Europe

Greece

vital statistics
  • Athens
  • 11 million
  • Greek
  • Euro
about Greece

There are the images of whitewashed houses and blue shutters overlooking emerald seas. Then there are the stories of masses of sunburned vacationers on package holidays looking for cheap lagers at night and a full English in the morning. Luckily, the former can be found in abundance and the latter mostly avoided.

While it may be prudent to avoid the peak (aka chokers) summer season from July to August, it is still possible to find idyllic enclaves replete with taverns serving fresh-from-the-ocean seafood and enough ouzo or retsina to leave you stumbling home. After all, there are 3500 islands dotting the Aegean Sea. Try Folegandros or Syros if you want to avoid the vast majority of summer holidaymakers. Out of season, head to Santorini and make sure you take in the iconic view of the sun setting over the caldera at Oia. Yes, everyone does it, but there’s a reason for that.

Don’t let the islands distract all of your attention, though: olive orchards, wineries, rural villages and mountainous terrain shouldn’t be neglected. Nor should the country’s history: head north to Thessaloniki, the birthplace of Alexander the Great, or gawp at the gravity-defying monasteries perched on natural sandstone pillars at Meteora. Then, of course, there’s Athens, with 4000 years of history. No doubt, its museums and sights like the magnificent Acropolis are top notch, but there’s also fun to be had in the city’s lively districts, like Gazi, with its street art, cool cafes, cinemas and music venues.

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GREECE

When you think of Greece, it’s usually the white of Santorini and the blue...

When you think of Greece, it’s usually the white of Santorini and the blue of the ocean....

THESSALONIKI, GREECE

ONOMA Hotel has a manifesto posted on their website, pledging: “We are...

ONOMA Hotel has a manifesto posted on their website, pledging: “We are against any...

MILOS, GREECE

At first glance, Skinopi Lodge could be a mirage. A blip on the horizon of an...

At first glance, Skinopi Lodge could be a mirage. A blip on the horizon of an ancient,...

IOS

Long known as 'The Party Island', Greece's Ios has recently been putting the...

Long known as 'The Party Island', Greece's Ios has recently been putting the ios in...

CRETE, GREECE

The recently opened Minos Beach Art Hotel is exactly what it sounds like: an...

The recently opened Minos Beach Art Hotel is exactly what it sounds like: an exquisite...

MYKONOS, GREECE

Everyone knows about Mykonos. But can anyone do Mykonos quite like this?  ...

Everyone knows about Mykonos. But can anyone do Mykonos quite like this?  ...

SANTORINI, GREECE

We’re not sure there hasn’t been a week since the COVID-19 pandemic...

We’re not sure there hasn’t been a week since the COVID-19 pandemic began, when we...

ELIA BEACH, MIKONOS

Among the glamour and hedonism that reigns in Mykonos, Myconian Avaton offers...

Among the glamour and hedonism that reigns in Mykonos, Myconian Avaton offers timeless...