Best travel destinations for food allergies

Clear ingredient menu labelling zones and allergen-aware dining districts

Travelling with a food allergy adds a layer of planning most people never have to think about and the right destination can make that planning a lot easier.

Some travellers manage a single allergy like nuts or shellfish that is fairly easy to explain and avoid, while others deal with coeliac disease or multiple allergies that require real care with every meal. Countries with strong food labelling laws and a good understanding of gluten free and dairy free eating make dining out far less stressful, while places where cross contamination is poorly understood call for more caution and backup snacks. Access to good medical care also matters more here than on an average trip, in case a reaction happens far from home.

The destinations on our list take these factors into account, favouring places where eating out feels manageable rather than stressful. A bit of research before you go still makes a real difference.

Lists by region

Worldwide (46) Africa (7) Asia (6) Europe (11) North America (8) Oceania (8) South America (6)

City in New Zealand

Where Urban Life Meets Nature

New Zealand's Food Standards Code requires packaged foods to declare major allergens such as peanuts, milk and sesame. La Cigale French Market in Parnell runs on Saturday and Sunday mornings with fresh produce. Stallholders can explain what goes into their products. Ferries from the city centre reach Waiheke Island in about 40 minutes.

Explore Auckland

A vibrant mix of cultures and skyline

St. Lawrence Market has served as a public market since 1803 near Toronto's waterfront. Its South Market building holds more than 100 vendors selling fish, meat, cheese and bread. Canadian labels must declare priority allergens including sesame, mustard and sulphites. Peameal bacon, a Toronto favourite, is coated in cornmeal rather than wheat flour.

Explore Toronto

Where mountains, ocean and city life meet

Granville Island Public Market opened in 1979 on a former industrial site. Vendors sell fresh fish, seasonal produce, cheese and baked goods under one roof. Shoppers can ask makers directly what goes into each item they sell. Small aquabus ferries cross False Creek to the island from downtown.

Explore Vancouver

City in Denmark

Scandi-cool vibes and world-class food

Torvehallerne food market opened in 2011 in two glass halls beside Nørreport station. About 60 stalls sell fresh fish, vegetables, cheese and bread. Danish rules require restaurants to give information on 14 major allergens. Open faced smørrebrød sandwiches are easy to check because each topping is visible.

Explore Copenhagen

Fashion, Art and Historic Splendor

Risotto alla milanese, made from rice, saffron, butter and broth, is a signature dish of Milan. It contains no wheat, though butter and parmesan bring milk. Breaded veal cutlet called cotoletta alla milanese contains wheat and egg. Italian law requires restaurants to declare 14 major allergens.

Where islands, history and modernity meet

Östermalms Saluhall has sold food since 1888 in a brick hall on Östermalmstorg. Its counters sell fish, game, cheese, bread and fresh berries in season. Lactose free milk and yogurt are widely sold in Swedish supermarkets. Traditional cinnamon buns called kanelbullar contain wheat, milk and eggs.

Explore Stockholm

City in United States

Historic charm meets modern innovation

A Massachusetts law requires restaurants to display an allergy awareness poster in staff areas. Menus must also carry a notice asking diners to tell servers about food allergies. Clam chowder and fried seafood dominate many Boston menus. Diners with shellfish allergies should ask about shared fryers.

Where coastal charm meets cool culture

The Saluhallen food hall has stood on Kungstorget since 1889. Its iron and brick hall holds stalls selling fish, cheese, bread and vegetables. Swedish rules follow EU law that requires 14 major allergens to be declared, even on unpackaged food. Trams link the market with the rest of the compact centre.

Explore Gothenburg

The cradle of the Renaissance

The Mercato Centrale opened in 1874 in the San Lorenzo district. Ground floor stalls sell fresh meat, cheese, fish and vegetables. Bistecca alla fiorentina is a thick grilled steak seasoned with salt and olive oil. Tuscan pane sciocco, a bread baked without salt, still contains wheat.

Explore Florence

City in United States

Where nature and innovation converge

Pike Place Market opened in 1907 on a bluff above Elliott Bay. Farmers, fishmongers, cheesemakers and bakers sell directly to shoppers. Sesame joined the nine major allergens that US law requires on packaged food labels in 2023. Stalls let shoppers ask makers about ingredients face to face.

Explore Seattle

City in South Africa

Mountains, Beaches and a Vibrant Culture

The Neighbourgoods Market fills the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock every Saturday morning. Stalls sell fresh produce, bread, cheese and prepared meals. Cooks at the stalls can explain ingredients face to face. South African rules require packaged foods to declare allergens such as peanuts, milk and gluten cereals.

Explore Cape Town

City in United States

Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums

New York City health rules require restaurants to post a food allergy poster in the kitchen. A certified supervisor must be present whenever food is being prepared. The Union Square Greenmarket runs four days a week with farmers selling produce and eggs. Shoppers can ask growers how their food is raised.

Explore New York City

City in Australia

River City with a Laid-Back Vibe

Davies Park Market in West End runs on Saturday mornings with fresh produce, bread and street food. Shopping for whole ingredients makes cooking in a holiday rental easier for allergic travellers. CityCat ferries glide along the Brisbane River between riverside suburbs. Queensland's warm climate suits long picnic lunches beside the water.

Explore Brisbane

City in Finland

Nordic charm by the Baltic Sea

Finnish menus mark dishes with letters such as G for gluten free and L for lactose free. M means free of milk and VL means low in lactose. The Old Market Hall opened in 1889 beside the harbour. Its stalls sell fish, cheese, baked goods and fresh berries in summer.

Explore Helsinki

Where urban life meets wild adventures

Ugali, a stiff porridge made from maize flour, is a daily staple across Kenya. Maize is a cereal that is naturally free of gluten. Nyama choma, grilled meat seasoned with salt, comes with ugali and a tomato and onion salad called kachumbari. Mandazi, popular fried dough snacks, are made with wheat flour.

Explore Nairobi

A vibrant mix of culture and cuisine

The Mercado Municipal opened in 1933 in the city centre with stained glass windows and tall arches. Stalls sell tropical fruit, nuts, spices, dried fish and cured meats. Vendors offer slices of fruit to taste before buying. Brazilian labels list allergens after the word alérgicos, followed by each ingredient name.

Explore São Paulo

City in Morocco

A vibrant maze of colors and spices

Food stalls with numbered grills fill the Jemaa el-Fnaa square in the old medina every evening. Tagine, a stew slow cooked in a clay pot, usually contains meat, vegetables, olive oil and spices. Some versions add whole almonds or dried prunes for sweetness. Couscous, served alongside many stews, is made from wheat semolina.

Explore Marrakech

City in South Korea

Where Tradition Meets High-Tech Marvels

South Korea requires packaged foods to declare allergens that include mackerel, pork, peach and tomato. Sesame oil, soy sauce and soybean paste flavour much of Korean cooking. Bibimbap arrives with each topping in a separate pile, which makes it easy to adjust. Restaurant menus often include photos of each dish.

A vibrant city between mountains

The Mercado Central opened in 1872 under an ornate iron roof. Stalls sell fresh fish, shellfish and vegetables. La Vega Central, a large fruit and vegetable market, stands across the Mapocho river. Chile requires packaged foods to list common allergens such as peanuts, milk and wheat.

Explore Santiago

Tropical city-state of hawker food and gardens

UNESCO added Singapore's hawker culture to its intangible heritage list in 2020. Most stalls specialise in one or two dishes with short ingredient lists. Singapore's food rules require packaged foods to declare allergens such as peanuts and crustaceans. Chicken rice comes with plain poached chicken, fragrant rice and chilli sauce.

Explore Singapore

City in New Zealand

Creative capital by wild seas

Harbourside Market sets up beside the waterfront near Te Papa on Sundays. Stalls sell vegetables, eggs, cheese, bread, honey and freshly roasted coffee. Stallholders can explain how their products are grown or made. The compact city centre is walkable from the waterfront to Cuba Street.

Explore Wellington

City in Malaysia

A fusion of cultures and skyscrapers

Nasi lemak, a national dish of Malaysia, is coconut rice served with anchovies, peanuts, cucumber and egg. Stalls in Kuala Lumpur assemble each plate from separate toppings. Diners can ask vendors to leave out the peanuts or anchovies. Food courts in malls display their dishes on illustrated boards.

Explore Kuala Lumpur

City in United Kingdom

History, Culture and Festival Fever

Every Saturday a farmers' market fills Castle Terrace below Edinburgh Castle. Producers sell fresh seafood, meat, cheese and baked goods. Scottish rules follow UK law that requires 14 major allergens to be declared. Traditional porridge and oatcakes are based on oats, which many gluten free diners avoid unless certified.

Explore Edinburgh

City in Ethiopia

Vibrant capital where history meets modernity

Orthodox fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays leads many Ethiopian restaurants to serve meals free of meat, dairy and eggs. Those dishes use vegetable oil instead of spiced butter. Injera comes from teff, a tiny grain without gluten, though some cooks blend in wheat or barley flour. Diners should ask whether the injera is pure teff.

Explore Addis Ababa

City in Ireland

Bohemian spirit on the wild Atlantic

A Saturday market sets up beside St Nicholas' Collegiate Church in the medieval centre. Stalls sell fresh vegetables, cheese, bread and hot street food. Traders often chat with shoppers about how each item is made. Oysters from Galway Bay are a local speciality each autumn.

City in Argentina

Colonial Heritage, Student Energy, Sierras

The Jesuit Block in central Córdoba became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The National University of Córdoba, founded in 1613, fills the district with cafés and bakeries. Steakhouses serve simple grilled cuts seasoned mainly with salt. Look for the sin TACC label when buying packaged snacks.

Explore Córdoba

City in Thailand

The city of contrasts and chaos

Fish sauce, shrimp paste and ground peanuts flavour many classic Thai dishes. Oyster sauce and soy sauce also appear in many stir fries. Allergy cards written in Thai help explain restrictions to kitchen staff. Street vendors cook each dish to order in full view of customers.

Explore Bangkok

City in United Kingdom

A Tapestry of History and Modernity

Natasha's Law, in force since October 2021, requires full ingredient lists on food packed on site. Sandwich shops and bakeries across London must label every ingredient. Restaurants must also tell diners which of 14 major allergens a dish contains. Borough Market near London Bridge has traded on its present site since 1756.

City in Australia

The heart of culture and coffee

Researchers at Melbourne's Murdoch Children's Research Institute found that about 10 percent of one year olds had a food allergy. That work, known as the HealthNuts study, helped shape national advice on early peanut and egg introduction. Queen Victoria Market has sold fresh food since 1878. Australian law requires packaged foods to declare major allergens.

Explore Melbourne

City in New Zealand

The Garden City of Adventure

A farmers' market meets on Saturday mornings at historic Riccarton House in Christchurch. Growers sell vegetables, eggs, meat, cheese and honey directly to shoppers. Talking with producers shows travellers exactly what goes into each product. The city's flat streets suit easy cycling between the market and central hotels.

Explore Christchurch

Where ancient history meets bustling life

Koshari, a popular Egyptian street dish of rice, lentils, pasta and fried onions, is vegan by tradition. The pasta in it contains wheat. Ta'ameya, Egyptian falafel, is made from fava beans instead of chickpeas. Ful medames is simply cooked fava beans with oil, lemon and cumin.

City in Australia

Festivals, wine and laid-back charm

The Central Market on Grote Street has traded since 1869 with dozens of stalls. Fresh produce, meat, fish and cheese stalls make self catering simple. Cooking from whole ingredients avoids the hidden allergens found in many prepared foods. The market sits a short walk from Victoria Square in the city centre.

Explore Adelaide

The Eternal City of history and charm

Italy's health service helps people with coeliac disease pay for gluten free food. Pharmacies and supermarkets in Rome stock gluten free bread and pasta. Classic Roman pasta such as cacio e pepe uses only pasta, pecorino cheese and black pepper. Short ingredient lists make dishes easier to check.

A city of festivals, food and culture

Jean-Talon Market opened in 1933 in the Little Italy neighbourhood. Farmers sell vegetables, fruit, cheese and maple products at outdoor stalls. Canadian food labels appear in both English and French across the country. Montreal style bagels are boiled in honey water and rolled in sesame or poppy seeds before baking.

Explore Montreal

City in Australia

Where urban life meets stunning beaches

Carriageworks Farmers Market fills a former railway workshop in Eveleigh every Saturday. Growers sell fresh produce, eggs, cheese, bread and hot food. Australian rules require packaged foods to declare allergens including sesame, lupin and tree nuts. Ferries from Circular Quay cross the harbour to Manly in about 30 minutes.

Scandinavia’s modern capital in nature’s embrace

Mathallen Oslo opened in 2012 in the former industrial Vulkan district. About 30 vendors sell fish, cheese, bread and vegetables. Norwegian rules require restaurants to give allergen information for 14 major allergens. Seafood is a staple on many menus, which makes shared fryers worth asking about.

City in Ireland

Ireland’s rebel city with soul

The English Market has traded in central Cork since 1788. Its Victorian hall from 1862 holds stalls selling fresh fish, meat, cheese and vegetables. Shoppers can ask the traders how each product is made. Farmgate Café on the upper level serves meals from ingredients bought below.

Historic Charm Meets Coastal Vibes

Potatoes, corn and quinoa are Andean staples that are naturally free of gluten. Peru grows thousands of native potato varieties in the Andes. Classic ceviche of raw fish, lime juice, onion and chilli contains no wheat or dairy. Chifa restaurants, though, rely on soy sauce and wheat noodles.

Valley in Chile

Casablanca Valley

Hidden gem of Andean highlands

Cool ocean breezes suit Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay grapes in this valley west of Santiago. Wine naturally contains sulfites, which Chilean rules require labels to declare. Guests can share food allergies when booking a winery lunch. The drive from Santiago takes a little over an hour by road.

Explore Casablanca Valley

The heartbeat of Brazil's coast

Brazilian law has required packaged foods to say whether they contain gluten since 2003. Labels read contém glúten or não contém glúten. Tapioca crepes and pão de queijo cheese bread are made from cassava starch instead of wheat flour. Beachside kiosks sell fresh coconut water and cut fruit.

Explore Rio de Janeiro

City in Ireland

Where History, Pubs and Culture Collide

Irish food businesses must give customers clear information on 14 major allergens. Temple Bar Food Market sets up on Saturdays in Meeting House Square. Stalls sell fresh vegetables, artisan cheese, bread and hot lunches. Dublin's compact centre is easy to explore on foot in a single day.

City in South Africa

Vibrant city life meets rich history

Pap, a stiff porridge made from maize meal, is a staple on South African tables. Maize is naturally free of gluten. Braai meals pair grilled meat with pap and chakalaka, a spicy vegetable relish. Some boerewors sausages contain wheat based filler, which is worth asking butchers about.

Explore Johannesburg

City in Argentina

Where Tango and Culture Thrive

Argentine food labels marked sin TACC show that a product is free of wheat, oats, barley and rye. Dedicated sin TACC bakeries and cafés operate in many neighbourhoods across the city. Steakhouses typically season grilled beef with only coarse salt. Diners can ask for chimichurri sauce on the side.

Explore Buenos Aires

City in Australia

Sun, surf and city style collide

Fremantle Markets have traded in a Victorian hall since 1897 close to the harbour. Stalls selling fresh fruit, vegetables, bread and cheese make self catering simple. Trains link central Perth and Fremantle in about 30 minutes. Sunny weather across Western Australia suits outdoor picnic lunches by the river.

A vibrant blend of old and new

Taiwan requires packaged foods to declare 11 groups of allergens, including mango. Many stalls cook each dish to order in view of customers. Beef noodle soup, a Taiwanese classic, contains wheat noodles and soy sauce. Metro trains run to stations beside Shilin, Raohe and other well known night markets.

Japan's capital of temples, towers and food

Japan requires packaged foods to declare specified allergens including wheat, buckwheat, egg, milk, peanuts, shrimp and crab. Allergen tables at many chain restaurants list what each dish contains. Convenience store onigiri carry small allergy labels on the back. A card written in Japanese helps explain a food allergy to staff.

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