Piraeus, Athens Rank in Top 3 for Authentic Food in Europe

The report, conducted by travel company Saga, analyzed Google reviews from over 5,000 restaurants across 125 European cities.

 It tracked mentions of the words "authentic" and "traditional," combined with overall customer ratings, to determine which cities best capture their local cuisine.

Budapest, Hungary, was crowned the top destination.

Piraeus, often overshadowed by the capital, was the surprise No. 2.

The study highlighted the port city as a haven for seafood lovers, praising its fresh fish, grilled octopus, and crispy fried cod.

Athens ranked third, earning a near-perfect score of 96 out of 100 for its "warm authenticity." The report cited Greek classics like meze, gyros, souvlaki, and fava.

"In Greece, one of the best ways to experience local cuisine is through meze — small plates that let you taste a wide variety of flavors,” the report noted.

Significantly, no cities from gastronomic powerhouses France or Spain made the top five. Vienna and Krakow rounded out the top five, respectively.

The results suggest travelers are increasingly valuing local, authentic culinary experiences over fine-dining prestige.