Greece Travel Guide

A lot of friends ask me for recommendations for traveling to Greece. This makes sense. I’ve been there more than a dozen times - oftentimes for months each time - have family there, and speak the language. However, although I love talking about Greece with anyone who will listen, I always hesitate when giving out itinerary ideas. Why? Because most people (especially those coming from the U.S.) will only visit Greece once or twice in their lifetime. If you only have the chance to go someplace once, your natural instinct is to go to the most iconic sites in that country. In Greece’s case, it looks something like this: seeing the Parthenon in Athens, and then going to Mykonos and Santorini. If this is the trip you’re looking for, I get it, but I’m not your girl. Not to mention the fact that there are literally thousands of itineraries already out there for you to reference for that kind of trip, I think that tour has been overdone to the point where you won’t really get to experience Greece. It’s like going to Cancun in Mexico. Is it a fun vacation? Absolutely. But you don’t really get to experience the country for what it is, it is purely the tourist version - built for the industry and catered to its clientele, not its locals.

There’s nothing wrong with this kind of trip, but it’s not the way I like to travel. I like to get a bit of everything when I go abroad which means I have to get away from the tourist centers for at least part of the trip. In Greece’s case, almost entirely. If you’re interested in going to Greece, but maybe adding in a couple lesser known ideas to your itinerary, this is a good place to start.

Timing

Most people go to Greece in the summer, myself included. This means the months of June through August are the most crowded - August being especially bad since most Europeans are off of work during this month. I try to go in June and time my trip to coincide with July 4th so I can eke out an extra day. However, if you ask a local, the best months to visit are May or September. The weather is beautiful but the crowds are almost nonexistent.

Weather

Summer is HOT. The weather is consistently sunny, hot, and dry. The islands are a bit cooler due to some more wind and proximity to water, but be prepared to be warm all the way into the evenings and bring sunscreen! It does get cold in Greece in the winter, but hardly ever gets truly freezing. Greece has some great skiing and other activities but if you’re interested in the islands, keep in mind many islands virtually shut down in the winter due to the seasonality of tourism.

Duration

If you’re coming from outside of Europe, I recommend at least a week long trip. This way you can experience Athens, perhaps a day trip on the mainland, and still have a couple days for the islands. 10 days or more would probably be the most ideal!

What to Eat

I’m hesitant to even put restaurant recommendations in this section because it’s really hard to go wrong in Greece. Take advantage of the fresh seafood (my personal favorite fish is φαγκρί), and the produce. I eat a χωριάτικη (village salad) with pretty much every meal due to the freshness of the tomatoes. Pork and lamb dishes are especially delicious, and I recently discovered that Greek cheeses are severely underrated compared to France or Italy but deserve equal attention.

What to Pack

Greeks usually look put together when they go out but it’s not a particularly conservative country. You can pack any type of summer clothing you’d usually wear, but I’d stay away from athleisure as that would be a dead giveaway that you’re a tourist.

What to buy

I always try to buy the following when I go: jewelry (the silver and gold are high quality and well priced), and leather goods (especially sandals and bags). I also like to buy ceramics and art prints from local sellers when I can fit them in my luggage!

Where to go

The whole point of the trip, right? I’m going to split this into sections because Greece has a ton to offer and I’m barely scratching the surface of it with this article. First up…

Athens

People do not give Athens enough credit. If you’re coming from outside of Europe, you will most likely have to fly in and out of Athens, so why not enjoy it? It’s cosmopolitan, has great food, shopping, and of course unparalleled historical sites.

Parthenon & Museum: this will appear on every itinerary and it is worth it. The Acropolis museum is especially nice as it is new and meant to provide a state-of-the-art facility for everything gathered from the Acropolis and Parthenon.
Philopappos Hill: This hill is a small walk away from the Parthenon but it offers an incredible view of the city and the Acropolis itself without the crowds!
Shopping near Acropolis & Monastiraki Flea Market: If you go see the Parthenon, you can easily walk down the side streets next to the sites and end up in these shopping districts. They are touristy but even locals go to Monastiraki to shop so there are some pretty good prices.
Kolonaki: This is an area around the Benaki museum that I never see pop up on any itineraries but it’s a super nice walking area, with high-end shopping and cute eateries.
Benaki Museum: A more unique museum housing diverse collections of Greek art through the ages.
National Archeological Museum: My favorite museum in all of Athens which houses major archaeological finds from all over the country.
National Gallery of Athens: A newly renovated art museum for Greece housing art by Greek artists from various periods all the way up to the modern day.

One of my favorite pieces at the National Archeological Museum

Mainland Greece

If you want to get out of Athens, the following are good day trips or smaller trips from the city. I have been to all of these places and I would recommend any of them if you’re looking for an extra dose of history or natural beauty.

Epidaurus, Nafplio, Mycenae: these are commonly grouped together for organized tours. Epidaurus is the ancient theater, Nafplio has a Venetian castle and is arguably one of the most picturesque towns in Greece, and Mycenae is the preserved site of the ancient Mycenaean civilization that was before even Ancient Greece as most think of it.
Olympia: The site of the ancient Olympics, the first Olympic Games!
Meteora: Meteora is more known for its natural beauty. It has these impressive rock spires that come out of the ground and there are monasteries built at the top. There are some guided hikes and climbs you can do here in addition to visiting the monasteries.
Delphi: The ancient site of the oracle. It is a huge complex of ruins and temples and has a museum attached for exploring as well.
Arachova: Just up the road from Delphi is Arachova. This is a super small town but it has become a ski hub, so if you’re looking for excellent skiing in Greece, this would be the place.
Zagori Villages: A region in central Greece close to the mountains. There is some absolutely insane hiking out here. This area is sometimes referred to as the Greek Alps. Additionally, the villages themselves are super cute and offer some respite from the crowds of the cities or islands. This area is pretty far from Athens and a multi-day trip would most likely be required for these.

Vikos Gorge - near the Zagori Villages area

Islands

Mykonos & Santorini: I will touch on these although I do not recommend them. Mykonos is a great place to go if you’re looking for luxury and partying in Greece. It is very expensive and has a thriving nightlife scene. Santorini has more natural beauty and activities but is also very expensive. Santorini is gorgeous and worth a visit if it’s your first time but I recommend spending one or two days maximum there before moving on to another island!
Naxos: An excellent place to come from Mykonos or Santorini. Naxos is another Cycladic island that is gorgeous, with excellent beaches, but also is very calm and much cheaper than the first two.
Thassos: A gorgeous island in the northern Aegean. Definitely more of a Greek tourist destination but it is large and fully built out for tourism. This island has some excellent diving, and snorkeling.
Milos: My most recent island. Milos is accessible from Athens and has some of the most unique beaches I’ve been to. You have to scramble down small ladders or cliffs to get to some gorgeous white rock beaches. Definitely recommend.
Crete: Crete is a huge island, accessible by commercial plane from Athens and many other parts of Europe. This is one island that doesn’t necessarily shut down in summer because it has its own economy independent of tourism. Crete has slightly different tastes because it is far from the mainland so the food is worth exploring and Crete has some of the most beautiful beaches in all of Greece.

You can get these classic picturesque spots on almost any Greek Island. This is Plaka, Milos.

These are just a few of my thoughts on islands but this is where I encourage the most research. There are over 200 inhabited Greek islands and so far, every single one I’ve seen has been gorgeous! Do not limit yourself to Santorini. I recommend looking at articles like this one to discover lesser-known, but still built-out gems. Or message me and I’ll tell you where the locals go.

Last but not least, a few random tips:

Tipping: tipping is not expected, but is appreciated. If you pay cash, typically leaving a small amount of the change is sufficient. (Think five euros on a 70-euro meal)
Crime: Greece has relatively low crime. Use common sense, and always be aware of your belongings as crowded areas like Athens or Mykonos can have pickpockets, similar to many other major cities.
ATV’s & renting cars: ATV’s are my recommended mode of transport for the islands. They are cheap and you can rent them with an international driver’s license. Cars are much more expensive and not worth it in my opinion unless you are doing a road trip in central Greece. Greek drivers are a little crazy and you don’t need the stress!
Public transit: The trains in Athens are quite good. They are on time and clean. Taxis are also relatively cheap, just be aware of price gouging from drivers. Since the taxi industry is so strong in Greece, Ubers were driven out, but Greece does have its own taxi app if you want - Beat.
Cost: Other than Mykonos & Santorini, the rest of Greece tends to be on the cheaper side for Europe. While it may seem expensive to get there, keep in mind that food, transit, and accommodations will usually be cheaper than in other European countries.
Language: While English is commonly used, especially in tourist zones, knowing some Greek can often get you a discount, learn some if you can!

Greece is super special to me and I want everyone to be able to visit, experience Greek life, and enjoy themselves. Despite its small size, Greece has so much more to offer than the typical itinerary so don’t be afraid to deviate from that! If you need more tips or have any questions, please send me a message. I was serious when I said I would talk about Greece with anyone who will listen, good luck!