If you’re as dotty about desserts as us, you’ll want to trail around Europe by following your taste buds. Depending on where you go, ice creams come in all shapes and sizes, so don’t worry if your eyes can be bigger than your stomach sometimes – you’ll find a pud that’s primed for you.

Across Spain, Greece, Italy and more, there are so many places that’ll dazzle you with their craving-quashing quenelles. Plus, cities such as Prague and Budapest offer some unique innovations too! Need a little inspiration? Here’s the inside scoop…

Italy

Think Italy, think gelato? We do too. Buttery pistachio, cheeky chocolate and fruity raspberry are all scrummy choices of the sorbet-style stuff around the beaches of Sorrento and inner-city Rome. If you’re going with the kids, grab a few napkins for those mucky pups! Sicily and Florence are particularly fab for flavours as well – especially if you’re seeking something citrusy.

Malta

Cool off with a tub or two in Malta’s rays. You can even get ice cream here that’s fashioned into flowers and sculpted in waffle cones – pretty cool, hey? Prickly pear is a hit with the locals, so it’s worth a try. We’ve heard great things about the quirky options like chai latte and nougat too. You’re on your jollies after all – push the boat out!

France

More so in the French Riviera than Provence, you’ll spy seaside vendors specialising in the melt-in-the-mouth stuff. It’s often a soft-serve around these parts of France, making it a must while you stroll along the sand. But if you’re staying in the city, nothing’s quite as Nice (we couldn’t resist) as an ice cream while you sightsee. In fact, we’d say it’s the perfect reward during a day of box-ticking brilliance.

Spain

Ibiza’s top-rated gelato comes from Vivi’s Creamery, owned by the wife of German racing driver, Nico Rosberg! It’s one for more daring kids, with options like praline, chilli mango, dragon fruit and black vanilla. Beyond the Balearics, regions around mainland Spain are guaranteed hits with fans of the more traditional picks. They just don’t get any better, do they?

Portugal

You won’t be far from artisanal ice creams in Portugal, but you can stick to the sumptuous classics on offer in the Algarve. If you’re partial to frozen desserts, you can’t beat cooling off with a cone in Albufeira. And when a more gorge-worthy after-dinner treat is on the cards, the top sugar fixes come in the form of crêpes topped with just-rolled spheres of gelato.

Czech Republic

Prague has a whole heap of pudding places to Czech out. And you don’t just have to go cone-ventional – in fact, piled-high sundaes are dished up in some of the fanciest digs, so how about ordering one of those instead? No matter whether you’re all for a decadent dark chocolate variant or something creamier, you’ll spot a dessert with your name on it.

Greece

Over in Greece, postcodes around Rhodes and Lefkas happen to be brimming with places you can get hold of these from-the-freezer fancies. We can’t tell you how tasty the whacky flavours like cherry yoghurt and baklava are! They’re velvety in texture and that can be down to them being made from goat’s milk.

Hungary

Hungary for more? Head to Budapest. Similarly to Malta, ice creams here are tiered into rose petals to make the cutest frozen features for your Instagram stories. But you can up the ante with the capital’s main on-the-go or after-dinner export – the humble chimney cake. This funnel-shaped pastry piece is hot but often finished with ice cream and fresh fruit. Prepare to feel pleasantly full.