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Olive oil tourism (oleotourism) attracts increasing numbers of visitors who seek authentic experiences in olive oil producing countries. This type of sustainable alternative tourism focuses on tradition, tasting, discovery, and hands-on experiences in rural areas. The International Olive Council organized an international webinar to explore it with experts.
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Athens food culture has shifted dramatically from its traditional taverna days. Now “the Greek capital is one of the most vibrant cities in Europe, if not the world, with a food scene that is as multilayered and fascinating as its history, a city at once ancient and modern” (2), with food that’s both Greek and multicultural, sometimes in the same dish.
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Traditional Cretan food comes directly from farm to table for an authentic slow food experience at Dounias Taverna. Dounias offers a perfect marriage of agrotourism (or agritourism) and food tourism in a scenic, rustic setting. At this traditional Greek taverna, dishes from the Cretan diet revive the flavors of a time when Greeks lived closer to the land.
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In 2003, a wildfire propelled by strong, hot winds from Africa destroyed thousands of ancient olive trees in Crete. Destructive wildfires are tragically common in the dry Greek summers, but the response of one family who lost all their trees is inspiring. On their burnt land, they created the Botanical Park of Crete, a fruitful celebration of nature.
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At the 3rd Cretan Lifestyle Conference, Greek-American chef and author Diane Kochilas discussed Ikaria, “the island where people forget to die,” as the New York Times put it. She prefers to think of it as “the island where people remember how to live.” This famous Blue Zone is the home of her ancestors, her cooking school, and a way of living long and well.
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In certain upscale restaurants in Greece (some in five-star hotels), extra virgin olive oil is now being elevated to the level of fine wine. So at the 2nd International ELIA Lesvos Confest in Greece, chefs discussed recent trends in the use and presentation of olive oil in gastronomy, such as olive oil menus, olive oil bars, and even olive oil sommeliers.
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Fourteen U.S. students have been exploring the Greek version of the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle and their health benefits on a three-week experiential learning trip in Greece. Part of the Global Health Internship program at Brigham Young University, this journey combines tourist cruises, hikes, and destinations with traditional activities and classes.
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My first encounter with the archaeological site of Ancient Rokka took place at night, accompanied by my two small children, a crowd, and an orchestra. It was the night of the August full moon, when Greece celebrates the summer with special events, including a live outdoor musical performance on a steep, rocky hillside above a village in northwestern Crete.
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Locals claim the ancient olive tree of Ano Vouves, Crete is the oldest olive tree in Greece. This may be an exaggeration, but at 3,000 to 5,000 years old, it is one of the oldest and most impressive. Although its huge trunk is now hollow, this tree still produces olives and entices tens of thousands of tourists to admire its sculptural beauty each year.
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By driving around the Corinthian Gulf, we can sample the various types of tourism available in Greece: beaches from Xylokastro to Nafpaktos, archaeological sites from Corinth to Delphi, endless olive groves, spring wildflowers, rivers, mountains, outdoor activities, gastronomic experiences, castles and bridges—all within a few hours’ drive of Athens.
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Greece’s rich culinary heritage arose from millennia of agricultural tradition. Today, visitors can explore Greek agrotourism and food tourism offerings from Corinth and Mount Pelion to the Cycladic islands. Tourists can choose from olive grove tours, olive oil tastings, farm adventures, cooking lessons, feasts with traditional local cuisine, and more.
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“Authentic and local experiences are now the major trends in the travel industry,” reports Greek tourism consultant Dimitris Palaiogiannis. In Greece, he adds, agrotourism and food tourism offerings in various parts of the country combine “the quality products of the land with a unique cultural heritage” to reward explorers with unforgettable experiences.
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From the southern island of Crete to northern Chalkidiki, Greek olive oil companies welcome international visitors to learn all about olive oil. In a variety of facilities and settings, tourists can explore the silvery green of olive groves, the health benefits of olives, and traditional and modern ways of getting the flavorful juice out of this fruit.
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My family and I vacation in southern Crete every year. Initially, the gorgeous beaches south of the city of Rethymno attracted us. Now, as soon as we begin to approach the dramatic gorges, the olive tree covered landscapes also capture my gaze. Olive groves nestle in valleys, climb hillsides, approach stark cliffs, and slope down toward the clear blue sea.
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Greece is an ideal culinary tourism destination. Since many visitors begin their exploration of Greece in Athens, Greek Liquid Gold checked out a popular food tourism spot in the capital where they can discover some of the secrets of the Greek culinary tradition: the centrally located Ergon House.
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Last November, a Spaniard who has traveled the world to photograph olive groves visited Greece. Having seen Corfu and Paxos before, Eduardo Mencos Valdes decided to explore Crete, because he believes it “is the origin, in many ways, of our culture. You can trace the cultivation and the importance of olives and olive oil back to the Minoan culture” of Crete.
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When I first came to Crete, the seasons surprised me. Rather than being adorned with red, orange, and yellow deciduous trees, fall turned the green of a Pennsylvania spring, and winter filled with more blossoms than a Rocky Mountain summer. Autumn rains revived leaves and grasses, and when skies cleared, the winter sun welcomed ever so many wildflowers.
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A 3D model of the monumental olive tree of Pigi in Rethymno, Crete was created by Manolis Maravelakis of the Technological Educational Institute of Crete. It is even more fascinating to examine such ancient trees in person, if you can get to Greece to do it, but check out the model and look all around this, to start.
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How are Greek olives harvested? How is Greek olive oil made? A small international group learned the answers to these questions while enjoying a behind the scenes glimpse of a farmer’s daily life. We participated in the Cretan Gastronomy Center’s olive harvest day, following the Kalligiannis family’s olives from their trees to the village olive mill.
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If you visit northeast Crete, venture beyond the resorts of Agios Nikolaos and the unique palm forest next to Vai Beach. Discover an ancient monumental olive tree, a Greek café with a spectacular panoramic view and olive oil history lessons, a shop full of traditional local products, and a historic fortified monastery producing acclaimed wine and olive oil.
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If you are in northeastern Crete, deviate from the beaten track between Sitia and Vai Beach to visit the Toplou Monastery, where religion and culture intermingle with history and tradition. Toplou offers striking scenery, an impressive fortress, rare books and engravings, Byzantine icons, and the monastery’s own local wines, tsikoudia, and olive oil.
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An incomplete, introductory sample of noteworthy sites to visit
MUSEUMS
Vrana Olive Press Museum (Lesvos)
The Museum of Industrial Olive-Oil Production of Lesvos
Cyclades Olive Museum and Chelmis Olive Mill, Andros Island
The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in Sparta, Peloponnese
Lychnostatis Open Air Museum (Cretan Folk Arts, Agriculture)
Eggares Olive Press Museum in Naxos, Greece
OLIVE MILLS
Anoskeli Olive Mill and Winery Tour and Tasting (Crete)
Terra Creta Guided Olive Mill Tour and Tasting Seminars (Crete)
Biolea Stone Mill Tours, Tastings, Menus, Cooking Lessons (Crete)
Vassilakis Estate Friendly Olive Tour, Wine and Olive Oil Tastings (Crete)
Konos Olive Oil: Makri Olives, Innovation and Agrotourism (Alexandroupoli))
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Travel & Cook with Diane Kochilas (Ikaria, Greece)
Olive Oil Bar Seminar by Aris and Pantelis (Athens)
Olive Oil Tasting at Aloades Estate (Thessaly, central Greece)
Ergon House (Foodie Hotel, Restaurant, Marketplace, Athens)
The Routes of the Olive Tree cultural itineraries (places to visit)
Greek Culinary History and Cooking Adventures (Crete)
Olive Oil Tasting Experience, Taverna Kosmas (Crete)
Toplou Monastery Wine and Olive Oil Tasting (Crete)
ARTICLES
The best places to eat in 2026
Conde Nast Traveller lists Crete here, with some specific recommendations.
The Triumph of Greek Regional Cooking & Where to Find It in Athens
“As global rankings draw attention to Greece’s top food cultures, the capital emerges as the place to taste them all.”
A Homeric Journey Through The Flavors Of Messinia, Greece
“I’ve been exploring Greece for over 40 years, never the same place twice. In Messinia I found ancient landscapes, epic cuisine, and a land where olives, figs, and sea shape every flavor.”
From Land to Table: The Culinary Riches of Hania
An overview of some of the best traditional restaurants, tavernas, and bakeries in and around the city of Chania (or Hania) in Crete.
Eight intriguing ways to enjoy Greece out of season
“Here’s how to see the mainland and islands in autumn — from arty escapes to one-of-a-kind mountain retreats” and an olive harvest–and where to find some noteworthy cuisine.
Five Greek restaurants with their own farm
“The farm-to-table movement is no longer an alternative option, but the new foundation of a gastronomic era that redefines the identity of modern Greek cuisine.” This article introduces the philosophy behind this, as well as a few examples of restaurants in Greece that are part of the movement.
Opening of the Permanent Olive Oil Exhibition of Mediterrolio Members at Aloades Estate
When you are in Thessaly in central mainland Greece (about 3.5 hours’ drive northwest of Athens), you can visit Aloades Estate and the Permanent Olive Oil Exhibition of Mediterrolio Olive Oil Brands “to discover the diversity, quality, and cultural heritage of olive oil in the Mediterranean.”
Olive oil tourism is taking off in Greece. Here’s where to taste it.
“From tastings with olive oil sommeliers to celebrating harvest season at family-run mills, here’s how to experience oleotourism and immerse yourself in the world of Greece’s ‘liquid gold.’” The article mentions examples from Olympia, Messenia, Corfu, the Athens area, and Crete.
For very fine dining in Athens with great attention to artistic detail and fresh Greek products.
The Mediterranean Diet: Greece’s Untapped National Asset
Nutritionist, author, and Mediterranean diet expert Elena Paravantes discusses the history and content of the traditional Greek diet, what Greeks eat today, and the potential for featuring the Greek diet at the center of the tourism experience.
Greek Soil, Greek Soul: The Athens Restaurants Elevating Green Dining
An introduction to seven restaurants in Athens whose “chefs honor small producers and celebrate organic ingredients and the pure, sustainable bounty of Greece.”
Wintry Athens: Culture, Food, and Drinks
Costas Moraitis and Aglaia Kremezi discuss recent visits to some of their favorite restaurants and bars in Athens.
The Cretan vineyard: 5,500 years in a nine-minute read
“The time has come for Cretan winemakers to push the envelope further and show the world how much more they can achieve with their extraordinary heritage.”
Recommendations for snacks, drinks, and feasts that are available in various eateries in (and beyond) several neighborhoods in Athens.
Gastronomic tours: The delicious new trend for visitors to Athens
A consideration of some of the food tourism options in Athens.
Dispatches From Magna Grecia, a Modern Temple of Small-Batch Olive Oil
A very good article about an agrotourism /culinary tourism venture near Ancient Olympia that features their own multi award winning extra virgin olive oil, The Olive Temple.
Cretans Know a Thing or Two About Good Living
Introducing the new “Center of Excellence for Health and Wellness, established in Rethymno…to raise the awareness of the international and local community regarding the significant benefits of the Cretan diet for the improvement of health,” this article also includes many intriguing references to products and sites in Rethymno, Crete that will interest gastronomic tourists.
Oleotourism Begins to Sprout in Greece
This article about olive oil tourism in Greece provides three examples of businesses focused on this type of agrotourism and food tourism, which is becoming more popular and easier to find.
Chef Maria Loi’s Guide To Dining In Athens
Suggestions for restaurants culinary tourists–or anyone hungry–might enjoy in Athens.
World Olive Day: Expanding Olive Oil Tourism in Crete
This article combines news about a World Olive Day event with information about olive oil tourism in Crete–tourism linked to archaeology, history, the diet, museums, factories, tastings, trees, and more. While the event was not designed for tourists, the report provides an overview of the wealth of olive oil tourism choices on the island.
Turning to Olive Oil: Two Women Head Back to Cretan Groves
Two educated Greek women turned their back on professional careers to return to family olive groves and pursue the olive oil business and agrotourism in Crete. They welcome international visitors to learn from their experience.
An Expert’s Greek Food Experience
“Celebrity chef and writer Diane Kochilas introduces us to a tradition that involves much more than recipes.”
Greece Welcomes Visitors This Fall with Mild Weather and the Warm Spirit of Philotimo
“Fall is an ideal time to visit Greece to enjoy all the country has to offer,” since it’s less crowded, the temperature is perfect, and visitors can watch or join the olive harvest, explore olive and wine routes, taste olive oil and wine, hike, explore, and visit archaeological sites and museums.
GNTO submits [beautiful!] video in UN competition to promote Greece
The wonderful video linked in this article, with its poetic narration and beautifully varied cinematography, captures the elements of Greece that go beyond the incredible beaches and fascinating archaeological sites to the country’s varied year-round offerings, such as the olive and grape harvests and the continuing tradition of eating and dancing together.
Local flavours of the Greek cuisine
This provides a very brief overview of many local specialties that can be found in various parts of Greece; it can be used as an introduction, to help decide what to learn more about. Hyperlinks provide more information about different locations and products.
A brief overview of its title subject, with links to some agrotourism farms in various parts of Greece.
Nature | Touring | Agritourism (Crete)
This is the online, downloadable version of the beautifully illustrated agrotourism overview for Crete, which discusses forests, mountains, caves, waterfalls, wetlands, flora, fauna, canyons, hikes, ecological organizations and museums, monumental trees including ancient olive trees, and opportunities to participate in traditional cooking, harvesting, and agricultural production activities.
Taste Escape: Where to eat and drink in Santorini, Greece
Rather than focusing on Santorini’s incredible beaches and views, this article offers suggestions for those interested in the fine food and drink of the island–not only where to eat and drink, but also what to try. For many more details about all aspects of Santorini, see also Exploring Greece. (August 4, 2017)
Biolea: Stone Mill Destination, Organic Olive Oil Creation
Lovely scenery and an updated, hygienic version of a traditional stone mill and olive press make Biolea a popular agrotourism destination in Crete, Greece. (June 15, 2017)
The Ultimate Athens Foodie Guide
“A guide on how to explore some eating spots that are representative of Greek food in Athens,” especially central Athens, by “a Greek-American Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Food Writer who loves to cook, was raised on the Mediterranean Diet and lives the Med lifestyle.” (May 11, 2017)
An overview with brief descriptions and photos of 15 wineries and related museums on the island on Exploring Greece, an amazingly detailed website for tourists. (February 17, 2017)
Jefford on Monday: The call of Crete
“Andrew Jefford visits the high-altitude vineyards of Crete and finds an ancient wine culture in renaissance.” (March 14, 2016)
Olive-Picking: Not All Fun and Games
A hands-on account of the most don’t-miss experience in the Greek countryside. (November 20, 2016)
Ancient Mill Discovered on Lesvos
“The mill, discovered during the construction of a local road, was in use from the 2nd to the 6th centuries AD.” (September 12, 2016)
Culinary tourism can provide “ideas and inspiration for great taste and good health, along with a greater understanding of life in a place other than our home.” (June 21, 2016)
29 traditional local foods you must eat in Greece
Although the article doesn’t usually mention it, many of these are made with olive oil. (June 18, 2016)
Earth Science Picture of the Day: possibly the oldest olive tree in the world, in Vouves, Crete. (July 7, 2016)
For Children Visiting Crete, a Free Book on Olive Oil Culture
The Association of Cretan Olive Municipalities and the International Olive Council are offering free copies of two educational books about olive oil to the children of tourists who visit Crete, Greece. (May 26, 2016)
Agro-Culinary Attractions in Crete Span Ages
Visitors to scenic northwestern Crete can see a traditional stone mill, one of the world’s oldest olive trees, a modern olive oil factory, and a botanical park and restaurant. (August 11, 2015)
Restaurants Embrace Crete’s Celebrated Diet
The personal, local, small-scale touch of hard-working Cretan families offers hope that visitors to Crete can gradually be persuaded to enjoy a traditional Cretan diet. (February 25, 2015)
Mediterranean Lifestyle Alive and Well on Crete
Yes, there is junk food on Crete, but this is still one of the best places in the world to immerse oneself in the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle. (March 18, 2015)
This article by Nancy Harmon Jenkins is the best culinary tourism article about Crete that I’ve ever read. (July 19, 2010)
By Susanna Hoffman, this is the most interesting food history article I’ve seen. (July 19, 2010)
A page from the Greek National Tourism Organization linking to much more about Greek cuisine and gastrotourism.
This is interesting because it begins with olive oil, half of the recommendations are for traditional Cretan foods, and it includes an explanation of each choice.
A brochure introducing the major ingredients in Greek cuisine.