Some chase landmarks. Others chase sunsets. But come summer, there’s one adventure that brings both kids and grown-ups together in delicious harmony: the pursuit of unforgettable ice cream. And no, we’re not talking about your average soft serve under a sad umbrella.
This is ice cream that tells stories, bridges cultures, and turns a simple scoop into a highlight of your holiday. Whether you’re navigating the narrow alleys of Palermo or strolling temple-lined streets in Kyoto, frozen delights are the hidden gems that elevate a summer escape from good to goosebumps.
So grab your spoons (or cones, or coconut shells), here’s your family’s cool, creamy guide to tasting the world one scoop at a time.
Image source: instagram @suzukien.asakusa
🇯🇵 Tokyo, Japan: A Matcha Moment for All Ages
In Japan, precision is an art, and yes, that applies to ice cream. Tokyo’s gelaterias are a blend of tradition and innovation, with matcha taking center stage. Parents can indulge in bold, umami packed grades of green tea, while kids opt for creamier or fruit forward flavors like yuzu or sakura. The experience is serene, thoughtful, and a welcome pause from the sensory rush of the city.
Where to try it:
- Suzukien Asakusa – home of the famous 7-grade matcha
- Nanaya Gelato, Shizuoka & Aoyama – for the matcha purist
- Gelato Pique Cafe, Shibuya – pastel-perfect, kid-friendly picks
- Premarché Gelateria, Nakameguro – global ingredients, local finesse
Image source: instagram @pidapipo_gelateria
🇦🇺 Melbourne, Australia: Down Under, Up in Flavor
Melbourne has a secret: it may just be the Southern Hemisphere’s most underrated ice cream city. With its obsession for coffee, pastry, and quality produce, the city spins gelato into a serious art form, without ever losing its sunny, surf loving soul.
Where to try it:
- Pidapipó, Carlton & Fitzroy – Italian heart, Aussie creativity
- Piccolina Gelateria, Collingwood – clean flavors, made fresh daily
- Gelato Messina, Fitzroy – funky, cult-status favorites
- Billy van Creamy, Northcote – simple, honest, and family-loved
Image source: instagram @madocanadaofficial
🇹🇷 Istanbul, Turkey: Dessert Meets Street Theater
Turkey’s iconic dondurma is elastic, chewy, and delivered with flair. Watching vendors flip, stretch, and tease you with a cone before finally handing it over is half the fun. The unique texture comes from salep and mastic, giving it resilience against melting, ideal for long, sun-drenched family strolls. The flavors? Pistachio, rose, and plain milk reign supreme.
Where to try it:
- Mado – beloved chain with authentic texture and flair
- Ali Usta, Moda – old-school, neighborhood classic
- Dondurmacı Yaşar Usta, Bostancı – rich in nostalgia and creaminess
- Ottomare Dondurma, Karaköy – artisanal spins in a hip district
Image source: instagram @neveriaroxy
🇲🇽 Mexico City, Mexico: Flavor Fireworks
In Mexico, ice cream is bold, playful, and not afraid of heat. Think chili-laced mango, tamarind sorbet, or sweet corn cream. While the grown ups sample spiked mezcal or hibiscus lime blends, the kids dive into flavors like cookies & cajeta or banana-chocolate swirl. Ice cream here is a celebration, best enjoyed while dancing in the plaza.
Where to try it:
- Helado Obscuro – edgy and adults-only fun (plus kids’ flavors)
- Nevería Roxy, Condesa – retro charm and creamy tropicals
- Joe Gelato, Roma Norte – chef-driven seasonal scoops
- La Michoacana (various locations) – iconic and family-friendly
Image source: instagram @cappadonia_gelati
🇮🇹 Palermo, Italy: Scoop the Sicilian Way
Gelato in Sicily isn’t just dessert, it’s an institution. And when served in a fresh brioche, it’s basically a meal. Sicilian gelato emphasizes pure, local ingredients like Bronte pistachios, Modica chocolate, and citrus straight from the grove. It’s rich, bold, and best eaten with your hands full and your worries gone.
Where to try it:
- Ciccio Adelfio, Palermo – historic flavors, seaside views
- Gelateria Brioscià, Palermo – the go-to for brioche con gelato
- Don Gelato, Taormina – artisanal, small-batch perfection
- Cappadonia Gelati, Agrigento – slow food, sweet results
Image source: instagram @berthillon_officiel
🇫🇷 Paris, France: Sorbet with Style
In Paris, even ice cream has elegance. Sorbets are vivid and tart, ice creams are delicate and creamy, and each scoop feels like it belongs in a perfume bottle. Whether riverside or on a shaded café terrace, ice cream in the City of Light is as much about mood as it is about flavor.
Where to try it:
- Berthillon, Île Saint-Louis – the legend, the benchmark
- Une Glace à Paris, Le Marais – chef-crafted haute scoops
- Glazed, Pigalle – bold flavors like “Pump Up the Volume”
- Pozzetto, Rue du Roi de Sicile – Italian style with Parisian grace
Image source: instagram @jenisicecreams
🇺🇸 Los Angeles, USA: California Cool in Every Scoop
LA’s ice cream shops reflect its personality: diverse, trend-setting, and always a bit unexpected. From plant-based innovations to indulgent classics, this city scoops with style, and often, a story behind every flavor. Families can roam Abbot Kinney or Larchmont Village with cones in hand and stars overhead.
Where to try it:
- Salt & Straw, various LA neighborhoods – chef-inspired, always rotating
- Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Venice – colorful, crowd-pleasing fun
- Wanderlust Creamery, Tarzana – globally inspired, kid-obsessed
- Dear Bella Creamery, Hollywood – 100% vegan, 100% delightful
Image source: instagram @movenpickcafebali
Bali, Indonesia: The Scoop of the Island, A Summer State of Sweetness
In the heat of a Balinese summer, there’s no sweeter ritual than chasing scoops across the island. Known as a haven for wellness, Bali also delights with its eclectic gelato and ice cream culture, where coconut based vegan treats sit deliciously beside indulgent, slow churned artisanal flavors. From vibrant jackfruit and smoky coconut ash to creamy pistachio and roasted cacao, every bite is a taste of sunshine. Whether you’re plant-based, full cream loyal, or somewhere in between, Bali has a cone with your name on it.
Where to try it:
- Mövenpick Cafe, Jimbaran – Swiss-style artisanal ice cream available in 12 different flavours
- Ettore Gelato, Canggu & Seminyak – neon signs and Insta-perfect scoops
- Tukies Coconut Shop, Ubud – coconut heaven in a cup
- Gaya Gelato, multiple Bali locations – creamy, earthy, beautiful
🍨 Final Scoop: The Sweetest Stops on Your Summer Map
Family holidays don’t always go to plan, but a scoop of local ice cream has a magical way of resetting the day. Whether you’re exploring ancient cities or coastal towns, these frozen treasures offer joy, discovery, and an excuse to pause together.
So this summer, let the sun shine, the schedule stay flexible, and the cones come often. The best stories, after all, are the ones that melt.
