Up-and-coming wines and Mediterranean meals—the perfect pairing.
See how historic traditions and modern-day culture have swirled together to create Greece’s current food and wine scene. Start in Thessaloniki, the country’s culinary hub, before making your way down to Athens to explore some of the nation’s ancient wonders. Then, continue on to Crete where the area’s flavorful cuisine comes to life inside the local markets. From mainland wine regions to island vineyards, you’ll experience the wonders of Greek wine while indulging in locally sourced, fresh foods on this small group Food & Wine Tour.
Your tour package includes
9 nights in handpicked hotels
9 breakfasts
3 lunches
3 dinners with beer or wine
2 wine tastings
1 liquor tasting
4 tastings
1 cooking class
4 sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides
Private deluxe motor coach
2 on-tour flights
Included highlights
Thessaloniki
Epanomi wine tasting
Acropolis
Palace of Knossos
Iraklio wine tasting
Cretan market visit
Archanes women's co-op
Greek cooking class
Itinerary
Overnight Flight1 night
Day 1: Travel day
Board your overnight flight to Thessaloniki today.
Thessaloniki3 nights
Day 2: Arrival in Thessaloniki
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to Greece! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at a welcome dinner tonight.
This tour was a trip packed full of new experiences. Julie was very organized and made sure our tour was what we expected. Weather was beautiful. This was my 10th Go-Ahead tour and anxious to plan another one.
EF Go Ahead Tours
Thank you for taking the time to review your tour! We are so glad to hear that Julie’s organization helped make your experience everything...
Tasting Greece
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Denise, traveled in Sep 2024
This was my first experience with group travel. I was a bit hesitant as I have high expectations. I was pleasantly surprised as this trip exceeded many of my expectations. All of our hotels were above average and quite lovely. The dinners were very good and our fellow...
Can now check Greece off my bucket list!
5 out of 5 stars
2nd-time traveler Karla, traveled in Oct 2023
Well, I finally made it to Greece! It only took me 58 years to get there! This tour was magical. The locations were great, though would have rather been in the Excelsior Hotel across from our hotel in Thessaloniki. But location was terrific for close proximity to restaurants...
EF Go Ahead Tours
We are so delighted you chose us to travel with to Greece! We cannot wait to welcome you back soon.
Excellent
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Gail Reina, traveled in Sep 2023
Our tour guide was amazing and way above expectations. The restaurants and outings were extraordinary. The accommodations were comfortable and well located. An incredible life experience!!
First TIme SOLO
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Dawn, traveled in Sep 2023
I can't explain the anxiety I had planning this trip. Not because of anything they did but what they DID DO. Single female traveling alone is scary but I did it with their help.
From planning excursions, dinner recommendations, shopping experiences and the people....Our tour...
tour director
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Jeanette, traveled in Jun 2023
Katrina was very knowledgeable she was beyond helpful anything you need. I hurt my foot and she was just right there making sure my trip was fantastic and she succeed! Thank you so much Katrina. Hope I get to see you again in my next trip.
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
This stylish hotel is located in the city center of Thessaloniki. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, a fitness center, and a restaurant. Nearby, you’ll find Tsimiski Street, Aristotelous Square, and the White Tower of Thessaloniki.
Athens - President Hotel
This elegant hotel is located in Athens, Attica. Guests enjoy a seasonal rooftop pool, a sauna, and the rooftop restaurant. Nearby, you'll find Mount Lycabettus, the National Archaeological Museum, and the Acropolis.
Heraklion - Galaxy Hotel Iraklio
This luxe hotel is located in Heraklion on the island of Crete. Guests enjoy restaurants, the outdoor pool, and a spa. Nearby, you’ll find Lions Square, Ammoudara Beach, and various shops and restaurants.
Chania - Kydon Hotel
This comfortable hotel is centrally located in Chania. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, a restaurant, and a bar. Nearby, you’ll find the Agora (a covered market) and the Cathedral of Eisodia tis Theotokou.
Santorini - Mar 'n' Mar Crown Hotel and Suites
This sophisticated hotel is located in Kamari, a seaside village on Santorini. Guests enjoy an outdoor pool, views of the Aegean Sea, and a spa lounge. Nearby, you’ll find Kamari Beach, a shopping center, and Ancient Thera.
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare and you’ll get:
Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
In order to enter Greece, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
Beginning in 2026, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2026, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code TGO.
You will walk for at least 1.5 hours daily across uneven terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, with steep hills and stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of boats.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Thessaloniki and depart from Athens. A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at the beginning and end of the tour are included for travelers who purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
Flights from Athens to Heraklion and Chania to Athens are included in the price of your tour. A ferry from Athens to Santorini and a flight from Santorini to Athens is included in the price of the tour extension.
All other included transportation is by private motor coach.
Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code TGO.
Greece’s warm climate ensures a constant supply of fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables. Salads served with aromatic olive oil, feta cheese, and oregano are plentiful. Simple grilled fish and meat are integral to Greek cuisine, as well as squid and octopus. Don't miss the spinach and cheese pies, called spanakopita.
Sea breezes, mineral soil, and coastal climate all greatly influence the flavors present in popular Greek wines. Acidic and dry, Assyrtiko is one of the country's most well-known wines and thrives in the Macedonian region of Greece. Located outside of Thessaloniki, wine makers in the town of Epanomi are responsible for the resurgence of the fruity, full-bodied Malagousia wine. The dark red Mandilaria grape benefits from Crete's dry land and warm weather and is often blended with Kotsifali grapes to build a deeper color and complexity in the wine.
Greece operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C, E, or F plugs with two or three small, round pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other electrical device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances, but these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
Greece is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and seven hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 7pm on tour.
You will use the euro on this tour.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $4USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.
If you are traveling to multiple countries with different currencies and the same Tour Director, ask them what currency they prefer for their tip.
The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.
Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.
Jul 16 –
Jul 26, 2025
This tour is unavailable
This departure is no longer available for booking. Change the date to see other departures for this tour
