Food destinations within easy reach of Athens, worth the early start.
Food destinations within easy reach of Athens. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.
Famous for: PDO Aegina pistachios, pistachio sweets and lunch at the harbour
Aegina in the Saronic Gulf, 40 minutes by ferry from the Piraeus port of Athens, is the PDO pistachio island, the harbour-front taverna lunch and the September Fistiki Festival.
Famous for: Agiorgitiko reds, Nemea PDO wine tastings, Ancient Nemea site
Nemea in the Peloponnese, 115 km southwest of Athens, is the Agiorgitiko PDO wine country with two or three winery tastings, a lunch in town and the ancient site nearby.
Famous for: Harbour-front seafood, donkey-only streets, hand-cut chips
Hydra on the Saronic Gulf is the donkey-only island where Athens goes for the harbour-front seafood lunch, a 90-minute Flying Dolphin from Piraeus and back the same day.
Famous for: Harbour-front taverna lunch, almond sweets, mostra meze
Spetses in the Saronic Gulf is a longer 2h 15m Flying Dolphin from Piraeus, the smarter island for a long taverna lunch on the Old Harbour and the almond pastries.
Famous for: Mountain tavernas, lamb on the spit, formaela cheese from Arachova
Delphi and the adjacent ski town of Arachova on Mount Parnassus, 2h 30m from Athens, run the winter and shoulder-season mountain taverna circuit with formaela cheese.
Famous for: Argolid seafood, gelato at Antica Gelateria di Roma, harbour-front tavernas
Nafplio in the Argolid, two hours from Athens, is the seafront town with harbour-front tavernas, the long-running Antica Gelateria di Roma and the citadel walks above.
Peak food season in Athens is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Athens rewards trust.