5. From Cruise Ship Port: Greek Food Tour + Free Time in Athens
Get ready to bite into a sweet, cream filled, crunchy filo layered pie called bougatsa, fork into perfectly fried doughnut balls drenched in honey called loukoumades, and savor a satisfying meld of flavors from warm pita bread filled with seasoned grilled meat, fresh veggies and traditional sauce called gyros. In between, you’ll taste Feta cheese, Greek olives, Greek wines and try other traditional foods on a neighborhood walk revolving around sampling Greece’s traditional food. In between each bite, you’ll gain insight into Greece’s fascinating food culture, the evolution of the country’s cuisine and the healthy nature of locally produced, organic ingredients. The Athens Walking Tours guide will lead you through the bustling Athens Central Market, a historic food market unlike any other in Europe. Here, colorful and fragrant food stalls set the stage among animated food sellers, fishmongers and butchers yearinng for sales as locals bargain them down. You’ll also be led down the city’s quaint spice street, browse through specialty shops selling local wine, olive oil, cheese or olives, and sample what’s behind the glass counters at family-run delicatessens. The aromas of fresh, out-of-the-oven savory pies, the tempting displays of Greek pastries and sips of Greece’s strong and tasteful spirits round off the food tour.