Food budget for Greece
Oct 19th, 2013, 10:41 AM
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Food budget for Greece
I'll be visiting Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Nafplio, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora, and Athens. How much should I budget per day for lunch and dinner if I have lunch mostly on the run - gyros or something likewise simple and fast - and dinner in a standard taverna or restaurant? I don't drink so don't need an allowance for that.
That said, I'm also open to three or four special dinners. Does anyone have any recommendations any any of my destinations, and how much should I budget for said dinners?
That said, I'm also open to three or four special dinners. Does anyone have any recommendations any any of my destinations, and how much should I budget for said dinners?
Oct 19th, 2013, 01:52 PM
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Takeaway gyros and souvlaki cost between €2-5, but a sit-down dinner can cost between €20-200 per person depending on what you order, where you are and which restaurant you're in. Be advised that fresh grilled fish is sold by weight so be sure of the price of the portion you order before you say OK or you might be VERY unpleasantly surprised.
Oct 19th, 2013, 02:46 PM
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You have to distinguish between two different kinds of gyros in Greece.
Gyro as you usually see wrapped in a flat bread in the US = gyro me pita, about €3.
If you order an unqualified "gyro" in Greece, you will get a big plate meal with a flat bread and a mountain high serving of one or two different kind of meats at about €12.
If you don't drink wine, but take soft drinks, you might actually need a larger budget as soft drinks are often more expensive than the house wines in a pitcher. This sounds counter intuitive for those from the US, but a glass of wine in US is treated as a profit center and are priced significantly higher than in Greece, Italy, or even in France.
<i>Gyro me pita</i> and suvlaki are so prevalent. You will likely to get sick of eating them meal after meals. As previous poster mentioned, fish is a kind of luxury in Greece. You might end up with a €50-120 plate for a fish dish when other items are €15-€30. This is not a mistake. Don't order fish based only on the price range of other items. You will be shocked. Octopus and squids are much cheaper especially if you take them as orektika=appetizers.
Gyro as you usually see wrapped in a flat bread in the US = gyro me pita, about €3.
If you order an unqualified "gyro" in Greece, you will get a big plate meal with a flat bread and a mountain high serving of one or two different kind of meats at about €12.
If you don't drink wine, but take soft drinks, you might actually need a larger budget as soft drinks are often more expensive than the house wines in a pitcher. This sounds counter intuitive for those from the US, but a glass of wine in US is treated as a profit center and are priced significantly higher than in Greece, Italy, or even in France.
<i>Gyro me pita</i> and suvlaki are so prevalent. You will likely to get sick of eating them meal after meals. As previous poster mentioned, fish is a kind of luxury in Greece. You might end up with a €50-120 plate for a fish dish when other items are €15-€30. This is not a mistake. Don't order fish based only on the price range of other items. You will be shocked. Octopus and squids are much cheaper especially if you take them as orektika=appetizers.
Oct 20th, 2013, 02:40 AM
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I think €30 per day average will be about right. It's hard to generalise, because prices vary so much place to place. Your most expensive meals will likely be on Mykonos and Santorini, especially at restaurants with a view, but even there it is possible to eat economically without resorting to gyros pita. Have a look around away from the tourist areas.
Two important rules: always look at the menu, which will usually be displayed near the door, before sitting down; fresh fish is priced by the kilo on the menu — always have it weighed and ask the price before placing your order. Sardines and mackerel are usually cheaper than other fresh fish, and swordfish is also cheap, but frozen, not fresh. Swordfish souvlaki is a tasty inexpensive meal.
Gyros pita is street food, and you usually order it to take away. You can find much healthier food in bakeries at about the same price. Stop in around lunchtime and you can order freshly prepared sandwiches on bread baked that morning. Coffee is expensive, usually €2-3 per cup, but cheaper for Nescafe or Greek coffee.
Two important rules: always look at the menu, which will usually be displayed near the door, before sitting down; fresh fish is priced by the kilo on the menu — always have it weighed and ask the price before placing your order. Sardines and mackerel are usually cheaper than other fresh fish, and swordfish is also cheap, but frozen, not fresh. Swordfish souvlaki is a tasty inexpensive meal.
Gyros pita is street food, and you usually order it to take away. You can find much healthier food in bakeries at about the same price. Stop in around lunchtime and you can order freshly prepared sandwiches on bread baked that morning. Coffee is expensive, usually €2-3 per cup, but cheaper for Nescafe or Greek coffee.
Oct 21st, 2013, 06:58 AM
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Just a couple of questions. Are you planning to have breakfast at your hotels or just skipping it completely?
Second are you a single traveler or will you have someone with you? Food in Greece is meant to be shared. So if you have someone with you you can order a Greek salad 5 to 6 euros Greek salads tend to be very large and they are big enough to be shared. Same with appetizers and mains. If you share you can have a much more varied menu but keep the costs lower by sharing with someone else.
We try to find a hotel with kitchen facilities and purchase eggs and fresh vegetables, snacks and splurge on dinners out. Our budget is around 50 euros a day for two.
Second are you a single traveler or will you have someone with you? Food in Greece is meant to be shared. So if you have someone with you you can order a Greek salad 5 to 6 euros Greek salads tend to be very large and they are big enough to be shared. Same with appetizers and mains. If you share you can have a much more varied menu but keep the costs lower by sharing with someone else.
We try to find a hotel with kitchen facilities and purchase eggs and fresh vegetables, snacks and splurge on dinners out. Our budget is around 50 euros a day for two.
Oct 21st, 2013, 07:09 AM
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When I'm eating alone in a taverna and want a Greek salad for a stater, I ask for a half-portion. It won't be on the menu, but most taverna owners I've encountered are happy to oblige. Order a full Greek salad and you may not even want a main course (unless you have a hearty appetite).
Oct 21st, 2013, 09:19 PM
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I do plan to eat breakfast at my hotels. I don't require much, so if it's just rolls and jam or something, it will be fine for me.
I am a solo traveler. It sucks for me, but I know no one who would be even tempted to go.
I frankly probably could make a dinner of a Greek salad. With the hunk of feta cheese they top it with, or at least they used to when I last visited 20 years ago, there's enough protein. At my favorite Greek restaurant here, I often order just a Greek salad and a bowl of avgolemono (which I <i>love</i
.
I am a solo traveler. It sucks for me, but I know no one who would be even tempted to go.
I frankly probably could make a dinner of a Greek salad. With the hunk of feta cheese they top it with, or at least they used to when I last visited 20 years ago, there's enough protein. At my favorite Greek restaurant here, I often order just a Greek salad and a bowl of avgolemono (which I <i>love</i
.
Oct 22nd, 2013, 05:16 AM
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Feta is one of the products Greeks are proud of, and it has been registered as a pure Greek product with protected name, which means if you see white cheese on the menu, then it isn't Feta..
There is a restaurant where you can order a bowl of avgolemono?
It is something that is only used as a sauce in very few dishes ( dolmades, frikase, giouvarlakia, kotosoupa ).
There is a restaurant where you can order a bowl of avgolemono?
It is something that is only used as a sauce in very few dishes ( dolmades, frikase, giouvarlakia, kotosoupa ).
Oct 22nd, 2013, 05:54 AM
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When we were in Greece last month we lunched on the equivalent of a sub from the bakeries that Heidal mentioned. Everything is very fresh. My wife and I split one, but it was not too big for one. Some of the hotels charged 10 euros for breakfast, so we skipped that unless it was free.
Oct 22nd, 2013, 06:34 PM
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clausar, here it's a soup. I've had it in more than one Greek restaurant, and it's delicious. It's probably different from the sauce you mention, even if it has the same name - it's quite, well, soupy.
James, the hotels I'm looking at provide free breakfast. If they don't, I'll grab a pastry or a roll somewhere for cheap. It's good to know there will be good alternatives to gyros for fast food.
stanbr, that's what I remember, a huge slab of feta on the salad. Boy I love those salads.
James, the hotels I'm looking at provide free breakfast. If they don't, I'll grab a pastry or a roll somewhere for cheap. It's good to know there will be good alternatives to gyros for fast food.
stanbr, that's what I remember, a huge slab of feta on the salad. Boy I love those salads.
Oct 25th, 2013, 06:24 PM
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Just got back from Athens and a few of the islands...here are some general prices. Sounds like we have similar eating requirements.
Lunches
Gyro at a restaurant: €8
Medium Pizza: €10
Bakery Sandwich: €3-€4
Dinner
Slovaki Plate: €10-€12
Fish of the Day Meal: €16
Carbonara Pasta: €12
Other Greek Dinner: €15
Beverages
Greek Beer: €4
Diet Coke Can at Vendor: €0.90 - €1.20
Glass of House Wine: €5
Obviously it totally varies, but these were common prices that we regularly found over a period of 12 days in Greece.
Lunches
Gyro at a restaurant: €8
Medium Pizza: €10
Bakery Sandwich: €3-€4
Dinner
Slovaki Plate: €10-€12
Fish of the Day Meal: €16
Carbonara Pasta: €12
Other Greek Dinner: €15
Beverages
Greek Beer: €4
Diet Coke Can at Vendor: €0.90 - €1.20
Glass of House Wine: €5
Obviously it totally varies, but these were common prices that we regularly found over a period of 12 days in Greece.
Oct 26th, 2013, 09:55 AM
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That is good info! Most prices look about right to me, except I don't think I would pay €5 for a glass of house wine, unless it was an upmarket restaurant. If memory serves, I usually pay about €3 for a 0.5 L carafe of locally produced house wine, but as JasonAllen wrote, prices vary from place to place.
Oct 31st, 2013, 09:37 AM
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I live in Greece since i was a baby! We have to mention that restaurants's prices in Mikonos and Santorini are totally different (more expensive) than those in Athens and Meteora!
My opinion is that you can eat Gyros only once or twice during your vacation, it is a junk and unhealthy food. Fortunately, prices in restaurants are ok and JasonAllen's info are valid. Probably if you have a good breakfast, then you will need to eat only once and that will be in a restaurant with price range per person equal to 11 - 16 euros.
My opinion is that you can eat Gyros only once or twice during your vacation, it is a junk and unhealthy food. Fortunately, prices in restaurants are ok and JasonAllen's info are valid. Probably if you have a good breakfast, then you will need to eat only once and that will be in a restaurant with price range per person equal to 11 - 16 euros.
