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Halal Food in Greece – Availability in Athens and the Greek Islands

Halal food in is a  Greece question that is asked very often and I even have a youtube video that does pretty well with more in-depth information.

I visit Greece very often and this year alone I have been around 5 times already with few more planned out. What I love is that I keep seeing more and more Muslims in places that 10 years ago there would only be Greeks. Every single day I will see at least one Muslim couple exploring the city or enjoying a walk on the promenade.

halal food options in Greece 6    

I love it!

I also noticed that Greeks have become a little more at ease with Muslims especially in the North of Greek in cities such as Thessaloniki, which is close to the Turkish minority area of Thraki.

As someone who speaks fluent Greek, I just love the confusion on their face when they see my name, my passport photo and my hijab. 🙂

Now, as Muslim travellers and as a matter of fact any traveller Greece is on the top of the bucket list but for the Muslim Traveller halal food is not as easily available as it is for example in the UK. I know that Greece is working on this and there will be in the future no doubt a lot more options and choices for Halal food in Greece and even in hotels.

Currently, you can find a few restaurants mostly in big cities offering Halal food choices and there are no Halal hotels in Greece that serve food. If you find such hotels please do let me know because of my research I don’t know of any.

I am aware that there is a new property coming up in North Greece that will be the first of its kind Muslim-friendly choice in Greece for Muslim travellers but it will be set a little different than a halal hotel and rather as a Muslim-friendly Villa in Greece. Once this becomes open I will happily share the details with you.

Halal Food Options in Greece

Muslims are different and many travellers have a different preference and understanding of their halal food needs. I know many people who are OK with eating chicken from Christian countries and others who won’t touch it.  But Greece also has an amazing Mediterranean diet full of fresh fish and delicious vegetable dishes.

Travelling for a week I really don’t mind eating vegetarian options or fresh fish, especially in the summer in the Greek tavernas near the sea. Even if your hotel doesn’t offer halal food I am sure they will have tavernas offering choices that you can enjoy and taste a little Greek food option.

Fresh fish cooked and served for us

 

Halal Food when Travelling

Muslims are different and many travellers have a different preference and understanding of their halal food needs. I know many people who are OK with eating chicken from Christian countries and others who won’t touch it. 

Greece also has an amazing Mediterranean diet full of fresh fish and delicious vegetable dishes and fresh fruit from the market. 

fresh prawns

Travelling for a week I really don’t mind eating vegetarian options or fresh fish, especially in the summer in the Greek tavernas near the sea. Even if your hotel doesn’t offer halal food I am sure they will have tavernas offering choices that you can enjoy and taste a little Greek food option.

Tip: If you are staying in a villa or somewhere more local as for the weekly farmers market. It is a tradition that at least weekly there will be a fresh market for people to buy their fruits and vegetables, they are much fresher than the supermarket. 

My most favourite order while on holiday at home. It is Halal food and fresh as well. Why eat meat in the heat

Halal Hotels in Greece and Halal Food options when you are after a muslim friendly holiday

Plenty of delicious options in Greece

Here are some of my favourite “Halal” food options when I visit Greece and I can’t have the meat options as they are not halal.
  • Fresh fish – Ask for the fish of the day which is usually grilled. I personally go for the fresh option even if it’s a little more expensive.
  • Calamari – fresh calamari from the sea and not the frozen option, they are larger and my favourite
  • Greek Salad
  • Spanakopita – This is a delicious Spinach pie perfect for breakfast or with a salad for lunch
  • Tsatsiki, Tyrokafteri, Taramosalata are my favourite sauces and they taste so good
  • Gigantes sto fourno – these are large beans in a tomato sauce in the oven totally yummy
  • Veggie Pizza options
  • Vegetable fritters such as kolokithokeftedes which are my favourite. They are the Greek take on Asian onion baji
  • Spanakorizo – spinach rice dish which I love with some yoghurt on the side.
  • Veggie Gemista – my mum knows when I come home she always has veggie Gemista which is stuffed tomatoes and peppers you can have. Make sure they are without meat as there is also a meat option.
  • Ladera – which is a type of cooked veggie dishes in a casserole, every taverna has this option and it’s great for those who can’t eat meat. Usually, they are a mixture of veggies cooked together with herbs.
  • Vine leaves the Greek and ( better) version. Make sure you ask for the veggie option.

Personally, I am not a fussy eater and I will eat sometimes the chicken (there I said it) if I feel like it. But mostly I will stick with fresh fish since this is harder to find in the UK or Qatar.

My go-to choice for enjoying dinner in a Taverna by the sea is a good company, calamari, fries and Greek salad. This combination keeps me full and happy for a long time and I never miss the meat options.

Don’t let the non-availability of Halal Hotels or Halal food in Greece let you stop visiting the country.

On the contrary, If we want to have these halal food options in Greece in the future we should travel more often to the country and raise a point of asking for it. 

The only way businesses whether hotels or Tavernas will pay attention is if there is a demand for these halal food choices. If there is, trust me they will find a way and bring halal food on the table for you. Greeks know that you need customers to make the numbers work and it is our responsibility as travellers to let them know this is what we need. Insha’Allah (God willing) it will then become a reality.

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Nikos

Friday 12th of August 2022

Hi! Salam Alaikum!

I’m a Greek revert to Islam. Born there but moved to the U.S when I was 14. My wife and I are thinking about moving to Greece. I was wondering if you knew anything about the halal meat ban? We will be living in Glyfada. Are there halal options in the area?

Muslim Travel Girl

Sunday 14th of August 2022

Yes, there are, and there is a big community as well. Look for the Muslim Association of Greece and they can help you as well.

Sunny

Monday 22nd of February 2021

Hi, yes there's a verse saying meat slaughtered by Christians and Jews has been made lawful. Tbh we have no issue eating kosher when we are out and about as the slaughter method is the same and they have no pork products. This is handy when travelling in NYC for example! But never had meat from Christian countries before so that's interesting. I'm a pescatarian anyway so makes no difference to me just the other half. I think Greece is stunning and would love to travel again one day. I think we shouldn't let food stop us we will always be able to find options somewhere and it's all about connecting with people and experiencing different cultures!

Idame

Thursday 4th of February 2021

Thank you for your fun and informative blog. I feel I must inform you about being wary of eating calamari. It is been reported on PBS channel that imitation calamari is being made here from pig anus parts and also being sent to other parts of the world. The problem is that it is difficult to tell if the calamari is real or not. The cost of imitation is less expensive so restaurants may choose to use the imitation and may not want to let their customers know. Thank you again for you helpful information. God bless

Muslim Travel Girl

Wednesday 31st of March 2021

Thank you for this. I didn't know about it. However, the fresh calamari that I am referring to is hard to fake. I understand the frozen version of the calamari rings could potentially be that, so if you are concerned you should avoid it. Interesting to know though.