Passionate about food and generous and enthusiastic hosts, the Greeks make convivial dining companions. Yet, unless you have Greek friends, it’s difficult to experience this side of life in the country. This half-day activity gives you the chance to enter a Greek home, meet a local resident and have the time to sit and chat over a meal of traditional dishes prepared by locals. It’s an opportunity to see what life is like for ordinary Greeks, to taste home-cooked food, hear about local history, customs or politics, and get a deeper insight into life in the country.
Dining with a local Greek is a memorable experience. It’s about far more than just the food; the atmosphere, traditions and company are highly important too. You’ll spend a few hours experiencing all these aspects of Greek culture with an evening visit to the home of Mrs Vassou, an Olympia resident.
Along with the opportunity to share dinner with Mrs Vassou, you’ll get the chance to sit down and talk candidly to her about things that matter to local people, as well as gain an authentic insight into Greek life, homes, and traditional dishes.
Traditionally, family meals in Greece are long, drawn-out affairs with a casual atmosphere and plenty of good cheer. The food is influenced by the season, climate and surrounding terrain, with the quality of the ingredients of the utmost importance.
Joining Mrs Vassou in her home, you’ll get the authentic local experience. There’s no shortage of food or good conversation and although Mrs Vassou is a slight woman, she has a big personality, and enthusiastically piles food on guests’ plates encouraging everyone to try the local specialties and traditional Greek dishes she has prepared in her kitchen.
Dinner is a good chance to speak candidly with a local and learn what it’s like to live in this ancient city today. The food is usually served in the garden which is filled with fragrant plants and flowers and offers wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. In colder months, dinner will be served inside in the large dining area.
Either way, you’re likely to be treated to a wide-ranging array of traditional foods, and Mrs Vassou is happy to cater to various dietary requirements. Just speak to your specialist in advance if you have any dietary restrictions. Should Mrs Vassou be unable to attend dinner you’ll be hosted by another member of the Vassou family.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Greece specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Ancient Olympia and the Olympia Museum
Explore Ancient Olympia, the original site of the Olympic Games, with a local guide on a half-day tour that sheds light on the significance of the games in ancient times and its temples, training facilities and stadium.
You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tour below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.
