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Food tours in Nafplio: what to eat and which tour to book
Nafplio, the first capital of modern Greece, sits at the edge of the Argolid plain, one of the country's main orange-growing areas, and about 40 minutes' drive from Nemea, one of the largest red-wine regions of Greece, made from the Agiorgitiko grape. Local cooking is Peloponnesian home food: gogges, small hand-pressed pasta served with tomato sauce or browned butter and grated cheese, oven dishes, grilled meat, and fish and seafood from the Argolic Gulf, eaten in Nafplio itself, at Tolo, or further south at Ermioni. Athenians come for the weekend, so the town is busy on Saturdays and Sundays all year.
Use this page to know what to order and where to eat beyond the Bouboulinas waterfront. The dishes and areas below cover the Old Town, the beaches at Arvanitia and Karathona, Tolo, Argos and the Nemea wine villages, with rough 2026 prices. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Nafplio
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gogges γόγγες (gogges) | Small pieces of hand-made pasta pressed with the thumb into little shells, a traditional Peloponnesian pasta also made in Argolida. Usually served with tomato sauce or with browned butter and grated hard myzithra or other local cheese. | Tavernas in the Old Town and village tavernas around the Argolid that cook traditional dishes; not on every menu, so ask. | roughly €9–13 a plate |
| Argolida oranges and fresh juice πορτοκάλια Αργολίδας | The plain between Nafplio and Argos is covered in orange groves, mainly navel and Valencia types. Fresh juice is everywhere, and orange shows up in cakes (portokalopita) and spoon sweets. | Cafés in Nafplio; roadside stalls and the open-air markets in Nafplio and Argos in season (roughly December to May). | fresh juice roughly €3.50–5 a glass; oranges roughly €1–1.50 per kilo at markets in season |
| Nemea wine (Agiorgitiko) Νεμέα, Αγιωργίτικο | PDO Nemea red wine from the Agiorgitiko grape, from soft and fruity to oak-aged. Nemea is just over the border in Corinthia; Argolida also has its own vineyards and wines. | Wine bars and tavernas in Nafplio; wineries for tastings around Ancient Nemea, Koutsi and the other villages of the Nemea zone. | roughly €5–8 a glass in Nafplio; winery tastings roughly €10–25 |
| Grilled fish and seafood ψάρι, χταπόδι, γαύρος, καλαμάρι | Grilled octopus, fried anchovies (gavros) and squid, sardines and fresh whole fish sold by weight, from the Argolic Gulf. | Fish tavernas on Tolo's seafront, along the Nafplio waterfront and, as a day trip, at Ermioni and Porto Heli. | octopus or squid roughly €11–16 a plate; whole fish roughly €50–80 per kilo |
| Rooster in wine κόκορας κρασάτος (kokoras krasatos) | Rooster slow-cooked in red wine and tomato with spices, usually with hilopites (egg noodles) or other pasta. A Peloponnesian Sunday dish. | Village tavernas around the Argolid and some Old Town tavernas, more often at weekends. | roughly €12–16 a plate |
| Home-style oven dishes μαγειρευτά (magirefta) | Dishes cooked in the morning: gemista (stuffed tomatoes and peppers), moussaka, fasolakia (green beans in tomato), giouvetsi (meat with orzo), and lamb or goat baked with potatoes. | Tavernas in the Old Town side streets and in Argos. | roughly €9–13 a plate |
| Ice cream παγωτό (pagoto) | Nafplio is known across Greece for its ice-cream shops, including flavours such as kaimaki (mastic and salep) and fruit sorbets from local produce. | Ice-cream shops in the Old Town, around Syntagma Square and along the waterfront. | roughly €3–5 a cone |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Old Town and Staikopoulou Street
The Venetian and neoclassical old town below the Palamidi fortress, with Syntagma Square at its centre. Staikopoulou and the streets around it are lined with tavernas; quality varies, so read menus and go where Greeks are eating.
Bouboulinas waterfront and the harbour
Promenade facing the Bourtzi castle, with cafés and restaurants. Good for a coffee or a drink at sunset; for dinner, the Old Town streets behind are usually better value.
Arvanitia and Karathona
Arvanitia is the small beach and promenade below Akronafplia, a short walk from town; Karathona is a long sandy beach a few minutes' drive away, with beach tavernas and cafés.
Tolo
Seaside village about 15 minutes' drive from Nafplio, with a seafront of fish tavernas looking out at small islands. Popular with families.
Argos
The larger working town of the plain, 15 minutes away, with an open-air market where farmers sell oranges, vegetables and local produce, plus everyday tavernas and souvlaki shops at local prices.
Nemea wine villages
Ancient Nemea, Koutsi, Leontio and the other villages of the Nemea zone have wineries open for tastings, about 40 minutes' drive north of Nafplio.
Food tours in Nafplio 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nafplio: Greek Cooking Class with Local Hosts | 3 hours | from €100 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Small-Group Sailing Cruise in Nafplio with Food & Drinks | 4.5 hours | from €90 per person | max 10 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Nafplion: Nemea Vineyards Wine Tour | 6 hours | from €210 per person | max 13 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| From Nafplio: Nemea, Wine Tasting Tour with Local Flavours | 5 hours | from €135 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
Nafplio: Greek Cooking Class with Local Hosts
On GetYourGuide · run by Savor Nafplio
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €100 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 9 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Small-Group Sailing Cruise in Nafplio with Food & Drinks
On GetYourGuide · run by Nafplio4Sail
- Length
- 4.5 hours
- Price
- from €90 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 35 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Experienced Skipper Snacks, Seasonal Fruits or Desert Use of Snorkeling equipment Soft drinks Alcoholic beverages Bottled water SUP board All Fees and Taxes Fuel cost
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Λιμάνι Ναυπλίου
Nafplion: Nemea Vineyards Wine Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Unique Greek Tours
- Length
- 6 hours
- Price
- from €210 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 20 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 13
- Included
- English-speaking tour leader Round-trip private transportation from Nafplion Pickup from your hotel or the tour meeting point Entrance into the winery Wine tasting Tickets in the archaeological sites Liability Taxes
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
From Nafplio: Nemea, Wine Tasting Tour with Local Flavours
On GetYourGuide · run by EnjoyCorinthia Tours & Transfers
- Length
- 5 hours
- Price
- from €135 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 3 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Included
- Guided wine tasting session Insights into the winemaking process Wine tasting in one winery Optional cultural site visits Transportation to and from Nemea Personal expenses Wine tasting at more than one winery
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food in Nafplio means pita gyros and souvlaki, bakery pies and koulouri, and ice cream. It is cheap and quick but limited; most local food is eaten sitting down.
Sit-down meals
Sit-down tavernas are where the food is: gogges, oven dishes, grilled meat and fish. The Old Town is full of tavernas and quality varies widely, while Tolo and the villages are good for fish and Sunday lunch. Weekends are busy with visitors from Athens, so book on Friday and Saturday nights.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes around Nafplio are usually held in village houses or farms in the Argolid and may include an olive oil tasting or a visit to orange groves. Wine tours to Nemea are more common than cooking classes; check what is included and whether transport from Nafplio is arranged.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | €25–35 (bakery breakfast, pita gyros lunch, simple taverna dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | €45–65 (two taverna meals with house wine) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | €100+ (fish dinner at Tolo or a winery visit with lunch) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Easy. Gogges with tomato sauce, gemista, fasolakia, salads, pies, fava and other vegetable dishes are meat-free. During Orthodox fasting periods many tavernas have vegan (nistisima) dishes.
Halal: Halal-certified food is very limited in Nafplio. Pork is the default in gyros and souvlaki, so ask for chicken (kotopoulo) and choose fish or vegetable dishes.
Gluten-free: Grilled fish and meat, salads and many oven dishes are naturally gluten-free. Gogges, hilopites, pies and pita are wheat-based, and fried seafood is floured. Say 'choris glouteni' (without gluten); newer cafés understand better than old tavernas.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Waterfront and Syntagma Square restaurants with higher prices for ordinary food and staff calling you in from the street. Read the menu before you sit, and look one or two streets back into the Old Town.
- Fresh fish sold per kilo in Tolo and on the waterfront, weighed and cooked without telling you the total. Ask to see the fish weighed and agree the final price before it is cooked. Frozen fish must be marked on the menu.
- Sunbeds at Karathona, Arvanitia and Tolo with a minimum food and drink order that is not mentioned until later. Ask the price per set and whether there is a minimum spend before you sit.
Top tours & activities in Nafplio
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
What should I eat in Nafplio?
Gogges, the small hand-made Peloponnesian pasta, with tomato sauce or browned butter and cheese; rooster in wine with hilopites; grilled octopus and fish from the Argolic Gulf; and fresh Argolida orange juice. Drink Agiorgitiko from Nemea. Finish with ice cream in the Old Town, which the town is known for.
Can I visit Nemea wineries from Nafplio?
Yes. The Nemea zone is about 40 minutes' drive north, around Ancient Nemea, Koutsi and nearby villages, in Corinthia. Many wineries offer tastings, but some only by appointment, so book ahead, especially on weekends. If you are driving, plan one designated driver or join an organised wine tour.
When are oranges in season?
Roughly from December to May, depending on the variety. In season you will find roadside stalls on the roads between Nafplio and Argos and plenty of fresh juice in cafés. In summer the juice is still sold but the oranges are from storage or other areas.
Is Nafplio busy at weekends?
Yes. It is a popular weekend trip from Athens, about two hours by car, so Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday lunch are very busy all year. Book dinner on those days. Weekdays outside July and August are much quieter, and some places close one weekday in winter; check current hours.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Nafplio is cheaper than the islands and close to Athens prices. A tight day with bakery breakfast, a pita and a simple taverna dinner is roughly €25–35. Two taverna meals with house wine run roughly €45–65. A fish dinner at Tolo or a full winery day can be €80–120 per person.
Do I need to tip?
Service is not usually included. Leaving about 5–10% or rounding up for good service is normal, in cash if possible, since card tips often don't reach staff. In cafés, small change is enough.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.