If you’re vegetarian, these 10 countries should be on your travel list

Traveling as a vegetarian can feel like a gamble.

Sometimes you luck out with a bustling food market full of plant-based gems. Other times, you’re stuck with fries or a side salad while everyone else at the table tucks into a feast. Airports, roadside diners, and tourist traps aren’t always designed with us in mind.

That’s why finding countries where vegetarian food is woven naturally into the culture feels like striking gold. In these places, vegetables, legumes, and grains aren’t an afterthought—they’re the stars of the table. You don’t have to negotiate with waiters or dissect menus. You just eat, and it’s good.

Here are ten countries that make traveling as a vegetarian not just easy, but genuinely exciting.

1. India

If there’s one country where vegetarians never have to worry, it’s India. Nearly 30–40% of the population doesn’t eat meat, which means menus are overflowing with plant-based options.

From masala dosas in the south to chana masala in the north, the sheer variety is staggering. Even street vendors offer hearty vegetarian snacks like samosas, pakoras, and pav bhaji.

What’s remarkable is that Indian cuisine doesn’t treat vegetarian dishes like a “substitute” for meat. They’re rich, layered, and complete in themselves—flavors built from centuries of spice mastery.

For a vegetarian traveler, it feels less like restriction and more like endless discovery.

2. Thailand

Thailand has a global reputation for food, but many don’t realize how easily vegetarian-friendly it can be. Dishes like pad see ew, papaya salad, and mango sticky rice need little to no modification.

Yes, you’ll need to ask for “no fish sauce” at times, but in major cities and tourist areas, vegetarianism is widely understood. And every October, Thailand celebrates the Nine Emperor Gods Festival—better known as the vegetarian festival—where whole towns turn plant-based for nine days.

Eating in Thailand as a vegetarian isn’t about missing out. It’s about realizing how vibrant and fresh food can taste when vegetables, herbs, and spice take the lead.

3. Italy

Italy might be famous for prosciutto and seafood, but the truth is: it’s heaven for vegetarians.

Think wood-fired pizza topped simply with tomato, mozzarella, and basil.

Think creamy risottos made with mushrooms or asparagus.

Think antipasti spreads of grilled zucchini, roasted peppers, and eggplant drizzled with olive oil.

Vegetables, grains, and cheese have always been central to Italian cooking. In many small towns, nonna’s kitchen still relies on fresh produce from the market more than anything else. For vegetarians, it’s proof that simplicity can taste like luxury.

4. Israel

With its thriving café culture and Mediterranean diet, Israel is one of the most vegetarian-friendly destinations in the world.

Hummus is practically a meal of its own here, often paired with fluffy pita and fresh salads. Falafel stands line the streets, and sabich sandwiches—packed with fried eggplant, tahini, and pickles—are a local favorite.

Many restaurants in Tel Aviv are vegetarian or vegan by design, making dining out effortless. And because the cuisine emphasizes freshness and vegetables, you never feel like you’re settling for less.

5. Japan

At first glance, Japan may look like a challenge—sushi and ramen dominate the global imagination. But dig a little deeper, and vegetarian traditions are everywhere.

Shojin ryori, the Buddhist temple cuisine, is entirely plant-based and has been practiced for centuries. It celebrates seasonal vegetables, tofu, seaweed, and delicate broths. Even everyday meals often feature veggie-heavy sides like pickled radishes, miso soup, and simmered greens.

While you may have to be clear about avoiding fish-based broths, the reward is worth it: a cuisine that treats vegetables with the same reverence as fine art.

6. Mexico

Mexico isn’t just tacos al pastor and carne asada. For vegetarians, it’s one of the most colorful, satisfying food cultures to explore.

Corn, beans, squash, avocado, and chili peppers form the backbone of Mexican cooking. Classic dishes like chiles rellenos, enchiladas, and tamales can all be made vegetarian.

And let’s not forget the joy of fresh guacamole, salsas, and roasted street corn.

The food here is bold, hearty, and deeply comforting—proof that vegetarian meals can pack as much punch as any meat dish.

7. Greece

Greek cuisine makes it shockingly easy to eat vegetarian. Much of the Mediterranean diet leans naturally toward plants, grains, and legumes.

You’ll find platters of dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), spanakopita (spinach pie), and gigantes (giant baked beans in tomato sauce). Add to that tangy Greek salads, roasted vegetables, and fresh bread with olive oil, and you’ve got a vegetarian paradise.

Meals in Greece aren’t rushed as well. They’re about sharing, savoring, and sitting in the sun with plates of food that feel both abundant and healthy.

8. Ethiopia

Ethiopian cuisine is a hidden gem for vegetarians. Orthodox Christian fasting traditions mean that many dishes are vegan by default during fasting periods.

Meals are typically served on injera, a spongy sourdough flatbread, with a variety of lentil stews, spiced greens, and chickpea-based dishes piled on top. You eat with your hands, scooping up the food with pieces of injera, which makes every meal communal and interactive.

The spices—berbere and mitmita—add a complexity that elevates even the simplest lentils. As a vegetarian, you’ll never feel short on flavor.

9. Vietnam

Vietnamese food is light, fresh, and incredibly adaptable to a vegetarian diet.

Dishes like vegetarian pho, summer rolls, and banh mi packed with tofu or mushrooms are easy to find. Many Buddhist temples also serve vegetarian meals, keeping alive a tradition of plant-based eating.

The balance of herbs, citrus, and vegetables makes the food feel both refreshing and satisfying. Every meal feels like fuel that lifts you up, not something that weighs you down.

10. Lebanon

Lebanese cuisine deserves more global recognition, especially for vegetarians.

Mezze spreads are the star: baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, fattoush, lentil soup, and stuffed vine leaves make up tables that feel like a feast without a scrap of meat.

Bread and olive oil flow freely, and meals are built around hospitality as much as flavor. Eating vegetarian here feels abundant, generous, and joyful.

For many travelers, Lebanon is a revelation: proof that meatless eating can be layered, satisfying, and endlessly varied.

Final thoughts

Traveling as a vegetarian doesn’t have to be a compromise. In fact, some of the best cuisines in the world put plants at the center of the plate without even trying.

In these ten countries, you’ll find that being vegetarian isn’t a limitation—it’s an invitation. An invitation to explore cultures where vegetables aren’t a side act, but the main story.