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Food tours in Athens: what to eat and which tour to book
Athenians eat out constantly and cheaply. The everyday city runs on souvlaki and gyros wrapped in pita, a koulouri or a cheese pie (tyropita) grabbed on the way to work, and long evenings of shared meze with ouzo or tsipouro. The serious shopping happens at the Central Market (Varvakios Agora) on Athinas Street and at the weekly street markets (laiki) that set up in every neighbourhood. The tourist strip of Plaka and the squares of Monastiraki are where the food is weakest and most expensive; Psyrri, Koukaki, Pangrati, Exarchia and Kypseli are where Athenians actually go.
Use this page to decide what to order and where. The dishes and areas below say what each place does well and when markets are open. The tours are real listings on GetYourGuide and Viator, with prices as seen in search results when we checked (often shown in US dollars); prices and group sizes change, so confirm on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Athens
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Souvlaki and gyros in pita πίτα γύρος / πίτα καλαμάκι (pita gyros / pita kalamaki) | Grilled pork or chicken, either shaved from a vertical spit (gyros) or cooked on a skewer (kalamaki, which is what Athenians mean by 'souvlaki' on a skewer), wrapped in a warm pita with tomato, onion, tzatziki and a few chips. | Neighbourhood souvlaki shops (souvlatzidika) everywhere; the cluster at the bottom of Mitropoleos Street in Monastiraki is famous but busy and pricier than a local shop in Koukaki, Pangrati or Kypseli. | roughly €3.50–5 per pita to take away; more if you sit down |
| Sesame bread ring κουλούρι (koulouri) | Thin bread ring covered in sesame, sold from street carts and small bakeries from early morning. The standard breakfast on the move. | Street carts near metro stations and bakeries across the centre. | about €0.70–1.20 each |
| Cheese and spinach pies τυρόπιτα / σπανακόπιτα (tyropita / spanakopita) | Filo pies filled with feta-based cheese or spinach with herbs and feta, eaten warm from the bakery. | Bakeries (fournoi) and pie shops; there are several around Athinas and Evripidou streets near the Central Market. | about €2–3.50 a piece |
| Honey doughnuts λουκουμάδες (loukoumades) | Small fried dough balls, traditionally soaked in honey syrup with cinnamon and walnuts; many shops now offer chocolate or praline toppings too. | Specialist loukoumades shops in the centre, including around Monastiraki and Psyrri. | roughly €4–7 a portion |
| Meze with ouzo or tsipouro μεζέδες (mezedes) | Small shared plates such as fava (yellow split-pea purée), keftedes (meatballs), grilled octopus, sardines, fried courgette and dolmades, ordered a few at a time with ouzo or tsipouro. | Ouzeries and mezedopoleia in Psyrri, Koukaki, Pangrati and Exarchia. | roughly €5–12 per plate; €20–30 per person for a full evening |
| Home-style oven dishes μαγειρευτά (magirefta) — μουσακάς, γεμιστά | Dishes cooked in the morning and kept warm: moussaka, gemista (stuffed tomatoes and peppers), giouvetsi (orzo with meat), fasolakia (green beans in tomato). Point at the trays and choose. | Traditional mageireia (cook-shops), including the old ones inside and around the Central Market on Athinas Street. | roughly €8–13 a plate |
| Tripe soup πατσάς (patsas) | Rich tripe soup served with garlic-vinegar sauce; a classic late-night or early-morning dish after a night out. | The long-running tavernas in and around the meat hall of the Central Market (Varvakios), some of which open very late or early. | roughly €7–10 a bowl |
| Greek coffee and frappé/freddo ελληνικός καφές / φρέντο εσπρέσο | Boiled, unfiltered Greek coffee in a small cup, or the iced freddo espresso and freddo cappuccino Athenians drink year-round. | Kafeneia (old coffee houses) and any café; the old coffee roasters on Evripidou Street sell beans by weight. | about €2–4 |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Central Market (Varvakios Agora), Athinas Street
The city's main covered meat and fish market, operating since the late 19th century, with the fruit and vegetable market across Athinas Street. Loud, busy and very real; the surrounding streets sell cheese, cured meats, olives, nuts and dried fruit.
Evripidou Street and the market streets
Spice shops, herb sellers, coffee roasters, delis and pie shops run along Evripidou and Sofokleous streets next to the Central Market, plus older cook-shops serving lunch.
Psyrri
Old workshop district next to Monastiraki, now packed with mezedopoleia, small tavernas and bars, often with live Greek music. Busy and lively at night.
Koukaki
Residential area just south of the Acropolis Museum with good bakeries, souvlaki shops and neighbourhood tavernas at fairer prices than Plaka, a few minutes' walk away.
Weekly street markets (laiki agora)
Open-air produce markets that move around the city by day of the week: farmers and traders selling seasonal fruit, vegetables, olives, eggs and fish. The Saturday market on Kallidromiou Street in Exarchia is the best known in the centre.
Kypseli and Pangrati
Dense residential neighbourhoods where locals eat: Fokionos Negri in Kypseli with the restored Kypseli municipal market, and Pangrati around Varnava and Profiti Ilia squares with tavernas, ouzeries and bakeries.
Food tours in Athens compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens: The Classic Food Tasting Tour | 3.5 hours | about €65–75 per adult (seen as from $78) | max 10 | First-timers who want a morning walk that covers breakfast and lunch around the market; English and German. | Check dates |
| Athens: Ultimate Food Walking Tour with 15 Tastings | 4 hours | about €65–72 per adult (seen as from $76.90) | — | Travellers who want more food and history per hour; fewer reviews than the bigger tours. | Check dates |
| Athens: Premium Food and Wine Tasting Tour in the evening | 4 hours | about €155–165 per adult (seen as from $184) | max 8 | Wine drinkers and couples who want the tour to replace dinner; night owls. | Check dates |
| Athens, Greek food tour including market visit | morning, roughly 3–4 hours (starts 09:30) | roughly €65–75 per adult | max 14 | First-timers and families on a morning schedule; no full meal included. | Check dates |
| Athens: Food Market Visit and Cooking Class with Wine | 4 hours | about €68–75 per adult (seen as from $80) | — | Couples, families and vegetarians (the listed menu is meat-free); morning 9:30 or afternoon 15:00 sessions. | Check dates |
Athens: The Classic Food Tasting Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Food on Foot (from listing URL)
- Length
- 3.5 hours
- Price
- about €65–75 per adult (seen as from $78)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- 18+ tastings: Greek yoghurt and traditional pies near Omonia, a walk through the Central Market (Varvakios), Cretan cheese, cured meats, olive oil, olives, rusks and wine.
- Suits
- First-timers who want a morning walk that covers breakfast and lunch around the market; English and German.
- Starts
- Omonia area
Athens: Ultimate Food Walking Tour with 15 Tastings
On GetYourGuide
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- about €65–72 per adult (seen as from $76.90)
- Included
- 15 tastings at small eateries, including filo pie from a family-run shop open since the 1920s and a traditional sweet with ancient roots.
- Suits
- Travellers who want more food and history per hour; fewer reviews than the bigger tours.
- Starts
- City centre (check listing)
Athens: Premium Food and Wine Tasting Tour in the evening
On GetYourGuide
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- about €155–165 per adult (seen as from $184)
- Group size
- max 8
- Included
- Street food, a tasting of 4 Greek indigenous wine varieties with cheese and charcuterie, and a regional dinner at a family taverna.
- Suits
- Wine drinkers and couples who want the tour to replace dinner; night owls.
- Starts
- City centre (check listing)
Athens, Greek food tour including market visit
On Viator
- Length
- morning, roughly 3–4 hours (starts 09:30)
- Price
- roughly €65–75 per adultapprox.
- Group size
- max 14
- Included
- Tastings of bougatsa, loukoumades, koulouri, olives and other specialities at bakeries, dairies, delis and pie shops, with a walk through the Varvakios market's spice and herb stalls; ends in Psyrri.
- Suits
- First-timers and families on a morning schedule; no full meal included.
- Starts
- City centre; ends in Psyrri
Athens: Food Market Visit and Cooking Class with Wine
On GetYourGuide · run by Endless Events IKE
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- about €68–75 per adult (seen as from $80)
- Included
- Shopping walk through the Central Market (Varvakios) with the cook, hands-on class (menu such as dolmades, spanakopita, imam baildi, tzatziki and portokalopita), then the meal with organic wine and a digestif.
- Suits
- Couples, families and vegetarians (the listed menu is meat-free); morning 9:30 or afternoon 15:00 sessions.
- Starts
- Central Market area
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Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Athens street food is souvlaki and gyros in pita, koulouri, and pies from bakeries. It is cheap, filling and available almost all day and late into the night. There are no food-stall night markets; the 'street' meal is a pita eaten standing up or at a plastic table outside the shop.
Sit-down meals
Sit-down eating means either a taverna (grilled meat, salads, oven dishes) or an ouzeri/mezedopoleio where the table orders small plates over a long evening. Lunch is from about 14:00 and dinner from about 21:00; on summer nights many places fill after 22:00. Many tavernas serve house wine by the kilo or half-kilo carafe.
Cooking classes
Classes in Athens run around 3–4 hours and usually include a walk through the Central Market before cooking a set menu of pies, dolmades, salads and a dessert, followed by the meal with wine. Most are on weekdays because the market is closed on Sunday; check whether a market visit is actually included.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | €20–30 (koulouri or pie breakfast, pita souvlaki lunch, cheap taverna dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | €45–65 (two sit-down meals with house wine or ouzo) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | €100+ (a modern Greek restaurant or a fish taverna by the sea) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Easier than people expect: Greek cooking has many meat-free dishes (ladera — vegetables cooked in olive oil — gemista, fava, gigantes beans, horta, spanakopita, Greek salad). During Orthodox fasting periods (Lent, before Christmas) many places add vegan 'nistisima' dishes. Vegan options in pita shops are limited; ask for a 'pita with vegetables and potatoes'.
Halal: Halal-certified food is limited. Pork is the default meat in souvlaki and gyros, so ask for chicken (kotopoulo). Halal butchers and Middle Eastern/South Asian restaurants are concentrated around Omonia, Kypseli and Sofokleous–Menandrou streets.
Gluten-free: Coeliac awareness is growing but uneven. Grilled meat and fish, salads and many oven dishes are naturally gluten-free, but pita, pies, rusks (paximadi) and fried items are not, and shared fryers are common. Say 'choris glouteni' and expect better results in newer cafés and restaurants than in old tavernas.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Touts in Plaka and at Monastiraki Square pulling you into tavernas with picture menus, reheated moussaka and inflated prices. Walk ten minutes into Psyrri, Koukaki or the side streets around the Central Market, and avoid anyone waving a menu at you.
- Fish priced per kilo, then a large fish weighed and cooked without telling you the total. Ask to see the fish weighed and confirm the total price before it goes on the grill.
- The 'friendly stranger' bar scam around Syntagma and the centre: someone strikes up a conversation and suggests a bar, where drinks for you and hostesses arrive with a bill of hundreds of euros. Decline invitations to bars from people you just met; choose your own place and check drink prices first.
- Bread, water or 'cover' (kouver) charges you did not order, and bills without a proper receipt. Bread is commonly charged and is legal if listed; ask for it to be removed if you don't want it. You are entitled to a receipt (apodeixi) every time.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Do I need to tip in Athens?
Service is not added to the bill in most tavernas. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for good service is normal, and in cafés people leave small change. Tips by card often don't reach staff, so leave cash if you can. On food tours, a tip of roughly €5–10 per person for a good guide is appreciated but not required.
When is the Central Market (Varvakios) open?
The meat, fish and produce halls on Athinas Street open Monday to Saturday from early morning, roughly 7:00, until late afternoon, with Saturday finishing earlier. It is closed on Sunday and public holidays. The busiest and most interesting time is about 8:00–12:00. The shops on the surrounding streets keep normal Greek shop hours, so some close early on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Is street food in Athens safe?
Generally yes. Souvlaki shops, bakeries and pie shops have high turnover and are regulated like any restaurant. Choose busy places where the gyros spit is turning and the meat is cooked through. Tap water in Athens is safe to drink, so you don't need bottled water for health reasons.
Which food tour is best for a first visit?
A morning tour that goes through the Central Market (Varvakios) is the best introduction: you see how Athenians shop and taste pies, cheese, olives, olive oil and sweets in one go. Morning tours finish around lunchtime and can replace lunch. If you prefer wine and a sit-down meal, pick an evening tour instead. Avoid booking a market tour on a Sunday, when the market is closed.
How much should I budget for food per day?
On a tight budget, about €20–30 covers a koulouri or tyropita breakfast, a pita souvlaki lunch and a simple taverna dinner. A comfortable day with two sit-down meals and house wine is roughly €45–65. Modern Greek restaurants and seaside fish tavernas start around €50–70 per person before wine. Prices in Plaka and around Syntagma run noticeably higher.
What time do Athenians eat?
Breakfast is often just coffee and a koulouri or pie. Lunch runs from about 14:00 to 16:00 and dinner from about 21:00, often later in summer. Tavernas are usually open all day in the centre, so you can eat earlier, but at 19:00 you will mostly be among other visitors. Souvlaki shops stay open late, often past midnight.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.