Top Athens Food Tours

You’ll find many fantastic food tours in Athens. Going by customer ratings and reviews, the best tours right now are:

• Greek Food Walking Tour in Athens
• Small-Group Greek Traditional Food Tour Around Athens with Tastings
• Athens, Greek Food Tour Including Market Visit
• Small Group, Delicious Athens Food Tour
• Athens Greek Food Tour Small-Group Experience

Yes, an Athens food tour is a great way to spend time in the city. Your guide helps you explore the city on foot and avoid the tourist traps. You discover Greek cuisine and learn about local culture while you sample dishes you have never tried—or perhaps even heard of.

Athens food tours start at around US$70 for a 3–4 hour tour. Food tours typically involve a guided walk through picturesque neighborhoods, visiting eateries, bakeries, markets, and bars to sample authentic Greek dishes and products such as olives and cheese. Expect to pay more for smaller group and private tours.

Food tours vary in duration depending on the type of tour you choose. As a guide, you can expect the experience to take 3–4 hours. Most Athens food tours start at a central meeting point before walking through different neighborhoods in the city, sampling local produce before returning to the starting point.

Athens is well known for its delicious bread and pastries, including koulouria, a bread ring covered in sesame seeds, eliopsomo (olive bread), tiropita (a cheese pie), and bougatsa, a puff pastry filled with cream. It’s also the home of the gyros, spit-cooked meat served in a pitta with salad and tzatziki. You’ll also find many restaurants selling traditional Greek dishes like moussaka, dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), and, of course, Greek salad.

Most Athens food tours include multiple samples at a range of different venues, but itineraries vary widely. You might enjoy a guided tasting of produce such as olive oil, honey, or cheese, sit down to a meal of Greek comfort classics, sample street-food favorites like gyros, meet vendors at Athens Central Market, or a combination of the above. Many guides also showcase local drinks, such as wine, coffee, and ouzo or tsipouro. Note that almost all tours are walking tours and few include transportation or transfers, but do check inclusions and exclusions carefully before you book.

There are tons of fun tours and excursions in Athens aside from food tours. According to previous travelers, these are the best activities to book for your next trip:

• Archaeology Tours
• Day Cruises
• Sailing
• Hop-on Hop-off Buses
• Day Spas

Food tour prices in Athens vary depending on duration and inclusions. If you’re looking for high-quality experiences on the lower end of the price range, these are the best tours to book now: 

• Hard Rock Cafe Athens With Set Lunch or Dinner
• Greek Food and Wine Tasting
• Athens Old Town Food Experience
• Athens Street Food Tour: Explore City’s Iconic Eateries
• Athens Street Food Walk

Most Athens food tours don’t include transportation, so confirm that the start point is easy for you to reach before you book. Tours generally involve walking and summer temperatures can be scorching, so check the forecast or seasonal averages before you commit to a time of day. Expect to enjoy plenty of tastings, so plan for a time when you’ll naturally be hungry. Smaller group or private tours allow for more personal attention from your guide, so if you’re looking for personalized local food recommendations, check the group size.

It depends on what you’re looking for, the season you’re visiting, and what else you have planned for the day. Morning tours are ideal for market visits and are cooler than afternoon tours—important during Athens’ scalding summers. Evening tours offer a livelier atmosphere with colorful photo opps, street food vendors out in force, and lower temperatures than the afternoon. However, shops and eateries are often less crowded during the afternoon than they are at night.

The best time to book an Athens food tour is spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) when the weather is mild and outdoor markets are bustling. Summer tours can be hot and eateries are often more crowded. Winter tours are available but may have fewer options. Booking in advance ensures availability, especially during the busier months.

It depends. Most operators can accommodate vegetarians, though some require notice; vegans might do better to seek out dedicated vegan food tours than ask for adaptations. Check the small print carefully if you are gluten-free, lactose-free, or following a low-carb diet. An Athens food tour is a risky choice for travelers with severe intolerances or allergies, as no operator can guarantee environments are free from allergens.

Most Athens food tours last 3–4 hours and cover a couple of miles (2–3 kilometers) across several different neighborhoods. The amount of time you spend on your feet varies according to the type of tour: An experience that centers street food will involve more time standing up than one that centers restaurants. Whatever the tour you choose, wear comfortable shoes as sidewalks can be uneven and be aware that temperatures can be high during summer. If mobility is a significant concern, look for a private tour with a customizable route.

Generally speaking, no. Most Athens food tours—even private food tours—do not include hotel transfers as the city has taxis, rideshares, and a metro, and the experiences are usually walking tours. However, food tour shore excursions normally include round-trip transfers from the Piraeus cruise port for ease and peace of mind.