Greek Cooking Class in Syros: Forage & Cook with Maria

Wild herbs you gather yourself become the base of the meal you cook.

A three-hour cooking class in Syros where you forage wild herbs and greens with professional chef Maria, then return to her home kitchen to prepare a traditional Greek meal using your foraged plants, organic produce, and ancient grains, paired with local wine. The menu shifts with the season and emphasizes vegetable-rich dishes in the Cycladic style. Maria teaches both the foraging walk and the cooking techniques, sharing historical and nutritional knowledge throughout.

The experience

The class starts with a guided walk near Maria's home, where she teaches you to identify and gather wild herbs and greens growing locally. She shares what these plants are used for in herbal medicine and how to work them into recipes that go beyond the expected. Once you've collected your ingredients, you head back to her kitchen to transform what you've gathered into a full meal alongside organic vegetables, legumes, local cheeses, and grains. Maria guides the cooking hands-on, walking you through traditional Cycladic techniques while telling you about the nutritional side and the stories behind the dishes.

The menu depends on what's in season. You might prepare a peasant's salad with wild flowers or rock samphire with carrots and beetroots; a fava dish topped with onions and sun-dried capers; seasonal vegetables baked with chickpeas or fresh black-eyed peas; and a semolina halva with saffron or homemade sweet to finish. The focus is on vegetables and legumes: meat was traditionally used sparingly in Cycladic cooking, so the meal reflects that balance. Greek wine pairs throughout.

You'll need to choose between the French-language or English-language option when you book. Both follow the same foraging walk and cooking sequence, with Maria as your guide for the full three hours.

What’s included

• Private cooking class and foraging experience with Maria.
• the guided walk to identify and gather wild herbs and greens.
• hands-on instruction in traditional Cycladic cooking techniques.
• a seasonal Greek meal you prepare together featuring foraged plants, organic vegetables, legumes, local cheeses, and grains.
• local Greek wine paired with the meal.

Options for this experience

2 options

Cooking and lunch conducted in French10:30This option comes with a French translator.

Cooking class plus lunchGuide in English · 10:30

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Pets welcomeNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Traveling Spoon

Is this one for you?Book the English-language option if you want Maria's full explanations of foraging and cooking techniques without translation. Choose French if that's your preference. The three-hour format means you're learning and cooking in one morning or afternoon, so it suits a half-day schedule better than a full-day commitment.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What exactly do you forage on the walk with Maria?

Wild herbs and greens that grow near Maria's home in Syros. Maria teaches you to identify them and explains their uses in herbal medicine and cooking, so you learn not just what to pick but why these plants matter in Cycladic food and traditional remedies.

Do you cook the entire meal yourself, or does Maria do most of it?

You cook hands-on with Maria guiding you through each step. She teaches the traditional Cycladic techniques, shares nutritional insights, and walks you through the process. It's instruction-based, not a demonstration where you watch.

What's included in the price?

The private cooking class and foraging walk with Maria, plus the meal you prepare together and local Greek wine to drink with it. You're cooking in her home kitchen and eating what you've made.

Does the menu change, or is it always the same dishes?

The menu is seasonal, so what you prepare depends on what's available when you book. Maria builds the day around organic vegetables, legumes, and grains that are fresh at that time, plus the wild herbs you forage.

How long is the whole experience?

Three hours total, starting with the foraging walk and moving into the cooking and meal in Maria's kitchen.

Is this class available in English?

Yes, Maria teaches in both English and French. Choose your language when you book.