- Most Popular!
- 3 hours Duration 3 hours
- Iconic sites, Activity Type Iconic sites Walking Activity Type Walking
Immerse yourself in the city’s ancient history while also learning about Athens as it is today on this jam-packed Athens tour.
Quick Details
- Discover the traditional tastes and fresh flavours of Athens.
- Delight your senses in Athens’ Central Market.
- Learn all about Athens’ culinary culture from a local guide.
- Chat with a local deli owner about his specialties and fresh produce.
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks.
Taste the Fresh Flavours of Athens
See the ‘big five’ of Greek cuisine in their natural habitat: ouzo, feta, olives, olive oil, and koulouri! If you don’t know what koulouri is you soon will as this Athens tour explains it all live as you eat it (but not before you Instagram it).
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world’s leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- All of the stores you visit on your tour are 100% locally owned and run. Supporting small-scale, locally-run businesses helps to preserve the traditional character of old Athens.
- At least one store on your itinerary is dedicated to the preservation of locally-produced crafts.
Language: English
Inclusions: Tastings of Greek sweets, koulouri, olive oil, olives, cheeses, rusks, Greek alcohol (wine, ouzo), spices, herbs, and traditional meze (a meze is a small appetiser or side dish). Visits to markets, Kotzia Square, Avyssinias Square, Monastiraki Square, Athena’s Road, churches, and a traditional deli.
Exclusions: Additional food or drink not mentioned above, items of a personal nature, tips or gratuities for your guide.
Schedule details
- Duration: 2.5 hours to 3 hours
- Meeting point: In Kotzia Square in front of the Mayor building.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words: ///gone.changing.taps
- Starting time: 11.00 AM
- Ending point: Monastiraki Square and metro station.
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Thought Greek food was just feta, olives, and a truck load of moussaka? Wrong! This Athens food tour sets the story straight on the varied food scene in this ancient city with a modern twist, and you’ll leave full of tasty treats and local knowledge on one of the most underrated cuisines in the world.
You’ll meet your local guide and begin this Athens tour by exploring Kotzia Square, located in the heart of Athens. The square is surrounded by gorgeous neoclassical buildings, which were constructed in the early 18th century, and also some ancient ruins of old houses that you will have a peek at on your way to the market.
Your local guide will show you around the best of the Central Market, taking you to places few tourists venture and helping you to discover a variety of delicious Greek specialties.
From the simple koulouri (a round-shaped bread with sesame seeds) and delicate local pastries, to the Greek staples of feta and olives, the Central Market is a feast for the senses.
We also try either an invigorating Greek coffee (in the winter) or a cold frappe in warmer days, which are popular local beverages. Athens food is a rich mix of old and new, traditional and modern, and this tour is the perfect way to discover all these aspects.
Next on this culinary tour of Athens, we then drop by a Greek deli that sells traditional produce and is a popular shopping place for locals. Here you can chat with the shop owner and ask him about all of his produce — and taste some of course! This spot sells the best seasonal food available, perfect for a picnic in the city if you’d like to return another time during your stay in Athens.
Finally, on this Athens tour, you’ll make your way to Monastiraki Square where your adventure will end. Your guide will be happy to recommend other places to see in this ancient city and where some of the best local restaurants are located, if you can stomach even more Greek deliciousness! If you feel like slipping into a food coma, your local guide will also give you hand in finding your way back to your accommodation.
Additional information
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We’ll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
Local contact
Office phone number: +30 698 067 9166
Email address: [email protected] -
Mr. Ryan P. from USA travelled on 25 Sep 2016:
Nicoleta was wonderful. Excellent knowledge, and very friendly. I would highly recommend her in the future.
Ms. Julie L. from USA travelled on 26 Jun 2016:
Really liked our guide Nikoleta. She’s very engaging and friendly. Really well suited for her job!
Mrs. Louise H. from Australia travelled on 04 May 2015:
Nikita took us on a leisurely stroll around the backstreets near the markets to taste and experience Greek specialties. We were especially privileged to visit the basement taverna – one of the last of its kind where there is no menu and they still serve retsina. Another treat was the Greek coffee made the traditional way. Woven through all of the great food and drinks was the story of the local area and it’s people. UA have delivered another fantastic small group tour.
Ms. Kay M. from New Zealand travelled on 26 Oct 2014:
Really enjoyed our Taste of Athens Urban Adventure with Nikita. We sampled coffee, olives, cheese, breads and much more. A fabulous experience which ended in a basement restaurant . . . Great experience.
Ms. Sandy K. from New Zealand travelled on 20 Oct 2013:
This tour well exceeded my expectations and was a fantastic way to “feel” some of the Greek culture and way of life while sampling some awesome food.
Mrs. Joan M. from Australia travelled on 03 May 2013:
We did two Athens Urban Adventures with Nikita. The Taste of Athens provided a wonderful insight into Greek food and culture, and we really enjoyed meeting with the local store keepers and sampling some of the local produce. A particular highlight was enjoying a meal at the basement old-style Athens restaurant.
The following day we did the Walking Athens tour. This covered the historical areas and other areas of interest, and provided excellent background information.
Thanks very much to Nikita for such great experiences.
We have done Urban Adventures in several cities around the world, and they have always provided wonderful experiences and information. We will continue to seek them out.