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The first time I visited Greece was in 2008 and I can still clearly remember the moments sitting at a taverna with my friend Kim, eating freshly grilled octopus and washing it down with a cold beer. I also learned to love raw bell peppers (which I’d always hated) after my first bite of “greek salad” in Greece.

Now, after living just an hour’s flight away in Turkey, I have a new interest in the commonalities between the two cuisines, which hint at the overlap of histories, as well as their differences both past and present.

I’ve since been back multiple times over the years and visited Athens, Kalamata (and the Peloponnese), Western Greece, Meteora & Delphi, and sailed the Dodecanese. I’m always keeping an eye on flights to get back any chance I get. 😉

Hanging out with five of the Caryatids before visiting five of them in the Acropolis Museum later. Let's hope the sixth will be returned from the British Museum someday to join her sisters!

Map of Greece

Things to Do in Greece

  • Athens – Of course there are the famous sights that you can’t miss in Athens – the Acropolis and the Parthenon. I adore the Acropolis Museum as well. You can wander the streets of the Plaka and Monastiraki, Psirri, etc. The trendy Exarchia neighborhood is another to explore.
  • Athens for food lovers – Vavakios Agora (Athen’s Central Market) and nearby Evripidou Street 
  • Cruising the Dodecanese Islands – There are many opportunities to get into the water and explore islands and swimming coves in Greece and it’s possible to take ferries between many of the islands. But for a unique experience, you might consider small group fitness cruises with Sun Fun You. Their itineraries come with an on-board fitness trainer to design daily opportunities to hike, swim and do yoga on board a customized gulet. 
  • Overnight trip to Meteora & Delphi – I booked this 2 day / 1 night trip to Meteora & Delphi which including pick up and drop off at my hotel in Athens. We started out the first day with a drive out to Delphi where we visited the ruins and the little museum as well. We had a nice lunch and then drove on to Meteora, which I was dying to see! We got placed in the beautiful 4-star Divani hotel right below the cliffs and were able to get an early start to visit two out of the six amazing clifftop monasteries before the drive back to Athens. There was more than enough time for visiting the sites, taking in the views, snapping photos and even picking up some souvenirs. I picked out honey, herb sachets, natural ointments and even wine made by the monks and nuns to take home. >> More information about the tour
  • Wine Tastings – Cinque in Athens is a must-visit for me on each trip, and I always leave space in my suitcase to take home a bottle or two! Don’t miss their tasting flights, charcuterie and cheese boards, and you can even do tastings or pairings for spirits like ouzo & tsipouro or olive oil (even water!) tastings. I always learn something new, and just adore the family that runs it!
  • Take a food tour – taking a food tour is one of the best ways to get the most insider info and to fill up on delicious Greek food with a local guide. I always try to book one at the start of my trip so I can also ask the guide about recommendations for later. I haven’t taken this one personally, but Culinary Backstreets is one of my favorite resources for culinary travel inspiration and I’ve done cooking classes connected with them elsewhere. So I’d definitely recommend this one.
  • Take a cooking class – I love cooking classes as an alternative to just another restaurant visit. In particular, the Central Market in Athens was really fun for me to visit and many of the cooking class options in Athens include a visit there too – a great way to ask questions and get insider tips on the all the best stalls.
  • See Athens with a Local (free!) – Local guides sign up to host themed walks on a variety of topics (food, street art, LGBTQ, architecture, etc. are just a few options) and host visitors on 2 hour walks to share their culture! No tips or payment are accepted as these aren’t professional tour guides. 

What to Eat in Greece

Of course Greece is famous not just for its history and culture but its food! I’m looking forward to going beyond the basics and seeking out local specialties and supporting small businesses as much as possible.

  • Souvlaki
  • Gyros
  • Local products to take home – particularly by sustainable and family producers – things like honey, olive oil and wine. 
  • Local products (Kos) – This great article from Greece Is lists items to seek out on the island of Kos in the Dodecanese, including olive oil, honey, sweet tomato preserves made from vergaki tomatoes and krasotyri, a”drunken” cheese preserved in wine.
  • Other specialties of the Dodecanese – I always love how foods can tell you so much about the geography, history and people who inhabit a region and the Dodecanese Islands are no exception. This article lays out specialties of each island – beyond the seafood and meze you’d expect, there are pickles, cheeses, spices like cumin and meat dishes that speak to the influence of the Ottoman empire so many are very familiar to me after living in Turkey. Of course there are also many differences too, including pork! 
  • Specialities of Thessaloniki – Greece’s first UNESCO-recognized “city of gastronomy” is also famous for native grapes grown to the southwest of the city. 

What to Drink in Greece

A hand holding up a list of wines for wine tasting at Greek wine bar called Cinque in Athens
  • Wine – The fabulous Andrea Lemieux has a post on her site about some of her favorite Greek wines so of course I’ve bookmarked them all! Grapes that are on my “list to try” include Malagousia, the well-known Assyrtiko and Fokiano, which is known as Foca Karasi in Turkey. I’m also interested in trying xinomavro (meaning “sour-black”). If you are passing through Athens, do yourself a favor and schedule a wine tasting at any of the Cinque wine bars.
  • Ouzo –
  • Tsipuro –
  • Craft Beer – Great listing of everything you’d want to know about Greek craft beer from the Greek Vibe.

Where to stay in Athens

I always try to book a hotel near Monastiraki Station because its on the direct metro line to the airport! The metro runs infrequently at times, but there are also direct buses to and from the airport.

The 3-star Attalos Hotel has Acropolis views from many of the room balconies, kind staff and is very reasonably priced.

I’ve also stayed at the City Circus hostel in Psirri with its rooftop terrace and discounts at the excellent restaurant next door.

Getting around by public transport in Athens

Getting from Athens Airport to the city center

It’s easy to get to the city by metro or bus, especially if you’re staying somewhere like Monastiraki. One option is a 20 euro pass which provides roundtrip metro or bus between the city and the airport and then 72 hours of unlimited transportation within the city.

You may not need the transport within the city, depending on your plans. Much of Athens is walkable and if you’ll just need a ride here or there you may not make use of the pass. But I always enjoy getting one just for the peace of mind of being able to explore further afield each time. Often trying to get to a specific place for a specific meal. =)

>> More information on transport in Athens

Traveling between cities in Greece by bus, train or ferry

We used the KTEL buses to get from Athens to Kalamata and it was quite convenient and direct, passing through Corinth as well.

I often use Omio app or Rome2Rio to look up options and it connects out to the websites – there are KTEL stations and lines for each region.

Greece Resources

Have questions or need help? I’ve got you!

Travel Planning