Anthony Bourdain, from the hit TV show 'Parts Unknown,' travelled to Naxos with his camera crew in tow, and featured the Greek island on a recent episode. Bourdain explored Naxos with a chef's eye and featured the best traditional food on a Greek island. He ate all kinds of fish, drinks raki and ouzo, and discusses politics with the locals.

The episode features many traditions and cultures that are special to Greece and unique to Naxos. Bourdain had a great time meeting new friends and tasting Naxos’ specialities. As he says, ‘there’s a lot of delicious food. The place is, as one would expect, gorgeous.'

Source: CNN Travel

 

 

 

 

Our very own XpatAthens blogger Costa Tzavaras shared with La Carte Travel Magazine what makes a perfect day in Athens! Complete with museums, lots of eating, drinking, and shopping, he tells us about the city's most unique spots to check out. Here are a few of his stellar recommendations.

‘In Athens, coffee is our most important meal of the day so we’re starting out at Yasemi. It’s a sweet little café on the edge of Anafiotika, a tiny island-like oasis in the historic Plaka district. Hot coffee is a no-no during Greek summer — unless you want TOURIST stamped on your forehead — so order your brew iced. Sip your godly nectar on the café’s pillow-lined steps and listen to the cacophony of Greek voices discuss what they got up to last night.’

‘With its contemporary design, modern Greek menu and delightful sidewalk tables facing the ancient Agora, Moma restaurant is a jewel in the Athenian crown. Vibe to the cool music and people-watch the even cooler patrons while you nosh on perfectly grilled salmon and mushrooms or traditional cheese pie. A must-see in this restaurant: the bathroom, with its glass floor sitting atop ancient ruins — a reminder that you’re dining in one of the oldest cities on Earth.’

‘Athens is hot so let’s cool down with a glass of wine or a cold beer. Follow me through an alley you’d avoid in most cities and down a questionable flight of stairs into Six Dogs, a magical Athenian playground. Dip your feet in the warm sand or swing under massive, ancient trees while you sip your drink and watch the young and beautiful play. Sway to the beat of the live musicians and know in your heart that this is exactly how life should be.’

But wait! There’s more…
‘One day is not enough to explore this ancient city! Sneak in a few extra hours and hop a cab to Akanthus beach bar on the Athenian Riviera. In Athens we say the sea is never far from your thoughts …’

To read about this perfect day in full, please visit: La Carte
By Tonisha Robinson

Greece has made it to a top-spot for some of the most unbelievable places to visit in the world! A travel blog, Check In Story, has listed the island of Santorini as a must-see in your lifetime. Unbelievable, bizarre, surreal, dreamlike, out of this world… These are just a few phrases you can’t help using to describe the places featured here.

Along with Salar De Uyuni in Bolivia, the Tianzi Mountains in China, and Deadvlei in Namibia, Santorini, Greece is a place so spectacular, one must travel there at some point in their lifetime to get a glimpse of its' unique beatuy.  Who would have thought that an island devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century would become such a beautiful and popular place?

To read this article in full, please visit: Medium

Celebrated around the world in over 145 countries and with more than 35,000 events, International Museum Day will take place in Greece on 18 May through 22 May.

 

With the purpose of raising awareness of the importance of culture, this year’s theme is ‘Museums and Cultural Landscapes.’ In celebration of IMD, many museums and ancient sites in Greece will open their doors to the public on Wednesday May 18th for free!

Museums are vital for understanding the exchange of culture and they allow for a mutual respect and understanding of different cultures around the world. What better way to learn more about Greek culture and experience the city than through exciting events happening throughout Athens for IMD.

Source: ICOM

There is no better time than Spring to make a traditional Greek Bulgur salad as a tasty and light meal. Kiki Vagianos, from The Greek Vegan, shares a favorite vegan dish that uses the traditional Greek bulgur and is similar to tabouli. This bulgur salad is loaded with nutrients, filled with fresh vegetables and herbs and dressed simply with lemon juice and olive oil.

Kiki says bulgur salad is one of her favorite quick lunches. With a pita pocket stuffed with hummus and a few big spoonfuls of bulgur salad – you’ll never feel that 3pm slump with this for lunch, she promises you!

Athens has never been short of excellent nightlife options and this continues to be true throughout the city. Lucky for us, recent trends have brought incredibly designed interiors and even more specialized bartenders inspired by local Mediterranean flavors.

Here are a few bars that you may or may not know that are serving up some of the most interesting and delicious cocktails in Athens!


Drunk Sinatra


@drunksinatra_

Located near Syntagma Square, this fun and lively, yet cozy bar, with its alluring vintage style, is a great after-work meeting place if you want to enjoy a drink all while swinging to jazz and bossa nova rhythms. The drink menu features imaginative cocktails based on homemade ingredients. Don’t leave without trying the ‘Drunk Sinatra’, the bar’s signature cocktail!

Location: Thiseos 16, Athina
Telephone: 210 331 3733

Location: Katsoulieri 7, Halandri.
Telephone: 2106800390

MoMix Bar


@athenshotspots

The first Molecular Mixology Bar in Athens, MoMix is definitely one of the most creative bars in the city. The bar’s imaginative team plays around with foams, jellies, and powders to create some of the most original (and tasty!) cocktails in all possible forms!

Location: Voutadon 36, Athina
Telephone: 697 435 0179


The Clumsies


 @missmess.lazypippi

At The Clumsies, they tease Einstein and have come up with a list of drinks where "clumsy" restates the theory of relativity. Awarded first place in the Athinorama Bar Awards 2016 and ranked 6th in the list of the 50 best bars in the world, The Clumsies continues to grow at the speed of light serving specialty drinks like Clumsie Negroni, Above & Beyond Punch, and many more. 

Location: Praxitelous 30, Athina
Telephone: 210 323 2682

Tiki Bar


@tikibarathens

Located close to the Acropolis Museum, Tiki Bar is a charming bar that not only serves delicious cocktails sprinkled with exotic vibes but also mouthwatering food inspired by different cuisines. It’s the place to go if you want to relish refreshing cocktails prepared with seasonal fruits and imaginative Polynesian recipes!

Location: Falirou 15, Athina
Telephone: 21 0923 6908

Planning your summer getaway to the Greek islands? Thanks to a new pass offered by Attica ferries and the affordable train service, the Interrail Greek Islands Pass allows guests to hop on and off ferries and discover 4 from a selection of 27 Greek islands across the Aegean sea. Those who want to add on more destinations have the option of doing so with a 30 percent discount.

The travel pass, which was launched in 2015, aimed to entice visitors to island hop using the Superfast Ferries. Included in the 27 different islands to choose from are Anafi, Amorgos, Astypalaia, Chios, Crete, Donoussa, Ios, Iraklia, Kalymnos, Kastellorizo, Kos, Koufonissi, Leros, Lesvos (Mytilene), Lipsi, Mykonos, Naxos, Nisyros, Patmos, Paros, Rhodes, Santorini, Schinoussa, Symi, Syros, Tilos and Tinos.

Holders of the pass are also offered a choice of 2 international ferry trips between 3 ports in Italy: Ancona, Bari, or Venice and 3 ports in Greece: Corfu, Patras and Igoumenitsa.

The pass costs just 240€ for first class travel, and 172€ for second class for adults over 25 years, with prices slashed for those who are under 25 years of age to 210€ for first class and 156€ for second class, whereas children under 11 years of age travel for free.

This pass is for EU travellers only and there are some restrictions: http://www.interrail.eu/help/ordering-pass/do-i-need-interrail-or-eurail-pass. For more information about travel in Greece visit: http://www.interrail.eu/destinations/greece.

 

Source: Greek Reporter

With so many Greek islands to choose from, it's hard to know which one would be the best for you. Conde-Nast Traveler recruited a frequent islander-goer, Rachel Howard, to give us some of her favourites! Here are just a few.

Best Greek island for: a long weekend with the art crowd

Less than two hours from Athens, Hydra fills up with chic Greeks on the weekends. Wily cats and weary donkeys patrol the back alleys, but all the action happens along the waterfront.

Car-free and protected by a preservation order, Hydra has always been an artists' muse. Leonard Cohen, Brice Marden and Juergen Teller have homes here.

Best Greek island for: cosmopolitan cachet and lush landscapes

Corfu is the It Girl of the Ionian. The cosmopolitan capital is a charming clash of Venetian, British, and French colonial influences. With its pastel villages, rolling olive groves and grand manor houses, the rest of the island recalls Tuscany - but with far better beaches.

Best Greek island for: Decadent parties and five-star hotels

Mykonos has seduced glamorous hedonists since the 1960s. It had gay clubs and sunrise parties before rave culture was even invented. Its bohemian allure has never faded, although nudist beaches now have nail bars, personal trainers and house music pumping out all hours. The influx of supermodels and superyachts has inspired ever more decadent resorts and restaurants.

Best Greek island for: Castaway coves and a picture-perfect port

Little Symi has the prettiest port in Greece. As you round the headland, neoclassical mansions in every shade of apricot and peach rise like a mirage from the sea. Built by 19th-century sponge and spice merchants, the whole town is now a national monument.

With its laid-back glamour, luminous sea and almost tropical microclimate, Symi is a hit with French and Italian yachties. You will see them eating shrimp at a local taverna by the harbour, while in the rugged hinterland, more than 100 monasteries are hidden among the pine and cypress forests.

Best Greek island for: Antiquities, active adventures, and sunshine all year round

Greece's largest island, Crete has ancient ruins, snow-capped peaks and beaches galore. Sunshine is pretty much guaranteed year round, but spring is especially lovely for rambling and sightseeing.

Time slows almost to a standstill in the mountain villages, where locals with formidable whiskers welcome you with shots of raki (Cretan grappa) for breakfast and celebrate saints' days with a volley of gunshots.

To read more of Rachel's top picks for best Greek islands, please visit: Conde Nast Traveller 

Sifnos, among other Greek islands, have started the initiative to decrease the usage of plastic bags by charging 10 cents per bag. The initiative, which began on Sifnos island and named the ‘Do it Like a Sifnian’ act, hopes to encourage people to use reusable material pouches or bags instead of plastic.

Sifnos Island Cooperative (SIC) started awareness-raising programs back in 2015 by visiting local schools and distributing multi-purpose bags. The project quickly gained traction and is now winning over the trade industry among others. Even the island’s Association of Professionals and Traders and the municipality have joined in the effort by raising awareness at school educational events and hosting community gatherings.

In addition to the effort Sifnos is making in the reduction of using plastic bags, they are also exploring ways to make the island self-sufficient in energy by using renewable resources like the wind and sea water.

Source: Greek Travel Pages

Travel blogger, author, and Athens local, Marissa Tejada, shares her favorite spots and tips for the best panoramic views of Athens!

1. Acropolis
The eternal landmark of this ancient city owns some of the most spectacular views around. Built on a hill, with nothing higher around it, you get an amazing panorama of the Greek capitol. A short hike is the only way to get you up to the top of this unique, majestic wonder of the world.

 

Walking Tip: Check out Mars Hill/Aeropagus. Great views on this rock next to the Acropolis where St. Paul once preached. Talk about standing on history!

Take a leisurely walk through the paths of the hill to reach its full height of 147 meters. From that vantage point, a full view of the Acropolis awaits. Look to the south, and for a view of the Aegean Sea. The park around the hill is lovely.

Walking Tip: It is a public park, so there isn’t an admission fee to walk around. There are various entrances to the hill. You can walk right into the hill at the end of Dionysioiu Areopagito pedestrian way.

Located in in the neighborhood of Exarcheia, the view at the top is of both the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill. This choice of best view is because it is not a real touristy spot. Here, you can take in a pretty view and be among where locals trek.

Walking Tip: Closest metro is Omonia. One way to get there is to walk up Emannuel Benaki street all the way until you see the hill and follow a path up.

To read Marissa's article in full, please visit: My Greece My Travels