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The fresh flavors, Mediterranean cuisine, vibrant seasonal produce, and exceptional honey and olive oil make Greece one of our top destinations for food.
Having eaten our way through Athens, Crete, and Santorini, we can confidently say there’s no better way to immerse yourself in Greek gastronomy than with a cooking vacation.
Taking a cooking vacation in Greece is more than learning traditional recipes.
It’s a holistic experience that immerses you in this fascinating country’s rich culinary heritage and history.
Nourish your body, mind, and soul on any of our recommended top 7 Greek cooking vacations.
Best Cooking Vacations in Greece Comparison Table
| Greece Cooking Vacations | Price $ (USD) | #Days | # Cooking Experiences | Location | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Greek Food Cooking Vacation | $4169 | 8 | 4 | Athens | Athenian culinary experiences |
| Greek Culinary Holiday On Syros Island | $1865 | 8 | 4 | Syros island | Immersive experiences |
| Greece Culinary Adventure On Poros Island | $3396 | 8 | 4 | Poros island | Personalized cooking classes |
| Greek Cooking, Painting and Culture Vacation | $2195 | 8 | 4 | Zakynthos | Culinary and arts |
| Self-Guided Cooking Vacations in Athens | $2414 | 8 | 3 | Athens | Flexibility |
| Artistic Pursuits and Greek Culinary Holiday | $2085 | 8 | 3 | Zakynthos | Creative arts |
| From Athens To Tinos Island Cooking Odyssey | $3350 | 7 | 2 | Athens and Tinos island | Gastronomic adventures |
Top Selection of Cooking Vacations in Greece
1. Athens Greek Food Cooking Vacation 8 Day – Best Athenian Culinary Experiences
Cost: $4169 per person
Days: 8 days
Hands-on cooking classes: 4
Athens, the soul of Greece, is the perfect location to experience the country’s history, culture, and cuisine.
This 8-day Athens Greek food cooking vacation, indulges you in an unforgettable culinary experience through cooking and culinary experiences.
You will enjoy four hands-on cooking classes where you’ll learn traditional Greek cooking recipes.
Each Greek cooking class lasts for about three hours, and you’ll make a range of seasonal Greek foods.
You’ll learn the art of Meze, or Greek starters. Greek Mediterranean dishes like salads, cauliflower, and vegetable dishes with aromatic herbs and spices will delight you.
While learning to make classic sweets, baked dishes, and grilled meats will complete the cooking experience.
When you are not cooking, you’ll take guided tours of the Acropolis, Roman Agora, iconic neighborhoods like Plaka, and the royal palace.
This Greek cooking vacation also includes a day excursion to the nearby Saronic islands, including Hydra, Poros, and Aegina.
You’ll be staying in northern Athens near Katsimidi Hills, where your hosts, Alexandros, and his partner, will be your guides.
You’ll enjoy Greek hospitality in their home, and they will also be your chefs and culinary guides on your Athens cooking vacation.
2. Greek Culinary Holiday On Syros Island 8 Day – Best Immersive Experience
Cost: $1865 per person
Days: 8 days
Hands-on cooking classes: 4
Syros, the capital of the Cyclades, is an off-the-beaten-path Greek island worth exploring.
This 8-day Greek culinary holiday on Syros Island introduces you to the rich culture, traditional and fascinating culinary history.
You’ll enjoy 4-dedicated cooking classes, and learn the secrets and techniques of Greek cuisine using the freshest local and seasonal ingredients.
In the classes, you’ll focus on cooking with vegetables, grains and pulses, seafood, stuffed peppers, and much more.
We love the flexibility offered in this class, where you can choose to participate in a class or not.
Visits to the local market, restaurants, wine tasting, foraging for herbs, and learning how to cook with them are also included.
Hikes to cliffside churches, swimming in the pristine sea, and a beach picnic are also part of this unique culinary experience.
You’ll be staying in a renovated 19th-century villa on Syros Island. Elisa and Maria, your passionate instructors, will provide you with an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
3. Greece Culinary Adventure On Poros Island 8 Day – Personalized Cooking Classes
Cost: $3396 per person
Days: 8 days
Hands-on cooking classes: 4
The verdant island of Poros, easily accessible from Athens and near Peloponnese, is a lovely location for a cooking holiday.
This 8-day Poros Island Greek cooking adventure offers a complete experience with cooking classes, excursions, and island visits.
Instructor Katerina, who specializes in both modern and traditional Greek cuisine, will be your instructor in four hands-on cooking classes.
Upon your arrival, she’ll ask you about the skills or Greek food you’re keen to master, and she’ll tailor this Greek cooking vacation to your preferences.
You’ll visit the island fish market and select the freshest produce for that day’s cooking class.
You’ll also explore the island more widely, visiting olive oil groves, lemon groves, or a nearby Mediterranean vegetable farm.
On each excursion, you’ll learn about how these ingredients are used in Greek cooking.
Plus, you’ll benefit from a Greek cheese and wine tasting experience, and a guided all-day tour of nearby Hydra island.
This cookery course is ideal for those looking for a more tailored, island-based Greek cooking vacation.
4. Cooking, Painting Culture Vacation On Ionian Islands 8 Day – Best For Culinary & Arts
Cost: $2195 per person
Days: 8 days
Hands-on cooking classes: 4
Zakynthos, an Ionian island known locally as Zante, was once known by the Venetians as the flower of the east.
This stunning island with pristine white beaches is your location for your 8-day cooking, painting, and culture vacation.
In 4 in-depth cooking classes, your local chef, Effie, will teach you how to make colorful Greek dishes like Greek salad, “gemista” or stuffed vegetables, moussaka, lamb, orzo pasta, and more.
One of the classes is specialized and themed around “land, sea, and the seasons,” where you’ll produce a fresh and seasonal four-course meal.
The dedicated four painting classes are led by a local artist, Mika, who will provide all the necessary equipment and tailor the painting to your existing skills.
Built into the itinerary are other culinary activities, including winery visits, olive oil and cheese tastings, live Greek music and dancing,
Your stay will be at the family-run Villa Spiros, known for its hospitality and equipped with everything you need to feel at home.
Cooking holidays in Greece that combine classes on cooking Greek food with the chance to improve your painting don’t come better than this.
5. Self-Guided Cooking Vacation in Athens 8 Day – Best For Flexibility
Cost: $2195 per person
Days: 8 days
Hands-on cooking classes: 4
Savor a culinary retreat in the suburbs of Athens while exploring on self-guided cultural outings.
On this 8-day self-guided cooking vacation, you’ll dive into Greek history, culture, and gastronomy.
Expect to master specific Greek dishes in 3 hands-on cooking classes. Using seasonal ingredients, you’ll master traditional phyllo pastry and make several phyllo based dishes.
Recipes for sweet treats and desserts like baklava and “portokalopita,” a syrup-drenched orange cake, will be revealed.
Each cooking lesson is accompanied by a lively discussion on the culture of each dish, helping you gain insight from passionate chefs.
In addition to the cooking classes, you’ll take a number of curated, self-guided tours. In Athens, you’ll visit the Acropolis and enjoy dinner in the lively Monastiraki district.
You’ll also take a day trip to the Saronic islands, exploring the bakeries on Poros and sampling locally produced pistachio ice cream on Aegina.
A rejuvenating massage is also included on this trip, as well as other excursions to Mycenae, or activities like hiking and horseback riding.
You have total flexibility on this Athens-based Greek cooking vacation, including the ability to customize the excursions and length of stay.
6. Artistic Pursuits and Greek Culinary Holiday 8 Day – Best For Creative Arts
Cost: $2085 per person
Days: 8 days
Hands-on cooking classes: 3
Unleash the inner artist within on this unique Greek cooking vacation that also offers a creative, artistic itinerary.
On this 8-day artistic pursuits and Greek culinary holiday, you will learn or improve your creative and culinary skills in an artist’s paradise.
At the heart of this cooking vacation are 3-hands on cooking classes where you’ll learn to prepare Greek traditional dishes from starters to main meals and desserts.
The days are broken up with creative activities like painting lessons, wood carvings, ceramics, and soap making.
Each of these activities are led by local experts who provide the necessary equipment, support, and inspiration to bring your ideas to life.
Other culinary tours include visiting an olive oil museum, learning about traditional production methods, and wine tasting at a family-run winery.
In your free time, you’ll have opportunities to eat at local tavernas, enjoy a boat trip around the island coast, and swim at many exceptional beaches.
You’ll feel at home in a modern studio or apartment within close proximity to local restaurants and beaches.
This cooking holiday in Greece brings out your creative prowess in the kitchen and beyond.
7. From Athens To Tinos Island Cooking Odyssey 7 Day – Best Gastronomic Adventures
Cost: $3350 per person
Days: 7 days
Hands-on cooking classes: 2
Enjoy your own Greek adventure as you begin this cooking vacation in Athens before setting sail to the idyllic island of Tinos.
This 7-day Athens to Tinos adventure takes you on a delicious gastronmic adventure, starting in Athens to the Cycladic Island of Tinos.
Your introduction to Greek cuisine and culture starts at the Athens Central Market, where you’ll sample delicacies like local olive oils, cheese, honey, and wine.
Once you arrive on Tinos Island via ferry, you’ll visit local artisans and vendors and take trips to historic and cultural landmarks.
Two in-depth cooking classes are included in this cooking vacation, both featuring seasonal ingredients and local recipes.
In Tinos Island, you’ll meet the artisans and producers of the island’s local specialties.
For instance, at an artichoke farm, you’ll learn directly from farmers the importance of this crop to Tinos.
On a visit to a local beekeeper, you’ll learn about freshly harvested honey, taste iconic foods, and swim in the crystal blue sea.
Along the way, you’ll sip on Greek wines, eat at local restaurants, and explore local cultural sights, deepening your understanding of the country.
In both Athens and Tinos, you’ll be staying in boutique hotels with the ability to easily accommodate single or solo travelers.
This unique seven day Greek cooking vacation from Athens to Tinos is an unforgettable moveable feast.
RELATED: 5 Best Food Markets in Athens: Guide To Athens Central Market and Laiki
How to Best Choose Your Cooking Vacations in Greece
Culinary vacations to Greece have something for everyone. Each time we visit the country, we continue to learn about the local specialties of each island.
Whether you choose a cooking holiday in the buzzing metropolis of Athens or a slower-paced island course, you’ll learn tips and techniques for cooking authentic Greek food.
What we love about these cooking holidays in Greece is that they include excursions to famous sites, enriching your knowledge of the rich cultural and historical heritage.
As you plan your Greek cooking vacations, keep in mind the following considerations.
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The Cooking Experience
As you plan for your Greek cooking vacation, islands and parts of the country you’d like to explore.
Are you looking for multiple hands-on cooking classes? Or are you comfortable with a culinary adventure that blends excursions with trips to historic sites?
One thing to keep in mind is the weather and time of year. Also, consider avoiding the peak tourist seasons.
What is Your Budget and How Much Time Do You Have
Other important factors to consider are your budget and the time you have in your schedule.
Most of these cooking vacations in Greece that we highlight take place over eight days.
The price of these cooking vacations in Greece ranges from $1865 to $4169. Besides cooking classes, visits to local artisans, wineries, and cultural excursions are also included.
Depending on your budget and length of stay, choose the best Greek culinary holiday that meets your needs.
Number of Participants
Our top Greek cooking vacations are all small group-based. This means that they’re ideal for solo travelers and great options for two couples looking to vacation together.
You can choose private or shared rooms depending on the Greek cooking vacation you choose.
Safety Measures
Flexible booking conditions are offered on these cooking holidays in Greece. In the case of any unexpected events, it’s a good idea to get travel insurance.
Cancel up to 7 days prior to the arrival date, and you can reschedule your booking free of charge or receive trip credit for your non-refundable deposit to use at another time.
Which one of these cooking holidays in Greece would you like to take? Please let us know in the comments below.
Savor The Adventure!
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Rosemary is the editor-in-chief and strategist at Authentic Food Quest.
Traveling slow since 2015 with her partner, Claire, she has explored the cuisine in 45 countries and more than 240+ culinary cities.
Her writing about local food specialties has been featured in Lonely Planet, Business Insider, Honest Cooking, Food Insider, and Huffington Post.
As a food and travel writer, Rosemary has co-authored three books, including one in collaboration with Costa Brava Tourism.
Rosemary is an avid runner when she’s not eating and exploring new destinations. She has run ten marathons and counting.
Before Authentic Food Quest, Rosemary held senior-level strategy positions in advertising.
Find out more about Authentic Food Quest