Food plays a big part in any family vacation to Europe. Finding food that suits everyone every day of your European holiday can be challenging. Street food in Europe may be your answer.
From the lively markets of Andorra to the bustling streets of Ukraine, this foodie adventure in 44 countries promises a taste of Europe like never before.
The European food scene, a kaleidoscope of flavours, textures, and aromas, leaves an indelible mark on our palates. It will challenge and delight your family’s taste buds. Ultimately, you will not like everything, but it’s more about embracing the local European street foods and trying what you can. Your kids will not soon forget the food eaten in the best street food cities in Europe.
Whether indulging in Belgium’s Moules Frites or savouring Malta’s Pastizzi, eating at food markets in Europe or food trucks, each bite is a revelation.
The food in Europe is a testament to the incredible diversity that defines the European street food experience. The best street food in Europe is waiting for you.
The best street food in Europe
Fifty countries share Europe, but only 44 are sovereign states or nations. This article will focus on street foods from those 44 European countries.
Albania
Byrek – a savoury pastry filled with cheese, spinach, or meat.
Qofte te Sallate – These are meatballs cooked in a light tomato and onion sauce.
In Albania, you can go on a Communist History Tour Tirana & Street Food
Andorra
Trinxat – A traditional dish with potatoes, cabbage, and pork.
Coca – A type of pastry that can be sweet or savoury and may include vegetables, meats, or fruits.
Austria
Street food discoveries in Austria.
Käsekrainer – A cheese-infused sausage often served with mustard.
Leberkäse Semmel – A bread roll filled with slices of Leberkäse , a traditional Austrian meatloaf.
Belarus
Draniki – Potato pancakes, typically served with sour cream.
Kolduny – Dumplings filled with meat, mushrooms, or potatoes.
Belgium
Belgium is one of the best food places in Europe.
Belgian Waffles – Delicious waffles with various toppings like chocolate, fruits, or whipped cream.
Moules Frites – Mussels and fries are a classic Belgian dish often enjoyed on the go.
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Ćevapi – Grilled minced meat, usually served with flatbread and onions.
Burek – A flaky pastry filled with minced meat, cheese, or vegetables.
Bulgaria
Banitsa – A pastry made with layers of filo dough, yogurt, and cheese.
Kyufte – Bulgarian grilled meatballs, often served with flatbread and condiments.
Croatia
Ćevapi is very popular in Croatia.
Ćevapi – Grilled minced meat, usually served with flatbread and onions.
Soparnik – Soparnik is a traditional Croatian savoury pie filled with Swiss chard, onions, and a mix of herbs.
Czech Republic
Smažený Sýr – Deep-fried cheese, usually served with fries and tartar sauce.
Trdelník – A sweet pastry, often filled with ice cream or other treats.
Denmark
Hot Dogs are popular Local street eats in Denmark,
Smørrebrød – Open-faced sandwiches with toppings like herring, smoked salmon, or roast beef.
The Danish hot dog – The sausage is placed in a bun and topped with a variety of condiments and toppings.
Estonia
Kringel – a sweet pastry, often braided and filled with cinnamon.
Finland
Authentic street bites from Finland.
Karjalanpiirakka – Karelian pasty, a traditional pastry filled with rice porridge, mashed potatoes, or carrot and rice filling.
Lohikeitto – Finnish salmon soup, a creamy broth with salmon, potatoes, and vegetables
Visit Streat Helsinki , a street food festival that takes place every March.
France
Crêpes – Thin pancakes with sweet or savoury fillings.
Socca – Chickpea pancake, especially popular in Nice and the French Riviera.
You can do a Street Food Tour in Lyon, France .
Germany
Currywurst – Sliced sausage with curry-flavored ketchup.
Döner Kebab – Layers of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, typically in a flatbread.
In Berlin , you can join the Street Food Paradise Tour .
Greece
Street food sensations such as the Souvlaki are popular in Greece.
Souvlaki – Grilled meat skewers, often served with pita and vegetables.
Spanakopita – Spinach and feta-filled phyllo pastry
You can do a Street Food Tasting Tour or the Street Food Tour with a local Guide in Athens.
Holy See (Vatican)
Tiramisu – A classic Italian dessert, often available as a sweet treat on the streets.
Margherita Pizza – Traditional Italian Pizza with a tomato base and cheese.
Hungary
Lángos – deep-fried flatbread, often topped with garlic, sour cream, and cheese.
Hortobágyi Palacsinta – savoury Hungarian crepes filled with meat and topped with a paprika-infused sauce.
In Budapest , you can do a Street Food Tasting Tour.
Iceland
Harðfiskur – Dried fish jerky, a traditional Icelandic snack.
Hangikjöt – Smoked lamb, often served on bread with butter.
Ireland
Boxty – traditional Irish potato pancakes.
Blaa – A Blaa is a soft, floury bread roll. Filled with various ingredients like bacon, sausage, or ham
In Dublin , you can go on a Walking Street Food Tour.
Italy
Italy is king when it comes to the best European street food for families.
Panini – Grilled sandwiches with various fillings, often with cured meats and cheeses.
Arancini – Deep-fried rice balls with a gooey cheese centre.
You can do the Monti Street Food Tour in Rome, Italy , and Palermo offers a Night Street Food Tour. There are just too many Street Food Tours in Italy to mention.
Latvia
Rye Bread with Sprats – Open-faced sandwiches with sprats on dark rye bread.
Sklandrausis – A traditional Latvian sweet pie with a rye crust, filled with mashed sweet carrots and potatoes.
Liechtenstein
Rösti – grated and fried potatoes, often served as a side dish.
Käsknöpfle – pasta served with melted cheese, a Liechtenstein speciality.
Lithuania
Cepelinai – Potato dumplings filled with meat, curd, or mushrooms.
Kepta Duona – Deep-fried rye bread sticks often served with garlic sauce.
Luxembourg
Must-try snacks in Europe.
Gromperekichelcher – Potato fritters, often enjoyed as a street food snack.
Judd mat Gaardebounen – Smoked pork neck with broad beans.
Plan a visit to the annual Eat It Street Food Festival in Luxembourg City .
Malta
Pastizzi – Flaky pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas, famous as a snack
Ftira – Traditional Maltese bread topped with various ingredients like tomatoes, olives, and capers.
You can do a Street Food Culture Tour in Valletta.
Moldova
Mămăligă – A cornmeal porridge, often served with cheese and sour cream.
Plăcintă – A Moldovan pastry with various ingredients such as cheese, pumpkin, or cabbage.
Monaco
Socca – A type of chickpea pancake typically enjoyed in the southern regions of France, including Monaco.
Fougasse – Traditional Provençal bread often filled with olives or cheese.
Montenegro
Burek is the most popular street food in the Balkans.
Priganice – Deep-fried dough balls, often served with powdered sugar or honey.
Burek – A flaky pastry filled with minced meat, cheese, or vegetables.
Netherlands
Bitterballen – Deep-fried balls filled with a mixture of beef or veal ragout.
Poffertjes – Mini Dutch pancakes typically served with powdered sugar and butter.
While in Amsterdam , you can go on The Market Street Food Walking Tour .
North Macedonia
Ajvar – A condiment made from red bell peppers, often spread on bread or served with grilled meats.
Kifli – crescent-shaped pastries filled with various sweet or savoury fillings.
Norway
Pølse med Lompe – hot dogs with various toppings, including crispy onions and sauces.
Raspeballer – potato dumplings often served with meat or butter.
You can do a Street Food Culture Tour in Oslo .
Poland
Zapiekanka is one of the Street food highlights of Europe.
Zapiekanka – A type of open-faced baguette with various toppings.
Oscypek – Smoked sheep’s milk cheese, often grilled and served with cranberry sauce.
You can do a Street Food Walking Tour and a Street Food Tour by Electric Car in Krakow.
Portugal
Pastel de Nata – Custard tart pastry.
Bifana – Marinated pork sandwiches, often enjoyed as a quick snack.
You can do Street Food to Awarded Chefs’ Portuguese Delicacies in Lisbon, Portugal.
Romania
Mămăligă – A cornmeal porridge, often served with cheese and sour cream.
Sarmale – Cabbage rolls stuffed with minced meat and rice, often served with sour cream.
Go on a Street Food Tour with a local guide in Bucharest.
European Street foods from Germany, Portugal, Malta and the Netherlands
Russia
Blini – Thin pancakes served with sweet or savoury toppings like caviar or sour cream.
Piroshki – Small baked or fried buns filled with sweet or savoury ingredients like meat, potatoes, or cabbage.
San Marino
Piadina – A thin Italian flatbread, often filled with cheese, cold cuts, or vegetables.
Passatelli – A pasta dish made with breadcrumbs, eggs, and cheese.
Serbia
Pljeskavica Serbian Street Food.
Pljeskavica – Grilled ground meat patties, often served on flatbread.
Gibanica – Layered pastry filled with cheese, eggs, and sometimes meat.
Slovakia
Bryndzové Halušky – Potato dumplings with sheep cheese and bacon.
Bryndzové Pirohy – Dumplings filled with sheep cheese, a traditional Slovak dish
Slovenia
Carniolan Sausage – Slovenian sausage variety, often grilled and served with mustard.
Gibanica – Layered pastry filled with cheese, eggs, and sometimes poppy seeds.
Spain
Traditional Spanish and Portuguese cuisine desert
Churros – Fried dough pastries, often served with chocolate sauce.
Patatas Bravas – Fried potatoes served with a spicy tomato sauce.
Sweden
Swedish Meatballs – Small, seasoned ground meatballs.
Smörgåstårta – A savoury sandwich cake, a unique culinary delight.
Visit the annual Street Food Festivalen in Stockholm every July.
Switzerland
Raclette, a Street Food of Europe from Switzerland
Raclette – Melted cheese scraped off a heated wheel and served with potatoes and pickles.
Swiss Sausages – Often grilled and served with bread or in a bun.
Ukraine
Pampushky – fried doughnuts with various fillings like jam or sweet cheese.
Holubtsi – cabbage rolls stuffed with rice and ground meat, often served with a tomato-based sauce.
United Kingdom
A traditional feed of fish and chips is popular in the U.K
Fish and Chips – Deep-fried fish served with thick-cut fries, often accompanied by mushy peas.
Cornish Pasty – A pastry filled with meat and vegetables
In London , you can do a Shoreditch Street Food Tour .
We hope this food adventure is a feast for the senses and helps you find a treat for every family member. From the cheesy goodness of raclette in Switzerland to the finger-licking joy of British fish and chips, we’ve sourced the best street food in Europe for you.
Imagine the laughter as you share a box of piping hot churros in Madrid or the excitement of trying the world’s best hotdogs in Copenhagen. Each street food bite tells a story of local traditions and the shared joy from enjoying something delicious and new together.
So, when planning your family vacation in Europe, let your taste buds guide you. Whether you’re munching on Custard Tart in Portugal or discovering the crunch of Croatian Ćevapi , these street food delights aren’t just meals. They’re unforgettable family memories.
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Author bio:
Father, husband, traveller, and chief destination manager here at Wyld Family Travel. When Mark is not discussing travel or planning travel, you will find him working in disability support. Mark is a family travel advocate, having travelled to over 45 countries with his kids from 10 months to their teenage years. You will find his work here and on other popular websites.
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