One of the great pleasures of a rail journey across Europe is that you can meander from one city to the next, sampling local dishes and iconic cuisine in each region. Eating your way around Europe allows you to experience different cultures and traditions through your tastebuds. You’ll be amazed at the variety of dishes and street foods available…
Copenhagen, Denmark
Danish open-faced sandwiches, known as smørrebrød, are a staple lunchtime snack for hungry tourists doing the sights of Copenhagen. A slice of rye bread heaped with various toppings (such as pickled herring, roast beef or eggs), they’ve been given a new twist in recent years with the Stjerneskud (Shooting Star) where the humble slice of rye is topped with a fried fillet of plaice, shrimp, lettuce and caviar. Try Hallernes Smørrebrød in the Torvehallerne food market. Other Danish dishes to sample in Copenhagen include Stegt flæsk med persillesovs (crispy pork with parsley sauce and potatoes). For the ultimate food on-the-go, you can’t go wrong with a Danish hot dog or Danish pastry (although the latter was actually introduced by Austrian bakers in the 1840s). For posh nosh, Copenhagen has no shortage of Michelin Stars – head to Alchemist, Geranium, Jordnær, Kong Hans Kælder or Noma for Nordic cuisine at its most creative.
Munich, Germany
German cuisine is generally rich in meat, particularly sausages which are available with various seasonings and flavours. They range from the 20cm-long Thüringer Rostbratwurst (delicious with a dollop of mustard) to the white veal Weisswürste (packed with parsley, cardamom and ginger) and Currywurst (a popular fast food spiced up with curry ketchup). For traditional Bavarian cuisine in Munich, head to Ratskeller München in Marienplatz. Order a basket of pretzels to go with your beer, then choose from numerous types of Bratwurst as well as other local dishes, such as potato soup and pork knuckle.
Naples, Italy
Italian cuisine is so popular and varied that Naples is one of two entries from Italy in our round-up (see also Palermo, below). The city is synonymous with Pizza Napoletana Margherita. Created in 1889 as a tribute to the Queen of Italy on a visit to Naples, the classic pizza makes a tasty snack while exploring the city’s cobbled streets. Which is the best pizzeria in Naples? L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, Pizzeria Oliva da Carla e Salvatore, Sorbillo and Starita are just a few of our favourites – all following strict guidelines for authentic pizza using local San Marzano tomatoes and Mozzarella Campana.
Palermo, Italy
Italian Mediterranean cuisine is steeped in history and strongly influenced by neighbouring countries. The Romans employed Greek bakers to produce bread, while pasta was introduced by Arabs when they invaded Sicily in the 8th century. Palermo, Sicily’s main town, offers a vibrant range of tastes, including some interesting street foods. Head to Ballaro or one of the city’s other ancient food markets to sample Arancina (stuffed balls of rice with a Bolognese or béchamel sauce), Panino con le panelle (fried chickpea fritters in a sesame-seed bun), Pane con le milza (a sandwich stuffed with veal spleen) and Sfincione (thick pizza bread with tomato sauce, onion, cheese, anchovies and olive oil). For a typical pasta dish, try Pasta con le sarde with sardines, fennel, pine kernels and sultanas.
San Sebastian, Spain
Traditional Spanish cuisine is rich in Mediterranean ingredients such as tomatoes, olive oil and a wide range of fruits and vegetables. Tapas, paella and the cold tomato-based soup known as Gazpacho are well-known favourites, but you should head to San Sebastian on Spain’s northern coast to sample the country’s finest cuisine. Typical Basque dishes include Bacalao al pil pil (crispy fried cod) and Kokotxas (cod and hake stew), while Basque-stye tapas (known as pintxos) consists of delicious morsels of bread topped with anchovies, prawns, chorizo, wild mushrooms and other local goodies. Relaxing in one of San Sebastian’s many pintxos bars is a must, as is perusing the food markets of San Martín or La Bretxa for the freshest Basque produce. Much of it ends up in the city’s excellent restaurants, including the triple Michelin-starred Arzak, famed for its innovative cuisine and experimental food lab.
Vienna, Austria
Traditional Austrian dishes include simple but hearty vegetable soups, cabbage noodles (Krautfleckerl) and potato dumplings (Erdäpfelknödel), sometimes served with beef or wild game. But iconic Viennese favourites steal the limelight. The Viennese cutlet, or Wiener Schnitzel, is thin, breaded, pan-fried veal or pork, often accompanied by a wedge of lemon and parsley potatoes, while Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) is a rum and cinnamon flavoured pastry with raisins that’s particularly delicious drenched in custard. Dating from 1905 and located in the heart of Vienna, Figlmüller Wollzeile is known as ‘The Home of the Schnitzel’. Vegans needn’t shy away – a pea protein schnitzel is also on the menu.
Feeling inspired?
Or perhaps hungry? Visit the cities described above on one of our European rail journeys, departing from London. Options include the 15-night South to Sicily itinerary featuring both Naples and Palermo, and a choice of Scandinavian journeys travelling through Copenhagen.
If you have any questions about any of our rail itineraries, call us on 01737 214 250, or you can send an enquiry to our travel specialists to start discussing your options.