Gastronomy embodies culture during your 10-day food tour of Greece. You will uncover historic tastes on the mainland and islands as you witness diverse cities, quiet towns, and epic landscapes. Find Venetian facades and ancient temples, charming vineyards, and classical monuments, as local cuisine reveals remarkable depth in traditions spanning the Aegean Sea. Whether Minoan or Ottoman, Cretan, or Classical, you will indulge in a diverse history of fascinating flavors.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Athens – A Traditional Greek Tavern Dinner With Music and Dancing
Land in Athens and you will soon be amid history. The capital city awakens each evening, and after some time to refresh, you will be whisked away by the atmosphere. Archaeological monuments are lit up as the sun fades, a glorious backdrop to the streets. The Acropolis appears like a shining beacon, a compass point to prevent you from getting lost in the historical neighborhood of Plaka. The shops stay open here, spilling their wares onto the cobbles. Local families relax on the small squares as the aroma of roasted meat slips past. You can hear the folk music and smell the food, but often it might be hard to know where it all comes from.
Plaka is a traditional 17th-century neighborhood. Although it’s very popular with tourists, it’s also where the locals come to dine. Many of the tavernas have preserved century-old recipes, with all the food being an organic farm to table long before this term was popularized. Head into a small tavern and settle into a typical Greek dinner, starting with a Greek mezze of flavors. Pickled vegetables, flatbread, stuffed grape leaves, meatballs with onion, and giant baked beans will provide a feast of flavors, and that’s just for starters. The second part of the meal is more meat-focused, including the classic kokoretsi, or seasoned lamb. Food is complemented by folk-style singing and dancing, completing the feeling that you’ve stepped into a 17th-century eatery.
What's Included:
Day 2
Athens – Classical Monuments and Ancient Legacy
Day 3
Athens – Athens Culinary Tour and More Local Sights
Day 4
Crete – Venetian History and Relaxing Into Crete
Day 5
Crete – Walking Tour of Crete’s Unique Flavors and Aromas
Day 6
Crete – Hands-On Cooking and More Island History
Day 7
Santorini – Sailing Around Santorini and Sunset Colors
Day 8
Santorini – Vineyards and Taverns of Santorini Private Tour
Day 9
Santorini – Free Day to Explore More of Santorini
Day 10
Santorini – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Explore Athenian culinary tradition with walking through mazy city streets and markets
- Taste your way through the vineyards and tavernas of Santorini with the best of island cuisine revealed
- Uncover Crete’s Venetian past and discover the island’s more recent Aegean histories
- Immerse yourself in the classical history of Athens from the Acropolis to the Agora and everything in between
- Spend half a day in the kitchen with a hands-on Aegean cooking class
- Sail around the island of Santorini exploring the world-renowned landscapes
- Wander the winding streets and discover Crete, enjoying the amazing food and the atmospheric histories
- Come to know the traditional Greek taverna, along with its music and dancing
Detailed Description
Food has been a way of life around the Aegean for over four millennia, and in this part of the world, gastronomy has brought cultures and islands together to reveal all of the influences that civilizations have left behind with beauty and tradition. A culinary lens also provides a way to understand and discover more of the country. With food as your focus, you can go beneath the surface and really dive into the local traditions and customs. You may find that the Varvakios Market is as memorable as the Acropolis, traditional tavernas as eye-opening as ancient temples, and uncover how neighborhoods use food to tie the centuries together.
This handcrafted vacation connects Aegean flavors and histories, taking you on an intimate journey through the celebrated monuments and lively local flavors. You will find that food helps smooth out the sightseeing journey, as clomping around ancient site after ancient site can get tiresome while providing both an alternative and complementary history. Aegean cuisine is one of Greece’s best-kept traditions, and it is found in markets, tavernas, vineyards, and whitewashed kitchens. So as you explore, you find that there is so much more to Ancient Greece than the Acropolis and early classical remains. You will learn the food of the gods and appreciate how recipes have been kept alive since the days of Apollo and Athena.
Your ten-day tour is spread across Athens, Crete, and Santorini, with three nights in each destination. Jump straight into the traditional experience with an evening of taverna dining and music on day one, in a local Athenian neighborhood. Spend day two with the city’s ancient legacy, connecting many of the essential attractions, from the Acropolis to the Agora and whitewashed neighborhoods. This is a food-lovers tour, so the conversation often comes around to gastronomy with little neighborhood haunts providing interludes to the temples and the Corinthian columns. On day three, you can fully explore Athenian culinary culture with a walking tour that encounters various delicacies – both old and new – plus the marketplaces that have not changed for centuries.
Fly to Crete on day four and settle into Chania, where the history is as Venetian as it is classical. Move next to a walking tour of Chania’s flavors and aromas on day five that passes all of the town’s major sights as well. Spend day six in the kitchen with an informal, hands-on lesson that will be complemented by some wider exploration of Crete. You will then cruise to Santorini on day seven, a beautiful Aegean journey that gives you space to unwind. On that day, you will swap the catamaran for a private vessel and sail around the island, jumping off to swim in turquoise waters. Santorini is an island of villages and vineyards, where the food is as traditional as anywhere in Greece. Day eight is dedicated to this tradition before day nine is left free for you to relax at the country’s most famous island destination. Consider learning more about our travelers’ favorite Greece travel activities by reading their Greece travel reviews.
Starting Price
$4,100 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.93 stars based on 2038 reviews.
Reviewed By Mary E.
Reviewed By Lisa G.
Reviewed By Colleen D.
Reviewed By Thomas M.
Reviewed By Jacqui W.
Reviewed By Michelle T.