Like to chomp and chew your way around a destination? Sounds like we’re kindred holidaying spirits who plan our days around food. But if you’ve got a sweet tooth and breakfast means beelines for bakeries, this handy guide to Europe’s must-try pastries is sure to satisfy the craving.

Yep, France might pave the way to patisserie perfection, but there are so many other countries that specialise in all things fabulously flaky. Sink your teeth into these...

Pain au chocolat, France

Something of a cocoa connoisseur? The classic pain au chocolat is a French staple you’ll definitely fancy. They’re best ordered when warm so that the strands of milk choc become oozy inside and burst through the buttery pastry at first bite.

Millefeuille, France

One of the harder desserts to gracefully try in France is the millefeuille – simply because you can’t have it on the hop. Silky crème pâtissière is layered between three stacks of pastry – each of the tiers is made from sheets of the thinnest puff. That’s where the name – ‘a thousand leaves’ – comes from, see?

Cannoli, Italy

Holy cannoli, Italy really does have a few tricks up its sugary sleeves! This Sicilian afternoon snack is made of rolled and fried, ultra-crisp pastry dough and filled with light and delicious ricotta cheese. It’s usually flavoured with pistachio, lemon or chocolate for maximum oomph.

Maritozzi, Italy

When they said, “go big or go home”, we can’t confirm whether that was meant in an ordering-maritozzi sense. But it could’ve been, because you’ve got to have one of these melt-in-the-mouth brioche boulders in Rome! The dough’s usually vanilla or orange-flavoured, balled into spheres and stuffed with whipped cream that’s smoothed out in the middle.

Churros, Spain

You’ll find these at funfairs and Christmas markets across the world, but Spanish churros are at their finest after a few tapas plates. The piped choux pastry dough is cut into long sticks or curved round, then fried in super-hot oil for that uber-crispiness, before being slathered in cinnamon sugar. They’re sweet, naughty and easy to eat while walking. Why not up the ante and dip into molten chocolate too?

Fruit Danish, Denmark

The last word in elevenses is the Danish. Large and in charge, the pastry is crumbly and buttery when nibbled, and they're usually filled or topped with cooked fruit. Apple, berry, rhubarb... you name it, you’ll find it. And having that fruit somehow won’t make you feel quite as indulgent either. The maths works, kind of...

Pastel de nata, Portugal

Portugal’s answer to the traditional custard tart is the pastel de nata. So you’ll see these dinky delicacies piled high over there, around bakeries and coffee shops. They’re typically torched to give that brûléed look on top, though these days, you’ll spy blueberry, passionfruit and even caramelised biscuit versions about!

Apfelstrudel, Austria

More of a moreish pudding than a grab-and-go brekkie, you’ll come across apfelstrudel pretty much everywhere in Vienna. The apples are stewed, spiced and embedded with pops of raisins before being cooked in an enrobed pastry case. Does it get any more wholesome? You’ll be saying yes to dessert all city break long.

Kürtőskalács, Hungary

Weren’t Hungary before? Now you will be. You’ll recognise these so-called chimney cakes as the tasty treats that tourists are chowing down on while sightseeing. Across Budapest – and even Prague, as it happens – these strips of dough are rolled around a rod, baked until golden-brown and dunked into sugar. Cream and strawberries are often the pairing of choice.

Gazelle horns, Morocco

Just when you thought it was all eyes on the tagine, we go and tell you all about the Moroccan cookie of sheer delight – gazelle horns. Although its name might sound a little contentious, it’s entirely down to the shape. They’re small and not to scale, but wow – the thin pastry and dense almond paste inside is a blissful combo.

If we’ve really whetted your appetite, it sounds like time you booked that mouth-watering break and set your sights on the bakeries.

Still got main menus on the brain? Read more food and drink blogs here.