How many holidays do you remember for the meals alone? The dinners-with-a-view; the long, lingering lunches; the wine that kept flowing. For food lovers, travelling for standout dishes isn’t just indulgent, it’s one of the most immersive ways to connect with a place and its people.
If you’re in search of new horizons, fresh air and even fresher flavours this year, Europe’s lake and mountain regions deliver. Expect time-honoured regional dishes, local wines served against extraordinary backdrops, and hikes designed to build an appetite. With TUI Lakes & Mountains, holidays are built around exactly this kind of discovery, pairing pinch-me views from villas and vineyards with authentic foodie experiences and 24/7 support from its expert team. Here are our top picks.
Lemony fish, buttery pasta and aperitivo in the Italian Lakes
Lake Garda’s Mediterranean microclimate makes it a haven for local produce. In the north, the hilltop village of Limone sul Garda is dotted with traditional limonaie (lemon houses), where citrus appears in everything from zingy dressings and grilled fish to street-side lemonade. To the south, the vineyard-covered hills are a wine-lover’s dream: head to Bardolino in June for the annual Palio del Chiaretto rosé festival, or trace the area’s Roman winemaking roots at the Zeni Winery’s Wine Museum. Come dusk, join the passeggiata (evening stroll) along Bardolino’s cypress tree-lined promenade before settling in at La Cantinetta for mussels marinara and freshly baked bruschetta.
A ferry ride away in Salò, olive oil production dates back thousands of years. A visit to Frantoio Manestrini followed by a picnic among the groves makes for an ideal summer afternoon. For a change of pace, a TUI Lakes & Mountains tour into the Brenta Dolomites winds through alpine scenery with stops for artisan honey and traditional liqueur tastings.
Where to stay: Excelsior le Terrazze, for a candlelit aperitivo on its oleander-scented terrace overlooking the Gulf of Garda.
Must-try dish: Bigoli con le sarde – sardines gently fried in local olive oil and folded through soft Veneto egg pasta.
Viennese coffee, chocolate and strudel in Austria
Beyond its storybook landscapes, Austria offers rich culinary rewards. St Johann in Tyrol, with its cobbled streets, is full of charm. Here, soul-comforting dishes fuel days spent hopping on mountain gondolas and trekking to local waterfalls: think slow-cooked beef broth and perfectly crisp schnitzel with views of the Wilder Kaiser mountains. From here, Salzburg is an easy train ride – explore by river boat, visit the 17th-century fountains of Hellbrunn Palace Gardens, and stop for a frothy stein in a traditional beer hall.
Austria’s café culture is recognised by UNESCO, and rightly so. In picturesque Zell am See, warm up after a morning dip in the Strandbad Lido with Viennese coffee and cake by the lake. Apple strudel and rich Sachertorte (dense chocolate cake) are local delicacies not to be missed.
Where to stay: Grand Hotel Zell am See, for sweeping lake views and refined Austrian cooking.
Must-try dish: Tiroler gröstl – crispy potatoes, bacon and onion topped with a soft fried egg; Austria’s answer to bubble and squeak.
Swiss rösti, creamy cheese and farmer’s markets in Switzerland
While you might visit Switzerland for the scenery, you’ll leave thinking about the food. Interlaken, tucked between the glacier-fed waters of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, is the ideal base, with alpine villages Grindelwald and Wengen close by. Book with TUI Lakes & Mountains and choose from a range of unique local excursions: experience Lake Brienz by boat with a floating chocolate fondue tasting, or opt for the alpine cheese farm experience – take a bus ride followed by a brief hike into the mountains for a traditional cheesemaking workshop, finished with a farmer’s brunch of crispy rösti and nutty Emmentaler.
Back in the valley, the region rewards wandering: raclette enjoyed somewhere with a view, mugs of warm Ovomaltine in a station café, and the joys of a Swiss market, with pickled vegetables, dense rye bread, and jars of dark sticky honey.
Where to stay: Hotel Alpenblick, where Swiss chalet charm meets Michelin-starred food.
Must-try dish: Chestnut vermicelles – a spaghetti-style dessert featuring crushed meringue and whipped cream.
Travel the TUI Lakes & Mountains way
Whichever destination has tantalised your taste buds, the team at TUI Lakes & Mountains will make your journey seamless and stress-free. Each of its carefully curated selection of holidays includes hand-picked local stays, authentic experiences and outstanding scenery – and you can travel safe in the knowledge that your trip is ABTA- and ATOL-protected, with 24-hour support via the TUI Holidayline should you require it.
Ready to plan your summer escape? Explore TUI Lakes & Mountains’ full range of holidays at tui.co.uk/holidays/lakes-and-mountains
