Cheese Trips · GUIDED
The 15 best guided cheese tours you can book anywhere, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Travel by comfortable coach from Amsterdam Central to Zaanse Schans with a multilingual guide. See a clog-making demonstration, taste Dutch cheese at Catharina Hoeve, learn about old windmills, then explore independently. The $22 half-day trip leaves your afternoon free, with an optional canal cruise voucher.
“Great informative guide “Rob”. thoroughly enjoyed the tour and the demonstrations”
Spend three hours walking from Blanche Metro to Sacré Coeur with an English-speaking foodie guide such as Oscar, Julie, Arthur, or Marie. Visit eight local stops for pastries, chocolate, cheese, charcuterie, and French wine while learning about Montmartre’s artists, cafés, vineyards, and food traditions.
“Éliminé was a fantastic guide. She told us about the neighborhood as she led us from one culinary delight to the next. She also described the foods and wines very well, helping us understand their uniqueness.”
Spend about an hour on a small electric boat with a local guide such as Josh, Ties, Louise, or Captain Huib. You’ll pass Amsterdam’s oldest canals, the Oude Kerk, the VOC ship, the Golden Bend, Zeven Bruggen, and Magere Brug while enjoying Gouda, beer, wine, and soft drinks.
“Difficult to find ship. Captain was knowledgeable and entertains but trip only lasted one hour not two as advertised. We had to serve ourselves wine and cheese”
Spend about three and a half hours at Zaanse Schans with a multilingual guide, visiting working windmills, a clog workshop, and Catharina Hoeve cheese farm. Guides such as Rick, Anna, Eveline, and Rob have been praised for clear commentary, though meeting-point directions and large groups can be drawbacks. An optional Amsterdam canal cruise voucher is available.
“Prepare for any type of weather but being there is fantastic Visiting the old windmill towns is worth the entire trip”
Explore central Manchester through cheese, fizz, quizzes, and local food stops. Guides such as Mel, Mark, and Matt lead a sociable two-hour walk featuring Lancashire cheese, halloumi, rarebit, and grilled cheese.
“The guide was very good at her job. Friendly, knowledable. She put everyone at ease and was alot of fun”
Walk from Green Park through Mayfair, Soho, Little Italy, and Covent Garden while sampling Stilton and other cheeses at five stops. Guides such as Louis, Pearla, Bettina, Jack, and Nic add local stories, jokes, and a cheese quiz. Expect about two hours of walking, standing, and tasting.
“Fabulous cheese tour, great fun and our guide Nic knew his stuff. Lovely to sample some unusual cheeses and see parts of London you would never normally go to. Would highly recommend.”
Spend two hours at family-run Bodegas Monje in El Sauzal, learning how volcanic soil shapes Canary wine before tasting four local wines with four artisan cheeses. English and Spanish tours are available, with English departures at 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM on weekends.
“Very interesting Tour, the host was great, and the wine and cheese were delicious.”
From Parma, ride in an air-conditioned minivan to family-run producers of Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma. Choose the half-day tasting or continue for trattoria lunch and aged balsamic vinegar. English-speaking guides such as Lisa, Claudia, and Marika bring the food-making process to life.
“A incredible day learning, tasting and appreciating the big three culinary delicacies of the area. Really informative, and easy to understand. The host was fantastic and the vendors all highly skilled. The group was kept quite small, which made the experience more personal as you were easily able to ask questions. It was awesome being able to try products that are not common or easily available at home, such as 72month aged parmigiano reggiano and 12 to 24 year/aged balsamic vinegar D.O.P. Don’t let the price deter you, its incredible value for money as the tastings and lunch is more than generous. Worth every cent, as we went home with…”
Board a glass-enclosed Lovers Canal Cruises boat near Amsterdam Central Station for a 90-minute evening ride. Enjoy Dutch cheeses, bread, and a choice of wine while passing the Golden Bend, Magere Brug, De Wallen, Oosterdok, and other landmarks. Commentary and service can vary.
“Great sites, good commentary. Lovely boat. Staff friendly. Disappointed that the unlimited wine & cheese wasn't unlimited. 1 small tray of cheese and 1 glass of wine. Had to find the staff to ask for a refill and no more cheese was available. This would have been OK if it had said that in the title and not implied you could have more.”
Follow guides such as Jenny, Kieron, or Xander through Stockbridge and Comely Bank, stopping at local cheese shops and a deli for about seven cheese samples and a glass of prosecco. Expect a social walking tour, outdoor tastings, and useful neighborhood tips, with limited seating and weather exposure.
“We enjoyed Jenny’s presentation on the walks and her knowledge of the history and background for the various cheese shops and cheeses. And of course the cheese selections were spectacular! Especially enjoyed the Alp Blossom with a lovely glass of wine.”
Visit MEGA Museo Estrella Galicia inside the working A Coruña brewery. A Spanish-speaking guide leads you through eight hands-on sections, followed by a beer-pouring lesson and five Galician cheese pairings with five 12-cl beers. Bring earphones if you need the tour in another language.
“Excellent experience. This museum shows you not only the beer's history, but also the history of Estrella Galicia brand, and how has evolved with the time. Beer tasting with cheese pairing is 1000% recommended.”
Meet Simon at L’Oeno’Vice for a 2-hour small-group tasting of two whites, two reds, Champagne, and five cheeses. Learn how climate, grapes, and place shape wine, then train your nose with perfume samples and pick up practical pairing tips for Paris restaurants.
“Highly recommend this tasting. Simon is knowledgeable and passionate about wine, and the cheese pairings made us appreciate wine beyond the glass served. There were many tidbits shared that made for new learnings to take home and in some peculiar way, made us more appreciative of the effort that goes into making French wine. Magnifique!”
At the Living Cheese Museum on Île Saint-Louis, a French or English-speaking guide leads you through cheese history, an interactive exhibition, and a live cheesemaking demonstration. You finish with four cheese samples, then can browse the shop and souvenirs.
“Such a fun, interactive tour! Perfect for a rainy day! And the cheeses, so delicious!!”
Meet Alex at Coupage Cheese and Wine Shop for five Bulgarian wines made from local grapes, two cheeses, and an hour of clear, friendly explanation. A chalk map, stories about wine regions, and practical winery and farm tips make this a useful first taste of Bulgaria.
“Wonderful introduction to Bulgaria wine, we also brought several wines from Alex.”
Meet at Parma’s NH Hotel for a five-hour guided visit to a Parmigiano Reggiano dairy and Parma Ham producer. Watch cheese wheels form, learn how ham is aged, and taste three cheeses, 24-month ham, breadsticks, local wine, and Malvasia. Guides may include Pietro, Matteo, Mattia, or George.
“Great tour. Matteo was a good host and very knowledgeable about both Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto and the explanation of both processes were done in such a way that was easy to understand. Would highly recommend this tour.”
Pick a dairy, a cellar, a boat or a bench with a bowl of curd on it.
