Welcome to scenic seaside villages where the stories are real, the welcome is heartfelt and the locals are generous. How does staying in a traditional family-owned guest villa sound to you? Or tasting generations-old recipes and plucking fruit from the locals’ orchards. And being welcomed with a glassful of the local tipple (raki, tsikoudia or tsipouro)? Here are 5 holiday ideas to experience Greece at its most authentic.
Crete
One of the most popular Greek islands, Crete, is one of the most authentic destinations in Greece. In the bed & breakfasts of Chania, in the restored homes of Vamos and Kapetaniana, at an eco-resort in Vlatos (that doesn’t even have electricity), in traditional stone cottages converted into villas… you’ll find your own, traditional seaside Greek home. All around you are spectacular sights: Phaistos, Gortyna, Matala… And to complete the picture: a plate brimming with famous Cretan meze.
The Ionian islands
Seven beautiful Greek islands invite you to experience authentic summer holidays in Greece. Head to the traditional seaside settlement of Agios Nikitas in Lefkada and the island’s exotic beaches (Milos, Pefkoulia) with perfect conditions for wind- and kite-surfing. In Paxi and Antipaxi, you’ll find heavenly beaches, great local wines and green-silver olive groves.
Pelion
Beautiful villages with incredible beaches and a traditional atmosphere. Make yourself at home in the renovated grand mansions and stone guesthouses (mountainous and beachside), surrounded by unspoiled nature. Imagine picture-perfect villages overlooking the Aegean, local architecture and even a little train snaking through the dense forest and hiking trails.
The Aegean islands
On the smaller Aegean islands with their secluded, sun-kissed beaches – Schinousa, Koufonisia, Kimolo – you’ll tune in and log out. In Kalymnos, with its famous sponge divers, Ikaria, with its fun-filled village fairs, in the legendary mastic villages of Chios and in neoclassical Symi, you’ll instantly become a local. In Samos, Karpathos, Kassos, with their exceptional Greek cuisine, and in Limnos, you’ll understand the meaning of real hospitality. In the Cyclades, you’ll drink in the beauty of Amorgos and you’ll admire the miracles of the marble sculptures of Tinos. Cycladic architecture, trekking and surfing will complete your unforgettable holiday experience in the Greek islands.
The Peloponnese
Stone cottages hidden amid the olive groves of Kardamyli and Mani. Old towers that have been converted to hotels welcome you with a family-friendly atmosphere and food blessed by the extra-virgin olive oil the region is famous for. And this is just the beginning. Somewhere between the bright sun, blue sky and seductive sea, you too will find the authentic spirit of Greece!
