Heraklion walking tour with food tasting: Taste Cretan cuisine

Taste your way through Heraklion's markets and churches

A 3-hour walking tour of Heraklion combining visits to St. Minas Cathedral, St. Titus Church, and the 1866 Central Market with over 10 tastings of Cretan food and wine. Small groups hear stories about local life while eating handmade bougatsa, aged Graviera cheese, mountain herbs, olive oil, and a sit-down farm-to-table meal with house wine and Raki. The tour includes a live English-speaking guide and is suitable for all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Heraklion city tour and food tasting

• Visit St. Minas Cathedral and hear legends
• Walk through 1866 Market and taste cheese
• Explore historic St. Titus Church
• Enjoy sit-down Cretan meal with wine and Raki

The experience

St. Minas Cathedral opens the walk: a 19th-century landmark with its own history, including an unexploded bomb from the city's past. From there you move into the aromatic alleys of the 1866 Central Market, where the tour stops for a private cheese-tasting session of aged Graviera and introduces you to the healing herbs of the Cretan mountains. The route then takes you to St. Titus Church, one of the Mediterranean's most historic sites, which has served as both a cathedral and a mosque and sits on the city's most elegant pedestrian street.

The food experience is the centerpiece: handmade bougatsa at Lions Square, world-famous gyros at Hovoli, and a proper sit-down meal at Arismari & Varsamo featuring authentic Cretan recipes like dakos and lamb, paired with local wine and a ritual of Raki. Over 10 different plates come included, along with bottled water and unlimited house wine. Small group sizes mean you hear personalized stories about Cretan longevity and the secrets behind the food and drink, rather than moving through as part of a crowd.

The walk balances eating with history: the Venetian Walls offer 360-degree views of the Aegean and punctuate the route between tastings. All areas are wheelchair accessible, and the pace suits all fitness levels. A live guide in English narrates throughout, and the tour includes pickup.

What’s included

• Over 10 different plates of Cretan cuisine including handmade bougatsa, gyros, dakos, and lamb.
• aged Graviera cheese and mountain herbs tasted at the 1866 Central Market.
• a sit-down farm-to-table meal at Arismari & Varsamo.
• unlimited house wine (white or red).
• Raki.
• bottled water.
• live English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English9 departure times: the first at 11:00, the last at 21:00

Guide in English9 departure times: the first at 11:00, the last at 21:00

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 11:00, the last at 21:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “We meet at the large square in front of the Cathedral of St. Minas, the city's most iconic landmark. Your guide will be standing near the main entrance of the church”

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

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by ecobikegreece

Is this one for you?Small group sizes keep the experience personal and let you absorb stories about Cretan food culture without the noise of a large tour. The 3-hour length fits a morning or afternoon slot in your Heraklion day without consuming the whole schedule.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

10 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly do I taste on this Heraklion food tour?

Over 10 different plates of Cretan cuisine are included: handmade bougatsa, gyros, dakos, lamb, aged Graviera cheese, mountain herbs, and premium olive oil, plus unlimited house wine and Raki at the sit-down meal. Bottled water is provided throughout.

How long is the walking tour and what's the pace like?

The tour runs 3 hours and suits all physical fitness levels. The walk moves between St. Minas Cathedral, the 1866 Central Market, St. Titus Church, and the Venetian Walls, with stops built in for tastings and a sit-down meal.

Is the 1866 Central Market a real stop, or just a quick walk-through?

The Central Market is a proper stop where you taste aged Graviera cheese and learn about the healing herbs of the Cretan mountains in a private tasting session, not a rushed pass-through.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the starting point?

Pickup is included, so you don't need to find your way to the tour's beginning. A live English-speaking guide leads the entire walk.

What's the difference between the standard tour and the combo with wine tasting?

The standard City Tour & Food Tasting includes over 10 plates, house wine, and Raki. The Combo with Wine Tasting adds a dedicated wine experience to the same food and history stops.