Summer days are made for mouthfuls on the move, as you make your way to that golden beach, to that must-visit gallery or those postcard-perfect gardens. Lip-smacking, flavour-packed street food gifts you with a sensory slice of a country’s heritage, that you won’t find in any guidebooks.

We’ve chomped our way around Europe, discovering the best snacks to sample in our favourite summer hotspots. So, without further ado, let’s dig in….

Disclaimer: belly rumbles likely

Spain

Empanadas

There’s no denying Spain’s top-tier status when it comes to crave-worthy cuisine, so it’s easy to get your foodie fix. Sure, it’s full of fancy restaurants to wine and dine in, but sometimes the country’s best bites come from a curb-side cart. Empanadas are hard to beat for pure munching pleasure and make the perfect sightseeing snack. These fried pockets of crescent-shaped pastry are baked until bronzed and stuffed with healthy-but-hearty fillings. These vary from region to region, but classic recipes include beef, chicken and vegetables.

Greece

Gyros

Wander down any street in any Greek town, and you’re sure to stumble across the alluring aroma of a gyros stand. It’s a staple of their culinary culture, uniquely cooked on a vertical rotisserie spit. The humble pita is crammed to bursting with a mouth-watering mix of slow-roasted meats and sweet vegetables, drenched in a creamy tzatziki sauce. It makes for a tasty takeaway, but it can get a bit messy to eat, so best to find somewhere to perch before you dive in.

Italy

Arancini

Italy regularly ranks at the top of the world’s best destinations for street food, so it’s a challenge to pick just one tasty treat. We’ve gone for the fan-favourite, fried goodness that is arancini. It originates from Sicily, where snacking on the street is a centuries-old tradition and the motto is maximum taste for minimum cost. Arancini are unpretentious yet delicious, saffron-scented balls of sticky rice. They come with a range of fillings, from rich ragù to more exotic combinations like smoked cheese or pistachio.

Portugal

Pastel de nata

You can’t visit Portugal without eating your weight in pastéis de natas – that’s the cardinal rule, and we’ll happily oblige! These cinnamon-dusted, custard tarts are best enjoyed oven-warm, so they’re still delightfully gooey. Packed with flavour and texture, they’re lightly burnt on top, adding a slightly bitter note that cuts through the sweetness. They’re the ideal accompaniment to a morning coffee, but be warned, stopping at just one is an impossible task!

Turkey

Simit

In Turkey, the locals know that sometimes the best way to eat is on your feet, on the street. Simit, is a staple of the country’s street-snack culture. It’s Turkey’s answer to a bagel, but better! Once you’ve bitten into the warm, doughy, sesame-studded ring, you’ll see what all the fuss is about. You can enjoy one at any time of day, but it’s a key component of Turkey’s lavish kahvaltı (breakfast). It’s used as a vessel to be ripped up and slathered in cheese or dipped into pots of sweet jam.

Croatia

Fritule

Croatia’s charm is as prevalent in its food scene as it is in its breathtaking beaches and culture-stuffed cities. Fritule should be your snack of choice if you’re searching for a sugar hit. Biting into these fried, sugar-sprinkled dough balls delivers an oh-so-satisfying crunch. You can find them flavoured with a range of nuts, spices and fruits, so try them all and pick your preference. Hailing from the Dalmatian coast, this delightful delicacy is a festive favourite, so you’ll find it on Croatian dinner tables throughout Christmas, Carnival and Easter. They’re designed for sharing, but if you fancy a bowl all to yourself, we’re not here to judge!