The Original Athens Food Walk: Bougatsa, Spices and Souvlaki

The oldest food walking tour in the city, run by a local company and capped at sixteen people.

It starts at the fountain in Syntagma Square and works through the centre on foot, stopping at specialist shops for fruit, spices and cured meat. The tastings are the things Athenians eat without thinking about it: bougatsa, sweet or savoury depending on the shop; loukoumades soaked in honey; olives, olive oil, honey and cheeses.

Varvakeios is the centrepiece, the market where the meat, fish and vegetable trade of Athens happens, loud with stallholders calling prices across the aisles. From there the route takes in Aiolou, the street of textile stalls, food shops and small churches, and finishes in Psyri with a souvlaki, pork, chicken or vegetarian.

You leave with a list of places to eat from someone who eats in them.

Guided in English. Afternoon and Sunday departures do not include the Central Market, because it is closed then. Vegetarian options are available; gluten-free choices are limited.