13 Shopping Tours in Greece 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.Day Trip To Heraklion City Center & Market & CretAquarium

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 205 reviews · 7 hours · from $23Best value

Travel by air-conditioned bus from eastern Crete to Heraklion’s local market, Liberty Square, the Venetian port, and CretAquarium. You get free time for shopping, lunch, sightseeing, and marine life viewing, with guides in English, French, or German. Linda has earned special praise for her clear explanations and friendly style.

“It was fantastic our guide was so clear explain for as lots of informations and history about the Crete culture we love it .”

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5.Open Market Food Tour with Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 186 reviews · 3 hours · from $53

Meet your English-speaking guide at Le Palace Art Hotel and walk through Ladadika, Louloudadika, Athonos Square, Kapani, and Modiano. Taste bougatsa, Greek coffee, cheeses, olives, dips, pastries, and local drinks while learning how food fits Thessaloniki life. Guides such as Eleni, Konstantina, and Rita are praised for warm, helpful explanations.

“She took us a tour with different flavours of the city. It was nice and time flew by. We highly recommend Margarita! Hope to meet you again in Thessaloniki or İstanbul.”

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6.Knossos Palace, Heraklion City, Market Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 164 reviews · 6 - 8 hours · from $41

Travel by coach from Crete's resort towns to Knossos, where a live guide explains the Minoan ruins. Visit a farm in Patsides for Cretan samples, then spend about 2.5 hours in Heraklion with time for the market, harbor, shops, lunch, or the archaeological museum. Guides speak English, German, French, or Polish.

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7.Walking Open Market Food Tour and Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $54

Meet at Le Palace Hotel at 10:30 am for a three-hour English tour through Ladadika, Kapani Market, and Aristotelous Square. Try bougatsa, Greek coffee, olives, pies, cheeses, spreads, sweets, and local drinks while guides such as Eleni, Konstantina, Dina, and Adria explain Thessaloniki’s food and history.

“Our family of 10 loved the Thessaloniki: Walking Open Market Food Tour and Tasting. Helen, our guide, provided great insight into the culture and history of the city as we walked through several traditional markets tasting olives, sweets, savory meat and cheese pies, coffee and other traditional treats. Our small group of 12 allowed us see and hear more than if we had chosen to participate in a shore excursion offerd by the cruise line. We highly recommend this tour to experience Thessaloniki in just a few hours.”

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8.Heraklion Center, Local Market and Creta Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 61 reviews · 6 hours · from $23

Travel by air-conditioned coach from resorts across eastern Crete to Cretaquarium and central Heraklion. You get about 80 minutes at the aquarium, then roughly 3.5 hours for Liberty Square, Koules Fortress, the food market, cafés, museums, and shopping. English, German, and French support is available, with guide Olga praised for her care.

“We were not picked up until an hour after the pick up time. It was clear they had missed us off as they eventually sent a mini bus to get us. This meant when we got to the aquarium (to meet up with the coach that should have picked us up) we only had 45 min to pay and get round the aquarium. We refused as we wanted to take our time and enjoy it not rush through it which was disappointing as we wanted to go to the aquarium. On the positive Heraklion was lovely and the local market was good but make sure you take lots of cash!”

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9.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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10.Knossos Palace guided tour – Heraklion City tour + market

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 51 reviews · 6 - 8 hours · from $37

Spend 6 to 8 hours traveling from Crete’s resort areas to Knossos, a local farm near Patsides, and Heraklion. A guide leads you through the palace, then you get time for the Archaeological Museum, lunch, shopping, and the Venetian harbor. Expect a busy day, extra entrance fees, and plenty of walking in the sun.

“de Engelstalige gids was goed onderlegd!wat ik persoonlijk jammer vond is dat ze maar door ratelde...De wetenswaardigheden kon je niet eens verwerken...iets rustiger is ook goed en iets minder ook! ik persoonlijk voelde het als een" haastige" dag, maar toch genoten. voor iemand die minder goed ter been is , is het bezoek aan het paleis van Knossos erg zwaar.”

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11.Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store

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

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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12.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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13.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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