For yet another year, the Tripadvisor portal presents its ranking of the best destinations worldwide for travellers eager to indulge in local culinary traditions while exploring more than just the typical tourist attractions. This ranking is based on the opinions and reviews of millions of users on the specialised travel website. The results reveal that Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is the world's top culinary destination, with Barcelona securing seventh place.
The best gastronomic destinations of 2024
Hanoi is joined by Rome and Crete, two European gems that, alongside Florence, are highlighted ahead of the more distant yet equally impressive destinations of Cuzco and New Delhi, situated on opposite sides of the globe.
However, there are destinations to suit every taste, ranging from New Orleans and Charleston in the southern USA to Cartagena de Indias, Mendoza and even Istanbul, Baku, Phuket, and Kyoto.
Barcelona's gastronomic scene
Barcelona has emerged as one of the top gastronomic destinations of 2024, thanks to its dynamic blend of traditional Catalan flavours and cutting-edge culinary innovation. The city continues to captivate food lovers with its vibrant tapas culture, world-class seafood, and dishes like paella and escalivada, offering a true taste of the Mediterranean. Michelin-starred restaurants, such as Disfrutar and Cinc Sentits, push the boundaries of modern gastronomy, while the bustling markets, like La Boqueria, showcase the freshest local ingredients. This combination of heritage and creativity has solidified Barcelona's reputation as a must-visit culinary capital in 2024.
What is Barcelona known for in food?
Barcelona is renowned for its rich and diverse culinary scene, combining traditional Catalan cuisine with modern gastronomic innovations. Some key aspects of Barcelona's food culture, as previously mentioned, include:
- Tapas: A variety of small dishes or appetisers, commonly enjoyed with drinks. Popular tapas in Barcelona include patatas bravas (fried potatoes with a spicy sauce), pan con tomate (bread with tomato), calamares (fried squid), and croquetas.
- Seafood: Being a coastal city, Barcelona boasts fresh seafood. Dishes like gambas a la plancha (grilled prawns), pulpo a la gallega (Galician-style octopus), and fideuà (similar to paella but made with noodles instead of rice) are common.
- Paella: While it's traditionally from Valencia, paella is widely enjoyed in Barcelona. It’s a saffron-infused rice dish often cooked with seafood, meat, or a combination.
- Escalivada: A traditional Catalan dish made with grilled vegetables like eggplant, red peppers, onions, and tomatoes, typically served with olive oil.
- Botifarra: A traditional Catalan sausage, often grilled or cooked with beans.
- Crema Catalana: A famous dessert from the region, similar to crème brûlée, with a caramelised sugar topping over a custard base.
- Cava: Barcelona is close to the Penedès region, known for producing Cava, a sparkling wine that’s often enjoyed with meals or celebrations.
Barcelona’s food culture emphasises fresh, high-quality ingredients, particularly olive oil, garlic, and seasonal vegetables, giving a Mediterranean flair to most dishes.
If, after considering these options, you find yourself wanting to relocate to one of these cities, we can assist you with property prices in Spain, Italy and Portugal. Currently, housing prices in Barcelona stand at €4,561 per square metre, according to idealista data for September. In Lisbon, average house prices reach €5,674/m2, while in Rome, they are at €3,036/m2, while in Florence they reach €4,155/m2.
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