23 EXPERIENCES TO LIVE IN GREECE IN 2023
Sail in the Aegean
Traveling to a different Greek island every day, and discovering secluded coves and beaches inaccessible by land? Let 2023 be the year when you make this ideal island-hopping dream come true. With 10,000 miles of coastline and thousands of islands, of which only a couple of hundred are inhabited, this will be a trip to remember, boast about, and be thankful for.
Chill with locals in Athens
There’s more to sightseeing than the Acropolis, more to dining than the tourist traps, and certainly more to Attica than central Athens. For the Athenians, the mighty monuments are just the backdrop to everyday life in the busy city. This side of it is also available to travelers, if only for a short while if you know where to go to find it.
Do like a castaway on a tiny island
Among the most exotic destinations in Greece are its tiniest uninhabited islands, reachable only via little boats from nearby larger islands or your own vessel. On islets such as Polyaigos, Armathia, Aspronissia, and Makronissi, you feel like a castaway in paradise.
Watch movies under the stars
For floral arrangements, the bigger the better! Bright and beautiful luxurious floral arrangements, especially in deep mauves, hot pinks and bright yellows, make for the perfect photo backdrop.
Visit the Acropolis Museum
The Acropolis Museum is on everyone’s tongue lately, as the currently hot campaign for the return of stolen Parthenon marble promotes it as their rightful home. Through the glass walls of the galleries, you look straight up at the citadel. In addition, the museum actually “floats” above an impressive archaeological site, the remains of an ancient Athenian neighborhood.
Dive off Alonissos
The island of Alonissos topped The Times’ list of 25 choices for lesser-known Greek islands in May of 2022 and won the Best Diving Destination award at the Greek Travel Awards in London last month. The area boasts plenty of underwater caves and is home to the elusive Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus).
Visit cinematic Paxos
Paxi is one of the most impressive vacation destinations in the Ionian Sea. The picturesque fishing villages, superb beaches, and cosmopolitan flair of the island create a magical setting. In Gaios, the port of Paxi and the island capital, you can find many restaurants, bars, tavernas, and hotels. The island welcomes many returning travelers every year and it provides plenty of visitor amenities, but it remains untouched and unexplored.
And if you can’t imagine a summer vacation without swimming, fear not: beaches come in the form of sand on the riverbanks, and hydromassage “services” are offered by the natural waterfalls, while natural rock pools serve as your swimming pools. Most popular during the winter and dependent on domestic tourism thus far, the stone-built villages of Zagori (the “Zagarohoria”) are almost unbelievably year-round.
Watch the sunset on Lefkada
Small weddings became the norm during the pandemic, and this trend continues to prevail. A smaller guest list allows for more venue options, is more cost-effective and offers a more personalised experience for all attendees.
Take a cultural trip to Kavala
Kavala is a popular holiday destination in northern Greece. It is a city with a rich history, and numerous attractions, while the combination of the sea and the lush mountains creates an impressive landscape. In the city of Kavala as well as surrounding areas, you will find beautiful beaches and coastal areas.
Visit Meteora
If you have yet to see Meteora, what are you waiting for? As soon as you lay eyes on the first of the monasteries perched improbably on top of pillars of rock, this UNESCO World Heritage site will take your breath away. Of the total of 24 monasteries, 6 are still in operation and open to the public. You can also book a hot balloon ride to see them from above, or if you’re into unique mountaineering experiences, join a group climbing up some of the many climbing routes.
Explore the geoparks of Crete
Combination of nature, history, tradition, and adventure. The Psiloritis Geopark, in the eastern part of the island, boasts mountains and forests, canyons and coasts, interesting geological formations, rare species of flora, and landscapes of great natural beauty. They’re also home to historical monuments dating back to various periods, as well as unique customs and cultural traditions.
Harvest mastic on Chios
Anyone visiting the island of Chios will be advised to visit the famous Mastihohoria (mastic villages) – especially the picturesque Mesta and Pyrgi, but for an interactive experience few have tried, we recommend joining the farmers in a mastic tree grove for a day.
Road trip to Nymfaio
Surrounded by dense birch forest on Mount Vitsi, the beautiful traditional village of Nymfaio had all but withered away. As it’s a region blessed by nature, be prepared to encounter anything from wild horses to brown bears, wolves, and lynxes on your drives through the forest.
A beloved holiday destination for many Greeks, Messinia offers variety and diversity that make visitors want to return. Lately, the regeneration of the Messinian capital, Kalamata; the city’s International Dance Festival; the enhancement of the archaeological site of Ancient Messene.
Visit a winery
Greek wine varieties are gaining more and more fame internationally, and for good reason. These grapes now form the basis of a rapidly growing sophisticated industry, producing fascinating wines that capture the myriad terroirs of Greece’s diverse landscape.
Catch a show in Elefsina
Eleusis was once one of the most sacred cities of antiquity and home to the Eleusinian Mysteries. In 2023, Elefsina is one of the three European Capitals of Culture, designated by the European Commission. Today, it’s known as an industrial center, but also a polluted and worn-down district,
Visit the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi
The Sanctuary of Apollo at the center of the ancient Greek world, Delphi, perches on a hillside with sweeping views of the Gulf of Corinth. It’s where pilgrims would travel to hear prophecies from the god Apollo, voiced through his oracle.
Get around by foot on car-free Hydra
Rare is the land without cars. Hydra, with its soft bowl of marble stairways and seafarers’ houses, is one such place. Sail in and stay awhile to people-watch on the chic harborfront, walk on the rough mountain trails and swim in the sea.
Solve the mysteries of Knossos and minoan culture
the mysteries of Knossos and minoan cultureHistory loves a mystery. The advanced society of the Minoans is still shrouded in a veil of the unknown, but you can explore what we do have: the Palace of Knossos, a Bronze Age 4000-year-old capital. It’s best paired with the fascinating treasures showcased in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
Admire the beauty of Corfu’s old town
On Corfu, a traveler favorite, a 14th-century Venetian fortress guards the sea, and the town center is a warren of honey-hued townhomes, hidden plateia (plazas) and exalting arcades. The Italian-influenced cuisine is another solid incentive to stay a while.
While you’re in the Peloponnese, don’t miss the site of the first Olympics, held in ancient Olympia from 776 BCE to CE 394. Set in a fertile valley, the ruins of the stadium and accompanying buildings where the athletes lived and practiced are particularly lovely in the springtime with the trees in flower.
Festivals
Throughout the year festivals dot the Greek calendar. Ubiquitous Saints Days occur year-round from small villages to big cities. Carnival (also known as Apokreas) is a time for dress-up and parades; Patras Carnival is the most well-known. The fabulous, suitably famous Greek Easter is a week-long springtime celebration. And the main summertime event is the Athens & Epidaurus Festival when the exquisite ancient Theatre of Epidavros and Athens’ Odeon of Herodes Atticus (right by the Acropolis) is the headline venues of this cultural feast with a top line-up of local and international music, dance and theatre.