A special day is approaching, and if you didn’t know, it’s pancake day. Pancakes come in all shapes and sizes and go by many names, including crêpes, blini’s, crempog and drop scones. Although what to call them could be disputed, one thing can’t, and that’s the affection people have for them worldwide.
Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday as it’s also known, is one of the most popular days of the year in the UK and for excellent reason. Pancakes, for many people, are simply a moreish wrapper or edible plate to place many of your favourite sweet or savoury foods and treats.
However, it’s not only in the UK where you can dive headfirst into the tasty plate of flatness. Around the world, there’s an almost endless choice of styles and servings, many we weren’t aware of until recently. Fortunately for us, our friends at ToursByLocals are more informed on the topic of where to go for the best pancakes than we are, and they’ve provided us with a guide to great places where you can treat your tastebuds.
Pisa
Combine culture and cuisine on this half-day foodie tour of Pisa, including tasting a ‘cecina’, which is a traditional chickpea flour and deliciously salty street-food pancake famous in the region, washed down with a glass of wine of the Pisan Hills before sampling local ice cream.
£210 for two people (three-hour customisable private tour with an expert local guide for up to five people – prize varies on group size). The price includes private guiding services and food and drink. Click here for more detailed information.
Amsterdam
Go Dutch this Pancake Day! Enjoy traditional Dutch pancakes on the canals as part of this complete Amsterdam experience. Dutch pancakes, or Pannenkoeken, are typically large, whole-pan size thin pancakes but not quite as light as French crêpes. On this tour, you’ll be able to fuel up on the delicious batter before heading to the Rijksmuseum to marvel at the best works from the seventeenth-century Dutch masters on this immersive tour.
£843 for four people (eight-hour customisable private tour with an expert local guide for up to eight people – prize varies on group size). Price includes private guiding services, admission tickets, a canal tour and the Anne Frank Museum and the Rijksmuseum (above). Click here for more detailed information.
Paris
Guests can explore the Latin Quarter in Paris with a local guide Marc who was born just a stone’s throw from the Palace of Versailles. Parisian food is the order of the day on this fully customisable tour, and the itinerary includes a stop in one of the best creperies in the area.
£372 for four people (three-hour customisable private tour with an expert local guide for up to ten people – prize varies on group size). The price includes private guiding services, food & drink.
Nha Trang
Feel the city vibe and taste delicious street food, including a unique Vietnamese seafood pancake, Bánh Xèo, and sweet mini-pancakes on this private tour of Nha Trang with a local guide. Bánh means cake while xèo means sizzle, and the name refers to the deliciously loud sound the rice batter makes when it is poured into the hot skillet.
£213 for four people (four-hour customisable private tour with an expert local guide for up to ten people – prize varies on group size). Price includes private guiding services, food & drink, private transportation and admission tickets. Click here for more detailed information on this tour.
Budapest
Pancakes are just the start of this mammoth culinary tour of Hungary’s capital. Gulyas, langos, strudel, winter salami are all on the menu in this incredible market hall tour. Budapest was called the ‘Paris of the East’ and is often overlooked in regards to sweet treats. Expert local guide Melinda is here to dispel all foodie myths and immerse travellers into a destination that she knows like the back of her hand.
£175 per tour for up to six people (four-hour customisable private tour with an expert local guide). Price includes private guiding services and food tasting at Central Market Hall. Click here for more detailed information on this tour.
About ToursByLocals
ToursByLocals offer private and completely customisable tours led by locals – allowing travellers to travel as ‘insiders’. The platform offers 4,800 guides leading tours in 194 countries. Many guides are able to provide exclusive experiences for travellers as a result of insider connections, family ties or skill sets.
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