---
title: Culinary Secrets of Downtown Athens
lang: en
type: tour
city: Athens
country: Greece
price: 127
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.98
reviews: 125
duration_minutes: 330
languages: [en]
free_cancellation: "true"
rank_in_category: 12 of 66 (Food & Wine Tours)
schedule_checked: 2026-10-22
data_updated: 2026-10-22
canonical: https://guidekin.com/greece/athens/tours/culinary-secrets-of-downtown-athens/
---

# Culinary Secrets of Downtown Athens

In our comparison: #12 of 66 in Food & Wine Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below).

## Overview

Downtown Athens is a place where life is lived bite by bite, from old-school dairy bars and bustling souvlaki counters to historic markets and hidden arcades.

On this tour, we’ll explore the culinary backstreets of central Athens, tasting thick Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts, loukoumades, northern-style souvlaki and kebab based on a recipe brought by refugees from Constantinople. We’ll also discover the seafood eateries tucked inside the city’s traditional stoas and sample artisanal cheeses, honey and homemade spirits.

At Varvakeios, Athens’ central market, we’ll explore the meat and seafood stalls before stopping for classic booze and bites at a tiny 1970s institution. We’ll then cross over to the fruit, vegetable and pickle market to taste different varieties of Greek olives. Rough, beautiful, ancient and modern, downtown Athens tells the story of the city through its food.

## Before you book

- Meeting point: We will meet you in front of Venetis…
- Starts 09:30: one departure a day
- Food included: Snacks, Lunch, Dinner
- Strollers OK: infants accepted
- Age rule: Specialized infant seats are available

**Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point

## Key facts

- Price: from €127 per person
- Duration: 5h 30m
- Rating: 4.98/5 from 125 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Operator: Culinary Backstreets Walks
- Group: Shared tour
- Guide languages: English
- Start times: 09:30
- Booking: Confirmation within 48 hours, mobile ticket
- Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-22

## Reviews

4.98 from 125 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
99% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 124 of 125.

- 5 stars: 124 (99%)
- 4 stars: 0 (0%)
- 3 stars: 1 (1%)
- 2 stars: 0 (0%)
- 1 star: 0 (0%)

## What's included

- Snacks
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Breakfast
- Coffee and/or Tea

## Itinerary

1. **Central Market Athens** (5h 30m) - On this 5½-hour food tour, we will explore the culinary backstreets and secrets of downtown Athens, in search of the soul of this historic yet always vibrant city.

## Schedule

- Runs: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
- Departures: 09:30
- Schedule last checked: 2026-10-22
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

## Meeting point

We will meet you in front of Venetis Bakery on Monastiraki Square. Look for the shop with the green awning right by the kiosk.

Ends: back at the meeting point

## Good to know

- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels

## Compared with other Food & Wine Tours

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #12 of 66** | €127 | 5h 30m | 4.98 (125) | shared |
| [Small Group Greek Traditional Food Tour in Athens 26+ Tastings](/greece/athens/tours/small-group-greek-traditional-food-tour-in-athens-26-tastings/?format=md) | €73 | 3h 30m | 4.98 (2151) | shared |
| [Athens Food Tour with 10+ Tastings of Greek Traditional Dishes](/greece/athens/tours/athens-food-tour-with-10-tastings-of-greek-traditional-dishes/?format=md) | €69 | 3h | 4.98 (740) | shared |
| [Explore the hidden food gems of Athens](/greece/athens/tours/explore-the-hidden-food-gems-of-athens/?format=md) | €80 | 3h 30m | 4.99 (356) | shared |

Ranked #12 of 66 in Food & Wine Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €48 to €250, median €89; typical length 4h. 20 of 66 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market.

Full list: https://guidekin.com/greece/athens/athens-food-tours/?format=md

## More in Athens

- All Athens tours: https://guidekin.com/greece/athens/?format=md
- This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/greece/athens/tours/culinary-secrets-of-downtown-athens/

Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/greece/athens/?format=md