5 Best Beach Vacations for Foodies with The International Kitchen

You may think that, when organizing your next vacation, you have to choose between a culinary vacation and a beach vacation. But you would be wrong! We have plenty of fabulous foodie trips that combine both hands-on cooking classes and foodie tours with amazing time at the beach. And let’s face it. We’re all ready for some relaxation after a year of pandemic. So whether you’re looking to travel this summer or next, now’s a great time to start researching and planning. Here we’re highlighting 5 of our favorites!

The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. – Jacques Cousteau

1. Farm to Beach Getaway in Greece

The name says it all! What could be better than spending a week in Greece just steps from the beach and enjoying a farm-to-table culinary experience? Or friend and long-time collaborator Katerina of our Greek Cooking Odyssey on Poros island (another amazing beach vacation!) offers this amazing and unique experience at her family farm near Galatas. Katerina has painstakingly renovated the buildings on the farm into apartments, a cottage, and luxury tents, which allow you to really get away from it all in beautiful natural setting. The farm’s lemon and olive groves are central to Katerina’s cooking, of course, as both are mainstays of Greek cuisine. This amazing beach vacation offers access to walking, cycling, snorkeling, and swimming, as well as additional water sports. It also provides easy access to the island of Poros and the other Saronic islands such as Hydra and Aegina. Meet Chef Katerina. As an aside, most of our itineraries in Greece make great beach vacations! Another great on to check out is our Zakynthos Island Adventure!

2. Cooking on the Riviera Maya

Journey to the Riviera Maya, one of Mexico’s most prized destinations, on this 7-night culinary vacation that will satisfy all your senses. Stay in the town of Puerto Morelos in a private cottage (casita) or at a beachfront hotel and discover the sun and sea of the Yucatan peninsula. Your hostess, chef Ale, runs a local cooking school and will guide you through an exploration of Mexican cuisine during your hands-on cooking classes and foodie excursions. During the seven-night itinerary you also spend two fabulous days in the interior, in Valladolid, where you have the chance to swim in one of the area’s famous “cenotes,” or natural swimming holes. In addition to free time to enjoy the beach on your own in Puerto Morelos, the week-long culinary vacation features a full beach day spent at Isla Mujeres. Bring on the margaritas! Meet Chef Ale.

3. Culinary Experience on the Amalfi Coast

Everyone has heard of Italy’s Amalfi Coast, and it is no wonder why it’s one of our most popular destinations in Italy. Some of the towns of the Amalfi Coast and the Sorrentine Peninsula do not offer easy access to their beaches, but when you find them, you will be stunned by their beauty! We could have chosen other trips from our many cooking vacations on the Amalfi Coast, but our Culinary Experience on the Amalfi Coast we think is the best beach vacation among them. Not only does the hotel where you stay have private beach access (via a cool elevator that takes you from the hotel down to the level of the beach), but also because of the amazing day you spend going to the isle of Capri by private boat. When possible this is done with the hotel’s own private yacht! Jump off the back and swim around in the clear blue waters of Capri. It’s simply irresistible! Learn more about the isle of Capri.

4. Lisbon & the Algarve

Enjoy the best of all that Portugal has to offer on this unique 6-night itinerary. You start in the bustling, amazing city of Lisbon, then head south to the Algarve region, known for its gorgeous coastline, mild climate, and abundant seafood. The rocky, rugged coastline and amazing beaches will wow you with their beauty. This is, after all, the very edge of Europe, perched on the shores of the Atlantic. Part of what makes this culinary vacation so amazing is having the city experience in Lisbon before your beach vacation in the Algarve. After exploring the culture, history, and cuisine of the capital city, it is time to relax in the laid-back south, where you will stay at a gorgeous resort right on the Atlantic and near the famed Praia da Falésia beach. This is an experience not to be missed! Learn more about Lisbon and the Algarve.

5. Catalonian Culinary Vacations on the Costa Brava

Travel to Spain’s Costa Brava for the ultimate Spanish culinary and beach vacation. The Empordá region lies in the north-eastern part of Catalonia, bordering France. Here the rugged coastline, beautiful beaches, and amazing climate have made one of Spain’s most popular vacation destinations. Visit the small fishing villages as well as the beautiful city of Girona, explore the flavors of the Mediterranean, and enjoy plenty of time at the beach during our 3-night or 6-night culinary vacations on the Costa Brava. This part of Spain, it should come as no surprise, is known for its abundant seafood and olive and wine production. However, its mountainous interior means you get excellent meats, including cured meats, and cheeses. Couple that with traditional Spanish dishes like paella, and this is the ultimate exploration of Mediterranean cuisine. Your accommodations are in a sea-front hotel that affords access to a number of local coves and their beaches, making this the ultimate culinary and beach getaway in Spain. Of course, these are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we can offer our culinary travelers who are also looking for some relaxing beach time. Contact us for more ideas or to start planning your next trip! By Peg Kern Sign up to receive our newsletter, which includes travel tips, recipes, promotions, and information on our best cooking vacations. Find more photos, videos, food facts, and travel stories from The International Kitchen on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube.