Everyone has a place in Greece that stays with them. A place you often think back to once you’re home again. Sometimes it’s a view, sometimes a scent, and sometimes simply a feeling that’s hard to describe.
Within our team, we’ve noticed that each of us fell in love with a different side of Greece. Not necessarily the most famous places, but the destinations where you truly feel the country.
For Monique, that place is Mani, in the south of the Peloponnese. A rugged region filled with stone villages, quiet bays and winding coastal roads. “Mani immediately felt different to me,” she says. “There’s something pure and untouched about it.” It’s the kind of place where you spontaneously stop at a hidden beach and end up spending hours in a small taverna where the owner treats you like family.
Annemarie, on the other hand, lost her heart to Poros. “Poros instantly gives me a sense of calm,” she says. “As soon as I arrive, everything slows down naturally.” The island has the charm of authentic Greek island life, without the crowds. Small streets, cosy waterfront terraces and evenings that seem to last forever.
Stephanie doesn’t have to think twice when you ask about her favourite place: Parga. “Parga has everything for me,” she explains. The colourful houses, the lively promenade, the sea views and the relaxed atmosphere make her fall in love with it again and again. “I love wandering along the waterfront in the evening, finding a place to eat and staying there for hours without looking at the time.” According to Stephanie, Parga feels vibrant and welcoming, while still remaining authentic.
Marie immediately thinks of Dimitsana when someone asks about her favourite place in Greece. A charming mountain village in Arcadia, with narrow streets and views over green valleys. “Especially in the evening, it feels magical,” she says. “When the lights come on and everyone slowly gathers in the square.” For her, it’s the kind of place where you don’t need to do much to feel happy.
For Patty, Chios is the island she always wants to return to. “Chios still feels truly authentic,” she says. The island combines quiet beaches with medieval villages and a local atmosphere that’s becoming harder to find in many parts of Greece. “What I love most is how pure life still feels there.” According to Patty, Chios shows you a side of Greece many travellers don’t expect: peaceful, welcoming and full of character.
Maybe that’s exactly what makes Greece so special. Everyone experiences it in a different way. For some, it’s the mountains; for others, a small island or a quiet village by the sea.
But all these places have one thing in common: they are the places where you not only discover Greece, but also slow down a little.