Athens & The Greek Islands™

Discover the unforgettable fresh flavors, history, and breathtaking beauty of Greece! Embark on an extraordinary culinary journey through Athens and the enchanting Cycladic islands of Naxos and Santorini. Begin in Athens, where ancient history comes alive at the iconic Acropolis and Parthenon, before tasting your way through traditional Greek cuisine in the city’s vibrant neighborhoods. Continue to Naxos, explore picturesque mountain villages, discover the island’s exceptional local products, and experience a traditional Greek family meal prepared over a wood fire. Your journey culminates in spectacular Santorini, where whitewashed villages and blue-domed churches overlook the legendary caldera.  This is Greece – authentic, delicious, and breathtaking. Learn to prepare traditional Greek cuisine and discover local markets, ancient landmarks, and Greek villages in this unforgettable culinary experience.

Athens

Athens, the captivating capital of Greece, is a city where thousands of years of history meet a vibrant, modern way of life. Often called the cradle of Western civilization, Athens has been continuously inhabited for more than 7,000 years, and ancient history is woven into every corner of the city. At its heart stands the magnificent Acropolis, crowned by the iconic Parthenon and overlooking the bustling city below. Nearby, the Acropolis Museum brings Greece’s extraordinary archaeological treasures to life.

Wander through Plaka, Athens’s oldest neighborhood, where charming lanes, neoclassical buildings, artisan shops, and traditional tavernas create an authentic taste of Greek life. And, of course, food is at the heart of the Athenian experience. Greek cuisine is simple, fresh, and deeply rooted in tradition, with fragrant olive oil, local artisan cheeses, such as feta, and fresh seafood – think htapodi, grilled octopus, or kalamarakia, fried calamari.  Seasonal vegetables like eggplant and grilled meats, including lamb, are popular ingredients, along with a country-style stone-baked bread called horiatiko psomi.  Taste traditional favorites such as moussaka, an eggplant and meat pie, souvlaki, grilled meat skewers, tzatziki, a creamy yogurt dip, and spanakopita, a spinach feta pie.  Gyros are also popular.  In Athens, every meal is an invitation to savor the flavors, history, and hospitality of Greece.

Things to Do in Athens

• Explore the Acropolis – Discover the iconic Parthenon, ancient temples, and breathtaking views across Athens.
• Wander through Plaka – Stroll charming streets lined with neoclassical buildings, traditional tavernas, and local shops.
• Visit the Acropolis Museum – Admire extraordinary ancient sculptures, artifacts, and treasures from Athens’s remarkable past.
• Taste Traditional Greek Cuisine – Savor authentic favorites such as moussaka, souvlaki, spanakopita, fresh seafood, and local artisan cheeses.

Naxos

Naxos is a stunning tapestry of mountains, fertile valleys, traditional villages, ancient ruins, and brilliant blue seas. At the entrance to Naxos Town stands the magnificent Portara, a monumental marble gateway and the last remnant of an ancient temple dedicated to Apollo. Wander through the town’s impressive Venetian Castle, then venture into the island’s mountainous interior and discover the villages of Chalki and Apeiranthos, where you can find beautiful marble streets and medieval architecture.

Naxos, the largest island and most fertile, is blessed with an abundance of exceptional local products, making its cuisine among the most celebrated in the Cyclades. The island is self-sustainable, making it a premier farm-to-table destination. Generations of farmers and families have cultivated the island’s fertile land, producing outstanding potatoes, vegetables, cheeses, olives, meats, and fruit.

Naxos is known for its rosto, a slow-cooked pork in a rich tomato sauce, its precious cheeses, including graviera and arseniko, and famous potatoes.  Enjoy a tomato salad, called horiatiki, paired with local sour cream cheese, xynomyzithra, crisp cucumbers, and olive oil. Top it off with Kitron, the island’s famous citron liqueur.

In your cooking class, you’ll experience traditional recipes prepared over a wood fire, offering a delicious glimpse into the island’s timeless culinary traditions. Appetizers include Naxian cheese and honey, cuisine includes kalogeros, slow-cooked beef with eggplant and local cheeses, and desserts include melachrino, traditional Naxian walnut cake with citrus and spices.

Things to Do in Naxos

• Discover Naxos Town – Wander through the beautiful blend of Cycladic and Venetian architecture and explore the impressive Venetian Castle.
• See the Portara – Visit Naxos’s iconic marble gateway, the last remnant of an ancient temple dedicated to Apollo.
• Explore Mountain Villages – Discover charming villages such as Chalki and Apeiranthos, known for marble streets, traditional homes, and rich local culture.
• Taste Naxian Specialties – Sample exceptional local cheeses, potatoes, smoked pork, goat, and Kitron, the island’s famous citron liqueur.

Santorini

Santorini is one of the world’s most breathtaking destinations, famed for its dramatic volcanic cliffs, dazzling, blue-domed churches, and brilliant whitewashed villages overlooking the shimmering Aegean Sea. Shaped by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history, the island’s extraordinary caldera creates a landscape unlike anywhere else in Greece. Wander through the picturesque village of Oia, perched high above the caldera, where winding lanes and beautiful whitewashed homes offer unforgettable views of the sea and volcano.

Santorini’s volcanic soil has also created a remarkable culinary and winemaking tradition. Generations of farmers have cultivated vines on the island’s unique volcanic landscape, carefully shaping them into low, basket-like formations to protect the grapes from the strong winds. The result is distinctive wines made from indigenous grapes, most famously crisp, aromatic Assyrtiko.

The island’s cuisine celebrates its extraordinary landscape with fresh, locally grown ingredients and traditional recipes. Santorini’s famous cherry tomatoes, white eggplant, capers, fava, and fresh seafood are transformed into flavorful specialties that capture the essence of the Aegean. During your culinary experience, discover the island’s authentic flavors and learn how its volcanic earth has shaped both its food and wine.

Things to Do in Santorini

• Admire the Caldera – Take in breathtaking views of Santorini’s dramatic volcanic cliffs, sparkling Aegean waters, and legendary caldera.
• Explore Oia – Wander through picturesque, whitewashed streets and discover iconic blue-domed churches overlooking the sea.
• Relax on Volcanic Beaches – Enjoy the striking black sands of Perissa and Perivolos or the dramatic landscape of Red Beach and Vlychada.
• Experience Santorini Wine Country – Visit traditional wineries and taste indigenous Assyrtiko wines shaped by the island’s unique volcanic soil.

Itinerary: 8 days, 7 nights

Day 1: Arrival & Welcome Dinner

• Arrival and check-in. Enjoy your Cooking Vacations’ Welcome Bag with a Prosecco and a chef’s apron.
• In the evening, enjoy an authentic Welcome Dinner at the property featuring a full course of traditional Greek fare with an antipasto such as a Greek salad, tzatziki, made with yogurt, cucumber, and garlic or moussaka, layered eggplant and seasoned meat.  Menus change with the seasons. Wine is not included.

Day 2: Visit the Acropolis & Acropolis Museum

• After breakfast, meet your English-speaking specialized guide for a tour of the centuries-old Acropolis. Explore the magnificent Parthenon and ancient temples while taking in breathtaking views of Athens.
• Following your visit to the Acropolis, make your way to the Acropolis Museum, home to an extraordinary collection of ancient sculptures, artifacts, and treasures that bring Athens’s fascinating history to life.
• In the afternoon, explore Plaka, Athens’s ancient neighborhood, lined with bustling restaurants and unique artisan shops.

Day 3: Explore Athens & Athens Cooking Class

• After breakfast, explore the city of Athens! Discover its lively streets, charming neighborhoods, and beautiful blend of ancient landmarks and modern Greek culture.
• In the afternoon, tie on your aprons for a hands-on Athens Cooking Class! Prepare a traditional Greek menu with farm-to-table sonal ingredients. You will learn how to cook moussaka, a lasagna-style specialty with layered eggplant and seasoned meat, spanakopita, a flaky pie filled with spinach and feta, and tzatziki, a creamy yogurt dip with cucumber, garlic, and herbs. Following the cooking class, everyone enjoys the food that was prepared in the class with wine included.

Day 4: Travel to Naxos & Naxos Cooking Class

• After breakfast, meet your driver who will take you to the port in Athens, where you will take the ferry to Naxos. As the ferry arcs toward the island, you catch the first glimpse of the Portara, a marble gateway on the headland and all that remains of an ancient temple to Apollo.
• Upon arrival, explore the property and Naxos, the largest of the Cycladic islands, known for its stunning landscapes, charming villages, and rich culinary traditions.
• In the evening, tie on your aprons for your second cooking class! Prepare a traditional Greek family dinner using local farm-to-table Naxian ingredients hosted at a 16th-century family farm. This farm is known for its hearty Naxian kalogeros, a casserole of layered braised beef, fried eggplant, and tomatoes cooked over a wood fire.  Following the cooking class, everyone enjoys the food that was prepared in the class with wine included.

Day 5: Discover the Villages In Naxos & Naxos Food Tour

• After breakfast, meet your driver and visit the villages in Naxos. The first stop is Chalki, the island’s former capital in the center of Naxos.  Unlike typical whitewashed Cycladic villages, it features elegant neoclassical mansions, tiled roofs, and paved courtyards influenced by its wealthy past.
• Following Chalki, continue the scenic drive to the mountain village of Aperianthos, known for its marble streets and medieval architecture, where you will enjoy a Food Lovers’ Tour. Learn about the local landmarks with food tastings included along the way.
• Following the tour, return to the property with your driver.
• Dinner is on your own with suggestions provided.

Day 6: Explore Naxos & Travel to Santorini

• After breakfast, explore the town of Naxos, often called one of the most beautiful towns in the Cyclades and known for its Venetian and Cycladic influence. In the morning, explore the impressive 13^th-century Venetian fortress and white-washed Cycladic homes.
• In the afternoon, meet your driver and continue to the Port of Naxos, where you will take a ferry to Santorini.
• In Santorini, meet your driver and continue to the hotel property.
• Check in, relax and take time on your own.
• In the evening, meet your driver and visit Oia for your traditional Greek dinner overlooking Santorini’s caldera, a volcanic crater filled with water in the Aegean Sea. This area is a breathtaking cliffside village known for its whitewashed buildings, blue-domed churches, winding cobblestone streets, and unforgettable sunset views.

Day 7: Santorini Cooking Class & Sunset Wine Tour

• After breakfast, tie on your aprons for your Santorini cooking class! Join our chef for a hands-on cooking class preparing a traditional menu with local ingredients such as Santorini cherry tomatoes, fava, capers, and fresh herbs. Specialties include tomatokeftedes, crispy tomato fritters, and fava me koukia, creamy yellow split-pea purée.  Following the cooking class, everyone enjoys the food that was prepared in the class with wine included.
• In the afternoon, discover the wines of Santorini. Sip and swirl your way around Santorini’s wineries on a half-day wine tasting tour. You will visit three traditional wineries on the island while discovering ancient Assyrtiko grapes at the old-world vineyards.  Also learn about the history of the island’s wine making, and volcanic soil that makes the wines so delicious.

Day 8: Departure

• Following breakfast, departure & farewell Greece – until you return!!!