10 Greek Dishes You Must Try on Holiday
Planning a Greek holiday and wondering what to eat? From gyros to fresh fish and moussaka - the 10 dishes that define Greek cuisine, with prices and where to find them.
Greek cuisine is one of the great pleasures of any Mediterranean holiday - fresh seafood, aromatic herbs, premium olive oil and recipes passed down through generations. This is a practical guide to the dishes you absolutely cannot leave without trying, with 2026 prices and tips for finding genuine versions.
1. Gyros - King of Greek Street Food
Pork or chicken from a vertical rotisserie, served in pita bread with tzatziki, tomato and chips. €3–€4 per pita. Available on every street corner. Essential on the first day.
2. Souvlaki - Skewer Grilled Meat
Chunks of marinated pork, chicken or lamb grilled on a skewer, served as a pita wrap or as a plate with salad. A souvlaki plate in a taverna costs €8–€12 - ideal for lunch by the sea.
3. Moussaka - Greece's Most Famous Baked Dish
Layers of minced meat, aubergine and potato, topped with béchamel and baked. Every taverna has its own version; a portion costs €8–€10. Try it for dinner at a taverna away from the beach - it's always more authentic.
4. Spanakopita - Spinach and Feta Pie
Flaky filo pastry filled with spinach and feta cheese - perfect breakfast or snack. A slice at a Greek bakery (furno) costs €1–€2. Available everywhere from 7am onwards.
5. Tzatziki - The Universal Sauce
Yogurt with grated cucumber, garlic and olive oil. Served with bread, meat and vegetables as a starter or condiment. A portion alongside your meal costs €2–€3; also available in supermarkets for apartment cooking.
6. Horiatiki - The Real Greek Salad
What the Greeks call a village salad: tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, red onion, Kalamata olives, a slab of feta on top, dressed with olive oil and oregano. No lettuce. A portion in a taverna costs €5–€7. Order it first, while the grill heats up.
7. Fresh Fish and Seafood
On the coasts of Halkidiki, Thassos and anywhere with a port: grilled whole sea bream or sea bass (€20–€45/kg), fried calamari (€8–€12), grilled octopus (€10–€15 a portion). Ask what's freshest today.
8. Pastitsio - Greek Lasagne
Tube-shaped pasta layered with minced meat and béchamel. Slightly different from moussaka but equally satisfying. Found in most tavernas; a portion costs €7–€9.
9. Loukoumades - Greek Doughnuts
Deep-fried dough balls drizzled with honey and sprinkled with cinnamon. A plate costs €5–€7. Best eaten fresh from the fryer; widely available at dedicated street stalls, particularly in Thessaloniki.
10. Galaktoboureko - Custard Pie
Semolina custard in crispy filo pastry, soaked in syrup. The finest Greek dessert. A slice in a patisserie (zaharoplastio) costs €3–€5. A perfect end to any taverna meal.
Where to Eat Well
- Look for mageirefta - places that cook a limited menu fresh daily. Usually a board outside with the day's specials.
- The best tavernas in tourist areas are usually not on the main seafront promenade
- Eat at Greek mealtimes: lunch 14:00–16:00, dinner 21:00 onwards
