Vacationer traps exist in well-liked locations world wide, however you don’t should fall for them. Vacationer traps in Greece could also be attractive, however they’ll value a fairly penny and waste your time when you may be exploring extra of this stunning nation.
From maintaining Santorini off of your itinerary to catching views of the Parthenon with out getting caught in a crowd, listed below are 10 vacationer traps in Greece to keep away from in your go to (plus some higher issues to see, do, and eat as a substitute!).
Take a bus as a substitute of a cab from the airport. Picture: Nick Night time
1. Don’t take a cab from the airport
Take the X95 bus from the Athens Airport to Syntagma Sq./Plateia Syntagmatos for under 5.5 euros, then catch a cab from there to wherever you’re staying in Athens. In any other case, you’ll pay 40-55 euros for a cab experience immediately from the airport to the middle of Athens.
2. Cease trying to find the eating places you see throughout social media
If you happen to attempt to discover all the brand new, internationally famend spots the place the cool children hang around, you’ll lay our a fortune making an attempt to slot in. As a substitute, eat at a family-owned-and-run taverna, get pites from a fourno, or store at an area market and luxuriate in your meals on a bench in the midst of a plateia. Listed here are a few of our favourite low-cost eats in Athens.
3. Look for easy souvenirs
As a substitute of shopping for cheaply made “souvenirs” that nobody again house truly desires, purchase a postcard with an impressive picture of the a part of Greece you’re visiting and mail it again house to your family members. They’ll be delighted to obtain one thing by the publish that’s not a invoice. Or, in case your baggage has loads of room earlier than it reaches its weight restrict, purchase some domestically made glyko tou koutaliou (“candy of the spoon”) to take house. A style of Greece or a glimpse of its magnificence will value you lower than the mass-produced souvenirs and is a more sensible choice ecologically, plus your meals purchases will help the native financial system.
You may nonetheless get nice views of the Parthenon with out operating into crowds. Picture: Francesca Noemi Marconi
4. See the Parthenon, however with out the crowds
See the Parthenon from a rooftop café in Thiseio. If you happen to occur to be visiting Greece in the course of the peak season, you’ll be jostled within the crowds of individuals trying to take the proper selfie in entrance of the Parthenon. Skip that have and marvel on the jaw-dropping architectural and historic construction from outdoors its official perimeter. (Observe: It’s not that entrance to the Parthenon is pricey, it’s simply that visiting up shut will not be as enchanting as basking within the Parthenon’s shadow from barely farther afield.)
5. Go to lesser-known islands over Santorini or Mykonos
Santorini and Mykonos are certainly magical components of Greece. However making an attempt to keep away from vacationer traps on these islands is like making an attempt to keep away from humidity in Florida. Skip these two sizzling spots and as a substitute go to a lesser-known island and/or mountain village on the mainland. Practically each sq. inch of Greece is splendid — don’t succumb to the pull of Instagram-worthy images of whitewashed properties with blue trim. There may be a lot extra to see and expertise!
6. Keep off the tour buses
Depart the tour buses, a number of the most typical vacationer traps in Greece and lots of different locations, for different vacationers. A lot of them embody a cease at a “memento store” in the midst of nowhere, holding you hostage for as much as an hour, throughout which period you’ll little doubt throw cash away on one thing you don’t want that seemingly isn’t even made in Greece.
Pay up for a seaside chair — or lay a towel down totally free. Picture: Nick Karvounis
7. BYOT(owel)
Don’t sit on a chaise longue on the seaside until you are ready to pay for the privilege. These days, that privilege can value you upward of 25 euros in some locations. As a substitute, take your seaside towel (or sarong that doubles as one) and plop your self down on the sand to take pleasure in your time on the seaside totally free.
8. Don’t pay for Wi-Fi
Overlook about paying for Wi-Fi at your lodge. There may be free Wi-Fi in lots of plateias and different public areas, in addition to in museums and libraries. A lot of our favourite motels in Athens even provide Wi-Fi totally free.
9. Skip the seaside eats
Eat earlier than or after you head to the seaside. One of many greatest vacationer traps in Greece? Meals costs on the seashores. Meals ordered on the seaside will run you 20-30% greater than the identical delectable meals ready with love at a close-by taverna.
10. Ditch the chain lodge rooftop views
Don’t purchase into the highly regarded expat concept that you will need to have a drink on the Hilton lodge’s rooftop bar in Athens for the view. Athens is a metropolis of hills — you possibly can drink in an intoxicating view of town from any variety of locations.
One in all our favorites is free to go to: Lykavittos. If you’re too sizzling or drained to stroll up the hill, you possibly can take the funicular for 7 euros a technique or 10 euros round-trip. However in case you’ve acquired vitality, stroll up and save that cash for a ticket to the Benaki Museum or the Acropolis Museum, two of the very best curated and arranged museums in Athens.
Avoiding vacationer traps in Greece
What are your favourite hidden gems of Greece? Tell us within the feedback under!