There is only one big mistake you can do : Act as if Greece is a theme park and Greeks are all employees. All other mistakes are small and can be corrected by making some new greek friends and exploring.
You gotta love the era of entitlement: when some tourists were like "I'm not gonna pay for my lunch! We give you enough money as it is!!" Like we ever asked for money! Edit: it was even funnier when Americans tried to pull that card.
One of the most offensive things I have seen tourists do is a German tourist peeing on a watchtower at Spinaloga. Seen plenty of German and British tourists get drunk to oblivion as well
Mistgake #1: Not eating "everywhere" !!!!! Seriously, I've been to over 50 countries around the world. There s NO PLACE like Greece when it comes to food. It's ALWAYS superb, NEVER miss the opportunity to eat everywhere, you will never regret it. :) Btw, I was invited to a wedding on Crete. It was the most fun I've ever had in any vacation. If you get the opportunity, DO NOT miss it :)
@@saladin5 Nope. I've been to Corfu, Crete, Athens, and a few more cities and islands in Greece. It's ALWAYS great food, even at the cheapest restaurants. Italy? Sure, I've had a LOT of great food experiences there, but Greece is, and will ALWAYS be, my favourite culinary country.
Such a small country on the map but so massive when being there. I can't believe it, it's my 6th time there and in not even half way through. It's an awesome place.
@dennismyl6686 Yes, you would need months there and you still might miss some points. The museums are massive.. It's small but also far flung. Special places scattered about.
My first meal in Greece was at a huge truck gas stop. They had a small buffet; it was only vegetables.......one of the best meals I've ever eaten. Definitely always go to small towns.
Hi. So ,white buildings and blue domes are not in Santorini exclusively, but in Cyclades in general. A universal tip for tourists is when you go to a place , ask the locals where to eat local food. If you go to a tavern and see locals sit, if you see only tourists leave.
As a Greek, my two rules of thumb for a good restaurant that isn't a tourist trap are the following: - Old locals frequent it (not just any locals) - It's usually in an isolated or hard-to-reach place, rather than in the most bustling part of a town
Nafplio is my favorite town in Greece! It's so relaxed and beautiful. The Mani region is also gorgeous, incredible people, food, nature and architecture.
@@woltersworld The TH-cam vLogger Daniel ( @mygreeklifestyle ), a British/Venezuelan composer lives and works in Nafplio and has commented in his latest video (Jul 17, 2024 2m45s mark) that he would love an opportunity to meet Prof. Mark Wolters in Nafplio.
The most important thing to remember is that Greece has a history that goes back thousands of years so there is plenty to see, most important avoid the tourist season, go in May or September.
I visited in mid-October. It was PERFECT. And I had taken a night-school class in basic Greek, and I got a lot of mileage out of that. And my grandma's teaching about good manners was appropriate EVERYWHERE.
Hi Greece is paradise nature from North to South to East. To West one needs many lives to see the beauty. Of this country mainland and the Greek islands is such a beautiful GIFT to YOUR EYES AND SOUL BEAUTY EVERYWHERE
There is one old saying...With 10K euros you can go to Naxos island for 2 months, you can go to Ikaria island for 2 years or for a coffee to Mykonos/Santorini.:p
I have been to Greece several times, and you are correct that it is not just Athens, Mykonos and Santorini. Ironically of those three I have only been to Athens. Instead I have been to several of the the islands (8 I think at last count) and the all have their own character, yet they have one thing in common, and that is their beauty.
Two additional mistakes, first ouzo, tourists fail to understand the strength and then they get a very bad hangover. There is a reason it's served in a small glass! Secondly failure to check if the accommodation is air conditioned and which areas are covered. Celling fans are common for bedrooms in greece, if you visit during july or august maybe double check that there is an AC unit.
That's a good tip! Don't assume you will have a/c. Even in the US there are places that don't have it. I always check to make sure. Don't want to be miserable somewhere in a heatwave with no a/c for sure.
I live here in Greece. The other mistake people make is only visiting in the summer! Greece is *amazing* all year round - come in autumn, winter and spring too! They have beautiful ski resorts (Kalavryta, Metsovo, Arachova...), for a fraction of the price of the Alps... hiking in beautiful forests, swimming in lakes... and you'll hardly see any other foreign tourists here.
Too hot & potentially getting sick - too much exposure to the sun which cause skin cancer. Also, dehydration and heat prostration and death. Off-season is best.
I miss Greece so much. The sunshine, the people, the beauty, the food and pastries. Nowhere like Greece. When it comes to public transportation I've moved around everywhere I've been in Greece with ease using only public transportation.
It’s Ariel from The Urbanist @ 20:34!…his series on Athens was incredible!❤ Great and very useful information Mark! Can’t wait to go this summer!🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
Hmm no you’re wrong about the white buildings and blue domes, it can be found all over the Cyclades islands, so Paros, Naxos … have the same architecture, it’s not just Santorini. But yes outside of the Cyclades it’s a different architecture
I have been 9 times over the last 11 years, and I agree with everything you noted here. I would add that a great way to enjoy a few days on your chosen island is to buy groceries locally and have a lunch or two on your patio as some stays are ideal for that.
I learned about the Greek coffee at a Greek Festival in St Louis at Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and I bought a coffee & pastry and the nice Γιαγιά warned me not to drink the sediment at the bottom of the cup.
Yeah, you are not supposed to drink that stuff at the bottom, it feels like you are drinking mud Thats why I, despite being Greek , i commit heresy when drinking Greek coffee by filtering that stuff out
15:54 we made that mistake our first night in Greece. Ordered several appetizers for the table AND individual main courses. We did not make that mistake again. We either did all apps or split main courses the rest of the trip.
Your video is valuable because it prompts tourists to visit beautiful mainland Greece too, which can help the economy. Thank you, that's totally appreciated!
@WoltersWorld My parents are from Chios and not many people heard of Chios. But, Chios is a great island to visit if people want to relax , do lowkey activities such as hiking in nature, visiting many historic villages, historic buildings, and so many more. Chios is well known for its nature and Mastic or as we called it mastika. Chios is the only island in Greece and in the world that grows it. So, book your tickets to Chios and you will be amazed!
Greek time is my absolute favourite part of going to Greece, the people are so laid back it forces me to slow down and appreciate the moment rather than being anxious about always being a stickler for times and plans
Those are a lot of really good tipps, thanks a lot for sharing Mark ! I also like your obvious passion for Greece (and the food, the people, the culture etc. in Greece). I had never heard of Nafplio, it looks really beautiful !
Thanks for promoting Greece as it should. You did more than our state ever did! Also good point to suggest to tourists to not overpay. It's a HUGE problem for us the locals, because the higher prices affects us too.
Wow Mark, just watching your video, I can tell you've got so much experience and knowledge to share about Greece. I recently went to Nafo and loved exploring the seaside, castles, and of course, that amazing orange pie. One thing I wish I had known beforehand was not to make the mistake of only relying on tourist brochures for information. You're right, those beautiful white buildings with blue domes are just a small part of what Greece has to offer. I totally agree with you about trying local food and drinks - the Greek salads, moussaka, and water, and all these hidden gems we wouldn't have found if we just stuck to what we already knew. Your point about not only considering the party scene when choosing an island is really helpful because there's so much more to Greece beyond just parties and beaches. We loved exploring the history and culture here. Thanks for the great tips on transportation, food, and etiquette too. I wished someone had told me about the strong coffee and the whole siesta tradition before I went, haha And yeah, not being afraid to talk to locals really does make a huge difference. We had a local guide show us around the Acropolis, and it was amazing to learn so much about the history and secrets behind those ancient walls. Keeping a cool head when it comes to driving and being a pedestrian is also crucial. I was surprised by how crazy drivers can be here, so thanks for the heads-up on that. Your advice on staying hydrated, sun-safe, and comfortable will definitely help future travelers . The Instagram-focused tourism really does change the way people travel, doesn't it? Focusing on experiencing Greece beyond just the famous spots is super important. Lastly, I appreciate your mention of not comparing Greece to Turkey-let's just appreciate each country for its unique beauty and experiences. Your videos really paint a wonderful picture of this beautiful country. Can't wait for my next return.
Greece is an Orthodox country. So there is a certain level of conservativeness. But even in the Vatican you may be refused entry if you’re not dressed up appropriately. 07:56.
It is like this pretty much everywhere: same think in Latin America. You have to cover and respect the dress code even more in temple of other religions (think about muslim mosques or even hinduist temple in Bali).
Once I was in a very beautiful monastery in Thessaly in Meteora, it was a stunning place in a top of a huge rock, anyway suddenly a bus with tourists arrived and I saw girls with shorts and even to wear the top of a swimsuit like bikini 😂 and they literally want to enter the monastery like this 😅 I laughed so much
Wolter never fails me to prepared me. I watched ur videos since i was 16 now then years later Im preparing myself for greece and the timing for this new video was just perfect ❤
I totally agree with you! Nafplio is one of my favourite towns in Greece. My parents and I used to visit often when I was little; it's a popular day or weekend trip for people living in Athens. Speaking of lesser-known islands, I read in the news today about a new helicopter service connecting several islands in Greece with scheduled flights. This isn't for day trips or private hires but for regular flights. It may not be the cheapest option, but it allows travellers to "hop" from island to island in less than half an hour. You can take longer journeys, like from Athens to Antiparos, or shorter ones, like from Santorini to Folegandros. No more excuses for just going to Mykonos and Santorini! 😅
I agree! When I went last year I caught the train north to Kalambaka. I also went to Syros island to avoid the crowds, beautiful pastel colored buildings.
Thank you for this video! Nafplio was amazing! Loved Olympia, Delphi, Thermopylae and Tolo too. Greek history is what attracted me to this beautiful country. I saw some of the same mistakes as you especially people getting sunburned!
Yea that´s how poor countries with horrible politics always are around the world. Greece is a 3rd world country of course the people there are struggling and people who can afford to travel are richer. Thanks for pointing out the most obvious thing ever!
@@_OneSimon _It is considered one officially_ No it's not. Greece is a first world country: classified as an advanced, high-income economy. Officially. It may be one of the less wealthy European countries, but on a global scale it's definitely not.
My daughter & I just left Nafplio for Athens by bus. It's definitely a must see town. Been to Santorini, Naxos, Paros as well. Meteora overnight in 2 days. Will definitely be exhausted. The heat is miserable this time of year, I wouldn't recommend it. My wish list for next visit is Crete, Corfu
Made it to Greece in 2018. Mykonos, Naxos, tour to Delos, Santorini - Akrotiri is a must, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, and Athens. I went up to Phillopopus Hill, then over to the Acropolis, early in the day (May). Lycabettus Hill is taller than the Acropolis and you can visit the stadium where the first modern Olympics was held. The other mistake folks make is NOT having good walking/hiking shoes and good walking/hiking socks and orthotics if needed. Also, when booking your accomodations, always check if the room has a mini fridge and elevator. Smaller, older buildings/hotels often do not. I would love wolters World to do a take on Peru. Just got back from spending 3 weeks there and it was amazing.
Many of my coworkers are going this summer and are changing up and asking some of us Greek Americans who go every year where to go other than Mykonos and Santorini.
I grew up in a coastal area of the US with beautiful beaches and lots of tourism, so I am a respectful tourist myself. I understand how annoying certain ones can be. There are always some who are demanding, entitled, and go around trashing everything. Those people might be surprised how far just being a decent human being can get you and that they are securing the opposite experience for themselves with their own selfish behaviors. My advice to everyone is to be nice! Be knowledgeable about local customs and at least some of the history of the place. My then 19 year old daughter had an interest in Greek and Roman mythology. She surprised and delighted many of our local guides with her knowledge and interest. Everyone who met her loved and doted on her. We had a great group of people on our tour overall, which our main local guide and bus driver kept commenting on. As a result, they went out of their way to show us things they don’t often do. They didn’t just stick to the standard company itinerary because we proved that we were appreciative and worth it. Just be a good person! It’s not that hard!
@@oofunstuff It's not that you suck. Most Americans I've met are warm and open people. But the thing is places like Mykonos have lost their culture completely because of over tourism. Mykonos now is just a playground for the rich, controlled by mafias that only care about profit and hurt the locals if they speak up. Furthermore most Greeks can't afford to visit these places especially the islands and even life in Athens has become very expensive. So because of all this now it's a thing to try and keep places hidden, to preserve the culture and to fight over tourism. Also I must mention that this isn't just a Greek problem, but a global one. It's just that countries like Italy, Spain, Greece etc are hit the hardest.
Thank you for another informative video. We are coming to Greece for the first time this fall. Decided not to go to any islands so that we can take our time and focus. We'll spend 5 days in Athens to start, do a couple of day trips from there, go to Nafplio for 2 nights (including stops along the way), then finish with another 2 nights in Athens before flying out. If we enjoy our time on this trip, which we expect, next time we'll head to a couple of islands as well but know there is still more to see on the mainland too.
You really should try some trip, I personally think 7 days in Athens is a lot. You can do a day trip from Piraeus, the harbour in in Athens and go to Aegina, Hydra and Poros.
@@vikipsomas4731 Thanks, but as I said we'll be doing at least 2 day trip from Athens. We travel frequently and don't feel the need to rush through the places we visit.
Skiathos, Crete and Rhodes are the islands for me and I haven't been to any of those three. I was in Paros which was very nice. The three I mentioned interest me the most though.
In touristic places (Athens, Rhodes, Santorini, Delphes, etc.), everybody speak English. I was the only one to bother to say hi and thank you in Greek and local were surprise I could say these couple words.
I'm from Crete and I always enjoy your videos. Just want to say, if you go to Santorini: please avoid using the donkeys. They are not treated well, are often overloaded and have to work in the heat. Multiple organisations in Greece have been fighting to change this. So it's great to have your luggage or yourself transported, but avoid using the donkeys (same way e.g. you should avoid those elephant rides in SE Asia, etc).
Also, for island hopping I undestand the plus-side of flying (I fly too), but if you have the time and budget: planes are the worst for the climate, esp. short haul flights. The boat is a good alternative and an experience all on its own!
@@AMAR9933 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽I agree I’m a animal lover and I’ve heard some really bad things about them abusing those donkeys over there and I do not like it ima keep all my things to myself and the most I would do for them is pet them feed them and giving them some water 😊hopefully the organizations wins you have my vote
Hello from Boston! My friend just sent me this link and I will forever grateful. This is wonderful! I want and need to go to Greece but struggling with whether I should do the cruise or just fly to Athens. Any suggestions please 😊
Going to Greece next week for a festival just next to Corinth. Haven’t been in this beautiful country for a quite while so waiting to go to different tavernas to eat local meals, drink retsina and some ouzo shots on the rock at night:) I hope to find supermarket before departure to buy a big piece of real feta and oregano from Kriti if I am lucky (last time I bought in the market in Thessaloniki). Missing gyros, frappe, Greek sweets (!), baked feta, different pies with spinach and cheeses and others and gemista (perfect for hot days lunch).. what else I should try? Can’t recall more..
Good stuff, Mark, efharisto. My take on the blue domed churches is not that they are only in Santorini, they are I think more widely found in the Cyclades, which of course, includes Santorini. One I have seen in photos, not yet in person, is in Naoussa, Paros. The whole white washed houses and blue shutters/doors thing is a Cyclades thing. Nafplio and Crete, and the incredible Ionian islands for that matter, are much more Venice influenced. What an amazing country all around, with so many interesting, beautiful, and different places. I had the great experience living in Athens (technically Voula) for almost 3 years growing up.
We had Greek salad a few times during our trip last year, it was good but nothing memorable. The best salads we had were the green salads in Crete. We tried so many different kinds and they were all delicious!!
I guess Greek salad is for tourists :) there are many others just need to choose… I am returning back to Greece in a week for a festival so making a list of what I want to drink and eat :)
Hi! First time to Greece in 2 weeks. (excited!) May I know if an international license is needed for motorbike rental in Santorini? Appreciate the advice folks. Thanks much
Great video! We went to Greece for the first time last year. Had an amazing time. You are on point with all your advice. I especially agree with doing your research on the different islands and what they offer. Figure out what kind of experience you are looking for to have. Also loved exploring Athens. Definitely worth staying there for more than two days! 💙
I've been visiting Greece for the last 30 years, at least twice a year. Never been to Mykonos or Santorini. All I hear is 'overpriced and overrated' and you can find similar buildings and views elsewhere in Greece too. The islands are great, but so is the mainland! Peloponnese, Chalcidice, Epirus, Thessaly... fly to Athens, Thessalonica of Preveza, rent a car and start road-tripping. April, May, September and October are the best travel periods for Greece imo.
Nothing is lost if you do not see Mykonos and/or Santorini. Over-priced, over-crouded, over-rated, Go to Crete or the Peoloponnese. Lower prices and hardly any tourists.
The ferry system between the mainland and various islands is quite good if you have the time. The ferry system goes more places and more often during the summer tourist season.
From the new port of Santorini (Athinios) - where the ships and ferries arriving - there are small buses and taxis. Bus price 15 euro/person, taxis 35 euro/car to take you to Thira. One week ago I was there. At the old port, there is the funicular and the donkeys.
Greek coffee is consumed in a small cup,no straw. Frappe, Freddo Espresso and Freddo Cappucino is consumed WITH a straw. Don't drink cold coffee without a straw. It makes you look weird and you don't enjoy the coffee this way cause u drink the froth on top. This is some advice with your enjoyment in mind,not trying to tell you what to do.
I made a HUGE MISTAKE. I decided to go in end of April - beginning of May because I wanted a quiet time. I never though ORTHODOX EASTER CAN BE IN MAY and this year it was May 5th Ferries were full, flights super expensive, museum and archeological sites closed, some May 1st strikes and closures were postponed to May 7th because May 1st was on Ash Wednesday, so all Museums and Archeological sites were closed both May 5th and May 7th, etc. Planning and doing this trip was a real pain.
If you want a more quiet holiday, late May-early June and mid-to-late September are ideal, in my opinion. There is still tourism, so everything is open and there are people around, but not crowds.
@@mariak143 Not sure when you were At the end of April before the Easter crowd arrived, Santorini was already packed and reservations were already needed to go to some wineries. Everything was open. Late May and June and September would be way too busy. Athens and Rhodes were packed too.
@@mariak143 October might be the best time as the sea is still warm enough to swim. In my opinion, late April (before the Easter holidays crowds) was already too packed and warm enough (23-25 C) and everything was open. The only problem was that sea was too cold to swim.
Caffeine content is ok for Europeans just for reference. It’s probably the American watery coffee that Americans are used to that doesn’t have so much caffeine 👍🏻
4:32 Naxos and Paros offer similar view, with white houses and blue outlines. Yes, no domes, but that's just a local thing because of the volcano and the design people could come up with back then. Now they build them that way on purpose :D
I ordered a second iced coffee for my dinner in Athens and the waiter said "oh no! too strong!" and, hilariously, mimed a strongman's pose. But it didn't keep me awake; coffee never really does.
I’m sure it must have been mentioned in other videos, car rentals are usually manual transmission. If you want an automatic transmission, book it well in advance and be prepared, it will cost you.
Just been to Greece) and we dont seem to have made any of the mistakes mentioned. However, the problem was that it was tremendously hot both on Crete and in Athens, especially on Crete. The heat on Crete partially ruined our vacation. i.e. we were not able to see as much as we inteded to, but overall Greece is a wonderful place to visit! btw: we never ate at touristy places. Our apartment in Athens was in a residential area a bit aside from the city center and we ate one of the best food in our lives ) guess only Turkish food - also outside of tourist places may top it, no offence) been both to Greece and Turkey. Thanks for the great video!
If arriving to Santorini by cruise ship, I highly recommend watching the Greece Explained channel on TH-cam. He has an entire video on the subject. It literally saved us a lot of grief on our visit last September, especially regarding the gondola situation to get to the top of the island and back. This is the main way to get to the top when arriving by ship and then to get back to the ship. If you don’t plan for the possible couple of hours long wait, you could miss your ship.
I had to re-watch my favorite Travel Show...The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (AppleTV) to see if his Greece episode picket up on some of the things you did. 😎
💙 What truly bothers me; even as a Dane, is the > bikini & bare upper body < tourists that sit down for food & drink, without putting anything on!! 😵💫 and NO a towel isn't enough!! 😡 I lived in Greece as a kid, and that was never allowed, came back 15yrs later++ - and I am disturbed at the amount of indifference tourists have for other people and the Greek culture!! I adore Greece and will always come back, but as ever...I go small & local, in the summer - the museums and such, I leave for the off season trips 😉💙 Yassou from Denmark 🌸
I generally am not out and about in a bathing suit, but what about a restaurant on the beach? I personally would want to put on a cover up at the very least, but if it's a beach restaurant, do they still want people to cover up a bikini or have a guy put on a shirt?
I was wondering about the int'l DL.. The first time we went to Skopelos we had to negotiate around it, and then the next year I had it. But since then I forgot about it but it didn't seem to matter
If you need a good rest, in Greece in the summer pick a small village by the sea... be simple and leave like a local ... don't waste your energy being a tourist... yeah you can do this! Try one glass of ouzo the day you arrive with some seafood .. listen to authentic local music and at the same time to the sea, feed the local cats and dogs tell them they are beautiful, wach the sunset and the sunrise hear the sound of the fishing boats and people saying kalimera, talking about the weather and teasing each other, walk around the narrow village streets for no reason saying kalimera... walk to the sea, walk to the tavern, walk back home... have blessed dreams! Find your new you!
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There is only one big mistake you can do : Act as if Greece is a theme park and Greeks are all employees. All other mistakes are small and can be corrected by making some new greek friends and exploring.
You gotta love the era of entitlement: when some tourists were like "I'm not gonna pay for my lunch! We give you enough money as it is!!" Like we ever asked for money!
Edit: it was even funnier when Americans tried to pull that card.
One of the most offensive things I have seen tourists do is a German tourist peeing on a watchtower at Spinaloga. Seen plenty of German and British tourists get drunk to oblivion as well
Mistgake #1:
Not eating "everywhere" !!!!!
Seriously, I've been to over 50 countries around the world. There s NO PLACE like Greece when it comes to food. It's ALWAYS superb, NEVER miss the opportunity to eat everywhere, you will never regret it. :)
Btw, I was invited to a wedding on Crete. It was the most fun I've ever had in any vacation. If you get the opportunity, DO NOT miss it :)
I think you confusing Greece with Italy, in Greece if a bakery or a restaurant has below average food (like a gas station stop) it still has customers
@@saladin5 Nope. I've been to Corfu, Crete, Athens, and a few more cities and islands in Greece. It's ALWAYS great food, even at the cheapest restaurants.
Italy? Sure, I've had a LOT of great food experiences there, but Greece is, and will ALWAYS be, my favourite culinary country.
Crete is the best!
Such a small country on the map but so massive when being there. I can't believe it, it's my 6th time there and in not even half way through. It's an awesome place.
@dennismyl6686 Yes, you would need months there and you still might miss some points.
The museums are massive..
It's small but also far flung. Special places scattered about.
My first meal in Greece was at a huge truck gas stop. They had a small buffet; it was only vegetables.......one of the best meals I've ever eaten. Definitely always go to small towns.
Hi. So ,white buildings and blue domes are not in Santorini exclusively, but in Cyclades in general. A universal tip for tourists is when you go to a place , ask the locals where to eat local food. If you go to a tavern and see locals sit, if you see only tourists leave.
As a Greek, my two rules of thumb for a good restaurant that isn't a tourist trap are the following:
- Old locals frequent it (not just any locals)
- It's usually in an isolated or hard-to-reach place, rather than in the most bustling part of a town
Just went to athens and corfu and i fell in love with Greece. So safe, so beautiful. I cant wait to go back one day and explore nore
Nafplio is my favorite town in Greece! It's so relaxed and beautiful. The Mani region is also gorgeous, incredible people, food, nature and architecture.
Me too
@@woltersworld
The TH-cam vLogger Daniel ( @mygreeklifestyle ), a British/Venezuelan composer lives and works in Nafplio and has commented in his latest video (Jul 17, 2024 2m45s mark) that he would love an opportunity to meet Prof. Mark Wolters in Nafplio.
The most important thing to remember is that Greece has a history that goes back thousands of years so there is plenty to see, most important avoid the tourist season, go in May or September.
I visited in mid-October. It was PERFECT. And I had taken a night-school class in basic Greek, and I got a lot of mileage out of that. And my grandma's teaching about good manners was appropriate EVERYWHERE.
Hi Greece is paradise nature from North to South to East. To West one needs many lives to see the beauty. Of this country mainland and the Greek islands is such a beautiful GIFT to YOUR EYES AND SOUL BEAUTY EVERYWHERE
There is one old saying...With 10K euros you can go to Naxos island for 2 months, you can go to Ikaria island for 2 years or for a coffee to Mykonos/Santorini.:p
I have been to Greece several times, and you are correct that it is not just Athens, Mykonos and Santorini. Ironically of those three I have only been to Athens. Instead I have been to several of the the islands (8 I think at last count) and the all have their own character, yet they have one thing in common, and that is their beauty.
Two additional mistakes, first ouzo, tourists fail to understand the strength and then they get a very bad hangover. There is a reason it's served in a small glass! Secondly failure to check if the accommodation is air conditioned and which areas are covered. Celling fans are common for bedrooms in greece, if you visit during july or august maybe double check that there is an AC unit.
That's a good tip! Don't assume you will have a/c. Even in the US there are places that don't have it. I always check to make sure. Don't want to be miserable somewhere in a heatwave with no a/c for sure.
I live here in Greece. The other mistake people make is only visiting in the summer! Greece is *amazing* all year round - come in autumn, winter and spring too! They have beautiful ski resorts (Kalavryta, Metsovo, Arachova...), for a fraction of the price of the Alps... hiking in beautiful forests, swimming in lakes... and you'll hardly see any other foreign tourists here.
Too hot & potentially getting sick - too much exposure to the sun which cause skin cancer.
Also, dehydration and heat prostration and death.
Off-season is best.
@@jr_8292 No fun in sweating.
@@WilliamMentsas so true
I miss Greece so much. The sunshine, the people, the beauty, the food and pastries. Nowhere like Greece. When it comes to public transportation I've moved around everywhere I've been in Greece with ease using only public transportation.
It’s Ariel from The Urbanist @ 20:34!…his series on Athens was incredible!❤
Great and very useful information Mark! Can’t wait to go this summer!🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
Hmm no you’re wrong about the white buildings and blue domes, it can be found all over the Cyclades islands, so Paros, Naxos … have the same architecture, it’s not just Santorini.
But yes outside of the Cyclades it’s a different architecture
I agree! Another TH-camr, Gabriel Traveler always is in Greece and those white buildings with blue domes are on more islands than just Santorini.
Yes the Aegean islands have the white buildings. More greenery on the Ionian Islands
You seem like such a genuine happy soul, it makes your videos such a pleasure to watch even when you're talking about negative stuff 🙏
I have been 9 times over the last 11 years, and I agree with everything you noted here. I would add that a great way to enjoy a few days on your chosen island is to buy groceries locally and have a lunch or two on your patio as some stays are ideal for that.
I learned about the Greek coffee at a Greek Festival in St Louis at Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and I bought a coffee & pastry and the nice Γιαγιά warned me not to drink the sediment at the bottom of the cup.
Yeah, you are not supposed to drink that stuff at the bottom, it feels like you are drinking mud
Thats why I, despite being Greek , i commit heresy when drinking Greek coffee by filtering that stuff out
15:54 we made that mistake our first night in Greece. Ordered several appetizers for the table AND individual main courses. We did not make that mistake again. We either did all apps or split main courses the rest of the trip.
Your video is valuable because it prompts tourists to visit beautiful mainland Greece too, which can help the economy. Thank you, that's totally appreciated!
I rented a car in Greece, and it is one of my favourite countries to drive around. No problem with other drivers or anything like that at all.
@@elinars5638 True as they're very nice.
@WoltersWorld
My parents are from Chios and not many people heard of Chios. But, Chios is a great island to visit if people want to relax , do lowkey activities such as hiking in nature, visiting many historic villages, historic buildings, and so many more. Chios is well known for its nature and Mastic or as we called it mastika. Chios is the only island in Greece and in the world that grows it. So, book your tickets to Chios and you will be amazed!
Chios is the home island of most Shipping Magnates.
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@@Pete8673 Have heard about CHIOS and the famous dance song from there.
Greek time is my absolute favourite part of going to Greece, the people are so laid back it forces me to slow down and appreciate the moment rather than being anxious about always being a stickler for times and plans
Those are a lot of really good tipps, thanks a lot for sharing Mark ! I also like your obvious passion for Greece (and the food, the people, the culture etc. in Greece).
I had never heard of Nafplio, it looks really beautiful !
We really like nafplio. Highly recommend it
Nafplio was the capital of Greek state between 1823 and 1834!
❤❤❤. My dad and I were there in August of 2023 - Athens, Santorini, and Crete. One of the best days we had was driving from Heraklion to Chania.
Hiked the Northwestern mountains of Greece back in November. It was amazing!
Thanks for promoting Greece as it should. You did more than our state ever did! Also good point to suggest to tourists to not overpay. It's a HUGE problem for us the locals, because the higher prices affects us too.
This was the best review of Greece - wonderful, honest and helpful. Thanks for sharing
We love Kefalonia, and have returned several times, there are amazing views and scenery and still quiet areas with not too many tourists
Thanks Jocelyn and Mark. Great advice as usual. I love orange cake like my mum used to make for special occasions. It was delicious 😋 ⭐✨👌🍊🧡
Thank you!
Wow Mark, just watching your video, I can tell you've got so much experience and knowledge to share about Greece. I recently went to Nafo and loved exploring the seaside, castles, and of course, that amazing orange pie. One thing I wish I had known beforehand was not to make the mistake of only relying on tourist brochures for information.
You're right, those beautiful white buildings with blue domes are just a small part of what Greece has to offer. I totally agree with you about trying local food and drinks - the Greek salads, moussaka, and water, and all these hidden gems we wouldn't have found if we just stuck to what we already knew. Your point about not only considering the party scene when choosing an island is really helpful because there's so much more to Greece beyond just parties and beaches. We loved exploring the history and culture here.
Thanks for the great tips on transportation, food, and etiquette too. I wished someone had told me about the strong coffee and the whole siesta tradition before I went, haha And yeah, not being afraid to talk to locals really does make a huge difference. We had a local guide show us around the Acropolis, and it was amazing to learn so much about the history and secrets behind those ancient walls.
Keeping a cool head when it comes to driving and being a pedestrian is also crucial. I was surprised by how crazy drivers can be here, so thanks for the heads-up on that. Your advice on staying hydrated, sun-safe, and comfortable will definitely help future travelers
. The Instagram-focused tourism really does change the way people travel, doesn't it? Focusing on experiencing Greece beyond just the famous spots is super important. Lastly, I appreciate your mention of not comparing Greece to Turkey-let's just appreciate each country for its unique beauty and experiences.
Your videos really paint a wonderful picture of this beautiful country. Can't wait for my next return.
Greece is an Orthodox country. So there is a certain level of conservativeness. But even in the Vatican you may be refused entry if you’re not dressed up appropriately. 07:56.
It is like this pretty much everywhere: same think in Latin America. You have to cover and respect the dress code even more in temple of other religions (think about muslim mosques or even hinduist temple in Bali).
Once I was in a very beautiful monastery in Thessaly in Meteora, it was a stunning place in a top of a huge rock, anyway suddenly a bus with tourists arrived and I saw girls with shorts and even to wear the top of a swimsuit like bikini 😂 and they literally want to enter the monastery like this 😅 I laughed so much
Wolter never fails me to prepared me. I watched ur videos since i was 16 now then years later Im preparing myself for greece and the timing for this new video was just perfect ❤
Flying to Santorini saves so much time and you are on top and don't have to climb up the caldera!
As a Greek myself, I've never been to Santorini/Thira or Mykonos in my life. I CAN go, but I don't see the appeal, especially in the summer.
I totally agree with you! Nafplio is one of my favourite towns in Greece. My parents and I used to visit often when I was little; it's a popular day or weekend trip for people living in Athens. Speaking of lesser-known islands, I read in the news today about a new helicopter service connecting several islands in Greece with scheduled flights. This isn't for day trips or private hires but for regular flights. It may not be the cheapest option, but it allows travellers to "hop" from island to island in less than half an hour. You can take longer journeys, like from Athens to Antiparos, or shorter ones, like from Santorini to Folegandros. No more excuses for just going to Mykonos and Santorini! 😅
I agree! When I went last year I caught the train north to Kalambaka. I also went to Syros island to avoid the crowds, beautiful pastel colored buildings.
Thank you for this video! Nafplio was amazing! Loved Olympia, Delphi, Thermopylae and Tolo too. Greek history is what attracted me to this beautiful country. I saw some of the same mistakes as you especially people getting sunburned!
Greece is affordable from a tourist point of view. But the locals have to watch every penny carefully. 02:13
Greek governments didn’t properly manage the tax money
Yea that´s how poor countries with horrible politics always are around the world. Greece is a 3rd world country of course the people there are struggling and people who can afford to travel are richer. Thanks for pointing out the most obvious thing ever!
@@_OneSimon Greece is not a third world country. It's just the goverment for many years has not managed the country well.
@@Alexs.2599 It is considered one officially because of the insanely high debt to gdp ratio
@@_OneSimon _It is considered one officially_ No it's not. Greece is a first world country: classified as an advanced, high-income economy. Officially. It may be one of the less wealthy European countries, but on a global scale it's definitely not.
My daughter & I just left Nafplio for Athens by bus. It's definitely a must see town. Been to Santorini, Naxos, Paros as well. Meteora overnight in 2 days. Will definitely be exhausted. The heat is miserable this time of year, I wouldn't recommend it. My wish list for next visit is Crete, Corfu
Made it to Greece in 2018. Mykonos, Naxos, tour to Delos, Santorini - Akrotiri is a must, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, and Athens. I went up to Phillopopus Hill, then over to the Acropolis, early in the day (May). Lycabettus Hill is taller than the Acropolis and you can visit the stadium where the first modern Olympics was held. The other mistake folks make is NOT having good walking/hiking shoes and good walking/hiking socks and orthotics if needed. Also, when booking your accomodations, always check if the room has a mini fridge and elevator. Smaller, older buildings/hotels often do not.
I would love wolters World to do a take on Peru. Just got back from spending 3 weeks there and it was amazing.
Oh God, please don't let Americans know there are places in Greece other than Athens, Mykonos and Santorini!
We don't all suck... The ones that do suck most likely won't leave their hometown ever in their whole life thankfully/sadly.
Many of my coworkers are going this summer and are changing up and asking some of us Greek Americans who go every year where to go other than Mykonos and Santorini.
I grew up in a coastal area of the US with beautiful beaches and lots of tourism, so I am a respectful tourist myself. I understand how annoying certain ones can be. There are always some who are demanding, entitled, and go around trashing everything. Those people might be surprised how far just being a decent human being can get you and that they are securing the opposite experience for themselves with their own selfish behaviors.
My advice to everyone is to be nice! Be knowledgeable about local customs and at least some of the history of the place. My then 19 year old daughter had an interest in Greek and Roman mythology. She surprised and delighted many of our local guides with her knowledge and interest. Everyone who met her loved and doted on her. We had a great group of people on our tour overall, which our main local guide and bus driver kept commenting on. As a result, they went out of their way to show us things they don’t often do. They didn’t just stick to the standard company itinerary because we proved that we were appreciative and worth it. Just be a good person! It’s not that hard!
@@oofunstuff It's not that you suck. Most Americans I've met are warm and open people. But the thing is places like Mykonos have lost their culture completely because of over tourism. Mykonos now is just a playground for the rich, controlled by mafias that only care about profit and hurt the locals if they speak up. Furthermore most Greeks can't afford to visit these places especially the islands and even life in Athens has become very expensive. So because of all this now it's a thing to try and keep places hidden, to preserve the culture and to fight over tourism. Also I must mention that this isn't just a Greek problem, but a global one. It's just that countries like Italy, Spain, Greece etc are hit the hardest.
Too late, we're all coming now 😊
The city of Kavala and the nearby Thassos Island is one of the most underrrated tourist spots of Greece. On your next visit, please come!
I love Napflio! There's so much to do within a short drive from there. I recommend staying in one of the small villages nearby.
Γεια σου φιλαράκο μας καλέ!!!!
Είσαι φοβερός!!!
Thank you for another informative video. We are coming to Greece for the first time this fall. Decided not to go to any islands so that we can take our time and focus. We'll spend 5 days in Athens to start, do a couple of day trips from there, go to Nafplio for 2 nights (including stops along the way), then finish with another 2 nights in Athens before flying out. If we enjoy our time on this trip, which we expect, next time we'll head to a couple of islands as well but know there is still more to see on the mainland too.
You really should try some trip, I personally think 7 days in Athens is a lot. You can do a day trip from Piraeus, the harbour in in Athens and go to Aegina, Hydra and Poros.
@@vikipsomas4731 Thanks, but as I said we'll be doing at least 2 day trip from Athens. We travel frequently and don't feel the need to rush through the places we visit.
@@artmann7684 Have a wonderful holiday 💫
I truly enjoy your content. Much respect 🫡
Enjoy❤
Skiathos, Crete and Rhodes are the islands for me and I haven't been to any of those three. I was in Paros which was very nice. The three I mentioned interest me the most though.
In touristic places (Athens, Rhodes, Santorini, Delphes, etc.), everybody speak English. I was the only one to bother to say hi and thank you in Greek and local were surprise I could say these couple words.
I'm from Crete and I always enjoy your videos. Just want to say, if you go to Santorini: please avoid using the donkeys. They are not treated well, are often overloaded and have to work in the heat. Multiple organisations in Greece have been fighting to change this. So it's great to have your luggage or yourself transported, but avoid using the donkeys (same way e.g. you should avoid those elephant rides in SE Asia, etc).
Also, for island hopping I undestand the plus-side of flying (I fly too), but if you have the time and budget: planes are the worst for the climate, esp. short haul flights. The boat is a good alternative and an experience all on its own!
@@AMAR9933 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽I agree I’m a animal lover and I’ve heard some really bad things about them abusing those donkeys over there and I do not like it ima keep all my things to myself and the most I would do for them is pet them feed them and giving them some water 😊hopefully the organizations wins you have my vote
Hello from Boston! My friend just sent me this link and I will forever grateful. This is wonderful! I want and need to go to Greece but struggling with whether I should do the cruise or just fly to Athens. Any suggestions please 😊
Drive around Crete.
Going to Greece next week for a festival just next to Corinth. Haven’t been in this beautiful country for a quite while so waiting to go to different tavernas to eat local meals, drink retsina and some ouzo shots on the rock at night:) I hope to find supermarket before departure to buy a big piece of real feta and oregano from Kriti if I am lucky (last time I bought in the market in Thessaloniki). Missing gyros, frappe, Greek sweets (!), baked feta, different pies with spinach and cheeses and others and gemista (perfect for hot days lunch).. what else I should try? Can’t recall more..
FYI: plane tickets, if you buy in advance, they're not a huge price difference from the ferries
I did enjoy today's longer version 👍 , especially when you talk about Greece !
13:00 - no joke, that how much I was eating there (as vege) for breakfast, and im 70kg 185. Love greek food - their pasta sos? best I ate in my life.
Good stuff, Mark, efharisto. My take on the blue domed churches is not that they are only in Santorini, they are I think more widely found in the Cyclades, which of course, includes Santorini. One I have seen in photos, not yet in person, is in Naoussa, Paros. The whole white washed houses and blue shutters/doors thing is a Cyclades thing. Nafplio and Crete, and the incredible Ionian islands for that matter, are much more Venice influenced. What an amazing country all around, with so many interesting, beautiful, and different places. I had the great experience living in Athens (technically Voula) for almost 3 years growing up.
We had Greek salad a few times during our trip last year, it was good but nothing memorable. The best salads we had were the green salads in Crete. We tried so many different kinds and they were all delicious!!
I guess Greek salad is for tourists :) there are many others just need to choose… I am returning back to Greece in a week for a festival so making a list of what I want to drink and eat :)
Hi! First time to Greece in 2 weeks. (excited!) May I know if an international license is needed for motorbike rental in Santorini? Appreciate the advice folks. Thanks much
You can find white & blue buildings all over the central Aegean. It' not a Santorini only thing. Just go to any island of the Cyclades complex.
Great video! We went to Greece for the first time last year. Had an amazing time. You are on point with all your advice. I especially agree with doing your research on the different islands and what they offer. Figure out what kind of experience you are looking for to have. Also loved exploring Athens. Definitely worth staying there for more than two days! 💙
I used to know a lady who was half French and half Greek.
I never knew which way to turn.
I've been visiting Greece for the last 30 years, at least twice a year. Never been to Mykonos or Santorini. All I hear is 'overpriced and overrated' and you can find similar buildings and views elsewhere in Greece too. The islands are great, but so is the mainland! Peloponnese, Chalcidice, Epirus, Thessaly... fly to Athens, Thessalonica of Preveza, rent a car and start road-tripping. April, May, September and October are the best travel periods for Greece imo.
As a local Greek I absolutely agree!
Also, Thessaloniki.
Nothing is lost if you do not see Mykonos and/or Santorini. Over-priced, over-crouded, over-rated,
Go to Crete or the Peoloponnese. Lower prices and hardly any tourists.
Thanks for the advice, I’ll be heading to Greece soon and I’ll be glad to be able to respectfully admire the historic beauty!
The ferry system between the mainland and various islands is quite good if you have the time. The ferry system goes more places and more often during the summer tourist season.
From the new port of Santorini (Athinios) - where the ships and ferries arriving - there are small buses and taxis. Bus price 15 euro/person, taxis 35 euro/car to take you to Thira. One week ago I was there. At the old port, there is the funicular and the donkeys.
Greek coffee is consumed in a small cup,no straw. Frappe, Freddo Espresso and Freddo Cappucino is consumed WITH a straw. Don't drink cold coffee without a straw. It makes you look weird and you don't enjoy the coffee this way cause u drink the froth on top.
This is some advice with your enjoyment in mind,not trying to tell you what to do.
I made a HUGE MISTAKE. I decided to go in end of April - beginning of May because I wanted a quiet time. I never though ORTHODOX EASTER CAN BE IN MAY and this year it was May 5th Ferries were full, flights super expensive, museum and archeological sites closed, some May 1st strikes and closures were postponed to May 7th because May 1st was on Ash Wednesday, so all Museums and Archeological sites were closed both May 5th and May 7th, etc. Planning and doing this trip was a real pain.
If you want a more quiet holiday, late May-early June and mid-to-late September are ideal, in my opinion. There is still tourism, so everything is open and there are people around, but not crowds.
The Orthodox church does not celebrate Ash Wednesday. They have" Clean Monday" which is a public holiday, It falls 2 days before Ash Wednesday.
May 1st strikes were officially postponed because May 1st was on Ash Wednesday. @veronicaturpin1907 What happen in the churches is not relevant.
@@mariak143 Not sure when you were At the end of April before the Easter crowd arrived, Santorini was already packed and reservations were already needed to go to some wineries. Everything was open. Late May and June and September would be way too busy. Athens and Rhodes were packed too.
@@mariak143 October might be the best time as the sea is still warm enough to swim. In my opinion, late April (before the Easter holidays crowds) was already too packed and warm enough (23-25 C) and everything was open. The only problem was that sea was too cold to swim.
These videos are so helpful. I may not go anywhere, but I can travel with you.
I am glad we can show you a bit of the world!
@@woltersworld you’re really a beautiful view I not the world.
Always wanted to go, maybe one day. History is so fascinating, so many sites to go to.
It is wonderful to visit
White building and blue dome only in Santorini ? Someone hasn't been to Paros :) Actually, don't tell anybody, it will get too crowded if you do ! 😄
When we lived on Crete my mum would get them to make her a Greek coffee in a mug not the little expresso cups
Cool, another video about Greece. Thank you . You should make a video about the places we can visit .I know Greece has plenty of places
The information you gave us is really good and will most definitely come in handy 😀
Caffeine content is ok for Europeans just for reference. It’s probably the American watery coffee that Americans are used to that doesn’t have so much caffeine 👍🏻
4:32 Naxos and Paros offer similar view, with white houses and blue outlines. Yes, no domes, but that's just a local thing because of the volcano and the design people could come up with back then. Now they build them that way on purpose :D
I ordered a second iced coffee for my dinner in Athens and the waiter said "oh no! too strong!" and, hilariously, mimed a strongman's pose. But it didn't keep me awake; coffee never really does.
Also don't go out alone hiking in 36 degrees heat without water or a mobile phone.
Santorini: One time is one time too many. Crete for me. Just my opinion.
I’m sure it must have been mentioned in other videos, car rentals are usually manual transmission. If you want an automatic transmission, book it well in advance and be prepared, it will cost you.
I love these videos with all the tips! And yes! Totally agree with Jocelyn on SPF. I love seeing her in the videos!
Thank you!
Just been to Greece) and we dont seem to have made any of the mistakes mentioned. However, the problem was that it was tremendously hot both on Crete and in Athens, especially on Crete. The heat on Crete partially ruined our vacation. i.e. we were not able to see as much as we inteded to, but overall Greece is a wonderful place to visit! btw: we never ate at touristy places. Our apartment in Athens was in a residential area a bit aside from the city center and we ate one of the best food in our lives ) guess only Turkish food - also outside of tourist places may top it, no offence) been both to Greece and Turkey. Thanks for the great video!
If you think Crete was hot, I recommend not going to Cyprus in summer.
Thank you. Good to know about the drivers license😊
Wonderful and help thanks for sharing ❤
2:17 Holy cow! I hope they have that in Mykonos when I go in July. :)
Napflio is amazing!
If arriving to Santorini by cruise ship, I highly recommend watching the Greece Explained channel on TH-cam. He has an entire video on the subject. It literally saved us a lot of grief on our visit last September, especially regarding the gondola situation to get to the top of the island and back. This is the main way to get to the top when arriving by ship and then to get back to the ship. If you don’t plan for the possible couple of hours long wait, you could miss your ship.
I would go to Skiathos over Santorini.
I had to re-watch my favorite Travel Show...The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (AppleTV) to see if his Greece episode picket up on some of the things you did. 😎
You are at Nafplio at the same time with Daniel from “ my Greek Lifestyle “ TH-cam channel contact and do collab. With him. Would be fun
Bottom line: If you expect to have all of the comfrots of home, why bother travelling? And don't wear socks with sandals, you stand out a mile away.
💙 What truly bothers me; even as a Dane, is the > bikini & bare upper body < tourists that sit down for food & drink, without putting anything on!! 😵💫
and NO a towel isn't enough!! 😡
I lived in Greece as a kid, and that was never allowed, came back 15yrs later++
- and I am disturbed at the amount of indifference tourists have for other people and the Greek culture!!
I adore Greece and will always come back, but as ever...I go small & local, in the summer
- the museums and such, I leave for the off season trips 😉💙
Yassou from Denmark 🌸
I generally am not out and about in a bathing suit, but what about a restaurant on the beach? I personally would want to put on a cover up at the very least, but if it's a beach restaurant, do they still want people to cover up a bikini or have a guy put on a shirt?
I hear you. I dont think anyone would want to eat with me topless around, thats for sure
@@Geekabibble I don't see any problem with being in a bikini top at a beach taverna. I've done it countless times.
I was wondering about the int'l DL.. The first time we went to Skopelos we had to negotiate around it, and then the next year I had it. But since then I forgot about it but it didn't seem to matter
The smoke whilst dining is the absolute worst.. but you have to accept it is what is.
If you need a good rest, in Greece in the summer pick a small village by the sea... be simple and leave like a local ... don't waste your energy being a tourist... yeah you can do this! Try one glass of ouzo the day you arrive with some seafood .. listen to authentic local music and at the same time to the sea, feed the local cats and dogs tell them they are beautiful, wach the sunset and the sunrise hear the sound of the fishing boats and people saying kalimera, talking about the weather and teasing each other, walk around the narrow village streets for no reason saying kalimera... walk to the sea, walk to the tavern, walk back home... have blessed dreams! Find your new you!
We will be in Nafplio next month. Where should I get a piece of that orange pie??
So nicely summed up
Thank you
The Greeks drink their coffee with some water to wash it down. 0:13:25
I love the joke that a typical Greek breakfast is coffee and a cigarette. 😄
@@stephanieestrada969Half a pack of cigarettes in fact!😂
Amazing video
Amazing view