Athens: Polykala Distillery Tour & Liqueur Tasting Experience

Athens distillery visit with tasting and heritage stories

You’ll step into Athens’ Polykala Distillery for a guided tasting with hosts who treat you like family. Hear stories behind 127 years of craft, sample unique liqueurs (with some laughs), and see how tradition lives on in every bottle. It’s more than just a tasting. You’ll leave with new flavors on your tongue and maybe a story or two to tell.

Step-by-step itinerary

Distillery tour and liqueur tasting

• Meet Nina or Rena at distillery
• Learn about distillery process
• Taste various liqueurs

What’s included

Your visit includes entry to Polykala Distillery near Herakleidon Museum in Athens, personal guidance from Nina or Rena as they share stories behind 127 years of liqueur-making, tastings of several house-made liqueurs (with plenty of conversation), and fully accessible facilities throughout your experience.

Times

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• Monday to Friday 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30
• Saturday 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00

Information

Discover Athens’ Polykala Distillery with guided liqueur tasting, local stories, and 127 years of tradition. Includes accessible entry and expert hosts.

Group Up to 10

Live guide English and Greek

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. See the exact address

Book up to the start time

Ages Adult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Accessible transport Stroller-friendly Public transport nearby Not recommended during pregnancy Not recommended with heart problems

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

4.70 ★★★★★ Excellent 27 verified traveler reviews 89% rated it 5 stars

5 ★ 24

4 ★ 1

3 ★ 0

2 ★ 1

1 ★ 1

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The experience

I almost missed the entrance to Polykala Distillery. It’s tucked right near the Herakleidon Museum, but I was distracted by a stray cat weaving between my feet (Athens, right?). Inside, Nina greeted me with this warm “Kalimera!” that made me feel like I’d wandered into someone’s living room instead of a distillery. She handed me a tiny glass before I’d even set down my bag. The air smelled like orange peel and something herbal, not what I expected at all.

We started with stories about the family who’s been running this place for over a century. Rena showed us these old photos on the wall: black-and-white faces, all serious mustaches. She explained how their liqueurs are made, and honestly, I didn’t catch every detail (my Greek is hopeless), but you could tell she cared. When we tried the first sip, it was sweet but not too much? Kind of silky? There was this little burn after, which Nina said meant it was “proper.”

At one point I tried to pronounce “mastiha” and got it so wrong that Rena just laughed and poured another round. The bottles themselves looked almost too pretty to open: glass catching the late afternoon light from the window. There were a couple of locals in for gifts, chatting in rapid Greek. It felt like everyone knew each other here. By the end, I’d lost track of time completely. Still think about that taste sometimes when I walk past an orange tree.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Greek.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Where is Polykala Distillery located in Athens?

It’s near the Herakleidon Museum in central Athens.

Is there a guided liqueur tasting included?

Yes, knowledgeable staff guide you through tastings of their liqueurs.

Is the distillery wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

Can children join the tour?

Infants and small children can join if they’re in a pram or stroller.

Are there public transportation options nearby?

Yes, public transportation is available close to the distillery.

Who leads the tour at Polykala Distillery?

Nina or Rena will welcome you and share information about the distillery and its products.

How long has Polykala Distillery been operating?

The distillery has been crafting liqueurs for 127 years.

Is alcohol tasting recommended for everyone?

No, it’s not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with heart problems or serious medical conditions.

Operated by Polykala's Distillery ShowRoom. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago