Are you planning on heading on an adventure through Europe? Get ready for some amazing street food! These cheap eats are a great way to explore a country’s cuisine without spending too much cash. It’s also great for when you have limited time in a city and still want to tick items off your food bucket list. You don’t always want to spend your valuable time sitting in a restaurant. Grab these affordable, local snacks on the go, and remember to take a food-selfie to mark the occasion!
Würstel in Austria
Fancy a vienna in Vienna? You should! You won’t really find pizza vendors or burger stalls in Vienna. The traditional Viennese snack is sausage. Try the Käsekrainer – a fragrant pork sausage with a cheesy centre, or Frankfurter Würstel made of pork or beef.
Waffle in Belgium
We know, the whole world makes it by now, but there’s truly nothing like the real deal. Trust us, it’s called a Belgian waffle for a reason! Traditionally you have to eat it with your hand, so it’s super easy to get one on-the-go and munch it as you explore amazing destinations across Belgium. The locals make them as you wait and offer anything from whipped cream to strawberries and ice cream as a topping or filling. Bonus point if you get one drizzled with some proper Belgian chocolate!
Ćevapi in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a unique country in Eastern Europe with unique cuisine and snacks to match! Ćevapi is a popular hearty dish. It consists of grilled sausages inside a flatbread with onions and sauce. The onions can be raw or fried. The sauce is normally cottage cheese or sour cream. Yum!
Banitsa in Bulgaria
Banitsa is practically one of Bulgaria‘s national symbols. Easy to eat on the run, this traditional pie is made with homemade a homemade crust and cheese. It is normally filled with meat or spinach. Simple yet delicious!
Trdelnik in the Czech Republic
You can’t visit the Czech Republic without enjoying a trdelnik! This cake-like pastry is prepared on a spit; rolled dough is wrapped around a stick, grilled and dusted with a mix of sugar, spice and sometimes walnuts. You can even add some sweet fillings! Get it while it’s hot on your next Eastern European adventure!
Smørrebrød in Denmark
Smørrebrød are small, open-faced sandwiches that are traditionally served in Denmark as hors d’oeuvres. This normally consists of dense, dark buttered rye bread with toppings like cold meats, cheeses and smears. Give the vegetarian options a try because no trip to Denmark is complete without a taste of Danish cheese!
Karjalanpiirakka in Finland
Karjalanpiirakka are hand pies made from rye flour filled with a rice porridge filling (sometimes mashed potato!). These savoury pastries are from the Karelia region but can be found over Finland as well as in Estonia and Russia.
Crêpes in France
Having a piping hot crepe with a cup of coffee in France should be compulsory! Have the local crêpe-makers (that can be found at food stalls on basically every street corner) make it fresh and fill yours up with anything from Chocolate mascarpone cream to fresh fruit and lemon cream, or go for the savoury option – cheese and ham. It will have you in tears thanks to how delicious it is!
Pretzels in Germany
On a trip to Germany, treat your tastebuds to a german staple – pretzels. The warm, salty, freshly-baked kind, naturally. Proper German pretzels are covered in a special pretzel solution before baking. This gives it its unique colour and taste. Have it with a bratwurst, mustard and an ice-cold beer! Prost!
Souvlaki in Greece
Souvlaki is a tasty Greek fast food that consists of small pieces of meat (beef, chicken or lamb) and vegetables grilled on a skewer. Also served with grilled bread, or in a pita wrap with garnishes and sauces. Great to grab on the go while you’re exploring Greece’s historic cities and stunning islands!
Margherita pizza in Italy
Pizza in Italy is a no-brainer. But did you know that only the Margherita and Marinara pizza are considered to be true Italian pizzas? The Margherita pizza was developed in honour of Queen Margherita in 1889. It is a salute to the colours of the Italian flag – green (basil), red (tomatoes) and white (mozzarella).
Bitterballen in the Netherlands
Amsterdam in the Netherlands is pretty much the world’s street food capital. Get your hands on some bitterballen (best enjoyed with a nice, cold beer). Bitterballen are bite-sized savoury snacks filled with a mixture of chopped beef, beef broth, flour, butter, herbs and spices. This is rolled in batter and breadcrumbs and deep-fried. Add mustard for dipping to really pump up the flavour.
Lefse in Norway
Enjoy a taste of this potato-y flatbread of sorts the next time you’re in Norway. Made with potatoes, butter, flour and cream it tastes a bit different than just your average flatbread. How do you eat it? There is no wrong way! Traditionally it is served with meals as bread, but on its own, it goes down great with butter and sprinkled with sugar.
Pastéis de nata in Portugal
Pastéis (singular: pastel) de nata are small cupcake with soft creamed-yolk centres, served warm from the oven and buried in cinnamon. These sweet treats are a must-have when visiting beautiful Portugal. Have yours with an espresso of a bit of bagaço (Portuguese wine brandy).
Patatas Bravas in Spain
Sitting down for a leisurely afternoon meal in Spain? Patatas Bravas is a quintessential Spanish tapas option! It normally consists of flash-fried chunks of white potato served with warm, spicy tomato sauce.
Semla/fastlagsbulle in Sweden
The Semla bun is a well-loved treat in Sweden. Are you ready for this? Cardamom-spiced wheat bun of which the top part is cut of, and hollowed out to be filled with whipped cream and almond paste. If you’re lucky you will also be able to find a semmelwrap – flat rolled dough with the same filling, eaten as a wrap. Take note: One bun comes in at around 500 calories!
Hungry yet? Better start planning your next trip so you can start ticking these tasty street food treats off your foodie bucket list. We’ll teach you how to say ‘yum’ in every language, and that’s a promise!