Greece is easy to love for its food: grilled fish, fresh salads, yoghurt with honey and long lunches by the sea. It is also a country where nuts show up in sweets, spreads, sauces and ice cream, often without being on the menu in an obvious way. If you or your child has a peanut or tree nut allergy, a little planning goes a long way.
This guide covers where nuts turn up in Greek food, how allergen rules work, the words worth recognising, and how a Greek peanut and tree nut allergy card can explain your allergy for you.
Last updated: 29 October 2026.
The Quick Answer
- Desserts are the main risk. Baklava, kataifi, melomakarona, kourabiedes and diples are all made with nuts, and many cafés and bakeries serve them as the default sweet.
- Greece follows EU allergen rules, so peanuts and tree nuts are among the 14 allergens that must be identified, but how this is shown in a restaurant varies. Ask every time.
- Ask about sauces, spreads, pesto and ice cream, not just the main dish. Pistachio and pine nuts can appear where you would not expect them.
- Show your card before you order, and check it has been understood.
- Emergency numbers: 112 for general emergencies, 166 for an ambulance.
Where Nuts Appear in Greek Food
Recipes vary by island, restaurant and cook, so treat this as a list of things to ask about, not a list of dishes to avoid or trust.
| Food | What to know |
|---|---|
| Baklava | Filled with chopped walnuts or pistachios in most versions. |
| Kataifi | Shredded pastry wrapped around a nut filling, which may be walnuts, almonds or pistachios. |
| Melomakarona | Honey-soaked biscuits that are traditionally covered with chopped walnuts. |
| Kourabiedes | Crumbly shortbread biscuits made with almonds. |
| Diples | Fried pastry finished with honey and chopped walnuts. |
| Halva | Semolina halva can include pine nuts. Sesame halva is a separate product, so ask which one you are being offered. |
| Yoghurt with honey | Often topped with walnuts. Ask for it plain. |
| Ice cream | Pistachio is a common flavour and scoops can share equipment. |
| Pesto and spreads | Pine nuts, pistachios or almonds can be used in pesto-style sauces, spreads and dressings, including on modern or tourist-focused menus. |
| Skordalia | A garlic sauce. Some cooks make it with almonds or walnuts rather than potato or bread, so ask. |
Removing visible nuts doesn't make a dish safe. The sauce, base or oil may still contain them.
What Other Travellers Have Reported
One family's account of travelling in Greece with a nut-allergic child mentions walnuts served on the side of a vegetable dish, almond skin on a burrata, pistachio in a sauce, and a free biscuit that contained walnuts. They also describe a doughnut that was sometimes made with peanut oil. This is one personal account from 2022, so don't assume your experience will be the same, but it shows why asking about extras and complimentary items matters.
Are Allergens Labelled in Greece?
Greece follows European Union food information rules, which require 14 allergens, including peanuts and a list of tree nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and cashews, to be identified when used as ingredients. On packaged food they appear on the label, usually emphasised in the ingredients list.
In restaurants, cafés and bakeries the rules about how allergen information is provided are set nationally, so some places have an allergen menu, some will tell you when you ask, and some will not know. Don't assume the information is on the menu. Ask, and ask again if the answer is vague.
Greek Words Worth Recognising
The Greek words below are from our own knowledge, so have them checked by a Greek speaker before relying on them. Greek labels also use the Greek alphabet, so a translation app can help, but shouldn't be your only check.
| English | Greek |
|---|---|
| Peanuts | αράπικα φιστίκια (arapika fistikia) |
| Tree nuts (nuts in general) | ξηροί καρποί (xiroi karpoi) |
| Walnuts | καρύδια (karydia) |
| Almonds | αμύγδαλα (amygdala) |
| Hazelnuts | φουντούκια (fountoukia) |
| Pistachios | φιστίκια Αιγίνης (fistikia Aiginis) |
The word fistikia on its own can be confusing, because Greek uses it for both peanuts and pistachios depending on context. That is another reason to name each nut you need to avoid and to rely on a written card.
Eating Out in Greece With a Nut Allergy
Tavernas and Restaurants
Many tavernas cook simply, which can make ingredients easier to find out, but staff may not speak English, and the person you talk to is not always the cook. Hand over your card before you order, ask staff to show it to the kitchen, and check again when the food arrives.
Bakeries and Cafés
Bakeries and cafés are where nuts are hardest to avoid, because shared trays, shared tongs and complimentary biscuits are common. If you can't confirm what's in something, choose something else.
Hotels and Resorts
Contact your hotel before you arrive to explain your allergy and ask how the kitchen handles it. One traveller reported that a hotel they emailed in advance removed nuts from the minibar.
Islands and Smaller Places
On smaller islands, check how far the nearest hospital is before you book, and carry your medication with you at all times, including on boat trips.
Your Greek Peanut and Tree Nut Allergy Card
Our Peanut & Tree Nut Allergy Travel Card in Greek is a digital download with English on one side and Greek on the other. It explains your allergy and how serious it can be, gives examples of foods that may contain nuts, asks kitchen staff to use clean utensils, surfaces, cookware and oil, and ends with a polite thank you.
Keep it on your phone, and print and laminate a few copies for your wallet, day bag and hotel room.
Get the Greek Peanut & Tree Nut Allergy Travel Card – £5 Digital Download →
What to Pack for Greece With a Food Allergy
- Prescribed medication, including adrenaline auto-injectors if you have been prescribed them, kept in your hand luggage.
- Your allergy action plan and a letter from your doctor.
- An insulated allergy medical bag to keep medication cool in the heat.
- Printed copies of your allergy card, plus it saved on your phone for offline use.
- Safe snacks for ferries, long days out and early starts.
- Travel insurance that covers your medical needs.
Emergency Information for Greece
Save these numbers before you go (from Visit Greece):
- European emergency number: 112
- Ambulance: 166
- Police: 100
- Tourist police: 1571
If anaphylaxis is suspected, follow your emergency action plan, give adrenaline promptly and call for emergency help. Hospital assessment is needed even if symptoms improve. For more, see the NHS guidance on anaphylaxis.
Frequently Asked Questions About Greece With a Nut Allergy
Is Greece safe for someone with a nut allergy?
People with nut allergies do travel to Greece, but nuts are common in desserts and some sauces and kitchens can be busy. How safe it is depends on your allergy, where you eat and how clearly your allergy is understood.
Is baklava safe with a nut allergy?
No. Baklava is traditionally filled with walnuts or pistachios, so it is one to avoid.
Are tree nuts labelled in Greece?
Greece follows EU rules, so tree nuts and peanuts must be identified on packaged food. Freshly prepared food and food from bakeries may not come with a label, so you'll still need to ask.
Should I take an allergy translation card to Greece?
A translated card is a useful communication aid, especially in small tavernas and bakeries where little English is spoken. It can explain your allergy and how serious it is, but it can't guarantee that food is safe.
Enjoying Greece With a Nut Allergy
A nut allergy doesn't mean you have to miss out on Greece. It means finding out what's in your food, saying clearly that you have an allergy, and walking away when you aren't sure. Heading to more of the Mediterranean? Read our guides to Turkey, Italy and Spain, or browse every language in our allergy travel cards collection.
Travelling to more than one country? See our Mediterranean holiday guide and the Mediterranean Summer bundle, which includes cards for six countries.
Important: This guide is general travel information, not medical advice. Ingredients and food preparation vary, and no dish or restaurant mentioned should be assumed safe. Always follow your allergy specialist's advice, carry prescribed emergency medication and check ingredients. Greek words and phrases in this guide should be checked by a native speaker before being relied on for safety-critical communication.