A Taste of Greece: 10- Day Culinary Tour of Greece

Itinerary at a glance:

Day 1: Athens
Day 2: Athens
Day 3: Athens
Day 4: Nafplio
Day 5: Nafplio
Day 6: Nafplio
Day 7: Heraklion
Day 8: Heraklion
Day 9: Heraklion
Day 10: Athens

A Taste of Greece

Day 1 — Arrival in Athens – Welcome Dinner

On arrival at Athens International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Take time to settle in before a first walk through Plaka or the streets beneath the Acropolis, depending on your arrival time.

In the evening, enjoy your welcome dinner at a restaurant where itts contemporary approach to Greek cooking draws on the cuisine of the Mani Peninsula. A proposed menu might include seasonal greens, fava, local cheese and tsouhti, the Mani pasta dish with mizithra, smoked pork and egg.

Overnight in Athens. (D)

Day 2 — Athens – The Acropolis & Flavours of the City

After breakfast, visit the Acropolis archaeological site with your guide as part of the tour. Afterwards, explore the food shops and market streets of Athens.

In the Central Market area and along nearby Evripidou Street, stop for small tastings of bread, olives, cheese or other local products. Lunch is proposed in a tavern down town where shared meze introduce the city’s Asia Minor culinary heritage. Enjoy a balanced selection of cooked dishes, vegetables and cheeses, alongside small tastes of the restaurant’s characteristic cured meats.

The afternoon is free. You might visit the Acropolis Museum independently, browse the shops or pause at a café in the historic centre.

In the evening, dinner is proposed at a traditional taverna near the Central Market. Handmade pies, vegetable dishes and slow-cooked meats introduce another side of Athens’ food traditions, in a setting with large wine barrels.

Overnight in Athens. (B, L, D)

Day 3 — Athens – Ancient Corinth – Nemea – Nafplio

After breakfast, leave Athens by private vehicle and travel towards the Peloponnese. Pause at the Corinth Canal before continuing to Ancient Corinth for a guided visit.

Continue to Nemea for lunch at a known wine restaurant closely connected with the villages and vineyards of the Nemea wine region. Enjoy a regional menu accompanied by a carefully chosen selection of local wines.

After lunch, travel on to Nafplio and check in at your accommodation, your base for the next three nights.

In the evening, dinner is proposed at a local tavern in the old town. Share salads, vegetable dishes and traditional Greek cooking, with choices such as stuffed vine leaves, pie of the day and slow-cooked meat dishes.

Overnight in Nafplio. (B, L, D)

Day 4 — Nafplio – Nemea 

After breakfast, travel from Nafplio to the vineyards of Nemea. Visit a winery  for a guided introduction to the region’s wines, with particular attention to Agiorgitiko. A visit to the archaeological site of Ancient Nemea can be arranged around your tasting appointment.

Lunch at a restaurant with family roots in Nemea and a strong connection with local wine. Your menu will reflect the season, with traditional flavours and regional ingredients guiding the selection.

Back in Nafplio, the afternoon programme includes a proposed portokalopita lesson. Learn how Argolida’s oranges are used to make this Greek orange cake, take part in its preparation and taste the result.

Later, enjoy a walk through the old town and along the waterfront. The evening is free.

Overnight in Nafplio. (B, L)

Day 5 — Nafplio – Epidaurus 

After breakfast, travel to Epidaurus to visit its ancient theatre and archaeological site.

Continue with a prearranged olive oil experience in the Lygourio area. Learn about olive cultivation and production, then taste the oil with simple local accompaniments. The experience is a visit and tasting; seeing the mill in operation depends on the harvest season.

Return to Nafplio for an afternoon at leisure. While exploring the old town, why not stop for an artisanal Italian ice cream?

In the evening, dinner in a restaurant with a menu centred on fish and seafood, seasonal vegetables and olive oil.

Overnight in Nafplio. (B, D)

Day 6 — Nafplio – Athens Airport – Heraklion

After breakfast, depart for Athens International Airport and your flight to Heraklion. The day will be planned around the selected flight, allowing time for the road transfer and airport formalities.

On arrival in Crete, transfer to your hotel and settle in. Later, explore Heraklion’s old centre, squares and Venetian harbour.

Dinner is proposed at an internationally known traditional Cretan restaurant where recipes draw on ingredients from the restaurant’s farm and selected island producers. Your agreed menu will reflect the season, bringing together vegetables, pulses, local cheeses and a carefully selected main course.

Overnight in Heraklion. (B, D)

Day 7 — Knossos – Archanes

After breakfast, visit the Palace of Knossos with your guide before continuing to Archanes.

Walk through the village and pause for coffee before lunch at a local restaurant where Cretan cooking combines local produce, herbs and traditional recipes with the chef’s own interpretation. A seasonal menu might include greens, vegetable dishes, homemade pasta and a slow-cooked main course.

Return to Heraklion in the afternoon, with time to relax or explore the city at your own pace.

Later, enjoy a light dinner n the city centre. Share Cretan meze such as dakos, local cheeses, stuffed vine leaves and grilled apaki, the island’s smoked pork. A small glass of Cretan raki, also known as tsikoudia, can accompany the meal for those who wish.

Overnight in Heraklion. (B, L, D)

Day 8 — Heraklion – Anogeia

After breakfast, travel into Crete’s mountain countryside. Begin in Axos with a visit to the Museum of Wooden Sculptures, where hand-carved works bring together art, stories and local tradition.

Continue to nearby Zoniana for a guided visit to Sfentoni Cave. Follow the visitor route through chambers with stalactites and stalagmites before travelling on to Anogeia.

Walk through the village and pause at a local café before lunch. The proposed meal focuses on Anogeian cooking, with local cheeses, stuffed vine leaves, seasonal greens and roasted lamb. Take time over the shared dishes and enjoy the setting before returning to Heraklion.

The evening is free for a walk or a light meal of your choice.

Overnight in Heraklion. (B, L)

Day 9 — Heraklion – Cretan Vineyards – Farewell Dinner

After breakfast, travel to a winery near Alagni for a guided tasting of Cretan wines. Discover the island’s grape varieties as you enjoy a tasting with light local accompaniments.

Return to Heraklion for a relaxed afternoon. You can visit the Archaeological Museum independently, browse for olive oil and herbs, or simply enjoy the city.

In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner with shared Cretan dishes, seasonal vegetables and the kitchen’s daily specials bring the journey to a warm close.

Overnight in Heraklion. (B, D)

Day 10 — Heraklion – Athens – Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Heraklion Airport for your flight to Athens.

Your tour services end on arrival at Athens International Airport, Eleftherios Venizelos. If you wish to extend your stay in Greece, a transfer to your Athens hotel can be arranged instead, with services ending at the hotel.

Have a pleasant and safe trip home.