Vegetarian and Indian Food in Greece: A Practical Guide

Greece is good for vegetarians. Greek salad, spanakopita, gemista, fava, giant beans and many vegetable stews are everyday food, partly thanks to Orthodox fasting traditions. Watch for meat stock and mince in some dishes, ask about cheese made with animal rennet, and plan ahead for Jain meals.

Most Indian vegetarians find Greek tavernas welcoming and easy to order from. This guide covers what to order, what to watch for, where to find Indian food and how to brief hotels and tour operators.

Greek dishes vegetarians can enjoy

Hidden ingredients to watch for

Watch for minced meat in moussaka, pastitsio and some gemista; meat or chicken stock in soups such as avgolemono and in rice dishes; fish roe in taramasalata; animal rennet in traditional feta and graviera; and gelatine in some desserts. Dolmades can be filled with rice or with meat. Ask before ordering.

Useful phrases

English is widely spoken in Athens and on the islands. Menus in tourist areas are usually in English.

Indian restaurants

Indian restaurants are found in Athens, Thessaloniki, Santorini, Mykonos, Crete and Rhodes, many with long vegetarian menus and some able to cook Jain meals on request. In larger cities, delivery apps bring Indian food to your hotel. In small towns and the countryside, choices are fewer, so plan ahead or carry snacks for long days out.

Vegetarian and vegan restaurants

Athens has vegetarian and vegan restaurants around Psyrri, Exarchia and Koukaki, and Thessaloniki has a growing number. On the islands, tavernas usually have enough vegetable dishes to make a full meal.

Supermarkets and self-catering

Supermarkets such as AB Vassilopoulos, Sklavenitis, Lidl and My Market sell bread, cheese, yoghurt, fruit, salads, ready meals and snacks, and many label vegetarian and vegan products. They are much cheaper than restaurants and useful for picnics, train journeys and Jain travellers who prefer simple food.

For Jain travellers

Many dishes in Greece rely on onion, garlic, potatoes and other root vegetables, so Jain travellers should plan carefully. Brief hotels in advance, ask Indian restaurants about Jain preparations, choose apartments with kitchens where possible, and carry ready-to-eat meals and dry snacks for travel days. Check customs rules for food you bring into the country.

Food across the regions

Athens and Thessaloniki have the widest choice. Crete is known for olive oil, greens, cheeses and dakos (barley rusks with tomato and cheese). The Cyclades offer fava from Santorini, tomato fritters and capers. Northern Greece has more meat and cheese pies.

Breakfast

Greek breakfasts often feature yoghurt with honey and walnuts, fresh bread, cheese and fruit. Bakeries sell spinach and cheese pies, which make a quick, filling breakfast.

Desserts and sweets

Baklava, loukoumades (honey doughnuts), galaktoboureko (custard pie) and Greek yoghurt with honey are popular. Galaktoboureko contains egg.

What to carry from home

Many Indian travellers carry a small stock of ready-to-eat meals, theplas, khakhras, dry snacks and spice mixes for travel days and long excursions in Greece. These are especially useful for Jain travellers and older parents. Keep them sealed and check customs rules, particularly for dairy products.

Briefing tour operators

Group tours, cooking classes and day trips in Greece often include set meals or tastings. Vegetarian options are usually available if requested in advance, so tell your planner or operator about your needs when booking.

Travelling with parents and children

Older parents often prefer familiar food at least once a day. Plan one Indian meal daily where possible, carry snacks for journeys and keep fruit and yoghurt from supermarkets. Children usually enjoy pasta, pizza, bread, cheese and ice cream.

Budget

Eating out can be expensive. Many Indian travellers combine a hotel breakfast, a supermarket or bakery lunch and one restaurant meal a day. Indian restaurants are usually moderately priced, and set lunch menus are often better value than dinner.

Finding vegetarian food with apps

Apps and websites that list vegetarian and vegan restaurants, such as HappyCow, and map filters for "vegetarian" or "Indian" make it easy to find options near your hotel in Greece. Reviews often mention whether a restaurant understands Jain or egg-free requests. Save a few options for each city before you travel, especially for late arrivals and Sundays.

Eating out with confidence

Explain your needs simply and politely, and show a written note in the local language if helpful. Most restaurants are happy to adapt a dish by leaving out meat, fish or egg. If a kitchen seems unsure, choose a simpler dish or a restaurant that specialises in vegetarian food.

Eating on the islands

On Santorini, try fava, tomato fritters and white aubergine dishes; on Crete, dakos, horta and cheese pies; on Naxos, local cheeses and potatoes. Restaurants with caldera views charge a premium, so many travellers enjoy a drink at a viewpoint and dine at a family taverna in the village.

Drinks

Greek coffee, frappé and freddo espresso are popular, and fresh orange juice and mountain tea are good non-alcoholic choices. Restaurants often bring free fruit or a sweet at the end of a meal.

Cooking classes

Greek cooking classes in Athens, Santorini and Crete teach dishes such as spanakopita, tzatziki and stuffed vegetables, and most can be made vegetarian on request.

Fasting food (nistisima)

Orthodox Christians fast from meat, dairy and sometimes fish on many days of the year, especially before Easter. Many tavernas and bakeries offer "nistisima" dishes, which are free of meat and dairy and often suit vegans. Look for the word on menus.

Ordering mezze

Mezze, small plates for sharing, are ideal for vegetarians. Build a meal from tzatziki, fava, horta (wild greens), gigantes, fried courgettes, tomato fritters, cheese and bread, and ask about each plate.

Next steps

Read our things to do in Greece, 7-day Greece itinerary and Greece trip guide from India. Our Athens short break plans vegetarian meals in.

A BagPackerMe planner can brief every hotel and operator privately, with one named planner, WhatsApp support throughout and vegetarian and Jain food planned in.

Your questions, answered

Is it easy to be vegetarian in Greece?

Yes. Greek cooking has many vegetable dishes, partly because of Orthodox fasting traditions, and tavernas almost always have salads, pies, beans and vegetable stews.

Are gemista always vegetarian?

Not always. Stuffed tomatoes and peppers are often filled with rice and herbs, but some versions include minced meat. Ask whether they are made "without meat" (choris kreas).

Is feta vegetarian?

Traditional feta is usually made with animal rennet. Strict vegetarians can ask for cheeses made with vegetable rennet or choose dishes without cheese.

Where can I find Indian food in Greece?

Athens has several Indian restaurants, and popular islands such as Santorini, Mykonos and Crete usually have one or two, often seasonal.