietnam, or Thailand for next to nothing.

But in Singapore, eating out is always on the menu and food is a national pastime. If you want to broaden your palate look no further – influences are drawn from all across Asia, from Indonesian fishcakes to Kerala fish curries and Malaysian noodle broths.

There are nearly 7,000 places to eat squeezed into this tiny country, and at mealtimes you can pick up a cheap meal at a ‘hawker center’, where street traders in food halls ‘hawk’ anything from Satay chicken to shaved ice. Try Laksa a spicy coconut noodle soup, chili fried squid and fishhead curry with Roti Prata (a delicious thick and doughy pancake).

Heading to Singapore? Check out our cheap weekend guide – and find out how to walk off all the grub! – Ed.

Bologna, Italy

Italy is the holy grail of foodie destinations, and pretty much invented ‘gastro holidays’ – with a cluster of cities and regions famous for their particular produce. Each region of Italy is home to its own diverse type of cuisine, determined by the local produce – in the south Puglia produces olives and pasta, Tuscany is famous for the wine in the Chianti region, Liguria for pesto, Parma for its delicious cured ham…the list of local specialities is endless.

Our top pick is Bologna, the self-proclaimed culinary capital of Italy. There are loads of cheap hostels in Bologna, the food shops are pure theatre, with dramatic displays of cured meats, piles of cheese, mounds of cakes, and you can’t go wrong eating in the simplest trattoria. The city is called ‘La Grassa’ (the fat one) for a reason – make sure you tuck in to Tortellini pasta, Tagliatelle with ragu, Mortadella (a cured sausage) and Tigelle (a kind of panini).

San Sebastian, Spain

Spain is another foodie favourite – fresh, local produce is a way of life here, and local markets such as the Boqueria in Barcelona make the country a must for gastro-tourists.

Aside from the tacky fast food joints in the package resorts, Spain is a nation of eaters, and mealtimes are a social affair, lasting several hours. National staples Paella, Manchego cheese, Gazpacho (a cold tomato soup) and Jamon Serrano can be found across mainland Spain, but for original gourmet cuisine, head to San Sebastian, home to several Michelin Star restaurants.

San Sebastian is in the Basque country in the north, a region with its own unique cultural identity that considers itself separate from the mainland, and this is reflected in the innovative cuisine, considered by many as the best in Spain. Fish plays a major role in most dishes, and neighboring La Rioja produces excellent wine.

Whilst San Sebastian is one of Spain’s most expensive cities, stay in a San Sebastian hostel and steer clear of the pricey restaurants, and you can eat very well on a budget. The city is most famous for Pintxos, the Basque version of Tapas, and the Parte Vieja area of cobbled streets is packed with the best Pintxos bars in the world. Tour the bars and sample dishes such as marinated anchovies on toasted bread, seared foie gras, and (if you’re feeling adventurous) sea urchin.

Margaret River, South-West Australia

Australia isn’t often the first destination that springs to mind for a foodie tour, but this cultural melting pot is home to some delicious cuisine. You can join the hoards at Sydney’s ‘World’s Longest Buffet’ at Darling Harbour or munch on fish and chips in the beach at Manly, but South Western Australia is also renowned for its food and wine.

The Margaret River region, close to Perth, is a feast for your eyes as well as your belly, with beautiful scenery and acres of lush vineyards producing top-notch wine. More akin to Italy than the rest of Australia, the region produces cheese, olive oils, chocolates, beer and ciders – hit the road on a food trail and you can score some goodies for a take-home feast!

Providore is a food-lover’s paradise – a gourmet-store where everything sold in the shop is made on the farm, is totally seasonal and organic. Other places worth passing by are the Margaret River Chocolate Company, Dairy Company, and Venison Farm, where you can watch each type of food being made and scoff some free samples. Visit the Berry Farm in season (where local jams and preserves are made) and you can pick your own berries to enjoy fresh jam and scones in the garden café!

LW – If you know any other top foodie destinations, or have tried some delicious dishes on your travels, let us know!

Images – Thanks to Robert Paul Young, Mr Fink, Soap Star Deluxe, Leonnie Sun, Ricky David, Hotel de Phil, CCdoh1, and Wen Da Licious.

And just how adventurous would you be? Here’s some more unusual dishes from around the world…