Best Food-Focused Trips for Indians in 2026 — Italy, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Spain
By Saanvi Iyer (Saanvi Iyer writes offbeat destination guides for Indian travellers — places that work in monsoon, shoulder-season picks, and the cities Indian first-time international travellers underrate. Based in Bangalore, perpetually mid-itinerary.) · Published · 13 min read
Eight food-first destinations for Indian travellers in 2026 — what to eat, where to take a cooking class, the vegetarian situation, and what a serious food trip actually costs in rupees.
What a food trip actually means
A food trip is different from a regular trip in three ways. You plan around restaurants and markets first and sights second. You typically eat four to six times a day in smaller portions instead of two or three meals. And you usually build in at least one hands-on cooking experience — a market tour, a class, a farm visit — that gives you something portable to bring home. The destinations below are the ones I have either taken food-first trips to or seen Indian friends take repeatedly.
One honest note on vegetarian travel. Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Turkey are genuinely vegetarian-friendly with deep local vegetarian traditions. Japan is the hardest of this group — even ostensibly vegetarian dishes often contain dashi (fish broth). Spain is also tricky outside Madrid and Barcelona. I have flagged this country-by-country below. Jain travellers should probably stick to Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam where requests for no onion/garlic are at least linguistically possible.
Italy — pasta in Tuscany, pizza in Naples, ragu in Bologna
Italy is regional in a way that most Indian visitors underestimate. Tuscany is hand-rolled pasta (pici, pappardelle), wild boar ragu, ribollita soup, and Chianti wine. Naples is pizza — the strict Neapolitan style with leopard-spotted blistered crust at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele or Sorbillo. Bologna is the historic Italian food capital — tagliatelle al ragu (the actual bolognese), tortellini in brodo, mortadella, parmigiano-reggiano, balsamico tradizionale from Modena nearby. Sicily is yet a different food country with Arab and Greek influences.
Cooking classes are easy to find. In Tuscany, Cucina Toscana del Sole near Cortona and the Tuscookany operation outside Florence run multi-day immersions (€400-800 for three days). Day classes are €120-180. In Bologna, La Vecchia Scuola Bolognese teaches you to make tortellini from scratch (€90-120). In Naples, several pizza schools accept tourists for half-day Neapolitan pizza-making (€60-90).
Vegetarian Italy is excellent — pasta with tomato, vegetables, olive oil and cheese is the foundation. Pizza Marinara has no cheese (vegan). Caprese, bruschetta, arancini (some vegetarian versions), and gelato are universal. A 10-day Italy food trip from India costs ₹2,20,000-3,80,000 per person depending on hotel and restaurant tier. Schengen visa needed.
Thailand — Bangkok street food and Chiang Mai cooking classes
Thailand is the gateway food destination for Indian travellers — affordable, vegetarian-aware, vibrant. Bangkok's street food is the world's most accessible — Yaowarat (Chinatown) at night for everything from oyster omelettes to mango sticky rice, Sukhumvit Soi 38 (though declining) for variety, Or Tor Kor market for produce and prepared foods. Sit-down legends include Jay Fai (Michelin-starred crab omelette, queue 4+ hours) and Raan Jay Fai's neighbours which are nearly as good with shorter queues.
Chiang Mai is the cooking class capital. Thai Farm Cooking School and Asia Scenic Thai Cooking School are both excellent — full day including market visit, six dishes, ₹2,200-3,000 (THB 1,000-1,300). You learn green curry, pad thai, tom yum, mango sticky rice, and the basics of Thai aromatics. Most operators offer dedicated vegetarian sessions if you book ahead.
Vegetarian Thailand is straightforward — request "jay" (strict Buddhist vegetarian, no eggs or onion-garlic) or "mangsawirat" (regular vegetarian). Most Thai dishes have vegetarian versions. Pad thai jay, green curry with tofu, papaya salad without fish sauce, and the universal mango sticky rice work everywhere. A 10-day Thailand food trip with Bangkok and Chiang Mai costs ₹85,000-1,40,000 per person from India. Visa on arrival or e-Visa for Indians.
Japan — sushi, ramen, izakaya, and Kyoto kaiseki
Japan is the most rewarding food destination on this list for serious eaters and the hardest for vegetarians. Tokyo is sushi (Tsukiji Outer Market for breakfast, mid-tier spots like Sushi Bun and Sushi Dai, or splurge at Sukiyabashi Jiro if you can get a reservation), ramen (Ichiran is the chain experience, Afuri is sophisticated yuzu shio ramen, Tsuta is Michelin-starred), izakaya (Omoide Yokocho's tiny alleys), and Michelin-starred everything if you have the budget. Kyoto is the kaiseki capital — multi-course traditional Japanese fine dining (₹15,000-50,000 per person) at restaurants like Kichisen or Hyotei.
Vegetarian Japan needs work. Buddhist temple shojin ryori (vegetarian Buddhist cuisine) at Kyoto temples like Shigetsu at Tenryu-ji or Tofu-ya Sasanoyuki in Tokyo is the genuine answer. Most ramen broths are pork-based (avoid Ichiran), but vegetarian ramen exists at T's TanTan and Soranoiro. Conveyor sushi has many vegetarian options (cucumber, avocado, tamago, inari). The "dashi everywhere" problem is real — use the HappyCow app and book vegetarian-specific restaurants ahead.
A 12-day Japan trip from India costs ₹2,50,000-4,50,000 per person depending on hotels and dining tier. Visa needed (e-Visa launched 2023, easier than before). Best months April (cherry blossom, expensive), October-November (autumn colours), or any non-summer non-Golden-Week window.
Singapore — hawker centres as serious cuisine
Singapore proved that street food can be Michelin-starred — Liao Fan Hawker Chan's soy sauce chicken rice held a Michelin star for years at ₹250 a plate. The hawker centre system is the heart of Singaporean food. Maxwell Food Centre (Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, the famous one), Lau Pa Sat (heritage building, satay street outside at night), Newton Food Centre (the Crazy Rich Asians one, touristy but iconic), Old Airport Road (the local favourite), and Chinatown Complex (largest hawker centre in Singapore) are the essentials.
Must-eats include Hainanese chicken rice, chilli crab (Jumbo Seafood and No Signboard are the famous spots, ₹3,500-5,000 per crab), black pepper crab, laksa, char kway teow, satay, kaya toast breakfast at Ya Kun Kaya Toast or Killiney Kopitiam, and Hokkien mee. Cooking classes are available — Cookery Magic and Food Playground run half-day classes (₹4,500-7,500) covering Singaporean Chinese-Malay-Indian fusion.
Vegetarian Singapore is excellent — Komala Vilas in Little India for South Indian, Vegetarian Tian Tian in Maxwell for hawker-style, and the South Indian options across Race Course Road for Jain-friendly meals. Singapore is a long-weekend destination — three to four nights is enough for serious eating. Total cost ₹65,000-1,20,000 per person from India including flights. Visa on arrival for Indians via the new electronic Singapore Arrival Card.
Spain — pintxos in San Sebastián, tapas in Barcelona, paella in Valencia
Spain has three distinct food cities. San Sebastián in Basque Country is the per-capita Michelin star champion of the world, but the more accessible glory is pintxos — small bites on bread or skewers at standing bars in the Parte Vieja. La Cuchara de San Telmo, Borda Berri, Bar Nestor (legendary tortilla and chuleta steak), Gandarias. You pay €3-5 per pintxo, eat 3-4 at each bar, and move every 30 minutes. Six bars in an evening is normal.
Barcelona is tapas (Cal Pep, Tapas 24, Quimet i Quimet for the most curated wines and tinned-fish), markets (La Boqueria) and Catalan specialties (escalivada, pa amb tomàquet). Valencia is the birthplace of paella — eat the original paella valenciana with chicken, rabbit, beans and saffron at Casa Carmela or Restaurante Levante in Sueca. Not seafood — that is paella de marisco, a different and more touristy dish.
Vegetarian Spain is harder than Italy. Pintxos often have ham, anchovies or chorizo built in. Specifically vegetarian pintxos exist but you have to ask. Pa amb tomàquet, tortilla española, padron peppers, escalivada, gazpacho, mushroom dishes, and the excellent Spanish cheese plates work. Vegan Spain has emerged in Madrid and Barcelona with dedicated restaurants. A 10-day Spain food trip (San Sebastián, Barcelona, Valencia or Madrid) costs ₹2,00,000-3,50,000 per person. Schengen visa needed.
Vietnam — pho, banh mi, and Hoi An cooking schools
Vietnam is the most underrated food country in Southeast Asia for Indian travellers — fresh, herbaceous, light, vegetarian-aware, and ridiculously affordable. Hanoi is pho heaven — Pho Gia Truyen at 49 Bat Dan and Pho Thin at 13 Lo Duc are the cult bowls. The egg coffee at Cafe Giang is essential. Bun cha (Obama and Bourdain's lunch at Huong Lien) is the other Hanoi must-eat. Saigon is more eclectic — banh mi (Banh Mi Huynh Hoa is the famous overstuffed one), com tam (broken rice with grilled pork), and Vietnamese coffee culture.
Hoi An is the cooking class capital — Red Bridge Cooking School and Morning Glory Cooking School run excellent full-day classes including market visit, basket boat ride, four to five dishes, all for ₹2,000-3,500. You learn fresh spring rolls, banh xeo (rice flour crepes), pho, Vietnamese herb knowledge, and dipping sauce alchemy. Most operators accommodate vegetarian variants.
Vegetarian Vietnam is strong — most restaurants have a "chay" (vegetarian) section. Pho chay, bun chay (vermicelli with tofu and herbs), com tam chay, and fresh spring rolls with tofu are universal. Buddhist vegetarian restaurants exist in every city. A 12-day Vietnam food trip (Hanoi, Hoi An, Saigon) costs ₹80,000-1,30,000 per person from India including flights. E-Visa available for Indians, $25 fee, 3-day processing.
Turkey and Lebanon — mezze, kebabs, breakfast as a sport
Istanbul is the most visit-friendly Middle Eastern food city for Indian travellers. Turkish breakfast (kahvalti) is a legitimate food category — multiple cheeses, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, jams, honey, simit, and tea. Spend two hours at Van Kahvalti Evi or Privato in Karakoy for the proper experience. Mezze (cold and warm small plates including hummus, baba ganoush, dolma, cig kofte) at Asitane or Karakoy Lokantasi. Iskender kebab at the original Iskender in Bursa if you make the day trip, or Istanbul Tarihi Sultanahmet Koftecisi for kofte. Turkish street food includes simit, balik ekmek (fish sandwich at Eminonu), and midye dolma (stuffed mussels).
Vegetarian Turkey is excellent — much of mezze is vegetarian by default. Imam bayildi (eggplant), dolma (stuffed grape leaves), cigkofte vegetarian versions, gozleme with cheese and spinach, lentil soup (mercimek corbasi), and Turkish breakfast itself is largely vegetarian. Manti (dumplings) have meat versions but cheese versions exist. E-Visa for Indians is straightforward — apply through evisa.gov.tr, $50 fee, instant approval.
Lebanon (Beirut) is the deeper Levantine food experience but security situation needs verifying before travel — check Indian government travel advisories. When stable, Beirut is genuinely one of the world's great food cities — Em Sherif and Tawlet for traditional Lebanese, Falafel Sahyoun for street, and the Hamra neighbourhood for late-night eating. Lebanese food is largely vegetarian-accessible. A 7-day Istanbul food trip costs ₹85,000-1,40,000 per person from India.
Picking your 2026 food trip
If you have not done a serious international food trip before, start with Thailand. Bangkok plus Chiang Mai for 10 days, cooking class included, ₹85,000-1,40,000 per person. Vegetarian-friendly, accessible, and you will learn more about Thai food than 90% of Thai restaurant goers back home.
If you have one big trip in 2026 and want the best food country in the world, go to Japan. 12 days, Tokyo plus Kyoto plus Osaka, ₹3,00,000-4,50,000 per person. Even with the vegetarian limitations, the food experience is on another level.
If you want depth in a single cuisine you already love, pick Italy (split between Tuscany, Bologna, Naples) or Spain (San Sebastián plus Barcelona). Both are 10-day trips in the ₹2,20,000-3,50,000 range with Schengen visa hassle but world-class returns.
If you want value for money and an unusual choice, Vietnam. 12 days for under ₹1,30,000 per person, vegetarian-friendly, exceptionally well-organised cooking classes in Hoi An, and a food culture that genuinely repays close attention.
If you want a long-weekend food trip, Singapore. Three to four nights, ₹65,000-1,20,000 per person, every meal a different cuisine, hawker centres for breakfast lunch and dinner if you want.
Frequently asked questions
Which international destination is most vegetarian-friendly for Indians?
Thailand, Vietnam, Italy and Singapore are the easiest. Thailand and Vietnam have native Buddhist vegetarian traditions. Italy has the deepest historical vegetarian repertoire in Europe. Singapore has dedicated Indian vegetarian areas in Little India. Japan and Spain are the hardest.
How much does a 10-day food trip to Italy cost from India?
₹2,20,000-3,80,000 per person depending on hotel and restaurant tier. Mid-range hotels (₹10,000-15,000 a night), one Michelin-recommended dinner, two cooking classes, regional train travel, and a Schengen visa are the major expenses beyond the international flight.
Is Bangkok safe for solo female food travellers?
Yes, very. Bangkok and Chiang Mai are among the safer Asian capitals for solo female travellers. Street food at night is generally fine in well-lit areas like Yaowarat. Use Grab for late-night transport. The cooking class community in Chiang Mai is also a good social entry point.
What is the best cooking class in Thailand for vegetarians?
Thai Farm Cooking School in Chiang Mai offers dedicated vegetarian sessions on advance request. Asia Scenic also accommodates jay (strict Buddhist vegetarian) versions. Both run full-day classes including market visit at THB 1,000-1,300 (₹2,200-3,000).
Do I need a visa for Singapore from India?
Yes. Apply for a 30-day e-Visa through authorised Singapore visa agents (VFS Global) or via airlines. Fee is around SGD 30 plus service charges (₹3,000-3,500 total). Processing is typically 5-7 working days. Indian travellers also need to file the Singapore Arrival Card electronically before arrival.
When is the best time for a food trip to Japan?
Late October to mid-November for autumn flavours and matsutake mushroom season. Late March to early April for cherry blossom (book six months ahead, expensive). January-February for crab season in coastal regions. Avoid August (hot, humid, many shops on holiday).