And so everyone experiences Greece in their own way.
Everyone has their own way of doing and experiencing things. And there is not just one ‘right’ way to experience Greece. Some travelers might be the first to look for food and culture, others nature and adventure, while others just enjoy the sunny and relaxing type of vacation. Or maybe you even want to experience a little bit of everything. So, how can you plan a trip to Greece that makes you think: “I did exactly what I get excited about” in the end? Let’s break it down:
Don’t start with: “Where should I go?”
One of the first mistakes people can make when planning a trip to a country is deciding on the exact destination before thinking about what they actually want to experience. Not that it makes your trip any less enjoyable, but you might end up choosing a place simply because it’s popular or because everyone seems to recommend it. So it can get easier to spend your days ticking off the things you feel you are supposed to see, rather than creating days that can genuinely excite you in perhaps other places that you didn’t know much about before.
Try first starting to think about what genuinely excites you to experience and let it guide you to the places that really feel like you from there. Is it in breathtaking nature where you can do many kinds of activities? Or wandering in a local village full of Greek culture? Or do you just like to take it slow on the coast? Or maybe even a mix of everything.
Travel beyond the “checklist”
Of course, some things are a must-see, like the Acropolis in Athens, or the whitewashed villages if you’re in Santorini, but sometimes it’s also about knowing what to leave out of your trip. For example, if you aren’t particularly interested in museums, you don’t need to fill your afternoon completely with museums simply because they are highlights.
If you love Greek local villages or nature, perhaps an afternoon wandering through one in Pelion or Naxos is way more valuable to you than just ticking another famous attraction off your list in the main streets of the capital. Or if you are adventurous and love hiking, places in the northwest or south of the country instead can make your Greece experience way more valuable.
A full itinerary or a good itinerary?
The quantity of experiences doesn’t always mean experiencing Greece thoroughly. If every day is filled with early mornings, long drives, sightseeing and activities, you might see a lot of Greece without actually having much time to enjoy it. Give the experiences you genuinely care about enough space to slow down and explore.
Leave space for things you can’t plan
This is probably the most important thing, since whether you are a planner or more spontaneous, there will always be opportunities around you during your trip that you most likely did not think of beforehand. Maybe you suddenly see an area, shop or café you would like to explore when wandering around, or you discover an active trail surrounded by breathtaking mountains and landscapes not that far from where you stay.
These moments can often become the stories you remember most. That’s why leaving room for the unplanned gives you the freedom to discover things you might never have thought to look for.