Top 10 Summer Food Festivals in Europe Revealed by Big 7 Travel

Nothing beats a food festival: strolling around, soaking up the electric energy, enjoying the waft of freshly cooked burgers and sampling as many sweet treats as you can get your hands on. But not all festivals are created equally. Global travel site Big 7 Travel has released its list of the best summer food festivals in Europe.

To compile the ranking, the Big 7 drew up a shortlist of summer food festivals across Europe and scored each one against a consistent set of criteria. They weighed up the quality and distinctiveness of the local cuisine on offer, overall atmosphere and visitor experience, accessibility of the location, and each festival's reputation and popularity among foodie travellers.

Here's a rundown of the top 10 spots for you to peruse...

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1. Cork on a Fork Festival – Cork, Ireland

Cork on a Fork Festival tops the table in the number one winning spot. In first place is Cork on a Fork Festival, one of Ireland's most famous foodie attractions. It hosts more than 150 events during five days in August, ranging from food history tours to street food stalls and interactive experiences. If you're visiting, keep an eye out for a workshop on how to capture stunning food photos using just your phone, as well as a children's pizza-making event.

2. Copenhagen Cooking – Copenhagen, Denmark

Taking the silver medal in the definitive ranking is Copenhagen Cooking. Copenhagen Cooking is exactly what it sounds like - a huge food festival that's one of Scandinavia's biggest. Not only does it shine a light on Danish food, but it also spotlights global cuisine, including a focus on Korean kimchi, made with the first Danish apples of the season. This year's shining star is apples - they will be the focus of the festivities.

3. Fête de l'Ail Rose – Lautrec, France

Fête de l'Ail Rose in France scooped up the bronze medal in the full list. When a recipe suggests two cloves of garlic, are you one of those chefs who throws caution to the wind and adds four (or even five)? If so, this French festival, which translates as the Festival of Pink Garlic, is for you, celebrating the local garlic from the Lautrec region of the country. Be prepared, though: a visit will include a strong smell of garlic - alongside demos, entertainment and even crafts themed around garlic.

4. Sardine Festival – Portimão, Portugal

Portugal's Sardine Festival is next up on the list, a fishy affair. Another strongly scented festival to make the list is the Sardine Festival in Portimão, Portugal - hardly a surprise given it's one of the foods the country is best known for. The largest sardine festival in Europe, this Algarve attraction celebrates the fish in all its forms. From tinned sardines to those enjoyed alongside a chunk of bread, there's something for everyone; and a DJ keeps the vibes going all night long.

5. O Carballiño Octopus Festival – Galicia, Spain

Position number five is held by O Carballiño Octopus Festival in Spain. One of the most unique festivals on the list - and, indeed, the world - is O Carballiño Octopus Festival, an Octopus-themed event in Spain. A grand total of between 25,000 and 30,000kg of octopus are usually prepared to eat here - in all different forms. If you're not a fan, don't fret. Wine, bread and pies are on offer too.

6. Alma do Vinho – Alenquer, Portugal

Are you a fan of wine? If so, check out Alma do Vinho in Portugal. Near the city of Lisbon, Portugal's wine festival Alma do Vinho is one to add to the bucket list, especially if you're a bit of a wine aficionado. You can taste some of the country's best wine, and even meet its makers. Activities include wine barrel-rolling competitions, grape-squashing contests and traditional folk dancing.

7. Big Feastival – Oxfordshire, England

Big Feastival was named the seventh best summer food festival in Europe. Big Feastival is up next, scoring highly on both atmosphere and reputation for the way it pairs Michelin-starred chefs with local street food stalls and a major live music line-up. It is all set on Blur bassist Alex James' Cotswolds farm, so as you can imagine the vibes are uplifting - with live performances from Bastille, Basement Jaxx and Rudimental. The three-day summer event was founded by Alex James, alongside adored and renowned British chef Jamie Oliver.

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8. Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival – Galway, Ireland

Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival takes spot number eight on the list. Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival does what it says on the tin - it brings oysters and seafood to Ireland. As well as the obvious foodstuffs on offer, there will also be live music, dancing and live cooking demonstrations. The main event? The World Oyster Opening Championship, with candidates competing for the top spot.

9. Taste of Transylvania – Ghimeş, Romania

Next up is Taste of Transylvania, a unique experience in Romania. Romania's not exactly the first place that springs to mind when considering foodie holiday hotspots - so this is a real hidden gem. In ninth place, Taste of Transylvania shines a light on Romanian food, long-lost Transylvanian recipes and local producers. It takes place from 3 to 6 September, and is great for those on the lookout for something totally different - and who want to discover something new.

10. Gailtaler Speckfest – Hermagor, Austria

Rounding out the top 10 is Gailtaler Speckfest, an Austrian food festival. Calling all bacon lovers: the final food festival in the top 10 is Gailtaler Speckfest. The 32nd instalment of the Austrian bacon festival is back this week, from 5 to 6 June, and is home to everything from bacon cheeseburgers to bacon-glazed doughnuts. A vibrant 'Bacon Party' starts from 9pm onwards, with traditional Austrian music to keep the ambience alive.