Over the years, fabulous, world-class cuisine has shot to the top of people’s must-have lists when they’re choosing which cities to visit. But where should you go to have the best dining experiences? Well, we’ve hand-picked some of our favourite cities to head to for a taste of gourmet dining.

Copenhagen

Over the past decade, Nordic cuisine has taken the world by storm, but nowhere has left a mark on the gastronomic scene quite like the Danish capital, Copenhagen. From booming street food markets to queue-worthy patisseries and captivating Michelin-starred restaurants, this entire city is oozing with flavour. The sprawling neighbourhood of Østerbro has an ever-evolving dining scene that foodies, especially those with a sweet tooth, will want to make a beeline for. The Frederiksberg neighbourhood is your bet for Bib Gourmand restaurants and high-quality dining, while Vesterbro is the place to be for new culinary trends.

If you need more convincing that Copenhagen is one of the world’s best cities for food, just take a look at its repertoire of stars, Michelin that is. Across all Nordic cities, Copenhagen is the one with the most Michelin-starred restaurants. From noma, the four-time winner of the best restaurant in the world award, to double Michelin-starred Alchemist, that divides dinner into five acts, combing theatre and food to create one of the most unique dining experiences in the world, you’re in the company of real greats here.

Girona

For years now, Girona has been breaking the mold of what Spanish cuisine looks like. The city’s food scene is constantly evolving and has earned its place as one of Europe’s most impressive gastronomic players. The food scene here is vibrant and diverse, with many chefs using only organically grown produce to craft their menus. And if one thing’s for sure, you can guarantee everyone’s palette will be left more than satisfied. Rich Catalan flavours are the norm here, and on a visit to Girona, traditional delicacies like arros negre, cuttlefish in squid ink, shredded cod cooked in tomato and lobster soup are must-try dishes.

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to restaurants in Girona and it’s easy to see how dozens have made their way into the Michelin-recommended guide. El Celler de Can Roca attracts foodies from across the globe to sample the creations of the three Roca brothers. This shining star in the gastronomic world has been named the best restaurant in the world twice and has held Michelin stars since 2009. Dining here is an experience that foodies won’t ever forget. But the city is overflowing with exquisite restaurants to sample, so don’t just get swept up in one. Visit Massana to try the grilled duck that’s been on the menu since 1986, enjoy Cristina Feliu’s vintage creations at L’Alianca d’Angles or sample 20 different cheeses at Divinum!

Paris

If you’re after a city that serves food in its finest and greatest form, look no further than Paris. Over the decades, it’s become the home of some of the most delightful delicacies in the world, from bite-sized works of art in the form of macarons, to croissants of all shapes, sizes and flavours, there’s bound to be endless bites and dishes worthy of stopping for in this buzzing city. Paris also boasts over 100 Michelin-starred restaurants hidden within its arrondissements, so you’re not short of gourmet dining options. And if one thing’s for sure, the French capital lives up to its world-class gastro reputation and then some.

You could spend weeks in Paris and not even scratch the surface of the fine-dining scene, but there’s a few standouts that are worth a spot on every foodie’s must-visit list. If you’re after triple Michelin star status, Alleno Paris au Pavillion Ledoyen, set in the exquisite Jardins des Champs-Élysée and the opulent Le Cinq are two of the most elegant and inviting restaurants in Paris. The traditional Parisian restaurant, Benoit, brings the local cuisine to life and restaurant Septime is the place to be to experience the new breed of Parisian gastronomy. No matter where you’re wandering in Paris, prepare for mouthwatering flavours to be right beside you.

Naples

What better way to spend a city break than exploring the home of pizza? Streets lined with pizzerias, award-winning pasta restaurants and gelaterias await you on your visit to Naples. The Neapolitan pizza gets its name from this Italian city, but there's an array of delicacies originating from this area of Italy worth indulging in during a stay. Sweet-toothed foodies will love a pastiera, a traditional tart filled with cream, ricotta and wheat berries topped with a buttery crust, delicious! You’ll also want to sample a local caprese salad, a traditional Neapolitan ragu and a vegetarian favourite, pasta and bean stew!

The gourmet dining scene has become more prevalent in Naples over the past few years and now over 20 Michelin-starred restaurants are scattered across the city. Restaurant Aria is a romantic, dimly lit setting, perfect for spending the whole evening sampling Paolo Barrale’s creations. While restaurant Veritas earned itself a Michelin star by reinventing staple Neapolitan flavours in a simple, creative way such as shrimp ravioli cooked in peanut oil and smoked butter spaghetti, served with clams, pine nuts and lemon. The flavours that run throughout Naples will leave your taste buds tantalised after each and every mealtime.

Barcelona

When even tiny tapas bars have earned themselves Michelin stars, you know you’ve landed in foodie heaven. Barcelona’s gourmet dining scene serves dishes like honey-glazed chorizos, Galician oysters served as a seafood platter, tempura-fried zucchini stuffed with three cheeses and Iberian pork served with parsnips and raisins. Scattered throughout the city you’ll find old and new chef’s trying to stamp their mark on the Catalan cuisine, and the more dishes you sample, the faster you’ll realise this pocket of Spain packs a serious punch when it comes to flavours.

When only the finest dining experiences will do, Barcelona boasts four restaurants that each hold three Michelin stars. The pinnacle of gastronomy can be found within these restaurants, especially when dining at Cocina Hermanos Torres. Chefs Sergio and Javier Torres have dedicated their lives to crafting the most delicate Mediterranean dishes using the freshest produce. The creativity at restaurant Disfrutar, the cutting-edge, contemporary dining at ABaC and the delectable, culinary empire of Lasarte all showcase the very best of Barcelona’s gourmet food scene.