24 Jul 2025
Local Delights & Warm Hospitality – Heraklion Food Tour ????????????????️
We were hoping to discover local food and products away from the usual tourist paths – and that’s exactly what this tour delivered.
What made it extra special: on the day of our tour, it was just my daughter, myself, and our lovely guide Maya. She’s 21 years old, from Crete, polite, friendly, patient, and easy to talk to. She spoke excellent English and Spanish, which made the tour feel relaxed and comfortable from the start.
The tour began in the center of Heraklion at 11 a.m. and felt more like a walk through the city with a well-informed local than a typical guided tour.
We tasted Greek coffee, bougatsa, dakos, a variety of Cretan cheeses, local wine, bean mousse, olives, fried liver, and more. A real highlight was the visit to the “Herb Shop of Vasiliki”, where traditional products are made using old, handed-down recipes.
The selected locations were charming and authentic – slightly off the busy streets, which made for a quieter and more intimate experience. One stop around lunchtime was quite empty, which slightly took away from the atmosphere, but the food and wine still stood out.
A personal, authentic and relaxed way to explore Cretan food culture with a local perspective. ????????????