europe travel food restrictions

EU entry conditions

The European Commission works to ensure that Europe's food supply is the safest in the world and that the same standards of food safety apply to all products regardless of origin. As the world's biggest importer and exporter of foodstuffs, the European Union works closely with international organisations and offers advice as well as assistance to non-EU country trading partners.

Importing into the EU

• EU entry conditions for live animals & animal products
• EU entry conditions for poultry and hatching eggs and poultry products
• EU entry conditions for captive birds and racing pigeons
• Factsheet: EU import conditions for poultry and poultry products
• Factsheet: EU import conditions for fresh meat and meat products
• Factsheet: EU import conditions for seafood and other fishery products
• EU entry conditions for composite products
• EU Trade Helpdesk
• Veterinary border control
• Expert group

Establishments & laboratories

• Non-EU countries authorised establishments
• Approved establishments - veterinary
• List for Rabies Testing Authorised Laboratories

During transport

• Animal welfare during transport
• Guidance Document on certain key questions related to import requirements and the EU rules on food hygiene and on official food controls
• Information on the EU regionalisation policy
• Residues of Veterinary Medicinal Products (non-EU countries)

Travelling in the EU

Information on travel documents, passenger rights, driving abroad, roaming charges, Package travel, timeshare, and rules on carrying animals, tobacco, and more

Travel documents Information on travel documents for crossing the border into another EU country, and for your spouse, children or other relatives.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) Information about the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for your temporary stay in any of the 27 EU countries.

Passenger rights Information about your rights when flying and travelling by train, bus or ship.

Driving abroad Information on driving licence and insurance when travelling abroad, traffic rules and hiring a car in another EU country.

Taking animals, alcohol, tobacco and more Rules on carrying animals, plants, alcohol, tobacco, and cash when travelling within the EU.

Mobile roaming charges Roam like at home means you can use your mobile phone in any EU country without additional roaming charges.

Transport security and emergencies Information on your rights and what to expect when going through airport security, and on emergency numbers.

Package travel and timeshare EU rules on package travel and other forms of combined travel and timeshare and practical information for consumers.

Travel during the coronavirus pandemic Traveling in the time of coronavirus can be complicated. Check out the latest information about border restriction, contact-tracing apps, consular support.

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European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

An agency of the European Union

• Infectious disease topics
• Questions and answers
• Q & A: COVID-19 and travel

Questions and answers on COVID-19: Travelling

1. what precautions should i take if i need to travel.

Travellers should consult the national policies of their destination country, as well as policies set by their transport provider prior to travel. 

Standard prevention measures to control the spread of COVID-19 that may be recommended during travel include:

• do not travel if exhibiting symptoms compatible with COVID-19
• practice physical distancing (a distance of one to two metres from others)
• follow respiratory etiquette (coughing and sneezing into a tissue or elbow) and good hand hygiene (washing hands with soap and water regularly or using alcohol-based hand sanitisers)
• use a face mask (preferably a medical face mask or FFP2 respirator) in situations where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Travellers who develop any symptoms compatible with COVID-19 during or after travel should self-isolate and seek medical advice and test for SARS-CoV-2 to exclude a diagnosis of COVID-19.

2. What is the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 when travelling?

There may be a risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 while travelling, so standard prevention measures should be followed.

ECDC, in collaboration with other relevant EU agencies, has developed joint guidance for the  aviation ,  cruise  ship and  railway  sectors for use during the pandemic, including advice on non-pharmaceutical interventions while travelling, the cleaning and disinfection of premises and managing a COVID-19 case on board.

Travel during the coronavirus pandemic (European Commission)

Guidance for covid-19 quarantine and testing of travellers, covid-19: eu guidance for cruise ship operations, covid-19 rail protocol: recommendations for safe resumption of railway services in europe.

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Banned from EU: apples, beef, cheese and other items you cannot take in baggage

Many restrictions apply equally to trips from great britain to northern ireland, article bookmarked.

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The UK’s decision to leave the European Union means travellers face bans on a wide range of goods.

As a Dutch television report showed, border officials have been confiscating sandwiches from motorists arriving in the Netherlands from the UK – with one frontier guard telling a driver: “Welcome to the Brexit , sir.”

Many items are now prohibited from travellers’ baggage from Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). These are the most significant rules.

What foods are banned?

“POAO” – products of animal origin –  and most fruit.

The ban on meat and dairy extends to items such as cakes that contain fresh cream and confectionery “made with high levels of unprocessed dairy ingredients”.

There is an exemption for powdered infant milk, infant food, and special foods required for medical reasons; they must weigh less than 2kg and be packaged, proprietary brand products.

Other specific exemptions are "olives stuffed with fish” and “pasta and noodles, if processed or cooked (but not if mixed or filled with meat or meat products)”.

Vegetables and most fruit are also banned – though bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians are permitted.

Fish weighing up to 20kg are permitted, though for the specific case of sturgeon caviar the limit is 125g.

“Products other than those described above which do not contain meat or milk (eg honey)” are limited to 2kg.

What about duty-free?

• Covid testing before travel to the UK: the key questions and answers
• Brexit: How travel to the EU has changed
• What will travel be like, post Brexit?

The prices of alcohol and tobacco for UK travellers outbound to the European Union have fallen, because all sales are now duty free. But there are now strict rules on what you can bring in to the EU : one litre of spirits and 200 cigarettes (though only 40 to Estonia and Romania).

“Other goods” are limited to a total of €430 (£390) for travellers by air and sea.

You can carry up to 10 litres in a portable container, in addition to the fuel contained in your vehicle’s tank.

Returning to Great Britain, what new rules apply?

There are no significant changes. The UK government says: "You can bring meat, dairy [and] other animal products, for example, fish, eggs and honey.

“You can bring in any plants or plant products as long as they’re free from pests and diseases [and] for your own use or consumption.”

What is the effect on trips to Northern Ireland?

The rules above apply for journeys from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

The duty-free regulations only affect goods bought free of duty elsewhere – for example if you buy in Dubai, fly to Manchester and transfer for a domestic flight to Belfast, you will be limited to a litre of spirits, 200 cigarettes and £390 in other goods.

What does the government say?

On 1 January the Northern Ireland secretary, Brandon Lewis, tweeted : “There is no ‘Irish Sea Border’.

"As we have seen today, the important preparations the Govt and businesses have taken to prepare for the end of the Transition Period are keeping goods flowing freely around the country, including between GB and NI.”

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Brexit: The food items British travellers can no longer take into the EU

Due to Brexit and Covid restrictions, Brits may be confused about the new rules for travelling to the European Union (EU).

As the UK has left the EU, holidaymakers are now subject to travel restrictions like the rest of the world. Plus, Covid rules can also be difficult to keep up with , as the rules vary by country and can be subject to change.

Therefore, it’s important to be clued up with all the rules that British people need to follow when travelling to EU countries.

One set of rules to be aware of are those around importing food, particularly meat and dairy products.

To avoid getting caught out at the airport, find out everything you need to know about the EU’s rules on food imports below.

Which foods can’t you take into the EU?

Brits can’t take any meat or products containing meat, nor milk or dairy into the EU.

People travelling from the UK also can’t take any fresh fruit (apart from bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples, and durians), vegetables, plants, or plant products into the EU unless they pay to have them inspected and get a ‘phytosanitary certificate’ before they leave.

There are various exceptions to these rules. Travellers will be allowed to take powdered infant milk and infant food, plus “special food for the dietary management of a diagnosed disease, disorder or medical condition” or pet food required for medical reasons, according to the government website.

However, these exceptions must also weigh less than 2 kilograms, not need to be refrigerated before opening, are packaged proprietary brand products, and the packaging is unbroken unless it is in current use.

People from non-EU countries can take up to 20 kilograms of fish products, like fish and certain shellfish, into the EU.

Travellers can also take up to 2 kilograms of animal products like honey, live oysters, live mussels, and snails.

Where to eat food from every EU member state after Brexit

Why can’t we take meat and dairy into the EU?

The European Commission explains the rules on its website: “Personal goods containing meat, milk or their products brought into the EU continue to present a real threat to animal health throughout the Union.

“It is known, for example, that dangerous pathogens that cause animal diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease and classical swine fever can reside in meat, milk or their products.

“Therefore, pathogens could be introduced into the EU if personal goods containing meat, milk or their products are sent by post or carried in the baggage of travellers arriving from countries outside the EU, where such pathogens may be circulating.”

The European Commission put these restrictions in place following the 2001 Foot and Mouth epidemic.

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Does Europe Have Travel Restrictions? Here’s Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting

A s we stand in the starting blocks of another summer high season in Europe, now is a great time to refresh yourself with the basics of European travel , and there is nothing more fundamental to the international travel experience than the entry requirements.  

The last few years have seen a steady swirl of news stories about changing entry requirements, visas and fees around the continent. Many of the stories were related to the pandemic, but they get at an oft-forgotten larger truth: things are not as simple as just hopping on a plane and showing up. 

Whether you are a travel advisor with clients about to head to Europe or a traveler reading this while waiting for your ride to the airport to show up, make sure you are up to date on the following travel regulations and restrictions before you head across the Atlantic.

Say Hello to Schengen

Before we dive into European entry requirements, we have to talk about the Schengen Area. Not already familiar with the Schengen Area? Well, now is a good time to change that because Schengen is going to come up often in this article—and be in the news often come 2025.

The basics: the Schengen Area is a travel zone encompassing 29 European countries, which essentially renders borders between them meaningless from a travel perspective. The zone was created during the 1985 Schengen Agreement and reinforced by the 1990 Schengen Convention, permanently transforming European travel.

In short, we have the Schengen Agreement and Schengen Area that it created to thank for the ability to hop on a train in Germany, wind through the Alps of Austria, and arrive in Italy without a passport check, which is a major selling point of European travel in general. 

It is important to remember that while similar, the Schengen Area travel zone is entirely different from the European Union. Of the 27 EU member nations, 25 are included in the Schengen Area, with Cyprus and Ireland remaining outside the zone. For the record, Cyprus is expected to join Schengen one day, while Ireland looks set to keep its current separate entry policy for the foreseeable future. 

In addition to the 25 EU nations, the four non-EU nations of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are included in the zone, too. Micronations like Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City are de facto members too, as they have border agreements with Spain, France and Italy. 

Other notable areas not included in the Schengen Area besides Ireland and Cyprus include the United Kingdom, Turkey, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania. 

Long story short: the Schengen Area is a huge travel zone that allows you to treat all 29 nations as "one country" from a passport entry perspective. 

Passport Particulars

Speaking of those passports, it probably won't come as too much of a surprise to know that you're going to need a passport to be allowed into Europe. Therefore, make sure to apply for yours well before your trip, as wait times can be unpredictable. 

But things aren't as simple as simply remembering to pack it and that brings us to a major European travel requirement you need to be aware of:

Your passport must have validity for the entire period you will be in Europe.

And in some cases, more. For example, if you're entering the Schengen Area, you must have at least six months of validity remaining on your passport.

Yes, even if you're going to be in the Schengen Area for only two weeks (the maximum stay is 90 days), you must have six months available. So, for example, if your passport expired on December 31st, a two-week trip in September would be off the cards, even though it had several months of validity left. 

This holds particular significance for kids under 16, given that their passports remain valid for just five years, as opposed to adults whose passports are valid for 10 years. 

If you’re working with a travel advisor (and you should always work with a travel advisor!), they will likely catch any potential passport pitfalls. If you aren't, then check, re-check and triple-check your travel dates and how much validity your passport has left. 

For the countries that aren't in the Schengen Area like the United Kingdom, Ireland and nations in the Balkans, you will generally just need to have validity for the duration of your stay (which varies from 90 days to six months depending on the country), although you should always check to be sure. Make note that Turkey requires six months of validity just like countries in the Schengen Area. 

Soon though, you won't be able to just show up unannounced with a passport with plenty of validity on it and be admitted to the Schengen Area, and that's because of ETIAS.

The State of ETIAS Affairs

It may sound like a dreamy Greek Island, but ETIAS is the name of a new requirement that Americans (and many others) will soon have to meet to visit most of Europe.  

While it won't affect travelers in 2024, once it's operational, ETIAS will become a very important part of the European travel picture, so it doesn't hurt to get familiar with it now.

ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System and it has been in the works for nearly a decade. The scheme was scheduled to roll out this year but it has once again been delayed and this time until some time in 2025. When ETIAS finally kicks in, Americans (and many others) will no longer have the luxury of relying solely on their passports for European visits and instead will need pre-approval to enter the Schengen Area plus Cyprus.

The approval will come in the form of an approved ETIAS application, a process that should unfold similarly to the ESTA process that visitors to the USA have been using for a while now, meaning it will be completed online and should only take a few minutes. 

The application fee for ETIAS will be 7 Euros ($7.48) for individuals aged 18 to 70, while it will be free for other age groups and family members of EU citizens. Approved ETIAS authorizations will be valid for three years.  

Like the Schengen Area, ETIAS will not be necessary to visit Ireland, the United Kingdom and many others, but you should be aware that the UK has a similar system in the works. 

Again, this is not a requirement yet, but it is on its way. 

Return to Sender

While this may not apply to a large swath of people, be aware that you may be required to show proof of a return flight when entering the Schengen Area or other European countries like Ireland or the United Kingdom. 

If you don't have a return flight and were just planning on going with the flow, it is possible, depending on the border agent, that you may be required to show proof of financial funds that would allow you to purchase a return flight.

The Venetian Experiment

You've arrived in Europe and have plenty of validity on your passport, now you can show up anywhere and have the time of your life, right? That's true for 99.9 percent of the continent, with one major exception: Venice. 

Recently, Venice became the first city in the world to impose restrictions on day-trippers, with a new five Euro (approximately $5.34) "access fee" applying on certain days in 2024. 

You are exempt from the fees if you are spending the night, but you still have to download a code and carry it with you to prove that you are exempt. 

Will this practice spread around the continent? Something similar is already being talked about at Lake Como , and you can rest assured that many destinations will be watching to see how things unfold in Venice.

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What Can I Bring?

Planning ahead and packing properly can facilitate the screening process and ease your travel experience at the airport. Know what you can pack in your carry-on and checked baggage before arriving at the airport by reviewing the lists below. Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. Read about civil penalties for prohibited items .

• Twitter: @AskTSA
• Facebook Messenger:  www.fb.com/AskTSA
• Apple Business Chat: AskTSA
• Text Message: Text "Travel" to AskTSA (275-872)

The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.

Officers may ask you to power up your electronic device, including cell phones. Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft. TSA does not read or copy information from your device.

Alcoholic beverages

• Carry On Bags: Yes (Less than or equal to 3.4oz/100 ml allowed)
• Checked Bags: Yes

Check with your airline before bringing any alcohol beverages on board. FAA regulations prohibit travelers from consuming alcohol on board an aircraft unless served by a flight attendant.  Additionally, Flight Attendants are not permitted to serve a passenger who is intoxicated.

Alcoholic beverages with more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol are limited in checked bags to 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per passenger and must be in unopened retail packaging. Alcoholic beverages with 24% alcohol or less are not subject to limitations in checked bags. 

Mini bottles of alcohol in carry-on must be able to comfortably fit into a single quart-sized bag.

For more information, see FAA regulation: 49 CFR 175.10(a)(4).

Alcoholic beverages over 140 proof

• Carry On Bags: No
• Checked Bags: No

Alcoholic beverages with more than 70% alcohol (over 140 proof), including grain alcohol and 151 proof rum. For more information, see FAA regulation: 49 CFR 175.10(a)(4).

• Carry On Bags: Yes

Baby food is allowed in reasonable quantities in carry-on bags. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings. Please see traveling with children for more information.

Baby Formula

• Carry On Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)

Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag. Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) are considered medically necessary liquids. This also applies to breast milk and formula cooling accessories, such as ice packs, freezer packs, and gel packs (regardless of presence of breast milk). Your child or infant does not need to be present or traveling with you to bring breast milk, formula and/or related supplies.

Inform the TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process that you are carrying formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in excess of 3.4 ounces. Remove these items from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from your other belongings. TSA officers may need to test the liquids for explosives or concealed prohibited items.

Although not required, to expedite the screening process, it is recommended that formula and breast milk be transported in clear, translucent bottles and not plastic bags or pouches. Liquids in plastic bags or pouches may not be able to be screened by Bottle Liquid Scanners, and you may be asked to open them (if feasible) for alternate screening such as Explosive Trace Detection and Vapor Analysis for the presence of liquid explosives. Screening will never include placing anything into the medically necessary liquid.

TSA X-ray machines do not adversely affect food or medicines. However, if you do not want the formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) to be X-rayed or opened, please inform the TSA officer. Additional steps will be taken to clear the liquid and you or the traveling guardian will undergo additional screening procedures, to include Advanced Imaging Technology screening and additional/enhanced screening of other carry-on property.

Ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to cool formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) – regardless of the presence of breast milk – are also allowed in carry-ons, along with liquid-filled teethers. If these items are partially frozen or slushy, they are subject to the same screening as described above.

Please see  traveling with children  for more information.

Travelers requiring special accommodations or concerned about the security screening process at the airport may request assistance by contacting TSA Cares online at http://www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares or by phone at (855) 787-2227 or federal relay 711.

Bottled Water

Solid food items (not liquids or gels) can be transported in either your carry-on or checked bags. Liquid or gel food items larger than 3.4 oz are not allowed in carry-on bags and should be placed in your checked bags if possible.

TSA officers may instruct travelers to separate items from carry-on bags such as foods, powders, and any materials that can clutter bags and obstruct clear images on the X-ray machine. Travelers are encouraged to organize their carry-on bags and keep them uncluttered to ease the screening process and keep the lines moving.

Breast Milk

Canned foods.

There are some items that are not on the prohibited items list, but because of how they appear on the X-ray, security concerns, or impact of the 3-1-1 rules for liquids, gels and aerosols, they could require additional screening that might result in the item not being allowed through the checkpoint. We suggest that you pack this item in your checked bag, ship it to your destination or leave it at home.

Check with your airline or travel agent to see if firearms are permitted in checked baggage on the airline you are flying. Ask about limitations or fees, if any, that apply.

Any sharp objects in checked baggage should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and Security Officers.

Sharp Objects

Household & tools, sporting & camping, miscellaneous.

Advertisement

Travel restrictions are back in Europe for U.S. visitors, at least in some places.

In removing the U.S. from a list of safe countries, the European Union opened the door to a new web of bans, quarantines and testing requirements.

• Share full article

By Elian Peltier

• Sept. 8, 2021

Italy now requires travelers from the United States to take a test before arrival, and unvaccinated American visitors must isolate for five days. Sweden is barring all nonessential U.S. visitors. The Netherlands says vaccinated travelers must isolate after arriving from the United States — and unvaccinated ones are not welcome.

In removing the United States from a safe list of countries whose residents can travel without coronavirus testing or quarantine requirements, the European Union last week opened the door to myriad rules, restrictions and hurdles for travelers, with the bloc’s member countries implementing different measures.

The surge of coronavirus deaths and hospitalizations in the United States has led some countries — including Bulgaria, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden — to enforce new obstacles, and the list could grow.

The E.U. suggestion to reimpose restrictions on unvaccinated U.S. travelers is not binding, however, and many European governments have yet to act on it. Some may even choose to ignore it entirely, creating confusion for travelers.

For questions about requirements in a given European Union member state, the best answers can usually be found on the website of its U.S. Embassy. Most, including France, Spain and Germany, still welcome travelers from the United States without much hassle.

It is different for a few others, and that’s where the confusion starts.

For instance, any traveler from the United States, no matter their nationality, is prohibited from entering Bulgaria “unless they meet an exception,” according to the U.S. Embassy in Sofia . Those exceptions include students with a visa, citizens from an E.U. country, and foreign officials or medical professionals.

In Italy, meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Rome states that vaccinated travelers must take a virus test 72 hours before arrival, and that unvaccinated ones must isolate for five days. France has no travel restrictions on American visitors, but a “health pass,” based on testing or proof of vaccination, is needed to access cultural venues, restaurants or bars, among other places.

These varying measures, which can appear dizzying to non-Europeans, reflect a reality that the pandemic has only amplified: As much as the European Union strives to present a unified front on many issues, the bloc is made of 27 member countries with diverging — sometimes competing — interests, and facing different epidemiological situations .

After the European Union closed its external borders in March last year, it urged member states to reopen to U.S. travelers and some others in June , hoping that a revival of tourism would boost E.U. economies.

Yet some countries had already moved ahead, while others waited for the recommendations from E.U. officials. A similar scenario is at play with the new travel guidelines. And the hurdles don’t only affect travelers from the United States or other non-European countries; some member states have implemented new measures for travelers coming from other E.U. countries, too.

Overall, the European Union has fared better than the United States in vaccinations : 70 percent of the E.U. adult population has been fully inoculated, compared with 64 percent in the United States.

And while the more transmissible Delta variant of the virus is becoming dominant in Europe , case numbers across most of the continent have not yet resurged to the levels seen in the United States .

Yet just as the virus’ spread varies across U.S. states, E.U. member countries are seeing divergent outbreaks . More than 83 percent of Belgium’s adult population has been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, for instance, but only 20 percent have been inoculated in Bulgaria, which has one of the highest death rates in the world and has lately faced a surge of hospitalizations and deaths.

Elian Peltier is a reporter in the Brussels bureau of The New York Times, covering the European Union and Belgium. More about Elian Peltier

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Come summer, travel to Europe will be top of mind for plenty of Americans with vacation on the brain.

But can we afford it? Summers especially can be crowded, hot and packed with tourists driving up rates as locals flee for the countryside and beaches — not really the best time to be visiting.

Plus, this year, there’s an extra level of expense added, with the 2024 Olympics taking Paris for the months of July and August.

And that won’t just impact Paris, but all the destinations like the French wine regions, the Cote d’Azur and even London and Brussels and Amsterdam — all easily accessible by rail and likely to receive plenty of extra visitors.

So you might still be going — but you might be going before or after the summer, this time around. And according to a new study , that’s totally fine.

For example, did you know that Paris can be a pretty good deal, as long as you’re not insisting on the peak travel periods?

The number crunchers at Radical Storage urge travelers not looking to go into heavy debt to select the shoulder season, when visitors can save a whopping average of 60.3% on their hotel stays, one of biggest budget busters on a Paris itinerary, where peak season nightly rates averaged $866.

Wait until shoulder season and see those same rates plummet to $344, the research revealed. That’s a discount of $522.

Shoulder seasons can vary by destination, but are by definition the times between peak and off-peak. And, most importantly, unlike during low season, the weather isn’t terrible. (If you’ve spent a winter in Paris, you know that’s an issue.)

“Shoulder season is the period before or after peak season but not yet the off-season. For example, many European destinations have a very busy summer (July/August) but May, June, September, and October may be considered shoulder season (it varies per destination), while January could be considered the off-season or low season,” the study stated.

“Visiting destinations in shoulder season usually means lower costs and lower crowds, while still keeping good enough weather for tourism.”

To find the best times to travel to Europe, the study pored over data from Google Flights and prices for thousands of hotels. Besides beaucoup bargain boltholes in Paris, they also found that flights to Budapest in the off-season sank to 56.6% of peak season highs, Thrillist reported .

And while Budapest had the best drop in prices, it was far from the best deal, overall — peak pricing for cities like Stockholm from the States averaged about $778, according to the study, and $537 during shoulder season — a drop of 30.9 percent.

As part of the study’s findings, the authors compiled a list of the best shoulder season month to visit a selection of cities around the world. Here are their picks for many of Europe’s most popular destinations.

The cheapest time of year to visit these European cities

• Athens – April
• Barcelona – April
• Brussels – April
• Copenhagen – April
• Florence – April
• Frankfurt – April
• Milan – April
• Munich – April
• Prague – April
• Venice – April
• Vienna – April
• Berlin – May
• Edinburgh – May
• Madrid – September
• Nice – September
• Amsterdam – October
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How to taste your way through Tuscany

Italy is known for its vibrant and varied cuisine. Discover it at its best in the region of Tuscany, where an assortment of inviting culinary experiences offer a true taste of the country.

Located in west-central Italy, the region of Tuscany is rich in natural beauty. Its striking landscapes vary from the chiselled Tuscan-Emilian Apennines in the north and the rugged Apuan Alps in the north-west, to the gentle green hills of Val d’Orcia in the south.

The region’s capital, Florence, is a destination renowned for its art and architecture. Its most iconic sight is the eminent Duomo, a stunning 400ft-tall masterpiece of the Renaissance. During its 100-year build, architect Filippo Brunelleschi is said to have introduced a pulley system to speed up lunch breaks, feeding the workers on the cathedral’s roof with peposo , a black pepper and beef stew.

Today, food remains an important part of Tuscany’s culture, and visitors are encouraged to slow down and savour the wide variety of culinary experiences on offer across the region — from truffle hunting and cheese tasting to sampling fine wine and sipping fresh coffee — here's how to get a taste.

1. Join a truffle hunt

Truffles are deeply rooted in Tuscan history, found throughout the region in all shapes and sizes and revered for their distinctive aromas and flavours. Learn about the timeworn traditions and distinct hunting practices of those seeking these subterranean delicacies at Italy’s first museum dedicated to truffles — the Museo del Tartufo e Centro di Documentazione — housed in an old castle in San Giovanni d’Asso. At Cucina Giuseppina , near the town of Certaldo, forage for your own truffles with the help of a guide and trained truffle-hunting dogs, before indulging in a truffle-based Tuscan lunch. In summer, you'll search for the elusive black truffle, while in the fall, the white truffle is the prize.

2. Try tasty cheeses

Tuscany is best known for pecorino, a sheep’s milk cheese — and especially treasured by Tuscans is the bold-flavoured pecorino cheese produced in Pienza, the aptly named pecorino di Pienza . Elsewhere in the region, the exuberant Palio dei Caci event draws crowds to the town of Volterra each October, where ‘runners’ compete to skilfully guide wheels of pecorino down a cobbled street. Many working farms in Tuscany are open to visitors, too, so you can learn how the cheese is made. Fattoria Corzano e Paterno just south-west of Florence produces cheese, wine and olive oil and also has guesthouses, a farm shop and a restaurant, with tasting sessions available year-round.

3. Make pasta from scratch

Handrolled pici is a popular pasta in Tuscany, often served with tomato, garlic and breadcrumbs. Pappardelle pasta is also a local favourite, generally served with rich and meaty sauces. Join a class to learn how to make your own pasta at wineries such as Magida in Brunello, which also offers accommodation packages. Private cooking lessons are also an option, where you can learn the art of the perfect pasta dish from professional chefs such as Antonella La Macchia .

4. Sample a variety of wines

Tuscany is well known for its geographically protected wines such as Chianti, Montepulciano and Brunello. Stop by the Enoteca la Fortezza wine bar inside the Fortezza di Montalcino and sample Montalcino's intense and complex Brunello wines. Enjoy tart and spicy Chianti wines at Pietraserena Azienda Agricola Arrigoni in San Gimignano, as you admire the impressive views across the hills and vineyards. Although Tuscany’s established viticulture scene is revered, there are also a growing number of organic, natural and biodynamic wines being developed, helping the region stay at the forefront of Italian wine production. Antinori nel Chianti Classico has been making wine since 1385 and now has an ultra-modern winery attached, which is open to visitors. Or find one of the unique buchette del vino (wine holes) hidden around Florence — at restaurants such as Babae , Belle Donne and Il Latini , to name a few — where wine is served through a tiny window, a tradition that dates back to 1559.

5. Experience a traditional trattoria

With charming hilltop towns seemingly around every bend, it’s easy to fall in love with a new local trattoria every evening in Tuscany. On the edge of Panzano-in-Chianti, head to the terrace at Il Vescovino to enjoy homemade ravioli stuffed with leeks and taleggio cheese, served in a simple tomato sauce. Along Tuscany’s western coastline, restaurants such as Il Romito in Livorno serve up a homely fish stew called cacciucco — a 500-year-old dish traditionally made using five or more types of fish in a red wine and tomato broth.

6. Sip freshly roasted coffee

Italy has an affinity for coffee and on almost every corner in Florence you’ll find coffee ‘bars’ in which you can quietly perch to people watch. The city is also home to the Accademia del Caffè Espresso , which features a coffee museum and an indoor coffee plantation, and also offers a selection of educational tasting sessions. Away from the city, learn more about Tuscan artisanal coffee and the finer details of the roasting and blending processes with a tour of Pienza Coffee in Val d’Orcia.

7. Peruse local markets

Intense and aromatic, Tuscany’s local food markets are sure to delight — piled high with humble but delicious ingredients, from bread and cheese to tomatoes and beans. While some markets such as Florence’s Mercato Centrale are open daily, smaller towns in the region host their weekly markets on varying days. In the city of Lucca, head to the MercoledìBio on Wednesdays — for organic fruit and vegetables, honey, olive oil, cold cuts, wine, bread and baked goods, as well as sheep’s, cow’s and goat’s cheese — or the Campagna Amica market on Thursdays — for fresh fish and seasonal vegetables, cheese, plants and flowers.

Related Topics

• FOOD TOURISM

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