Top Ten Things to Do in Greece

As you may know if you have read the about page of this blog, I am a proud Greek. I have traveled there twice in my lifetime and can say, honestly, that there is nothing quite like it. This guide is to prepare you for when you go to Greece (because EVERYONE should).

1. Go to the private Bolivar Beach Bar in Alimos (Athens)

Now, private may sound too fancy or exclusive (especially for us common folk), but to get in to the beach, you pay five euros. Trust me when I say that it is well worth it. If you decide to go to the public beach, be careful. Public beaches in Greece are known to be crawling with thieves and entrepreneurs trying to sell you “homemade” blankets and bracelets. Rather than a peaceful afternoon relaxing, you will probably spend your time there puppy-guarding your belongings or trying to shoo off nagging salesman. Considering all the charm and luxury of the private beach, it is, in my opinion the best option for a beach day getaway.

Including a little shop, restaurant, and multiple cabana bars, Bolivar will meet all your needs and satisfy your midday cravings. Easily accessible bathrooms, lounge chairs and umbrellas, watercraft rentals, and an inflatable water playground make it fun for everyone, from the sun bum who just wants to tan to the five-year-old bursting with energy. My go-to is to relax and tan on a lounge chair, sipping a virgin piña colada and then to swim in the water. The clear, blue-green waters of Greece and matchless atmosphere are unlike anywhere in the world. At night, the beach bar turns into a party scene, with events and artists booked up throughout the year.

When I go in the morning, my tradition is to grab a quick pastry from the bakery up the street and get a Sorbetto at Coffee Island.

2. Try ALL the food

Savory Sustenance

Olive oil sizzling. Fresh tomatoes being chopped. A sprinkling of garlic on perfectly-cooked lamb. These are the mouth-watering sounds and scents of Greek cuisine. It is my favorite type of food. For those more health-conscious, Greek salad is a staple, made with kalamata olives, cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes, olive oil, spices, and feta. Although Greeks prepare amazing seafood, souvlaki is a street food option. It is a skewer with your choice of chicken, lamb, or pork. A pastry with filo dough, spanakopita, or spinach pie, is part of the culture, as well as stuffed grape leaves known as dolmas. But personally, I stick to souvlaki.

Often mispronounced, gyros (YEE-ROS) are pita wraps stuffed with pork or chicken carved off a vertical rotisserie with onions, tomatoes, lettuce, tzatziki sauce, and surprisingly, fries. For a maximum of 4.00 euros (it’s usually 2.50 euros or $2.95 in U.S. dollars), you can taste these amazing flavors and a full portion. This is my favorite entree to get. However, an important tip to remember is that sitting down instead of walking and eating doubles or triples the price of your meal. 

The most life-changing appetizer I’ve ever had is called saganaki, fried cheese. Chefs cook it with alcohol but then light it on fire to burn it off. From what I have experienced, even Greek food made by Greeks in any other place in the world will never be the same or as good as in Greece. They have the freshest, most authentic ingredients to bring their culinary masterpieces to life.

Delectable Desserts

Now, for the important part, dessert. I hope you like honey because the Greeks utilize it in several of their after-dinner indulgences. You probably have heard of baklava. A flaky pastry made with layers of filo dough, nuts, and honey topped with a clove, baklava is a must-try. One of my other favorites, loukoumades, is the Greek twist on donut holes, cooked golden brown with honey and chopped nuts or powdered sugar on top. At my relative’s (Tonia’s) house, I discovered the life-changing ice cream topping of “Magic Cracky.” Creating the perfect blend of sweet ingredients, these desserts are mouthwatering and delicious.

Believe it or not, the crepes in Greece are delightful, especially the Nutella ones. Here’s a tip for all my midnight snackers out there: because the Greeks are night owls, restaurants and eateries in Greece are open late into the night. And unlike a lot of places that turn sketchy and dangerous at night, Greece is safe at night in most areas, especially since so many people are still out.

3. Go to Coffee Island

Even if you’re not a big coffee fan, Coffee Island is the BEST beverage place in the entire world. Starbucks, Dutch Bros., Black Rock, and every other coffee bar cannot compare to Coffee Island. Call me a traitor, but Coffee Island provides the richness and quality of a major coffee shop chain with half the price. The most expensive item on the menu is 2.90 euros, which is the equivalent of $3.42.

If you enjoy deep, bold flavors in your coffee, this is the place for you. But even if you don’t, the teas and frappucinos are next-level. Like I mentioned earlier, the Sorbetto is my favorite item on the menu next to the Coffeecino. Like a smoothie, the sorbetto is an irresistable marriage of fruit in a blended form but with more of the taste and texture of sorbet. The Coffeecino is like a chocolatey coffee milkshake. Enough said. Sadly, Coffee Island is not available to open a franchise in the U.S. Otherwise, I would have bought one a long time ago.

Now, you may be asking yourself why I rated this #3 in my list, when there are so many wonderful destinations in Greece. The answer is: coffee, especially Coffee Island, should be a top priority in any itinerary.

4. Travel to the top of Lycabettus Hill

Providing the best view of Athens, Lycabettus Hill is an awe-inspiring experience. Whether you choose to climb it on foot, drive in a car, or take the cable car up, the journey will add some extra excitement to your adventure in Greece. When I went, I chose to go on the cable car because it was later at night around 7:00 pm. Since I was more afraid of heights at the time, it was a fun but scary ride. Nevertheless, the view at the top was well worth it. A fancy restaurant and St. George church sit atop the hill. At sunset, the panorama was stunning. I was able to see all of Athens with the Acropolis in sight, against the brushstrokes of blue-gray clouds on a rainbow sky. Perfect for taking photos and taking in the whole city, Lycabettus Hill is a picturesque place.

5. Take a road trip to a remote Greek village

Driving through the Greek countryside is a great way to discover the rich history of the country. With rolling hills and hidden beauty, the more remote parts of Greece present their own kind of charm. Usually, in Greece, each family has a house in the village that they came from and one in the city. During holiday, they travel between them. When I rode in a car on the way to our family villages in Mani, we stopped at some incredible historic sites. We stopped at ancient Corinth, to which Paul wrote letters to the early church, now known as 1 and 2 Corinthians. Aged ruins and detailed murals marked the beginning of another world, another time. Of a culture centuries older than the America I know. From the warrior fortress of Sparta to thousands of acres of authentic olives from Kalamata.

Mani

In Mani of the Peloponnese, my family’s villages of Kounos and Stavri, there are narrow cobblestone streets and tall stone houses. In honor of my great grandfather, there is a door engraving with his name at a tiny church built in the town (he donated the door). He used to own a house right by the sea, with a stunning view and a convenient location. It is located near the hills in Gerolimenas. As descendants of the Spartans, Maniots are known for their bravery and fighting spirit. When I stayed there, I slept in Tsitsiris Castle in Stavri, since my great uncle knows the owner.

Olives

On our property, there are acres upon acres of olive trees. From late November to January and the beginning of February, the olives are harvested. Their technique is to rake over the branches into containers. Pure and potent, olives are pressed into fresh olive oil. Almost every year, my family in Greece sends my family here gigantic several gallon containers of olive oil. Unlike anything you will find at the store, Greek olive oil is so pure that you can see through it, holding a deep, transparent green color. To watch and maybe even help with the harvest, visitors can go during the season and see where the magic happens.

The Reenactment

Okay, buckle up. It’s storytime. A long-held tradition, the reenactment of the Maniot war against the Ottomans is a sight to see. Something you must know when going to Greece is the bad blood they have with the Turks. Going back centuries, their feud still lives on today, mostly over land. This includes present-day Istanbul, Turkey, formerly known as the Greek city of Constantinople. Specifically in Mani, the annual festival commemorates the Maniots’ courage. In the battle, the Turks tried to approach Mani from the side and sneak by the cliff. Now, the men and capable youth had gone to fight elsewhere. This meant that they were not there to defend the villages. However, the elderly and women knew what they had to do. Picking up their farming tools and pots and pans, they beat the Turks. With only one third of them remaining, the Ottomans retreated back to their ships.

In honor of this underdog anecdote, the Maniots celebrate their victory by acting out the battle. Actors portray Turks dead on the beach (they are abnormally good at lying still). As women mourning and crying out lead the procession up to the memorial site, onlookers step into the past. Performing a ceremony, they solemnly lay wreaths made of leaves by the flagpole, act, and sing in Greek. Both entertaining and educational, the reenactment is an experience you will never forget.

It’s called the Commemoration of the Battle of Diros, which is near the Caves of Diros.

6. Take a boat ride in the Caves of Diros

If you’ve noticed the picture on the home page of this blog, you would know that it captures a gorgeous view of the sea. Guess what? That picture was taken outside of the Caves of Diros. In my opinion, it is by far, one of the best views in Greece. As a rower paddles you through the caverns, there are sharp spikes of varied stone. The formations are made up of stalactites, stalagmites, and much more (or in terms I understand, cool rocks). Towards the end, you can get out and go up a walkway to exit, seeing the natural wonder up close and personal. Based on what I’ve heard though, the cave tours have been shortened during coronavirus, so I would wait until everything settles down to enjoy the full experience.

7. Explore central Athens

Syntagma Square

At the heart of Athens, Syntagma Square is home to the Parliament building. Using it as a reference point can be helpful in your travels around the city. To catch the Hellenic version of the Changing of the Guard, stand by the Presidential Mansion or the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at 11 am on Sundays. Quite entertaining, the Changing of the Guard consists of Evzone soldiers marching. With distinctive clothing, their poofy outfits, tasseled hats, and shoes with pom-poms are characteristic of them.

Monastiraki Market

Fun and enlightening, the Monastiraki Market is one of the best places to shop in Athens. Not your average flea market, this shopping extravaganza is open to the public in the heart of downtown Athens. Significantly close to the Acropolis, Monastiraki provides a central way to get exercise walking and to find souvenirs. Now, like any market, there are fake designer bags and items that would be in your best interest to avoid. Be prepared to be a little harassed by bracelet sellers. But I believe in you. You can say no to their all-too-convincing sales pitch! Despite this, there are beautiful shops with jewelry, carved wooden kitchenware, and metal sculptures. 

I’ll never forget the time my papous (grandfather) was chewed out by a lady shop owner because my dad did not speak Greek. Negotiating with her for a few items, we ended up leaving with dog and turtle-carved slingshots. Ha! What a buy! One of my more successful ventures was when I discovered two rings that I still wear, a bracelet with my name on it, and a metal bent necklace and shirt spelling my name in Greek. With so many colors and varieties, endless possibilities abound.

Ermou Street is for more retail shoppers, with familiar stores like H&M and Sephora.

Varvakios Market

For the foodies and natural-born cooks, the Central Municipal Athens Market near Monastiraki might be the place for you. It is more casually known as Varvakios Market. With an inside spread for fresh seafood and meat, the market displays everything from whole fish and octopus to pig heads. If you travel with a little child or squeamish animal activist, going inside might not be the brightest idea. Not to mention, your feet may get wet from the floor, so wear suitable shoes. My favorite part is the outside contains fresh produce of fruits and vegetables and spices. But this window into Greek culture shouldn’t be passed up.

8. Climb the Acropolis and Areopagus Hill

Before leaving Athens, you should visit the Acropolis and Areopagus Hill. In the summertime, the best time to climb them is in the morning before the heat hits around 11:00 am. If you’re brave enough to go in the heat, I recommend drinking a cold drink before you get there because drinks are not allowed on the climb. I’m speaking from experience from when I got a frozen slushie and had to chug it before entering. 

Providing a view of the whole city, the Acropolis is an amazing place for taking pictures. And trust me, I’m not one for Greek mythology or any of that stuff, but this is still a decent site to see. A proud landmark of Greek civilization, the Acropolis has withstood weather and vandalism, standing strong as one of Greece’s most rich epicenters of history. From being a king’s palace to a fortress, the Acropolis’s diverse background has given it a name in history textbooks everywhere.

What caught my attention was the monument less recognized in the shadow of the Acropolis. Areopagus Hill. Imagine yourself sitting in a crowd of people. You’re sitting and listening to a man fervently speaking about a book. The man is Paul the Apostle, and the book is the Bible. Centuries ago, Areopagus Hill was used as a sanctuary and court. Traces of ancient steps are still to be seen carved in the rock. You can also see where Paul the Apostle stood when he preached Acts 17:16–34 to the Athenians. In essence, it is a humongous limestone rock with historical significance. Be careful when you climb the precarious steps or forge your own path because my mom bit it walking on top of the hill. Of course, she was wearing flip flops, so wear some tennis shoes or something sturdy.

9. Island hop

When visiting Greece, island hopping is a common touristy bucket list item. And rightfully so. For transportation, I always recommend taking the Flying Dolphin to the islands. “The Flying Dolphin?” you say. Yes, the Flying Dolphin. And before you ask, no it is not an airborne mammal. Gliding across the Aegean Sea at thirty-two knots, the Flying Dolphin gets you from point A to point B. It is a hydrofoil with lots of seats, a snack bar, and windows. Depending on the islands you choose to visit, the travel times will be different, but it is the fastest way to get there. Although the ride there is terrible for those who get easily seasick, the momentary puking will be well worth it. If you’re bent on luxury and are comfortable with a longer ride, the ferry is a better option.

Planning a mini day trip, my family and I took the Flying Dolphin to Poros, Hydra, and Spetses. Since I did not get the chance to go to Crete, Rhodes, or Santorini, I hope to go next time. I have heard that two or three days is too long to spend on one island, so going for a day is the best option to see everything but not get bored. Whatever you do, stay away from Mykonos. It is not as pleasant as its pictures. 

Since we rode donkeys, my favorite island that we visited was probably Hydra. On the island, there are no cars, only donkeys, boats, and your own two feet as modes of transportation. Luckily, it is small and easy to navigate. Because of the unfortunate economy, the islands, especially Spetses, were fairly deserted from lack of tourism. However, we still admired the yachts and ate gelato. We chilled by the beach in Poros.

10. Learn at a museum

If you enjoy immersing yourself in a city’s past, going to one of Athens’ many museums might be pleasurable for you. Closer to Central Athens, the National Archeological Museum has a variety of sculptures and artifacts, dating back thousands of years ago. Since the museum’s collections are extensive, you might want to plan which rooms you want to go to, but there is an audio guide available. Otherwise, you could spend an entire day, which you can totally do if you’d like, there. My personal preference, the Byzantine and Christian Museum was a more manageable and enjoyable experience. As someone who gets easily lost in museums, I found that this museum was easy to navigate. Not only does it contain interesting exhibits, it combines history and religion. Catching the eye, the modernized glass reading tablets are engaging. You can also find a charming cafe and garden on the premises. 

So that just about wraps it up. But hear me on this. These are my top ten things to do, but Greece has so much to offer. Explore the whole country because its scenic landscape is unique and transformative. It will leave you with a new perspective and one more stamp on your passport!