7 Shopping Tours in Athens That Survive a Close Look

1.Classic Cooking Class with Market Visit and Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,101 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $83Our pick

Spend about four hours with The Greek Kitchen, walking to Athens Central Market, preparing Greek dishes with a local home cook, and eating family-style with wine. Expect tzatziki, spanakopita, dolmades, stuffed eggplant, and portokalopita. Instructors may include Vasia, Thanos, Thanassius, Adoniya, or Antonia.

“Just an outstanding few hours spent at the market, preparing, and eating the fruit of our labors. Lived it!”

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2.Food Market Visit and Cooking Class with Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,087 reviews · 4 hours · from $81

Meet at The Greek Kitchen on Athinas Street, then walk with your cook through Varvakios Agora to choose ingredients and meet traders. Back in the studio, prepare dolmades, spanakopita, imam baildi, portokalopita, and tzatziki before sitting down to eat with wine and Greek liquor. Instructors such as Vasia and Thanasis keep the class friendly and practical.

“This was an amazing experience! Really wonderful guide and excellent chef who walked us through everything. He was also hilarious and very kind to all of us. Would recommend this experience to anyone who comes to Athens!”

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3.Athens, Greek food tour including market visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 618 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $83

Meet a local English-speaking guide at Syntagma Square for 3.5 hours of Greek tastings, neighborhood walks, and market sights. Try koulouri, pies, cheeses, olive oil, honey, and more before finishing with souvlaki in Psyri. Morning departures suit summer best, and vegetarian choices are available.

“Our host Emmalina made each stop so smooth and fun. Very engaging even if we didn’t think we might like a certain dish she encouraged me/us and she was right, it was delicious!!”

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4.Cooking Class in Athens with Shopping in Central Market & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $101

Meet at 11:30 am near Tzireon Street and walk with a small group through Athens to the Central Market. With a guide such as Nina, Elena, or George, you shop for ingredients, then cook tzatziki, salad, stuffed vegetables, and dessert with a Greek chef in a traditional taverna. Lunch, wine, water, and recipes are included.

“Very happy with the company for allowing the tour to still take place we paid for the group tour but because this was the off season we were the only couple. Had an amazing time walking the city with our guide, he was somewhat new to the tour industry but really had the history and city knowledge of how daily life takes place. Gave us so much insight on how life and politics work throughout the city. Allowed us to go to different parts of the market to get the experience. Great translator for our chef experience and was very kind and spoke to our American understanding. Got to know…”

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5.Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $67Best value

Meet Sophia or Elena at Finewine in Plaka for a private 90-minute tasting of six Greek wines, from white and rosé to red and dessert styles. You’ll pair them with cheese, charcuterie, olives, and local bread while tracing Greece’s wine regions on a map. Extra glasses and bottles cost more.

“I had a wonderful time at the Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store with my friends. We were a group of six and our host was Sophia, who was very knowledgeable and friendly. She showed us a great map of Greece and explained the history and characteristics of the wine regions and the cheeses that we paired with the wines. We tried six different wines: three whites, one rosé, and two reds. They were all delicious and unique, and Sophia gave us some tips on how to taste and appreciate them. We learned a lot about Greek wines and culture, and had a lot of fun. The wine store…”

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6.Classic Athens Food Tour with Local Drink & Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $70

Start at Syntagma Square and walk with a local gastronomy guide through Varvakios Market and Evripidou Street. Expect Greek pies, meats, olives, coffee, gyros, loukoumades, a traditional drink, and plenty of food. Groups are capped at 10, with guides such as Tassos known for warm conversation and useful Athens tips.

“To say we loved it is an understatement. Touring with Tassos felt like visiting an old friend. He's knowledgable, personable, and showed us all the hidden gems tucked away while other tourists waited in long lines for other mediocre options. Tassos has the best stories, is hilarious, and is just a really nice guy. I'd recommend this tour to my friends, parents, big groups, small groups-- anyone. Cannot endorse enough.”

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7.Cooking Class, Market Visit & Lunch at Local Tavern

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 27 reviews · 4 hours · from $105

Meet Active Athens Holidays near Acropolis Metro Station, walk through Plaka and Monastiraki to Athens Central Market, shop for ingredients with a local facilitator, then cook tzatziki, dolmadakia, stuffed vegetables, salad, and dessert at a traditional taverna. The four-hour class includes lunch, wine, equipment, and a recipe book.

“It was an absolutely amazing experience. My mum and I ended up having a private tour as we were the only ones booked on our date. Our female tour guide (didn’t catch her name) was wonderful. She was knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything to us, and even took us on an extended tour to some spectacular view points! Our time at the market was spent collecting all the produce we needed for cooking and we got to sample some extra bits along the way. The restaurant staff were so friendly and the chef was hands on, helping us with every step. The tour guide relayed all the…”

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