Skip to main content
Visit Greece

Visit Greece

Travel Tips

Your piece of Greece

Have you ever been on holidays, wishing to never leave the small place of paradise you call “home” for a few days? That is a feeling common to everyone visiting Greece. Greece’s islands and mainland create a homey atmosphere to their visitors. Most tourists choose to come again and again, year after year after year, bringing loved ones along with them to explore and enjoy their “best kept secret”. So how about living the dream? How about owning your own piece of paradise? Greece and its beauty are well known. It is the only country linked to summer vacation, freedom and all things nice. But, have you ever been to Greece all year around? With its unique tradition distinguishing different parts of the country from each other, from the Venetian feeling of Corfu to the Ancient Greek influence of Thasos, you can never have enough of Greece. Throughout the years more and more people have grown interest in having a holiday house here, bringing the topic of real estate in talks. Owning land in a place far from the place you are used to call home, is considered not only as an investment but also an adventure, a new beginning, a never-ending dreamy reality. That is why hundreds of thousands of tourists become “Greeks” themselves. They choose to not only visit Greece every year, but to also be owners of their own small piece of Greece. So, why do so many different people choose Greece and Greece’s islands for their forever home? Greece has over 6,000 islands, from tiny hidden islets to internationally known holiday destinations. There are many quiet Greek islands, which make peaceful havens that are home to rugged natural beauty. Others are bustling hotspots teeming with beach bars, excellent tavernas and lively Greek culture. Only here you are able to live, walk, and breathe ancient history at every given moment, and have access to the most expensive and pristine beaches in the world. Experiencing Greece means experiencing a type of idyllic lifestyle that only a few and fortunate are able to live as a reality. . Included in Travel + Leisure’s list of the 20 best islands of Europe, let’s take the island of Corfu for example. It is undoubtedly one of the most versatile islands of Greece. Whether you are the one to party or whether you like to stay in and relax, there is a place in Corfu perfect for you. That can be something really important for people on vacation but isn’t it appliable to everyday life too? Corfu's culture, cuisine and climate are second to none. It is a top tourist destination with rapid tourism rate increase. It has an international airport, marinas and a port that serves as a leading cruise ship destination. Corfu offers 300 days of sunshine a year and is one of the safest places on the planet, based on environmental and social factors. Being the gem of Mediterranean gastronomy, it combines traditional recipes of the mainland, the islands and Minor Asia, with quality raw materials, wine and distillation products. Last but definitely not least, it is worldwide known that Corfu is one of the richest islands historically and culturally! From the Achilleion, the palace of Princess Sissy of Austria, and the summer Palace of Mon Repos, formerly the property of the Greek royal family and birthplace of Prince Philip, all the way to the Palace of St. Michael and St. George, where the Museum of Asian Art of Corfu is currently located, history is embedded in the island’s buildings. Because of its history and significance this specific region has drawn fresh investment to the hospitality sector, including 4-and 5-star accommodation in Corfu, with the examples of the Chinese Fosun Tourism Group, as well as the investment of 125 million euros from the Sani/Ikos Group. A perfect example is also the investment of the former Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani who has chosen to renovate the famous Miramare Hotel and has also turned another famous hotel on the northern part of the island into his own private holiday villa. Owning land will never lose its value. This is the main reason why buying property in Greece has become a popular topic in the last decades and which better way to do it than in a Greek island. Still having second thoughts as to whether you need to invest now?

30/09/2022
Your piece of Greece
Visit Greece

World Tourism Day 2022

#RethinkTourism Rethinking Greece’s major economic sector is not an easy task but the pandemic emphasized how critical it is to do so. We should all seize the opportunity to rethink how we do tourism by protecting nature, fostering inclusion and promoting cultural understanding. It’s all of our duty to rethink tourism and act upon it. As the quote says: take only memories, leave nothing but footprints. Greece is a country with many a charm: its long and winding coastline, the numerous islands, and its Mediterranean climate can provide you with marvellous beaches to enjoy and sun to bask in. Its forests harbour a rich biodiversity. Greece has made great strides in sustainability, and some of its features that make it a hit with ecotourists are inherent in its culture. Explore the Greek mainland & islands that offer a greener, sustainable and closer-to-nature holiday experience. Chalki Island is at the forefront of energy transition. ChalkiON is the first energy community to own and operate a solar park along with the local authority. The design of Chalki’s initiative covers the energy needs of the island. Based on data obtained from the electric bills of Chalki’s residents, the island proceeded with the installation of the 1MW solar park, thus making it the first energy autonomous island in Greece. The town of Trikala, in the Thessaly region, is Greece’s first smart city. To reduce traffic, pollution and CO2 emissions, the city offers its citizens the Smarta 2 app, which allows users to request on-demand bus & taxi services. Green transport options include two driverless electric buses. The city also runs a smart system that uses sensors to inform the waste collection centre about waste levels in rubbish bins. Astypalaia Island, in the SE part of the Aegean Sea, has adopted a sustainable approach in tourism. Chosen by the vehicle brand Volkswagen to establish a groundbreaking mobility system, the island has implemented a plan to transition to renewable power generation, mainly using power produced by wind and solar panels, and the operating electric vehicles, e-bikes and e-scooters. Tilos Island only has few inhabitants but when tourist season arrives there is a peak in energy demand and the island’s supply was often not enough, resulting in frequent, prolonged blackouts affecting among other things refrigerators, which lead to food waste. The island was the first of 80 projects chosen to receive funding from the Horizon 2020 programme, which allowed the island to build a hybrid power station, with wind and solar farms, and batteries for storage. Tilos is now energy sufficient and has significantly reduced its carbon footprint, while bringing practical benefits and financial gain to both locals and tourists. The island is also a leader in recycling: Just Go Zero Tilos is a zero-waste programme, launched on the island, for recycling hazardous and non-hazardous material, with great success so far! The bare and imposing landscape of Sikinos Island can be explored by hiking its trails, which were signposted and cleaned thanks to the project “Paths of Culture” by the ELLINIKI ETAIRIA - Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage along with the Municipality. Water scarcity is a serious issue on Sikinos Island, but in 2014, the Coca-Cola Community Water Partnership Programme helped the island integrate a rainwater harvesting programme, so water gets distributed to key locations around the island. As part of the ecological ‘Sea Change’ programme in 2018, the island became the first Aegean island to ban plastic straws and replace them with reusable or biodegradable alternatives. Last but not least, nearly 70% of Sikinos Island is part of the Natura 2000 network of nature protection areas.

23/09/2022
World Tourism Day 2022
Visit Greece

Coffee pleasure, the Greek way

Nourishing the body, mind, and soul Coffee drinking is a daily pleasure, a habit that most people love to practice every day. ‘Let’s go out for a coffee’ is what you’ll hear the Greeks say to friends, relatives, or colleagues after work. Hot or Iced coffee? It depends on the season and your preference. The traditional Greek coffee is prepared in a small pot (briki) and served hot in a thick-walled cup, next to a glass of cold water. The Greek coffee brewed in a pot placed on chovoli (charcoal ash covered by sand to keep it hot) is most flavourful and definitely worth a try! In the afternoon or evening hours a sweet treat will accompany your coffee very nicely: ask for a spoon sweet or an ypovrychio (a spoonful of a tasty gum-like paste, placed in a glass of cold water). The iced coffee that Greeks enjoy any time of the year is the so-called frappé, which -despite its name- is not French. It’s a frothy iced coffee prepared with cold water in a shaker (sugar & milk added to taste – if any) and served with ice cubes. Other popular types include the freddo espresso and the freddo cappuccino, made with espresso coffee blended with ice (and an added thick froth of chilled milk for freddo cappuccino), and served in a tall glass. Don’t let their Italian names fool you, they are Greek recipes! Whatever the type of coffee you choose, if you want to enjoy it the traditional Greek way, you must take your time with it. The Greeks like to sip it and savour the aroma while socialising; the longer it takes for them to drink it, the more they enjoy it! There are impressive traditional café-restaurants across the country, and it’s worth discovering them and their history. In Athens, follow us on a visit to the café Oraia Ellas (est. 1839), in Monastiraki. The eye-catching exhibits, the pictures on the walls, the traditional tables are all part of the old times atmosphere of this place. There’s a large variety of Greek tasty dishes and sweets to savour. For the chess lovers, there’s Café Panellinion (Exarchia, Athens), where apart from freshly brewed coffee and other titbits, there are chess boards and dedicated players who take part in games and tournaments, while the famous chess masters of old times watch them from their picture frames on the walls. On the Aegean Sea Island of Lesvos, Kafeneion O Ermis is one of the oldest existing coffee houses in Greece. Much of the original décor has remained almost intact and visitors will be impressed by the marble-topped tables, the velvet curtains and large mirrors, the gold-framed paintings, and the traditional wooden sofas. The local seafood dishes are a must-try. Café Kipos (est. 1870) is located in the Municipal Garden of Chania town, Crete. Once the haunt for princes, politicians and personalities of the arts & letters, this legendary café now hosts art, music & theatrical events, food festivals, and a photography exhibition about the history of Crete. The Greek historical cafés combine flavour with culture & history. Explore them and relish the experience!

16/09/2022
Coffee pleasure, the Greek way
Visit Greece

Taverna by the Sea

One Greek Island Summer From the author of Falling in Honey, An Octopus in my Ouzo and Wild Abandon Taverna by the Sea is an enchanting, funny and poignant memoir about answering the call of adventure by taking on a challenge: helping to run a taverna beside an idyllic beach. During a walking trip on the South Aegean island of Karpathos, a chance encounter with Minas, an unconventional Greek-American hotel owner, results in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. ‘Must be comfortable in beachwear,’ reads Minas’ ad for a waitress. Thinking it sounds dreamily perfect, Jen drops everything, returning with her dog to the remote bay that will be her home for the summer. Though the season begins peacefully, life at the taverna soon becomes absurdly busy and challenging. Days of no running water, mad guests, collapsing ceilings and and a goat tied to a tree. Yet it is exhilarating: waking to a pink dawn over the olive grove; swimming in the moonlight; music under the stars; feasting on freshly baked bread, local honey, warm figs – and wine on tap. With a colourful cast of characters, Taverna by the Sea reveals what happens behind the scenes of an apparently peaceful paradise, capturing both the difficulties and the magic of remote island life. An inspiring call to live life to the full – and even escape the rat race – it also conveys the life-affirming importance of trusting one’s instincts, taking risks and grasping opportunities.

13/09/2022
Taverna by the Sea
Visit Greece

Top ranking Greek cheeses

Dear cheese lovers! This article goes for you!  Based on the ratings from tasteatlas.com for June 2022, Greece gets credits for 13 cheeses, which are on the list with the top 50 cheeses from all over the world. Greece has a tradition of many centuries in the production of cheese. It can be used in many dishes: in a salad, as a meze served with wine, in a main dish or as a side dish, or even in desserts.  Almost every region of Greece has its own traditional way of producing cheese and more than 60 different types of cheese have been recorded. Below are the 13 top-rated and in world’s best 50 Greek cheeses: Kalathaki Limnou- It is a white cheese similar to feta and it is usually consumed as a table cheese served with fruits, but also in Greek salad. It is salty and has a mild and pleasant flavour. According to the traditional method, the curd is put in a kalathaki ("small basket") for draining and organic acidification. Graviera Naxou – Graviera is a slightly salted cheese with a rich taste that matures for at least 3 months. It can be served as an appetizer, fried and eaten as a snack, or grated over pasta. Metsovone – Metsovone is a smoked cheese from Metsovo mountainous region. Its taste is rich, slightly salty and spicy and is served as an appetizer or with a glass of local Vlachiko or Debina wine. Kefalotyri- It is a hard cheese that dates back to the Byzantine period. There are two types of it, young Kefalotyri (maturing for at least 3 months) and aged Kefalotyri (maturing for at least one year) with a stronger flavour. Graviera Kritis - This cheese has a long history, and it is the best-known Greek graviera cheese. Its taste is slightly salty and nutty, and it can be served as an appetizer or grated and used in salads or soups. Galotyri – Galotyri is creamy soft white cheese, made from milk and yogurt and has a fresh taste. It is mostly produced during August from the fatty summer milk of sheep and goats. It has fewer calories than feta cheese, making it a tasty and much healthier alternative. San Michali - This hard cheese is obtained exclusively from the milk of cows bred on the island of Syros and has a buttery taste. It can be served as an appetizer, and it is also used as an ingredient in soufflés or omelettes. Kefalograviera- It is a hard cheese made from sheep’s and goat’s milk, a tasty cross between Kefalotyri, a salty, intensely flavoured cheese, and the mellow Graviera cheese. It is a new type of cheese, created in the ‘60s. Kopanisti - The flavour of this cheese is often described as spicy and peppery and is produced on Tinos and Mykonos islands. The cheese is mainly served as an appetizer with ouzo, retsina, or tsikoudia, and is often used in sandwiches as is has a soft spreadable texture. Ladotyri Mytilinis - Ladotyri Mytilinis is a hard table cheese with a quite salty and spicy taste. It is usually enjoyed in various dishes and salads and paired with light, fruity wines. Xinomyzithra Kritis- It is a white soft cheese with a sweet and sour taste that can be found on Crete. Its texture can vary from creamy to granular. Kasseri - Kasseri has a mild buttery taste and is usually consumed in sandwiches or grated on top of casserole dishes, like Giouvetsi. Enjoy it with a glass of red Agiorgitiko or a strong white like Roditis. Anthotyro -You can find this cheese in many parts of Greece. It has a mild flavour and you can taste it either as a soft white cheese or a hard cheese grated on Greek pasta. Try it also with fruit and different types of dry white wines such as Debina, Malagousia, or sweet ones like Muscat of Alexandria or Muscat of Samos.

01/07/2022
Top ranking Greek cheeses
Visit Greece

“Greekaba” Christian Louboutin’s capsule collection inspired by Greece

The new collection of designer Christian Louboutin is dedicated to Greece and it is an ode to Greek culture and the Mediterranean summer. Inspired by the Greek land and sea, each unique piece in this collection refers to Christian Louboutin’s adventures in Athens and in the Cyclades Islands. The designer’s new collection is blue and white in colour, with motifs inspired by the Ancient Greek friezes, the traditional "blue eye" (evil-eye protection), the geometric patterns used in the Dodecanese embroidery, and other symbols of Greek culture. For the collection titled Greekaba, Louboutin collaborated with his good friend and versatile artist Konstantinos Kakanias, and the well-known Mrs Tependri and her dog, Pepe, will act as your guides as you take this trip in Greece, through the pieces of the collection. The Greekaba capsule has been launched in June in selected boutiques and includes heels in white and blue, soft leather bags with embossed designs, wicker baskets with tassels, as well as backpacks, men's sneakers and loafers, sandals and pouches.

22/06/2022
“Greekaba” Christian Louboutin’s capsule collection inspired by Greece
Visit Greece

A wonderful year for the Acropolis Museum

The year that passed (June 2021 - June 2022) was extremely important for the Acropolis Museum, as the Museum continued its operation uninterruptedly throughout the year, taking into account, naturally, the constraints created by the relevant health protocols.  Regarding the major issue of the return and reunification of the architectural sculptures of the Parthenon, the great success came on 29 September 2021 at the 22nd session of the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin. For the first time in 37 years of continuous propositions of the Committee towards Britain, a Decision was taken which, in addition to the legal, right and ethical aspect of the Greek request; it also recognizes its transnational/ intergovernmental character. This decision, which was accompanied by direct actions of the Greek Prime Minister to his British counterpart and proceeded to the United Nations in December of the same year, was decisive. In January 2022, the renowned “Fagan fragment” from the A. Salinas Museum in Palermo returns in the form of a deposit to the Acropolis Museum and is placed in a special showcase, waiting for its final repositioning in the east frieze of the Parthenon. And indeed, in less than five months, on 29/30 May 2022, the “Fagan fragment” is returned to the Acropolis Museum by Decree of the Sicilian Authorities and its export certification by the Italian Ministry of Culture, and on 4 June 2022 it is reunited forever where it belongs. The Fagan fragment is the first fragment of a Parthenon sculpture that returns from state to state in the Acropolis Museum and is reunited, setting the example of the road that both the British Museum and the British Parliament can and should follow for the final return of the Parthenon sculptures. In the scientific sector, the Museum published an upgraded version of the online application with photographs and descriptions of all the frieze blocks preserved today in the Acropolis Museum and abroad. The upgrade of the application was developed thanks to the fruitful collaboration of the Museum, the Acropolis Restoration Service and the National Center for Documentation & Electronic Content. Other than the events taking place every year, the Museum opened up to society and the younger generations with a series of activities, such as the gallery talks “Hidden stories of diaspora”, “Saturday in the Museum with 20+1 masterpieces” and “Marathon-Salamis. In traces of myth and history”. The Museum opened its doors to special groups with the program for refugees “A museum open to all”, while it created the new family pamphlet “The Parthenon Sculptures. 6 short stories of separation”. At the same time, the Museum renewed its educational programs, offering schools nine thematic options and an online tour. The Museum offered different experiences to its visitors, with dance performances in the exhibition areas in collaboration with the Greek National Opera and its participation in the 1st Sacred Music Festival, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Museum organised in collaboration with the Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation the unique event in the Parthenon Gallery “The expatriate goddesses of the Parthenon”, with a presentation of ancient poetry and music, composed by Lena Platonos and performed by Maria Farantouri. Finally, the Museum started a new collaboration with the Municipality of the City of Athens, with its participation in the “This is Athens City Festival”, where it organized two great evenings of wine tasting and jazz at the restaurant terrace, and also a gallery talk about the Museum exhibits related to ancient diet. On the day of its birthday, 20 June 2022, the Acropolis Museum starts the new exhibition program “Των Αθήνηθεν άθλων. Panathenaic amphorae from Toronto, Canada back to their birthplace”, with two exquisite vessels from the Royal Ontario Museum. This is a cultural exchange taking place simultaneously with the presentation “From Athens to Toronto: A Greek Masterpiece Revealed” at the Royal Ontario Museum where the Acropolis Kore 670 is on display from March 2022.

21/06/2022
A wonderful year for the Acropolis Museum
Travel Tips

Discover Karpathos Through Ecotourism

Karpathos is arguably one of Greece’s best kept secrets. While Mykonos and Santorini draw in hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, just 233 km/ 145 miles northeast of the island of Crete, Karpathos lies untouched with some of the world’s best beaches to snorkel in and enough rugged trekking cliffs to keep your adrenaline going. Karpathos is the perfect place to discover through ecotourism experiences, bringing you closer to the island’s untapped nature and its enduring traditions and rich cultural heritage. Ecotourism promotes the conservation of nature and the well-being of the local people, a principle that runs deep on the island. Taking part in ecotourism experiences on Karpathos is the perfect way to explore the island, while also contributing to its sustainable development. Here are a few examples of the activities that Karpathos has to offer. Trekking and imagining the old way of life Upon arrival to Karpathos, you don’t have to go far to venture into the wild wilderness of the island where shepherds once lived off the land. Exploring Northern Karpathos and its Natura 2000 protected areas is far out of the ordinary. Here you can trek by foraging goats and sheep to the uninhabited town of Argos passing by secluded caves and breathtaking viewpoints by the sea. Low impact activities A visit to Saria Island, a short speedboat ride from the mainland of Karpathos, is a can’t miss opportunity. Karpathos is home to some of the best water visibility on earth, making snorkeling in Palatia bay’s glittering blue waters a great option for ecotourists looking for a low-impact activity. Wild donkeys roam the land and limestone cliffs, attracting adventure tourists to the island’s steep hills, but the biggest treasures of the island lie under the sea. Snorkelers or divers will find an array of marine life including trumpetfish, sea urchins, grouper and even dolphins close to shore or hiding in the bay’s magnificent underwater caves. Marine conservation The beaches in Karpathos like those all around the Mediterranean suffer from the effects of plastic pollution, which is harmful to its unique and vulnerable biodiversity. After spending time in the water, find spots where you can help pick up litter and other non recyclable waste leaving Karpathos a little cleaner than when you arrived. Tradition, Culture and Food: Community of Olympos To get a peek into traditional Greek life, look no further than the village of Olympos. In Olympos you can expect to see locals in traditional clothes hard at work making hand-made Greek-style pasta known as “makarounes' ' or selling hand picked herbs. With a plethora of local vendors located in the village, Oympos is a great place to purchase an authentic souvenir, for instance from custom jewelry-maker, ND Creations, who sources their gems from the nearby beach. The variety of ecotourism experiences available on Karpathos make it the perfect destination for those looking for adventure and responsible travel in a place that is untouched and full of beauty.

15/06/2022
Discover Karpathos Through Ecotourism
Total 100 items<1...111213>

“It takes a lifetime to discover Greece,

but it only takes an instant to fall in love with her.

—Henry Miller

Let Greece inspire you!

Subscribe to our newsletter and discover unique ideas and hidden treasures for your next trip.