Tastes of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki, Greece
From EUR 95.00
Office phone number: +30 698 067 9166
Tastes of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki, Greece
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
What do you get when you combine Greek coffee, pastries and breads, sweets, meze, and ouzo? Apart from a minor bout of indigestion, you also get one of the best introductions into Greek cuisine and culture, all on this tasty Thessaloniki tour.
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Highlights
- Discover Thessaloniki through its distinct local flavours
- Sample all kinds of delicious Thessaloniki food, from savoury bites to delicious sweet treats
- Sip on Greek coffee and learn about it origins
- Wander through the city's magical open-air markets
- Sip on ouzo in one of the Thessaloniki’s best ouzeris
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- On this tour you will visit 100% local, family-owned businesses and meet a local greengrocer, cheesemonger, butcher, and fishmonger who sell their own and Greek-only products. Supporting small-scale, locally-run businesses helps to preserve the traditional character of old Thessaloniki.
- By joining this tour you are supporting a 100-year-old local pastry shop started by refugees so it can continue thriving and serving authentic local delicacies.
- As part of your tour you'll visit a local ouzeri that serves meze locally sourced from villages, farmers, and stock-breeders of northern Greece.
- At least one store on your itinerary is dedicated to the preservation of locally-produced crafts.
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3.5 - 4 hours
- Meeting point:
Kinissi Palace Hotel, at the hotel's cafe - 41 Egnatia St & 17 Siggrou St.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 9.30 AM
- Ending point:
Tsimiski street, the commercial hub of the city.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking escort, coffee, local snack - Bougatsa, Koulouri, ouzo & meze, olives, cheese, sweet treats.
Exclusions: Items of a personal nature, tips and gratuities for your guide.
Thessaloniki is not only known for its beauty and impressive number of Byzantine monuments, but also for its great food! Give your taste buds a treat and take them on a journey through this gorgeous Greek city on this tasty Thessaloniki food tour.
Begin your Thessaloniki tour from Aristotelous Square, where you'll meet your local guide. Kickstart the tour with a cup of Greek coffee just like the locals do - there's no other way to start the day in Greece! You'll be learning all about this delicious brew from your local guide as you sip on it, nicely easing you into the day, and your tour.
Continue your journey with your local guide to the busy commercial areas of Thessaloniki, sampling many flavours along the way. Try koulouri and bougatsa – small round breads with tasty sesame seeds. While koulouri is a fairly plain (but nonetheless delicious!), bougatsa can be filled with almost anything – cream, spinach, cheese, mince and much more. With both breads having a history that dates back to the Byzantine era, koulouri and bougatsa are undoubtedly fascinating foods that you simply have to try in Thessaloniki.
Next on this Thessaloniki walking tour, we'll take a wander through Thessaloniki’s two best-known open-air markets. With charming paved alleys, hundreds of people and fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, spices, dairy, homemade products, and many local specialties filling the stalls, the markets have a unique and vibrant atmosphere that’s sure to captivate. Listen to market tales from your local guide, and drink in the sights and smells of your surroundings.
Move on to Athonos Square, and be amazed by beautiful scenery that compliments the numerous old-world ouzeris and small taverns. Visit one of the best ouzeris in the city and taste meze accompanied with ouzo or tsipouro - some flavours you won't be forgetting in a hurry, that's for sure!
Your Thessaloniki tour could not end without a visit to one of the city’s oldest confectioneries for a sample of siropiasta. These syrupy sweets are still made from the original recipes that Greek refugees brought with them during the1920s from Istanbul and Asia Minor, the perfect Thessaloniki food to finish off this tour (and aid your digestion!).
This Thessaloniki food tour ends here, and you can either stay on to explore the area further or your guide can accompany you back to Aristotelous Square.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking escort, coffee, local snack - Bougatsa, Koulouri, ouzo & meze, olives, cheese, sweet treats.
Exclusions: Items of a personal nature, tips and gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: In general, there are few dress restrictions in Europe. Please note though that the tour may pass by or through churches, where modest dress is required; no shorts or skimpy tops are permitted.
Your Trip: This trip is offered on a "join-in" basis. Maximum group size is 12.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +30 698 067 9166
Email address: info@thessalonikiurbanadventures.com
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