My story with Greece started at a very young age. I visited in Greece and the Greek islands and became very attached to the Greek culture, music and language. The special connection to Greece caused me to establish Haolam Hayevani (“The Greek World”) website, that was officially opened in 2007 and now become an empire in the field. The site deals with all the related fields from tourist information for travelers in Greece to learning the Greek language and learning to play the Greek bouzouki online.
On this page I will share with you my personal experiences in the places I visited in Greece and also recommendations on places I liked. I would recommend making the reservation on Booking.com which you can view the hotel details, see guest reviews, check date availability and prices and make a direct reservation through it.
Athens
In Athens I really enjoyed experiencing the history of the place including the Acropolis Museum and especially visiting the local taverns and from the Greek music with which I have a deep connection. I had so much fun meeting my fellow Greek musicians, playing and singing with them.
I think that for me personally this is the real experience, more than visiting any attraction, beach or other tourist destination.
In Athens there is the Plaka neighborhood which is located at the foot of the Acropolis and near Syntagma Square which is the main square of the city of Athens and where the soldiers in the traditional costume are found who stand in a fixed position for a long time and then change every certain time.
There is also Monastiraki where there is the well-known flea market, a kind of big bazaar with many stalls and shops. Kolonaki and Kifisia are two prestigious neighborhoods that include a variety of boutique shops where you can also enjoy a culinary experience from the variety of restaurants and bakeries in the area.
As far as the hotels in Athens are concerned, I personally recommend the 4-star Elia Ermou Hotel, which is located in an excellent location on Ermou Street in the heart of Athens. For me this hotel was excellent both in terms of location and service. For a slightly higher budget, there is the 5-star Electra Metropolis Hotel located next to the Plaka neighborhood.
Thessaloniki
I especially liked Thessaloniki. It is calmer than Athens but you can still experience the full Greek culture. It feels easy to get acclimated there and even though it is the second largest city in Greece, if you are in the city center, you can get almost anywhere easily.
Start from the White Tower, which is the symbol of the city, and walk along the promenade, where you will discover Aristotle’s Square, which is the center of the city’s activity. Around it there are hotels, taverns and restaurants as well as quite a few shops of all kinds including leading fashion brands as well as local shops selling local produce.
Rhodes
From the Greek islands, I enjoyed my vacation on the island of Rhodes. It is a relatively small Greek island compared to the other islands and you can discover it all in one vacation. I got to discover and get to know every area of the island and I especially liked the resort village Faliraki which I think has It has the best beaches on the island.
I stayed at Elysium Hotel, with a 5-star rating that offers a variety of pampering with a private beach and a spa center. Although it is a little far from the main town, it is also located on the stretch of beach that I think is the best on the island, and it is also closer to Lindos. The hotel has a wonderful private beach, the staff was very kind and the restaurant offered wonderful meals.
In terms of history, there is the Acropolis of Lindos, the fortress in the old city and the archaeological museum. Of course, I also enjoyed experiencing Greek music in a variety of taverns in the town of Rhodes and meeting local musicians, with whom I performed some favorite songs.
Crete
Crete is a wonderful island but for me it felt less accessible and requires traveling by car to certain places. I loved the province of Lasithi and especially the town Agios Nikolaos where the Valismani lake is located the amazing.
For me, Crete is a little different in terms of the atmosphere to the other places and islands in Greece. Crete is the largest island in Greece, so it is suitable for a longer trip compared to a vacation in Rhodes. It has a lot to discover but also areas that are still desolate and undeveloped.
Corfu
One of my favorite Greek islands is Corfu. It has simply everything you will look for for a wonderful vacation beyond the amazing view that can be seen from all sides and the good beaches it offers, it has a wide variety of attractions that you can enjoy. For me, just walking the ancient streets of the island is an attraction in itself with abundant history from all sides and the Italian influence that the island has received.
I will share more experiences later…