Best Places to Travel in Greece: Greece is not only a destination for sun-soaked islands and historic ruins—it’s a gastronomic paradise filled with rich flavors, warm hospitality, and some of the finest wines in the Mediterranean. Best Places to Travel in Greece From juicy souvlaki and flaky spanakopita to sweet baklava and award-winning Assyrtiko wines, Greek cuisine offers a feast for all your senses.
Best Places to Travel in Greece
Whether you’re sipping wine in a Santorini vineyard, sharing meze in a seaside taverna, or sampling olive oils straight from the press, Greece delivers unforgettable culinary experiences in every region. This guide covers the 50+ best places to travel in Greece for food and wine lovers, highlighting both iconic hotspots and hidden gems that belong on every foodie’s bucket list!
🌿 Mainland Marvels for Foodies
1. 🏛 Athens
The capital offers modern and traditional bites: gyros, loukoumades, and Michelin-starred tavernas.
2. 🌬 Thessaloniki
Greece’s culinary capital. Try bougatsa, soutzoukakia, and vibrant street food.
3. 🌿 Kalamata
Famous for its olives, olive oil tastings, and rich Peloponnesian flavors.
4. 🌾 Nafplio
A romantic coastal town with fresh seafood and local citrus liqueurs.
5. 🌲 Metsovo
A mountain town known for smoked cheeses, hearty meat dishes, and red wines.
🌊 Island Escapes with Culinary Magic
6. 🌊 Santorini
Assyrtiko wine, tomato fritters, and views that feed the soul.
7. 🌿 Crete
Home of the Mediterranean diet: dakos, raki, snails, and wild greens.
8. 🏔 Naxos
Potatoes, cheeses, and the strong local liqueur, kitron.
9. 🌊 Corfu
Venetian-influenced dishes like sofrito and pastitsada.
10. 🌿 Lesvos
Famous for ouzo, sardines, and small-plate meze.
🍷 Best Wine Regions in Greece
11. 🍷 Naoussa (Macedonia)
Famous for Xinomavro wines, wine tours, and vineyard tastings.
12. 🌿 Drama
An emerging wine region with crisp whites and luxurious estates.
13. 🍷 Santorini
Volcanic soil makes Assyrtiko grapes thrive—book a sunset tasting!
14. 🌿 Mantinia (Peloponnese)
Moschofilero wines and traditional winemaking techniques.
15. 🌿 Samos
Sweet Muscat wines and panoramic vineyard views.
🎡 Hidden Foodie Towns & Villages
16. 🌿 Arachova
A winter favorite with comfort food and local formaela cheese.
17. 🌲 Zagori
Mountain gastronomy at its best: pies, mushrooms, and tsipouro.
18. 🌲 Karpenisi
Roasted lamb, trahana soup, and alpine dining.
19. 🌿 Archanes (Crete)
Rustic wineries, family tavernas, and olive oil tours.
20. 🌱 Lefkada
A mix of Ionian seafood and Epirote inland dishes
🌟 Street Food Hotspots
21. 🌿 Athens Central Market
Try souvlaki, koulouri, olives, and fresh cheeses.
22. 🌬 Thessaloniki Modiano Market
Get lost in spice aromas, grilled meats, and local delicacies.
23. 🏠 Chania Old Town (Crete)
Cretan street eats like kalitsounia and grilled octopus.
24. 🌿 Rhodes Town
Kebabs, loukoumades, and unique local breads.
25. 🏖️ Heraklion (Crete)
Try bougatsa with mizithra and honey at sunrise.
🍽️ Culinary Experiences You Can’t Miss
26. 🍵 Olive Oil Tours in Kalamata
Taste liquid gold straight from the press.
27. 🍳 Cooking Classes in Santorini
Learn to make domatokeftedes and baklava.
28. 🍾 Cheese-Making in Naxos
Experience traditional processes and taste fresh gruyere.
29. 🍽️ Meze Nights in Lesvos
Sample small plates with ouzo by the sea.
30. 🥂 Wine Harvesting in Naoussa
Join locals in picking grapes and celebrating with food and music.
🍜 Regional Dishes to Try by Location
31. 🌿 Moussaka in Athens
A rich, layered baked dish of eggplant, meat, and bechamel.
32. 🌱 Kalitsounia in Crete
Sweet or savory cheese-filled pastries.
33. 🌿 Stifado in Corfu
Beef or rabbit stew with onions, cinnamon, and wine.
34. 🍟 Soutzoukakia in Thessaloniki
Spiced meatballs in tomato sauce with cumin and garlic.
35. 🌾 Giouvetsi in the Peloponnese
Lamb or beef baked with orzo in a clay pot.
🍗 Sweet Treats Across Greece
36. 🍮 Baklava in Athens
Layered phyllo, nuts, and honey syrup.
37. 🍪 Loukoumades in Rhodes
Fried dough balls drenched in honey and cinnamon.
38. 🍪 Bougatsa in Thessaloniki
Cream-filled phyllo pastry dusted with powdered sugar.
39. 🍰 Revani in Central Greece
A semolina cake soaked in orange syrup.
40. 🍦 Kaimaki Ice Cream in Northern Greece
Unique flavor from wild orchid root and mastic.
🍷 Best Places to Pair Food with Views
41. 🏔️ Oia, Santorini
Sip wine with a view of the caldera at sunset.
42. 🌿 Monemvasia
Dine by the sea inside a medieval fortress town.
43. 🌊 Parga
Seafront tavernas with views of colorful houses and the Ionian Sea.
44. 🌊 Symi
Colorful port, fresh seafood, and peaceful ambience.
45. 🌟 Meteora
Picnic with views of ancient monasteries on rock spires.
🍽️ Food & Wine Festivals Worth Attending
46. 🎈 Thessaloniki Street Food Festival
A lively gathering of Greek and international cuisine.
47. 🌿 Rethymno Wine Festival (Crete)
Cretan wines, music, and traditional dancing.
48. 🍰 Baklava Festival in Komotini
A sweet celebration of regional pastry traditions.
49. 🍷 Naoussa Wine Festival
Local wine tastings, grape stomping, and celebrations.
50. 🍜 Athens Gastronomy Festival
A showcase of modern Greek cuisine with top chefs.
51. 🍽️ Lesvos Ouzo Festival
A food lover’s delight with endless meze and music by the sea.
Final Tips for Food & Wine Lovers in Greece
- Eat local: Ask for the regional specialty at each place you visit.
- Try indigenous wines: Like Assyrtiko, Xinomavro, and Moschofilero.
- Venture inland: Some of the best food is in villages, not tourist centers.
- Bring cash: Smaller tavernas may not accept cards.
- Eat late: Dinner often starts around 9 PM in Greece.
From mountaintop vineyards to seaside tavernas, Greece is a dream destination for food and wine lovers. Whether you’re savoring traditional dishes passed down through generations or tasting award-winning wines against a sunset backdrop, every meal in Greece is a celebration of life, land, and history.
I’m Lily Wilson, a traveler, storyteller, and soul-searcher from the sun-kissed shores of Hawaii. At LilyOnTheGo.com, every journey begins with curiosity, courage, and a trusty carry-on. Travel, for me, has never been about ticking places off a bucket list. It’s about chasing sunrises in unfamiliar cities, sharing laughs with strangers who become friends.