Far-flung foodie faves
RT TRAVEL
Belgrade
Let RT’s travel editor Ed Grenby whet your appetite with these delicious destinations
Travel, as anyone with more than two tastebuds knows, is really just dining
with better scenery. We tell ourselves we’re going for the art, the beaches or the fresh air… but really it’s the promise of a perfect bowl or two of something, because a place reveals itself most honestly on a plate. These are trips where flavour is the souvenir — carried home in memory rather than your hand luggage.
EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISES
BUDAPEST TO THE BLACK SEA 15 days from £4,249pp Departures October 2026—October 2027
COPENHAGEN Denmark Copenhagen has spent years being crowned a food capital, yet the real joy lies beyond the headline restaurants and their 250-course tasting menus. Out on the streets, bakeries hum with activity, markets brim with immaculate produce and neighbourhood bistrots turn restraint into a virtue. Eating here feels virtuous without being punishing, thanks to clean flavours and just enough indulgence to keep things human. n WHAT TO ORDER Smørrebrød. Open sandwiches elevated to an art form, balancing texture, freshness and richness with quiet confidence. n WHERE TO TRY IT Aamanns 1921. A refined, central address specialising in beautifully judged modern smørrebrød. ( aamanns.dk ) BOLOGNA Italy Bologna doesn’t shout about its food; it simply assumes you’ll notice. Markets around the Quadrilatero hum with cured meats and cheeses the size of car tyres, while trattorias serve recipes refined, not reinvented. There’s no rush: lunch stretches, conversations linger, and nobody pretends ragù should ever be quick. Order simply, trust tradition, and you’ll understand why Italians call Bologna “la Grassa” — the fat one — with undisguised affection. n WHAT TO ORDER Tagliatelle al ragù. The real thing — slow-cooked meat sauce, with no tomatoes to speak of, clinging to ribbons of fresh egg pasta. n WHERE TO TRY IT Trattoria Anna Maria. Known for formidable pasta and zero interest in trends. ( trattoriaannamaria.eatbu.com ) LYON France Lyon is France with its sleeves rolled up. This is not dainty, show-off cooking but food with ballast — rich, unapologetic and proudly traditional. The city’s famed, rustic-edged bouchons serve dishes that feel designed to fortify: sausages are big, stews hearty, and desserts are unashamedly unafraid of butter. Between meals, wander the traboules — hidden Renaissance passageways — and work up an appetite. You’ll need it. n WHAT TO ORDER Quenelles de brochet. Light, pillowy fish dumplings in a deeply comforting sauce — old-school French cooking at its most reassuring. n WHERE TO TRY IT Le Café des Fédérations. A classic bouchon near Place des Terreaux, beloved for generosity and fidelity to tradition. ( restaurant- cafedesfederations-lyon.fr )
On this incredible journey through the Balkans, discover extraordinary scenery and explore its architectural and cultural heritage. Your cruise includes ◼ 14 nights on board a five-star ship ◼ Choice of cabins with window or French balcony ◼ Full board dining (except
two lunches on full-day excursions), plus Chef’s Dinner ◼ Free drinks package * ◼ Riviera Cruise Director and Cruise Host ◼ All port charges and airport taxes ◼ 20kg+ checked luggage Your Experiences ◼ 10 guided tours including Kalocsa, Belgrade, Pleven, Bucharest,
Constanta, Novi Sad, Vukovar, Osijek and Budapest ◼ Scenic drive into the Pustza with an equestrian show ◼ Cruise through the Iron Gates Gorge and the Danube Delta ◼ Four guided visits including Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi, the Churches of Ivanovo, Belogradchik Rocks and Mesolithic Lepenski Vir
Lyon
Strasbourg
From sophisticated Lyon to medieval Avignon, enjoy a fascinating cruise to one of the most picturesque corners of France. Your cruise includes ◼ Return flights or Eurostar from London St Pancras (supplement may apply), plus transfers ◼ Seven nights on board a five-star ship ◼ Your choice of spacious cabins with window or French balcony ◼ Delicious full board dining, plus Chef’s Dinner ◼ Free drinks package * ◼ Complimentary on-board tea, coffee, and Wi-Fi (connection speeds may vary) ◼ Expert Riviera Cruise Director and Cruise Host ◼ All port charges amd airport taxes ◼ 20kg+ checked luggage Your Experiences ◼ Five guided tours including glorious Lyon, Beaune with wine tasting, historic Vienne, splendid Arles and intriguing Avignon ◼ Three visits including the Ardèche Gorges, the Pont du Gard and Tournon BURGUNDY, RIVER RHÔNE AND PROVENCE Eight days from £1,899pp Departures March 2026—October 2027
A scenic cruise of wonderful contrasts, from refined and historic cities to the enduring allure of the glorious Rhine Gorge. Your cruise includes ◼ Return flights or Eurostar from London St Pancras (supplement may apply), plus transfers ◼ Seven nights on board a five-star ship ◼ Your choice of spacious cabins with window or French balcony ◼ Delicious full board dining, plus Chef’s Dinner ◼ Free drinks package * ◼ Complimentary on-board tea, coffee, and Wi-Fi (connection speeds may vary) ◼ Expert Riviera Cruise Director and Cruise Host ◼ All port charges and airport taxes ◼ 20kg+ checked luggage Your Experiences ◼ Eight guided tours including Koblenz, Boppard, Mainz, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Colmar, Rüdesheim and Cologne ◼ Cruise through the magnificent Rhine Gorge RHINE, STRASBOURG AND HEIDELBERG Eight days from £2,199pp Departures May 2026—October 2027
GREAT DANE Main pic: Copenhagen street scene. Above: Bologna. Right: smørrebrød
To book, or to find out more, call 01283 901 234 quoting RTA (Radio Times), or visit radiotimes.com/holidayoffers
* 2026 and 2027 river cruises include an unlimited quantity of drinks from 10am to midnight while on board (selected drinks available). Prices are per person based on two sharing a cabin. Additional entrance costs may apply. All holidays subject to availability. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel. Operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Tours Ltd, ABTA V4744, ATOL 3430, IATA 9127440. Riviera Travel, New Manor, 328 Wetmore Road, Burton-on-Trent DE14 1SP. Prices correct at time of print
3
2
14–20 February 2026
radiotimes.com/travelfeb2026
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting