For those that can't get enough of fresh fish, juicy prawns, soft squid or a good piece of lobster, then you must make a trip to Europe. Europe isn't all about museums and old buildings. It is also one of the best seafood destinations in europe as there is abundant water everywhere – big oceans, small seas and long coastlines. Fish have been harvested and prepared for consumption by people in the vicinity of water for hundreds of years. They are not totally frozen stock dependent.

They row out to sea in the morning and by afternoon the fish is served up on your plate. So if you're a fan of grilled, fried, boiled, or gravy-cooked foods, Europe has them all. In this article I will tell you where you should go, which islands offer the best experience and answer the most popular question – Where is the best lobster in the world. So read fully. You'll get good help on your next trip.

Why Europe is a Top Place for Seafood Lovers?

Europe is a great place for lovers of seafood.European countries are great destinations for seafood enthusiasts. Europe has water all around. It encompasses the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea and smaller seas such as the Adriatic and Aegean Seas.

Thus, fresh seafood has been consumed for hundreds of years by those who live in the vicinity of water. They know how to go fishing in the morning and cook the fish by afternoon. European people never eat fish which is frozen in packets. You consume fish which were swimming few hours back.

This is the primary reason why Europe is one of the best locations to have your seafood. Furthermore, there are different cooking methods in various countries. Some add garlic along with olive oil. Some people use butter and herbs. Some prepare spicy tomato gravy as in Indian curry. So that you can never get bored.

Read More: Top 10 Food Cities in the USA for Couples and Food Adventures

Best seafood cities in Europe – my full list

I am giving you five cities. I could give ten but then you will get confused. Five is enough for one trip or two trips.

First city is Lisbon in Portugal

Lisbon is a city that many people ignore. They go for sightseeing. They see old buildings and trams. But they forget about food. But I am telling you Lisbon is very very good for fish lovers.

What do you eat there. Grilled sardines. These sardines are so fresh that they taste a little sweet. Not fishy smell. Sweet. You also get something called cataplana. It is a dish made in a copper pot. They put prawns, small fish, tomatoes, onions and some herbs inside and cook slowly. When you open the pot the smell hits your face. Very nice.

One more thing about Lisbon. It is cheap. Not cheap like India but cheap for Europe. You can eat a full plate of grilled fish with salad and boiled potatoes and pay less than what you pay for a small pizza in London. This matters for people like us who count money.

Also try pastel de bacalhau. It is a fried snack made from cod fish and potato. Like a small cutlet. Very filling. You eat one and you feel like you ate a full meal. Good for evening time when you are walking and feeling hungry.

Second city is San Sebastián in Spain

This city is small but very very famous for food. San Sebastián is in north Spain. Near the Atlantic Ocean. The water there is cold. Cold water makes fish and prawns taste better. I don't know the science but it is true.

Here you must eat gambas al ajillo. These are prawns cooked in hot olive oil with lots of garlic. The oil becomes so tasty that you want to dip bread in it. I have done this. Many people have done this. No shame.

Also eat chipirones. These are small squids. They fry them or cook them in their own black ink. The ink version looks black and strange. But the taste is rich. Like the sea became a gravy.

One very good thing about San Sebastián is the way people eat. They do not sit in one big restaurant for three hours. They walk from one small bar to another bar. Each bar gives you one small plate of seafood with a drink. This is called pintxos. You can try five or six different fish dishes in one evening. This is very good for people like me who cannot decide what to order.

Third city is Venice in Italy

Venice is famous for boats and water and bridges. But seafood is also very famous there. Because Venice is built inside a lagoon. Fishermen go out in small boats every morning and come back with fresh catch.

In Venice you must try sarde in saor. This is sardines cooked with onions, vinegar and raisins. Taste is sweet and sour. It reminds me of some Indian chutneys we eat with samosa. Same feeling. Very interesting.

Also try risotto al nero di seppia. This is rice cooked with cuttlefish and its black ink. The rice becomes completely black. Some people get scared. My friend saw it and said why is rice looking like engine oil. But taste is creamy and very very nice. Like the whole ocean came into your mouth.

Italian seafood is simple. No heavy sauces. No ginger garlic paste. Just good quality fish, a little olive oil, a little lemon. That is enough.

Fourth city is Marseille in France

Marseille is a busy port city. Very old. Very loud. Very real. Not a fake beautiful city. And it is home to bouillabaisse. What is bouillabaisse. It is a fish stew. But not a normal stew. It has three or four types of local fish. Plus crabs. Plus mussels. Plus saffron which is a very expensive spice. They serve it with a spicy red sauce called rouille and toasted bread.

How do you eat it. First you drink the soup. Then you eat the fish pieces separately. The whole process takes time. But you feel like you did something important.

Also in Marseille you can get very cheap fried fish on the port. They put it in paper plate. You stand near the water. Wind is blowing. Seagulls are watching you. You eat with your fingers. This feeling is not available in a five star restaurant. This feeling is real.

Fifth city is Istanbul in Turkey

Istanbul is in two continents. Half in Asia. Half in Europe. But for seafood it belongs to Europe fully. The Bosphorus sea gives fresh fish every day.

You must eat balık ekmek in Istanbul. It is a fish sandwich. They take a whole small fish, grill it on open fire, put inside bread with onion and salad, and give to you. You eat standing near Galata Bridge. So many people eating like this together. Very fun. Very tasty.

Also eat midye dolma. These are mussels stuffed with rice, pine nuts and spices. They squeeze lemon on top. Small carts sell these on the street. Very cheap. Very good.

Turkey does not use cream or butter in seafood. They use olive oil, lemon and sumac. Taste is fresh and light. You can eat a lot and not feel heavy.

So these are my five best seafood cities in Europe. Now let me talk about islands.

Best islands for seafood in Europe

Islands are different from cities. Water is cleaner. Fish is even more fresh. And you sit looking at the sea while eating. That changes everything.

Sicily the big island of Italy

Sicily is in the south of Italy. Very big island. Here the food has Arab and Greek influence. You get pasta con le sarde. This is pasta with sardines, wild fennel, pine nuts and raisins. Very unique taste. Some people love it. Some people find it strange. But you should try.

In Sicilian markets you see swordfish hanging. Swordfish is big. Meat is firm and meaty like mutton. They grill it simply with salt, pepper and olive oil. No extra things. Just good fish.

Also Sicilians eat sea urchins. They open them with a small knife and eat raw with a spoon. This is not for everyone. Taste is very strong. Like the sea became a paste. But if you like strong taste, you will love it.

Crete the big island of Greece

Crete is in Greece. People there live very long. They say good food is the reason. Seafood is a big part of their food.

In Crete they grill octopus and serve with lemon and oregano. The octopus is soft. Not rubbery like some places. They also have kalamari. This is squids fried in light flour. Very crispy. Very good.

The best part about Crete is small seaside villages. You sit in a small family taverna two steps away from water. The fisherman comes with his boat. He gives the catch directly to the cook. You cannot get more fresh than this. This is the real island experience.

Sardinia another big island of Italy

Sardinia is next to Sicily but very different. Here seafood is more raw and simple. They have fregola con arselle. This is small pasta balls cooked with clams. It looks like small pearls. Very cute to look at. Very tasty to eat.

Also they serve bottarga. This is dried and salted fish eggs. They grate it on pasta or on bread with olive oil. Taste is very strong. Very salty. Very good. A little bit goes a long way.

You May Also Read: Easy and Tasty Grilled Shrimp Skewers Recipe

Where is the best lobster in the world?

Now I come to the big question. Where is the best lobster in the world. Many people think America. Maine. Boston. But that is not fully correct. Europe has lobster that is different but equally good. Sometimes better.

I will tell you four places in Europe for lobster.

Norway

Norway has very cold and very clean water. The Norwegian lobster meat is sweet. Firm. Very clean tasting. No muddy aftertaste. In Norway they boil lobster simply with salt and dill. They serve with bread, lemon and mayonnaise. No heavy sauces. No hiding the taste. If the lobster is not good, you cannot hide it. But Norway lobster is good.

Ireland

Ireland is very underrated for lobster. The Atlantic coast of Ireland has strong currents. These currents make lobsters move more. So their meat becomes tighter and sweeter. In Ireland many small fishing villages will cook lobster for you in a shed by the water. They put the lobster in a pot of seawater. That is all. No spices. No butter. Just seawater. You eat with your hands. You dip in melted butter if you want. It is simple and perfect.

Brittany in France

Brittany is a region in north France. French people themselves say Brittany has the best lobster in France. The lobster here is blue before cooking. After cooking it becomes red. Meat is very tender. Has a nutty kind of sweetness. In Brittany they serve lobster cold with homemade mayonnaise. Or they put it in a big seafood platter with crabs, oysters, prawns and snails. This platter is a show. You feel like a king.

Scotland in United Kingdom

Scottish lobster is very famous in Europe. They export it to many countries. But the best way to eat it is in Scotland itself. In small Scottish towns like Oban or Ullapool, you can buy a whole cooked lobster from a dock shop. You sit on a bench looking at the sea and eat. Meat is so fresh it feels like it is still moving. That is the real experience.

So if someone asks you where is the best lobster in the world. You can say Norway, Ireland, France and Scotland all have world class lobster. Each has different taste. But all are excellent.

Some small hidden places I like

Let me tell you about three small places that are not very famous but very good.

Ålesund in Norway

Small beautiful town in north Norway. Here you get scallops that are caught by divers. Scallops are huge and sweet. You can eat them raw or grilled. Both ways are amazing.

Cadiz in Spain

Cadiz is in south Spain. Very old city. Here you get tortillitas de camarones. These are small fritters made with tiny shrimp and chickpea flour. Very crispy. Very addictive. You eat one and you want ten.

Setúbal in Portugal

Setúbal is one hour from Lisbon. But it is much cheaper and less crowded. Here you get fried cuttlefish. They cut cuttlefish into small pieces, coat with flour and fry. You eat with green pepper and lemon. Very simple. But one of the best seafood dishes in Europe. I am not joking.

Simple tips to choose your place

Not everyone likes same thing. So here is simple help.

• If you like grilled fish go to Portugal or Greece.
• If you like prawns and garlic go to Spain.
• If you like fish soups and stews go to France or Italy.
• If you like raw seafood go to Sardinia or Brittany.
• If you like lobster go to Norway or Ireland.
• If you like street food seafood go to Istanbul or Marseille.

Also think about season. Summer is good for sardines and grilled fish. Winter is good for oysters and cod fish. But in most places you get good seafood all year. Because Europe has strong fishing tradition.

Mistakes people make

• I have seen many tourists make these mistakes. Please do not do these.
• Eating seafood in a very cheap buffet. That seafood is not fresh. Never.
• Ordering lobster in a non coastal city. It will be frozen. It will be very costly. And it will not taste good.
• Not asking the local person. Always ask the hotel owner or shop owner where they eat. That is the best place.

Eating only in big name restaurants. Small family places near the port are usually better and cheaper. I have seen this again and again.

Final words

Europe is full of amazing places for fish, prawn, crab, octopus and lobster. The best seafood destinations in Europe are not just one city or one island. Lisbon, San Sebastián, Venice, Marseille, Istanbul are all great. For islands, Sicily, Crete and Sardinia are top. For lobster, Norway, Ireland, Brittany and Scotland give you the best experience in the world.

Do not think too much. Pick one place from this list. Book your ticket. Go there. Walk to the water. Find a small eating place. Order what the local person is eating. That will be the best seafood meal of your life.