With the summer season quickly approaching, many people are planning their beach holiday, and with over 6,000 islands and islets, Greece is a perfect place to start. Every traveler has specific guidelines to what makes the perfect beach, but with so many to choose from, it may seem like an overwhelming task. Luckily, there's already a list of the most luxurious beaches in Greece, all of which are known for their sand, surf, history, and hidden locations.

The list includes:

Navagio Beach, Zakynthos
Sarakiniko, Milos
Porto Katsiki, Lefkada
Lalaria, Skiathos
Balos Beach and Lagoon, Crete
St Paul’s Bay, Rhodes
Myrtos, Kefalonia
Voidokoilia, Messinia

To read the full descriptions, please visit: Condé Nast Traveler. 

The Navarino Challenge was awarded the Grand Ermis & Ermis Gold at the Event Production at Ermis Awards 2015 held on 31 March 2016 in Athens. This year “Navarino Challenge 2016” onsets in the most brilliant way, greatly boosting the event to offer its leading sports tourism activities!

On the occasion of its recent distinction at Ermis Awards 2015, “Navarino Challenge” press event was held on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at the Gold Class halls of Village Cinemas at The Mall Athens. The event's program included two parallel screenings of last year’s event video – documentary, deriving from the previous year (as it was shown in more than 1.6 million households in Greece and abroad), to reporters and senior executives, as well as greetings by the event’s ambassadors and representatives.

Navarino Challenge returns for a 4th consecutive year in Messinia and Costa Navarino on 9-11 September 2016.

 

Click HERE for this year's event info and registration details.

For more information about Navarino Challenge 2016, please visit: Navarino Challenge.

For the first time, the event presented the recently awards won. In its first participation at Ermis Awards, “Navarino Challenge” won the highest distinction in the annual event that was held in honor of the best advertising and communication companies in Greece, by winning the Grand Ermis award for the entire Event Production category and the Gold Award in the category of the sports events!

The Greek journalists Christina Vrachali and Dora Tsampazi presented the event, while after the two screenings, greetings were held from Marina Papatsoni, Marketing and Business Development Director of TEMES SA; Akis Tsolis, CEO of Active Media Group; Vassilis Vrettakos, President of Pylos Association of Enterprises for Tourism Development, the twice Silver Olympic medalist in Tae Kwon Do; Alexandros Nikolaidis, the Olympic and World Champion in 400m. hurdles, Periklis Iakovakis and pilates instructor, Mandy Persaki.

At the same time, this year's activities and the respective ambassadors were presented. In the activity of running, the Greek-American ultramarathon runner Dean Karnazes will be back for a consecutive year in Greece, while for the first time, the multiple marathon winner Nikos Polias will be the technical director of all running routes. In swimming, the federal swimming coach Nikos Gemelos, has undertaken the technical management of the activity, while with the assistance of the Swim Academy, managed by Nikos Gemelos and the Olympic and World Champion in open water swimming Spyros Gianniotis, the activities of baby swimming & aqua aerobic will be presented for the first time. Moreover, the World Champion in the open water swimming, Kelly Araouzou will swim for one more year in “Navarino Challenge”.

Tae Kwon Do lessons will be held by the twice Silver Olympic medalist Alexandros Nikolaidis, while for the first time the Olympic and World Champion in 400m. hurdles Periklis Iakovakis will support the event, through teaching and training the participating children. Gold Paralympic athlete Grigoris Polychronidis will teach the secrets of boccia (from the city of Rio, as he will be participating at the Paralympic Games) and pilates lessons will be held for another year by the instructor Mandy Persaki. Alexandros Nikolaidis, the kick boxing champion, will provide kick boxing lessons, while the cycling activity will be held with the support of Navarino Outdoors and indoor climbing will be supervised by certified climbing instructor George Malamas. The program will also include other activities such as basketball, SUP, golf which will be held with the support of Navarino Golf Academy; scuba diving will be supported by the Aqua Divers Club and Scuba Hellas, while for the first time a live cooking event will be presented with the assistance of the food blogger Gogo Papadionysiou also known as Mamatsita!

A greeting from Akis Tsolis, CEO of Active Media Group stated, among others things that: “Our distinction in this unique annual event of Ermis Awards that highlights our country’s creativity, is the reward of our hard work and discipline to undertake this significant event. We are equally excited and committed to continue even more dynamically and set up even higher the level of our event, which will also be a result of our sponsors’ and supporters’ confidence shown for all these years”.

Vassilis Vrettakos, the President of Pylos Association of Enterprises for Tourism Development said: “Tourism has its own rising course and vacations that actually offer the experience of new places, which is equally linked to the history of each place and the communication with different cultures and people, provide an exciting gateway. For everyone who decides to travel and any professional who loves what he does, Pylos and Messinia as a destination, is a one-in-a- lifetime experience. Its history, natural beauty, our friendly people and qualitative choices, are all inextricably linked with our philosophy, strongly creating to our visitors, the need to revisit us, while continuing on our end to hold on our promise: “With the guiding principle of mutual trust and goodwill, holidays become unforgettable”.

The twice Silver Olympic medalist in Tae Kwon Do Alexandros Nikolaidis also highlighted: “I am proud to participate in “Navarino Challenge” for the fourth year. Since its initiation, I have observed an event that has grown to become a great event, having attracted more people by the year that wish to learn about sports, the proper diet and good life”.

Finally, pilates instructor Mandy Persaki added: “I wish for 2016, the family of “Navarino Challenge” to grow and for all of us together to try to learn a better way of living through participating in an ultimate fun weekend next to some great people!”.

What was once the Old Hellenic Parliament Building in Athens, it is now the National Historical Museum, home to interesting items and artifacts that are from the period of 1453 to the Second World War. The museum emphasizes the Greek Revolution and Dave found that the museum built upon his knowledge of the Greek War of Independence.

There are hundreds of items on display, ranging from weapons to a collection of traditional Greek costumes. The ship's wooden mastheads  from the revolution era were particularly striking. Perhaps even a little cartoon like!

The Old Parliament Building is certainly worth seeing from the outside, even if you do not have the time to visit the museum. The building is of a neoclassical design, and an impressive bronze statue stands at the front. This is of General Theodoros Kolokotronis, one of the most prominent characters of the Greek War of Independence. Anyone interested in the creation of modern Greece should definitely visit this museum!

Visit on a Sunday. It’s free!

To see more of Dave’s experience at the museum, please visit: Dave’s Travel Pages.

The summer schedule has officially begun for Greece's museums and archaeological sites, which means new hours. Starting April 1, the summer hours will be from 8:00 to 20:00. 

In addition to the new hours, the Greek Ministry of Culture has announced a series of ticket price hikes for sites and museums including the Athens Acropolis, where general admission has now risen to 20 euros (from 12 euros), the Knossos archaeological site on Crete, where entrance now costs 15 euros (from 6 euros), the Sounio archaeological site, with tickets costing 8 euros (previously 4 euros), and the Epidaurus site and museum, which now cost 12 euros to visit (from 6 euros). 

Authorities have also announced that the cloakroom at the Athens Acropolis will not be operating for security reasons for the time being, but visitors can enter the site with a small backpack or handbag.

For more information, please visit: eKathimerini.

This guilt-free dessert is perfect for lent and all the health-conscious chocolate lovers out there. It's easy to make, dairy-free, and full of healthy fats and antioxidants. The avocado and tahini combination may seem questionable, but it adds a unique element that will surely please your taste buds.

Serves: 2

Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 ripe avocado

2 TBS tahini

¼ cup almond milk

1 TBS chia seeds

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 TBS cacao powder

8 drops liquid stevia

Method:

Combine all the ingredients in a blender.

Blend for about 30 seconds until smooth and creamy.

Spoon mousse into a glass jar or cup and chill slightly before eating.

Enjoy for breakfast or dessert.

To read this recipe in full, please visit: Supercharged Food.

According to National Geographic, Greece has the best bookstore in the world and it's in Santorini!

Atlantis, which was founded by a group of friends from Cyprus, England and the United States, is situated along the main street in the picturesque town of Oia overlooking the water. This no. 1 bookstore hosts book readings on the terrace, bookbinding classes, and food and film festivals.

To learn more about this incredible Santorinian bookshop, visit their website HERE.

From the National Geographic's book Destinations of a Lifetime, here are the top ten bookstores in the world:

1. Atlantis Books, Santorini, Greece
2. Cafebrería el Péndulo, Mexico City, Mexico
3. Munro’s Books, Victoria, Canada
4. El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina
5. Powell’s City of Books, Portland, Oregon
6. Prairie Lights, Iowa City, Iowa
7. Shakespeare and Company, Paris, France
8. Gertrude & Alice, Sydney, Australia
9. Librairie Avant-Garde, Nanjing, China
10. Cook & Book, Brussels, Belgium

Source: National Geographic

Worn by the emblematic Greek Evzones, the foustanella has come to be understood as a symbol of valiance, bravery and resistance.

The history of the skirt-like garment has been written by the klephts (the brigands of the mountains), and the armatoloi (irregular soldiers commissioned by the Ottomans to enforce the Sultan’s authority), who later formed the nucleus of the Greek fighting forces during the War of Independence against the Turks. The garment was worn by the Greek soldiers of the 1st Regiment Greek Light Infantry in British service (1810-1812), by the soldiers (mostly from Mani or Roumeli) of the Light Infantry (1837-1838), by the Greek legion in the 1853-1856 Crimean War, by the Mylonas rifle-carrying Evzones (1874-1877), and by the Royal Guard detachment, who, as elements of the regular infantry divisions, fought in the First World War as well as the Asia Minor Campaign and the Greco-Italian War.

From the Greek War of Independence to the war against the Italians and right up to the present, the Evzone uniform has always been a point of reference. It has adapted to geography and weather conditions. “The full-pleated all-white foustanella meets ancient Greek heritage,” Haitoglou says.

As folk dancers and some schoolchildren prepare their foustanellas, scarlet fez caps, and leather tsarouchia shoes ahead of the March 25 Independence Day parades, the elite ceremonial Evzones unit is the subject of a special tribute in Athens.  A total of 40 colored drawings of the Evzone uniform by painter and costume designer Yiannis Mylonas illustrate the historical evolution of what could be described as the quintessential Greek national dress from 1821 to this day, the different variations, and the conditions under which these were designed.

Prepared in cooperation with Thessaloniki’s Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, the exhibition is curated by Vassilis Nikoltsios and Stavroula Mavrogeni. The works belong to the private collection of Alexandros and Lena Haitoglou.

To read this article in full, please visit: eKathimerini.com

The government has decided to extend its vehicle-scrapping initiative until May 20, in which it subsidizes the purchase of new cars so that old vehicles are taken off the road; although the subsidy will be cut by 50 percent from last year.

The measure will be brought to parliament and once signed by Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, it will apply retroactively from January 1. This will bring great relief to the thousands of prospective buyers who have the necessary scrapping documents, but were unable to proceed with their new purchase.

To read more, please visit: eKathimerini

The national May Day Holiday (or Protomagia in Greek) celebrated on May 1st 2016 will be moved to Tuesday May 3rd 2016 due to it coinciding with Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday.

This was a decision authorized and signed by Labour Minister George Katrougalos.

What the law says about working on this day:*
Business operation and employing employees is prohibited, except those who are legal to operate on Sundays and public holidays, such as companies in the health sector, tourism, transportation, food & beverage, factories with continuous hours, etc.

Employees who are paid by a wage, but who will not work on the May Day public holiday are entitled to receive their paid wages without any deduction. For employees paid by wage who will work on May 1, they are entitled to receive their wage with an increase of 75% which will be calculated at the statutory hourly rate for any hours worked.

If you are paid a monthly salary, and the company typically does operate on Sundays and public holidays then you are entitled to receive an increase of 75% calculated at the statutory hourly rate for any hours worked on this day. If you are employed with a company that typically does not work on Sundays and public holidays then you are entitled to receive an increase of 75% calculated at the statutory hourly rate for any hours worked on this day.

Source: Paidorama

* Please note, the information outlined is based on a report that has been translated from Greek and should be confirmed with your employer and local employment offices.

 

Athens has quietly become one of Europe’s most underrated remote-work cities. Between the all-day café culture, strong specialty coffee scene, and neighborhoods built for long lingering conversations, the city is ideal for freelancers, students, writers, and digital nomads.

Unlike many cities where cafés rush you out after one espresso, Athens embraces slow coffee culture. Locals routinely spend hours chatting, reading, or working from cafés, especially in neighborhoods like Pangrati, Exarchia, Psyrri, and Koukaki. Reddit users consistently describe Athens cafés as welcoming to laptop workers, often with free Wi-Fi and no pressure to leave quickly. 

Here are some of the best laptop-friendly cafés across Athens right now.

Best Quiet Café for Deep Focus


@thirdplace.gr

Inspired by the concept of a “third space” between home and office, this café attracts a crowd of digital nomads, students, and freelancers looking for a peaceful environment. 

This is one of the best cafés in central Athens if you:

• Need uninterrupted concentration
• Prefer quieter environments
• Want excellent specialty coffee without loud brunch crowds

The location near Syntagma and Plaka also makes it convenient if you're exploring the center. 

Address: Apollonos 23B, Athens
Telephone: 211 182 4014

Best All-Day Work Café

Papia


@papia.athens

Papia is the kind of place where you arrive for coffee and accidentally stay until evening cocktails.

Located in Pangrati, one of Athens’ coolest residential neighborhoods, Papia combines cozy seating, reliable Wi-Fi, and one of the longest opening hours among laptop-friendly cafés in the city. The atmosphere is quieter than the tourist-heavy center, making it ideal for long workdays. 

Highlights include:

• Comfortable booth seating
• Calm neighborhood vibe
• Great for reading and studying
• Open late compared to most work cafés

Pangrati itself has become a favorite among creatives and remote workers because it feels authentically local while still being central.

Address: Aftomedontos 4, Athina
Telephone: 21 1111 9558

Best Café for Creative Atmosphere

Plegma Coffee & Living


@plegmashop

Part boutique shop, part specialty café, Plegma feels curated without becoming pretentious.

The café is known for its warm interior, natural light, and quieter environment, making it ideal for writers, designers, and anyone who works better in aesthetically pleasing spaces.

It’s especially appealing if you:

• Like calm cafés with good design
• Prefer quieter neighborhoods
• Need a relaxed place for creative work

Address: Efranoros 10, Athina
Telephone: 210 7018219

Best Brunch + Laptop Combo

NuffSaid.Athens


@nuffsaid_athens

If your ideal workday includes excellent brunch and a relaxed atmosphere, NuffSaid is a strong choice.

The café is known for its large communal tables, friendly staff, and solid brunch menu.

Expect:

• Chill atmosphere
• Big tables
• Good coffee
• Plenty of people quietly working

Address: Didotou 31, Athina
Telephone: 697 1728815