Summer 2025 is shaping up to be a season of gastronomic rediscovery: food returns to the center of the travel experience, not as a mere backdrop, but as the true protagonist of a broader cultural and sensory journey. Confirming this is a new survey conducted by TheFork, the leading platform in Italy for restaurant bookings and management systems, which gathered data from over 900 Italians. The results outline a clear trend: travel is no longer just about escapism, but about exploring taste, tradition, and local identity. According to the survey, 64% of Italians consider “eating well” to be very important for a successful vacation. It’s not just about enjoying a good meal, but about planning one’s itinerary based on the quality of the food, ingredients, and locally rooted cuisine. In an increasingly sustainability-conscious context that values genuine connections with visited places, food becomes the medium through which to understand, respect, and truly experience a destination. Sicily, unsurprisingly, reigns as the queen of the gastronomic summer, followed by Puglia and Tuscany: three regions that are profoundly different from one another, yet united by a rich and vibrant culinary culture that speaks of land, seasons, memory, and innovation. The noteworthy aspect is not just geographic: these destinations are chosen not for their social media fame or “wow” factor, but for the often-kept promise of authenticity. This also aligns with the finding that 87% of respondents choose traditional, locally-rooted restaurants, versus a mere 5% who are guided by Instagram-worthiness. In short, vacations are becoming real again, not staged sets.
@izzypop_adventures The last spot Bourdain really came through We’re big fans of Anthony Bourdain. We love watching old episodes of his “Parts Unknown” show to see the hidden restaurants and divey bars. He spent a long time in Sicily, Italy so we looked up his recommendations for Palermo and made a day of it! Torrefazione Bar Maracanà – For cheap morning espresso. I Cuochini – For traditional Sicilian breakfast items. Ballarò Market – For fresh produce and local life. Antica Focacceria del Massimo – For Sicilian pasta and street food. Cioccolateria Lorenzo – For espresso and pastries. Monkey Pub – Dive bar with outdoor seating in a beautiful square. St’orto – For hip hop music and cocktails. Hotel Ambasciatori (Seven Restaurant) – For aperitifs with a rooftop view. If you’re looking for an activity in a new city, check to see if Bourdain visited it. Chances are he’s got some recommendations and they’re probably #italy #sicily #palermo #anthonybourdain #food #foodtour #travel original sound – Izzypop Adventures
Travelers’ digital behavior also shows signs of maturity: 60% rely on online reviews, while only 15% are guided by advice from friends and family, and only a residual percentage considers suggestions from influencers and social media. More than a trend, this points to a growing need for tangible, unmediated connection, with meals—especially dinner, chosen by 70% as the key moment of the day—becoming opportunities for intimacy, discovery, and sharing. The average budget remains modest, between 20 and 35 euros, further indicating that the idea of “luxury” no longer aligns with excess, but with quality and authenticity. Nonetheless, high cuisine still holds allure: one in three Italians dreams of dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant at least once, though only 4% actually plan to do so. More than exclusivity, what tourists now seek is uniqueness: seaside dinners, food tours, tastings on boats or with live chefs are not just “activities,” but moments when the vacation becomes a story and food becomes a bridge between people and places. Logistically, Italy remains the favored destination: 70% of Italians choose to stay in the country, with August being the most popular month for travel, followed by July and June. Most trips are taken as a couple or with family, while friends are a less common travel group. Planning is becoming more meticulous, with many booking restaurants at least 24 hours in advance, often using apps like TheFork, which has also integrated the option to book experiences—further proof of a dining industry that is increasingly embracing the digital world.
The data collected by TheFork invites a broader reflection on the direction Italian tourism is heading. On one hand, there is a growing need for authenticity, expressed in the choice of places where cuisine tells the true soul of a community. On the other hand, there is an increasingly clear rejection of toxic tourist dynamics: overly popular locations, often stripped of their identity and turned into showcases for a global elite, are losing appeal among those seeking genuine experiences. Today, traveling also means knowing how to disconnect: stepping away from algorithms and returning to the flavor of reality, enjoying a dish in a village trattoria, speaking with locals who live the territory every day, and discovering food as a form of deep, unfiltered knowledge. Lesser-known destinations, far from the social media radar, could become the new magnets for travelers who reject artificiality and seek substance. If summer 2025 is remembered as the summer of culinary truth, then perhaps we can speak of a new era for tourism: quieter, slower, more human. And certainly more delicious.