Croatia Food Tours: Having a Local Authentic Experience

Croatia Food Tours: Having a Local Authentic Experience

Croatia food tours are a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the local culture and get an authentic experience of the country that you are visiting. The local cuisine showcases the spirit, culture and environment of the area, allowing you to delve into the country’s very soul through your taste-buds.

There are many different opportunities for you to explore and experience Croatia’s cuisine through tailored Croatia food tours, ranging from fine dining at Michelin-star restaurants, to truffle hunting and street food excursions.

Croatia Food Tours 

Croatian cuisine prioritizes simple, fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. The local food varies between the coastal and continental regions and unites Mediterranean, Central European, and Eastern influences.

In coastal regions, such as the Dalmatia, there is an emphasis on seafood which is caught fresh. Some of the best Croatian seafood dishes you can find along the nation’s glorious coastline include octopus peka, black risotto, buzara and brudet. Further inland, in cities such as Zagreb, the food is typically heartier and includes items such as grilled and roasted meat dishes.

Some Croatian food tours to book with Adventures Croatia:

1. Cooking classes in Croatia with local residents

Cooking classes in Croatia are an incredible way to learn more about the best local produce, as well as the history behind all of the recipes. The classes frequently take place in somebody’s home and start by going to the local market to purchase the items you will be cooking with. 

Going to the local market to pick up fresh produce and interacting with the vendors is a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture. 

By partaking in a cooking class in Croatia, you will learn how to make a few delicious and authentic Croatian dishes. In the end you’ll even get to sit down and enjoy the dishes you made together.

2. Truffle hunting 

Truffle hunting happens in Autumn in Istria, the most northwestern region of the country. This can be organized as part of one of our Croatia food tours, where you set off with a local licensed truffle hunter into the woods with their trusty truffle-hunter dog.

You will get the opportunity to see how the truffles are found while you learn more about the history and knowledge that has been passed down through generations. Afterwards, there is a cooking course using all the truffles that you found. This is a unique experience that many remember as a highlight of their trip. If you are in Croatia during October, there is an annual truffle festival called “Days of Truffles” where you can taste dishes made from local, freshly found truffles.

3. Street food tours 

There are various different popular Croatian street food items to try, encompassing all the nation’s greatest flavors, from sweet to savory. Must-try authentic Croatian food items include burek (a flaky dough stuffed with meat or vegetables), corn on the cob (topped with delicious olive oil), fritule (fried pastry with a soft inside) and all types of pizzas and sandwiches.

The Old Town in Split is a great place to explore and taste the local street food. Try the local delicacies such as grilled (na gradele) fish and pašticada. 

4. Olive oil tastings 

Croatia is well known for its beautiful olive groves, as well as producing top quality olive oil. While good olive oil is produced throughout Croatia, the Istrian and Dalmatian regions are particularly well known for producing the best quality olive oil. 

The flavor profile of olive oil varies throughout the country, depending on the variety of olives grown and the production methods used. Our local travel experts can organize bespoke olive oil tastings for you which can range from wholesome tastings hosted in a small tavern in Split to sessions in Istria focused on learning about the production of olive oil in family-owned vineyards.

5. Cheese tasting 

Cheese tasting on the Island of Pag is a wonderful food excursion to include on your Croatia food tour. Pag cheese, one of Croatia’s most iconic cheeses made from sheep’s milk, comes from this sunny island in the Adriatic.

Other popular Croatian cheeses include Škripavac and Istrian cheese which showcase the rich diversity of Croatian cheeses. Škripavac is a fresh, soft cheese from the mountainous region, while Istrian cheese is made from cow’s, sheep’s or goat’s milk and ranges from hard to soft textures.

6. Oysters 

Mali Ston, near Dubrovnik, is known around the world for producing some of the best oysters due to the area’s unique combination of saltwater and freshwater. The Festival of Oysters   (coinciding with St Joseph’s Day) takes place in March, when oysters reach full maturity. Visitors can come sample these world-class oysters, which are prepared in a variety of ways, enjoy the celebrations and learn more about the farming process.

7. Fine dining 

Croatia has an array of top rated restaurants throughout the country. Croatia has 11 Michelin star restaurants in various destinations such as Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik. The country also has numerous more listed in the Michelin Guide, recognised for their premium quality. 

There are many opportunities for a beautiful and scenic dining experience. One particularly stunning spot is 360 in Dubrovnik, a Michelin-star restaurant which has a terrace situated in the medieval walls and incredible views the sea, the port, the Old Town and St John’s Fortress. Discover our favorite luxury dining experiences in Croatia. 

8. Food and wine pairing 

Croatia is also home to many beautiful indigenous grape varieties. The most well known wine regions are Istria, Kvarner, Dalmatia, Slavonia, Danube and Upland Croatia. Food and wine pairings are common throughout the country and are a great way to experience the best of Croatia’s food and wine. 

Excursions to vineyards can be organized, where you walk among the vines, taste wine in the cellars, and hear more about the winemaking process and the grape varieties native to Croatia.

Booking Croatia Food Tours with Adventures Croatia

If you love food and wine, and want to immerse yourself into the Croatian local cuisine, book your spot on our Wine and Culinary Delights tour. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff at Adventures Croatia are always happy to help. Please contact us for any advice, recommendations, further information or to book a customized tour.