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Food tours in Santorini: what to eat and which tour to book
Santorini's food comes from dry volcanic soil and very little water. That gives small, intense produce that the island is known for across Greece: the yellow split-pea fava (from the local Lathyrus plant, not ordinary split peas), the small sweet tomatoes that go into tomatokeftedes, white aubergines, capers and caper leaves, and fresh chlorotyri goat cheese. The vines are trained low into basket shapes (kouloura) against the wind, and the main wines are the dry white Assyrtiko and the sweet, sun-dried Vinsanto. Eating with a caldera view in Fira, Imerovigli or Oia costs much more than the same dish in Pyrgos, Megalochori, Kamari or at the fish tavernas of Vlychada.
Use this page to know what to order and where you pay for food rather than for the view. The dishes and areas below cover the villages, harbours and wine country with rough prices for 2026. 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 Santorini
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santorini fava φάβα Σαντορίνης (fava Santorinis) | A smooth purée made from the island's own yellow pulse (a Lathyrus species, protected PDO product), served warm or at room temperature with olive oil, raw onion and capers. Some places top it with caramelised onions or braised octopus. | Almost every taverna on the island; village tavernas in Pyrgos, Megalochori and Exo Gonia usually do it better than the caldera restaurants. | roughly €8–12 a plate; more with octopus |
| Tomato fritters ντοματοκεφτέδες (tomatokeftedes) | Fritters of chopped Santorini cherry tomatoes (another PDO product), onion, mint and flour, fried until crisp outside and soft inside. The island's best-known meze. | Tavernas everywhere; the tomato season is roughly June to August, outside it some places use other tomatoes. | roughly €7–11 a portion |
| White aubergine λευκή μελιτζάνα (lefki melitzana) | A pale, sweet local aubergine with few seeds, grilled, fried or made into a dip (melitzanosalata). Less bitter than the usual purple variety. | Tavernas in summer and early autumn, when it is in season. | roughly €8–12 a plate |
| Chlorotyri and the Santorini salad χλωροτύρι (chlorotyri) | A soft, fresh, slightly sour goat's cheese. It goes into the local salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, capers, caper leaves (kaparofylla), onion and sometimes barley rusk. | Tavernas; ask for the 'Santorini salad' instead of a standard Greek salad. | roughly €10–14 a salad |
| Assyrtiko, Nykteri and Vinsanto Ασύρτικο, Νυχτέρι, Βινσάντο | Assyrtiko is the island's main white grape, dry, mineral and high in acidity. Nykteri is a traditional, often oak-aged white from late-picked grapes. Vinsanto is a sweet wine made from grapes dried in the sun, aged for years; it is also the communion wine of the island's churches. | Wineries around Pyrgos, Megalochori, Exo Gonia, Episkopi Gonia and Akrotiri offer tastings; book ahead in summer. Many tavernas have Assyrtiko by the glass. | roughly €7–12 a glass in a restaurant; winery tastings roughly €20–45 for a flight |
| Grilled fish and seafood ψάρι σχάρας, χταπόδι, καλαμάρι | Grilled octopus, squid, sardines and whole fish sold by weight, eaten by the water. | The fish tavernas at Ammoudi bay below Oia, the marina at Vlychada; also along Kamari and Perissa. | octopus or squid roughly €14–22 a plate; fresh whole fish roughly €60–110 per kilo |
| Melitinia μελιτίνια (melitinia) | Small star-shaped pastries filled with sweet fresh cheese (mizithra or chlorotyri), traditionally baked for Easter. | Bakeries and pastry shops; easiest to find around Easter, some keep them year-round. | roughly €1.50–2.50 a piece, or sold by weight |
| Gyros and souvlaki in pita πίτα γύρος / καλαμάκι | The everyday cheap meal on the island: pork or chicken in pita with tomato, onion and tzatziki. | Souvlaki shops in Fira, Kamari, Perissa and Oia; the cheapest meal in the caldera villages. | roughly €4.50–6 a pita, higher than in Athens |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Fira
The island's main town: caldera-edge restaurants with high prices, plus cheaper souvlaki shops, bakeries and cafés on the inland streets around the central square and the bus station, where workers and locals eat.
Oia and Ammoudi bay
Oia is the most expensive place on the island to eat. Below it, about 300 steps down (or by road), Ammoudi is a small harbour of fish tavernas on the water, good for grilled octopus and fish if you check prices first.
Pyrgos and Megalochori
Inland villages in wine country, with tavernas on village squares and views over the island from Pyrgos. Food is closer to home cooking and prices are lower than on the caldera; several wineries are within a few minutes' drive.
Vlychada marina
Small fishing harbour on the south coast with fish tavernas next to the boats, used by locals for seafood.
Kamari and Perissa
Black-sand beach resorts on the east coast with long seafronts of tavernas, souvlaki shops and beach bars, cheaper than the caldera and practical for families.
Food tours in Santorini 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santorini Cooking Class with Wine Tasting & Lunch | 4 hours | from €200 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Fira: Guided Foodie Walking Tour with Tastings | 4 hours | from €115 per person | max 8 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Santorini: Tour of Wineries with Wine Tasting & Food | 4 - 5 hours | from €150 per person | max 8 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Santorini: Wine Tasting Tour & Sunset Viewing | 5 hours | from €170 per person | max 10 | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Santorini: Hands on Cooking Class with a Chef | 3 hours | from €135 per person | max 10 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Santorini: Greek Food & Wine Tasting Tour | 4.5 - 5 hours | from €195 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
Santorini Cooking Class with Wine Tasting & Lunch
On GetYourGuide · run by Grnd Reserve Travel
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €200 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 37 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Pickup and drop-off-Electric Vehicles for private tours Experienced local guide Hands-on cooking lesson with a local chef Lunch paired with local wine Recipe sheet Liability insurance Designated driver Tips Personal e…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Fira: Guided Foodie Walking Tour with Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by Eat & Walk Santorini Food Tour
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €115 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 541 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 8
- Included
- All food tastings Drink sample Guide Farewell gift Map of Santorini
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Θήρα 847 00, Ελλάδα
Santorini: Tour of Wineries with Wine Tasting & Food
On GetYourGuide · run by Santorini Wine Stories
- Length
- 4 - 5 hours
- Price
- from €150 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 366 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 8
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Santorini: Wine Tasting Tour & Sunset Viewing
On GetYourGuide · run by Santorini Getaways Travel & Tourism
- Length
- 5 hours
- Price
- from €170 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 258 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Wine tasting tour Visit to 3 wineries Cellar tour All tastings Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle Tips
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
Santorini: Hands on Cooking Class with a Chef
On GetYourGuide · run by Timonfaya Travel Lanzarote
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €135 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 21 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Hands on cooking class with chef 4 course meal Recipes Gratuities/tips Transportation
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- Megalochori 847 00, Grecia
Santorini: Greek Food & Wine Tasting Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Grnd Reserve Travel
- Length
- 4.5 - 5 hours
- Price
- from €195 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 10 reviews (on 2 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Wine Tasting fees as per tour description Meze style dinner at the restaurant as per tour description Pick-up and drop off from specific pick-up points-Electric Vehicles for private tours Liability Insurance Gratuitie…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
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Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food on Santorini is mostly pita gyros and souvlaki, bakery pies and sandwiches. There are no street markets for visitors. A pita from a souvlaki shop in Fira or Kamari is the cheapest way to eat in the busy months.
Sit-down meals
Sit-down meals are where the island's dishes are: fava, tomatokeftedes, white aubergine, the local salad and grilled seafood with Assyrtiko. The price depends mostly on the view. A taverna in Pyrgos, Megalochori or Vlychada costs much less than a caldera table in Oia or Imerovigli for the same food. Reserve sunset tables days ahead in summer.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes on Santorini are usually held at wineries or village houses and combine a short wine tasting with cooking fava, tomatokeftedes and a salad, then eating together. Many include transfers from Fira; check whether the menu suits vegetarians, since most of the island's signature dishes are meat-free.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | €35–50 (bakery breakfast, pita gyros lunch, simple taverna dinner away from the caldera) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | €70–100 (two taverna meals with wine, one with a view) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | €180+ (caldera restaurant tasting menu with wine pairing) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Easy. The best-known local dishes (fava, tomatokeftedes, white aubergine, the Santorini salad with chlorotyri and capers) are vegetarian, and fava is vegan if served without cheese. Ask whether fried dishes share oil with fish.
Halal: Halal-certified food is very limited on the island. Pork is the default in gyros and souvlaki, so ask for chicken (kotopoulo). Seafood and the vegetable dishes are the simplest options.
Gluten-free: Fava, grilled fish and meat, and salads without rusk are naturally gluten-free. Tomatokeftedes contain flour, and pita, pies and fried calamari are not safe. Restaurants on the caldera and in Fira are more used to gluten-free requests than village tavernas; say 'choris glouteni' (without gluten).
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Sunset-view restaurants and bars in Oia, Imerovigli and Fira with minimum spends, 'sunset menus' or a per-person cover charge, often explained only when the bill arrives. Ask about minimum spend and cover charges when you book or sit down, and read the menu prices before ordering. If you only want the view, watch the sunset from a public spot and eat afterwards elsewhere.
- Fresh fish sold per kilo at Ammoudi and other harbour tavernas, then a large fish cooked without telling you the total. Ask to see the fish weighed and agree the final price before it is cooked. Check whether the fish is fresh or frozen; frozen items must be marked on the menu.
- Sunbed and umbrella charges in Kamari and Perissa that turn out to need a minimum food and drink order, or a high fixed price per set. Ask the price of the sunbeds and whether there is a minimum spend before you sit. Free public sections of beach exist at most beaches.
- Expensive bottled water and drinks: tap water on Santorini is desalinated and not recommended for drinking, so restaurants sell large bottles at high prices. Buy water from supermarkets (about €0.50–1 for 1.5 litres) and check the price of bottled water on the menu.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Can I drink tap water on Santorini?
It is not recommended. Most of the island's water comes from desalination, and locals drink bottled water. Buy 1.5-litre or 6-pack bottles in supermarkets, where they cost a fraction of restaurant prices. Restaurant water is usually charged per bottle, so check the price on the menu.
What should I order to taste Santorini specifically?
Fava with capers and onion, tomatokeftedes, white aubergine, the Santorini salad with chlorotyri and caper leaves, and a glass of Assyrtiko. For dessert or after dinner, ask for Vinsanto. These dishes are on almost every taverna menu; the produce is seasonal, so tomatoes and white aubergines are best roughly from June to September.
Where can I eat well without paying for the caldera view?
Head inland to Pyrgos, Megalochori, Exo Gonia or Emporio, or to the coast at Vlychada, Kamari and Perissa. The inland streets of Fira also have souvlaki shops and bakeries at normal prices. A dinner that costs €50–60 per person at a village taverna can easily be double on the caldera edge.
Do I need to book wine tastings and restaurants?
In July and August, yes. Wineries are often booked a few days ahead, and sunset tables in Oia, Imerovigli and Fira can be booked weeks ahead. Village tavernas usually take walk-ins, though you may wait after 21:00. In shoulder season (April–May, October) most places are easier to get into.
How much should I budget for food per day?
Santorini is one of the most expensive places in Greece. A tight day with a bakery breakfast, a pita and a simple taverna dinner is roughly €35–50. Two sit-down meals with wine are roughly €70–100. A caldera restaurant with a tasting menu and wine pairing can be €150–250 per person.
Is the island open for eating in winter?
Partly. From about November to March many restaurants in Oia, Fira's caldera edge, Kamari and Perissa close, and opening times vary. Fira and the villages where people live year-round, such as Pyrgos and Emporio, keep some tavernas and bakeries open. Check current hours before you go, especially on weekdays.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.