Routes
Routes
The routes on this page are built from types of places, such as a morning market, a bakery, a cheese dairy, a vineyard or a village shop, rather than from addresses. That makes them easy to apply to any region and any season. We do not give distances, travel times or costs, because all of that depends on the region and the year. What each route does include is the essentials: a sensible order for the day, room to rest between tastings and spare time for unexpected finds.
Food on the road rewards an unhurried pace. One market explored with attention gives you more than five rushed through.
How the routes were put together: each can be done on your own or with a guide, the stops are described as types of places, and tastings are spaced out to leave time for walking and rest.
A day at the market and in the old town
A morning at the stalls, lunch on the go and a stroll through the old streets.
Morning market
Arrive soon after opening, while the produce is fresh and the vendors have time to answer questions. Walk the whole market first and only then start buying.
Bakery
Ask what is baked every day and what only for holidays. Local bread is a simple way to get a feel for the region's cuisine.
Old town stroll
A walk between meals is a pleasure: look at the streets where trading once happened, at the old shop signs and courtyards.
Lunch at a street stall
Choose a place where food is cooked in front of you and where many customers are locals. Check whether raw food is kept separate from cooked.
Café with a local dessert
A good way to end the day: a quiet table, tea or coffee and a sweet that is made right here. Ask what it is called and write it down.
A weekend in wine or cheese country
Two days in one region, with no extra transfers and no hurrying behind the wheel.
A stay in a village or small town
Pick one place for both nights. Your hosts can often tell you which farms welcome visitors and when it is best to stop by.
Vineyard or pasture in the morning
Mornings are cooler and quieter. It is the time to see where the flavor comes from: vines on the slope, a herd in the meadow, paths between the plots.
Cheese dairy or cellar tour
Find out in advance whether they welcome visitors and whether you need to book. Listen to your hosts, ask about how things are made and do not rush the tasting.
Village lunch
Between tastings you need a proper meal and water. Do not schedule several cellars in a row: your palate dulls and the day loses its joy.
Country store
This is where you can buy gifts. Before you buy, think about how you will get them home, and remember the food import rules.
An unhurried return
If there was a tasting, do not drive. Find out in advance when the last train or bus leaves, and leave yourself plenty of time.
A week of farms and villages
A slow journey in which each day is devoted to a single flavor.
A base village for the first nights
Start in one place and make trips from there to a few nearby farms. That way you settle into the local rhythm and do not have to pack every evening.
Weekend farmers market
Ask your hosts when and where the farmers market meets in the area. It is where farmers meet their regular customers.
Cooking class
Set aside one day to cook a local dish with your own hands. Let the organizers know in advance if there are foods you do not eat.
Orchard, garden or apiary in season
See how the things you ate during the week are grown. Ask permission before entering a plot or photographing people at work.
A second base in the next valley
In the second half of the week, move to a different place. Even neighboring villages often make the same dish in their own way.
A free day
Leave one day unplanned: for a return visit to a place you liked, for a walk or simply for a break from new flavors.
A last market before you leave
Buy gifts on the last day so they spend less time on the road. Pack them tightly and keep them away from heat.
How to adapt a route to you
- In hot weather, move markets and walks to the morning and tastings to the evening
- With kids, choose one farm a day and a class where they can make something with their hands
- If you do not eat meat or certain foods, tell your hosts in advance rather than at the table
- If a farm is closed to visitors, stop by a country store or a fair instead
- If the weather turns bad, swap the orchard or apiary for an indoor cooking class
See also
- Destinations
Six types of food destinations, from a port city to berry country, and how to choose the one for you.
- Sights
Where to find local food and what to see around it: markets, fairs, bakeries, orchards and cheese dairies.
- Getting around
Train, car, bus and guided tour, plus food and water on the road.
Sources
- P0Q editorial materials
- WHO — “Five Keys to Safer Food”
This journal writes about food travel in general terms. Harvest seasons, transportation schedules and food import rules change over time, so check them against official sources shortly before you leave.