First time Greece: top 10 experiences
Source: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/
Image source: https://www.lonelyplanet.com
With its sparkling white beaches, crystalline water and venerable ancient sites, Greece lives up to all the hype. But how to approach this vast country with enough islands to suit everyone’s taste and antiquities dotting the landscape like a historical map of Western civilization?
Most first-time visitors will arrive and depart through Athens, which makes an excellent jumping-off point or punctuation at the end of the trip, but beyond that it’s time to explore.
Ancient Athens
An absolute must, of course, is the Acropolis, with its iconic Parthenon and the demure robed maidens (Caryatids) supporting the roof of the Erechtheion temple alongside. The modern, vast Acropolis Museum sits just below, and beautifully protects the site’s artifacts while placing them in context. Any initiation to ancient Greece should also include the easy walk from the Acropolis down to the Ancient Agora – once the focal point of administrative, commercial, political and social activity, and the spot where Socrates expounded his philosophy. It’s also a snap to loop in other top sites, such as the Temple of Olympian Zeus – its colossal columns reminding us it was the largest temple in Greece – and the Panathenaic Stadium, still in use today. Roman sites include Hadrian’s Arch and the Roman Agora with its evocative Tower of the Winds.
Monastiraki and Plaka
An easy add-on to the walk around ancient Athens is a browse through the bric-a-brac in the daily Monastiraki Flea Market. Shoulder-to-shoulder shops and kiosks hawk a riot of souvenirs, clothes, leather goods, jewelry and burnished antiques. Head to one of the squares buried in the midst of the market, Plateia Avyssinias. It’s perfect for a quick break at bistro-like Café Avyssinia, which is tucked amid heaps of restored furniture and fascinating baubles and has Acropolis views from its top floors. Nearby Plaka offers a warren of historic streets jammed with souvenir shops.
Coffee culture
When in Greece, make like the Greeks and have a long, lazy, lingering and chat-filled kafedaki. In the cafes of Athens – try popular Tailor Made, on picturesque Plateia Agia Irini with its small flower market and Greek Orthodox church – or the central squares of towns throughout the islands and countryside, sitting for a coffee and a long round of people-watching and gossip is a pastime not to be missed. Order a Greek coffee, either plain (sketo), with some sugar (metrio) or super-sweet (glyko), and watch the world go by.
Santorini (Thira)
Ravishing Santorini lives up to the postcard-perfect photos you’ve seen, perhaps calling you to Greece in the first place. Beauty and fame have a price: Santorini is jammed with visitors in high season. But the rest of the year it’s much more peaceful, so it’s easier to get an unobstructed view of the striated ochre cliffs cradling the caldera. Find a spot on one of the multihued volcanic beaches (black, red, white!) or grab a seat for one of its glorious sunsets, ideally in the little town of Oia, the white frosting on the tip of the island.
Mykonos and Delos
Mykonos is the land of glitz, glam and 24-hour parties. Whether bronzing at one of the chic beach clubs such as aptly named Paradise and Super Paradise, promenading through the maze-like streets of Mykonos Town (Hora) dressed to the nines, or dancing the night away at places like open-air Cavo Paradiso, come ready to party, and bring a bankroll to match. Ironically, one of Greece’s most treasured ancient sites, Delos, sits on a small island offshore. The mythical birthplace of twins Apollo and Artemis (two of the most important ancient Greek gods), Ancient Delos is a shrine turned sacred treasury and commercial centre. A little dose of serious history to leaven the non-stop romp on Mykonos.
Island hopping in the Cyclades
The super-famous islands draw visitors from far and wide every year, but it’s well worth adding at least one other island to the mix…pick one that takes your fancy. Or better yet, island-hop around the Cyclades for a classic adventure! Each island has its own character, and a visit to places like the wonderful, volcanic Milos, precious, princess-like Sifnos, raw, countrified Serifos or fertile, mountainous Naxos (to name just a few) adds enormous breadth to a first-time trip.
Hydra
If time is short, and you don’t have the luxury of extended island hopping, head straight from Athens to tiny Hydra, the catwalk queen of the Saronics. Hydra is a delight that awaits just an hour and a half from the main port of Piraeus. Its picturesque horseshoe-shaped harbour town with gracious stone mansions stacked up the rocky hillsides is known as a retreat for artists, writers and celebrities. There are no motorised vehicles (apart from sanitation trucks), leading to unspoilt trails along the coast and into the mountains.
Festivals
Throughout the year festivals dot the Greek calendar. Ubiquitous Saints Days occur year-round from small village to big city. Carnival (also known as Apokreas) is a time for dress-up and parades; Patras Carnivalis the most famous. The fabulous, suitably famous Greek Easter is a week-long springtime celebration. And the main summertime event is the Hellenic Festival, when the exquisite ancient Theatre of Epidavrosand Athens’ Odeon of Herodes Atticus (right by the Acropolis) are the headline venues of this cultural feast with a top line-up of local and international music, dance and theatre.
The long lunch
You haven’t lived the Greek life, and certainly not had a full summer experience, until you’ve partaken in the ‘long lunch’. Ideally, you’d have a table-full of friends and family, but even with a smaller group, while you’re in Greece be sure to head to a seafood taverna and dine al fresco. Sip endless afternoon ouzo accompanied by a continuous parade of mezedhes (small dishes): meatballs, zucchini balls, grilled octopus, taramasalata (fish roe dip) and more. Lazy laughter with a continuous feast in the beauty of the Greek outdoors, ideally beachside…nothing compares. Top food islands are Lesvos (Mytilini), Corfu, Crete and Tinos. But really, you can’t go wrong!
Beaches
What would a trip to Greece be without some serious beach time? An embarrassment of riches, Greek beaches range from Santorini and Milos’ multihued volcanic rocks to Kefallonia and Lefkada’s broad, vast sweeps of soft sand or small white stones. The waters of Sifnos sparkle like rainbows. Paros is known for world-class kite surfing. Little Kythnos has a double-sided beach, arcing out into the sea. Greece is a land for beach connoisseurs – sample broadly, and form your own opinions.
Related Blogs
-
Jan 1, 1970Amazing places: Why you…
Source: Image source: Europe most visited places like Italy, France and Spain overshadow a very interesting country, and maybe, because..
-
Jan 1, 1970Plenty to Braga about…
Source: It's a sleepy, ancient city, but also brimming with a modern, youthful energy. Check out Braga, the loveliest..
-
-
Jan 1, 1970Serra da Estrela
Source: A great family destination is Serra da Estrela, located in center Portugal. This one is a popular destination during..
-
Aug 11, 2020Visit Athens
Source: Image source: Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in..
-
Jan 1, 1970
Visit Athens
Source: Image source: Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in..
-
-
Jan 1, 1970Évora: The Unexpected Beauty…
Source: When I added Évora to my Iberian itinerary, I didn’t have many expectations. I heard it was a lovely..
-
Dec 5, 2018St Paul’s Bay in…
Source: https://santorinidave.com/best-beaches-greece A great little swimming spot near the castle at Lindos. The east coast of Rhodes is loaded with..
-
Dec 4, 2018
Visit Athens
Source: Image source: Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in..
-
-
Dec 2, 2018Feira da Ladra Lisbon’s…
Source: Feira da Ladra - Lisbon´s Flea Market Lisbon's flea market is called locally the Feira da Ladra, often thought..
-
Dec 1, 2018
Visit Athens
Source: Image source: Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in..
-
-
Dec 11, 2017
Feira da Ladra Lisbon’s…
Source: Feira da Ladra - Lisbon´s Flea Market Lisbon's flea market is called locally the Feira da Ladra, often thought..
-
-
-
Dec 8, 2017Peneda-Gerês National Park
Source: The Peneda-Gerês National Park, also known simply as Gerês, is the only national park in Portugal (although many natural..
-
Dec 7, 2017The Art Foundation (TAF…
Source: Such a really nice place in the centre of Athens, close to Monastiraki square! Trees inside of the place..
-
Dec 6, 2017
St Paul’s Bay in…
Source: https://santorinidave.com/best-beaches-greece A great little swimming spot near the castle at Lindos. The east coast of Rhodes is loaded with..
-
-
Jan 1, 1970
Plenty to Braga about…
Source: It's a sleepy, ancient city, but also brimming with a modern, youthful energy. Check out Braga, the loveliest..
-
Nov 5, 2017
Discovering Sintra
Source: Sintra, the Moon Hill, is a place full of magic and mystery, where Nature and Man have combined..
-
Nov 4, 2017First time Greece: top…
Source: Image source: With its sparkling white beaches, crystalline water and venerable ancient sites, Greece lives up to all..
-
-
Jan 1, 1970Best Romantic Things to…
Source: Image source: Romance is in the heart of the beholder and even the simplest pleasures become romantic in the..
-
Jan 1, 1970CACILHAS: PERHAPS THE RIGHT…
Source: Viewed from the north bank and the city of Lisbon, the other side of the Tagus River (its..
-
Jan 1, 1970
Best Romantic Things to…
Source: Image source: Romance is in the heart of the beholder and even the simplest pleasures become romantic in the..
-
-
Jan 1, 1970
Amazing places: Why you…
Source: Image source: Europe most visited places like Italy, France and Spain overshadow a very interesting country, and maybe, because..
-
Jan 1, 1970
First time Greece: top…
Source: Image source: With its sparkling white beaches, crystalline water and venerable ancient sites, Greece lives up to all..
-
-
Oct 1, 2017
Visit Athens
Source: Image source: Athens is the historical capital of Europe, with a long history, dating from the first settlement in..
-
Mar 1, 2017Visit Aveiro
Source: Visit Aveiro to discover a landscape dominated by water. Aveiro, next to the sea and the ria (estuary),..
-
-
-
-
Jan 1, 1970
Serra da Estrela
Source: A great family destination is Serra da Estrela, located in center Portugal. This one is a popular destination during..
-
Jan 11, 2016
Feira da Ladra Lisbon’s…
Source: Feira da Ladra - Lisbon´s Flea Market Lisbon's flea market is called locally the Feira da Ladra, often thought..
-
Nov 10, 2016Lisbon’s Doll Hospital
Source: A doll hospital may not be on your top 10 things to see and do in Lisbon but if..
-
Apr 10, 2016
Évora: The Unexpected Beauty…
Source: When I added Évora to my Iberian itinerary, I didn’t have many expectations. I heard it was a lovely..