LIFE & CULTURE
XpatAthens
The Best Greek Island Villages We Can’t Get Enough Of
Chora – Amorgos
@annakarin6.0
Mystical and minimal, Chora of Amorgos is a Cycladic masterpiece. Tucked inland and surrounded by windmills and rugged peaks, it feels like a walk back in time. Quiet streets, hidden tavernas, and a strong local character give it depth and allure.
Why it stands out: It's untouched, has zero glitz, and is full of hidden Byzantine chapels, stone archways, and incredible authenticity.
Olympos – Karpathos
@diokaminaris
This village on the island of Karpathos is unlike anywhere else in Greece. Perched high on the mountains, Olympos feels like an open-air folklore museum, where women still wear traditional dress and the dialect is ancient.
This is where time stands still, and every stone street seems carved from history and myth. Remote, wild, and soul-stirring.
Chora - Astypalaia
This butterfly-shaped island belongs to the Dodecanese, but its Chora is pure Cycladic fairytale: white houses cascading below a Venetian castle, blue domes popping out above rooftops, and windmills watching over the main square.
Top vibe: Romantic, peaceful, and unbelievably photogenic. The view of the Kastro (castle) at night is hauntingly beautiful.
Ano Syros – Syros
@i.tsimi
While Ermoupoli is the grand neoclassical capital of the Cyclades, Ano Syros is its medieval crown. Winding uphill streets lead you past Catholic monasteries, domed churches, and arched doorways.
Bonus points: It's the birthplace of Markos Vamvakaris, father of rebetiko music, and the view over Ermoupoli’s harbor is dreamy.
Chora - Serifos 
@elena_dim_
Built amphitheatrically up a rocky hill, Chora of Serifos offers dramatic views and classic island architecture. It’s quiet, rugged, and ideal for slow travelers. Once you hike up through its wind-swept alleys, you’ll be rewarded with some of the most panoramic sunset views in the Aegean.
Vibe: A little wild, a little romantic, and totally unforgettable.
Apeiranthos – Naxos
@kidsareatrip
While Naxos’ main Chora is also stunning, Apeiranthos is a marble village that feels like a Cycladic secret. Tower houses, Venetian architecture, and artisan shops nestled in stone-paved alleys offer a refreshing alternative to the classic white-and-blue palette.
Pro tip: Stay for lunch in one of the traditional kafeneia, it’s like eating inside a time capsule.
Chora – Kythira
@Teog79
Technically closer to the Peloponnese than the Aegean, Kythira’s Chora blends Ionian elegance with Cycladic charm. Topped by a Venetian castle, it overlooks the sea and the island’s wild cliffs, dotted with Byzantine chapels and hidden coves.
Best for: Romantics, road-trippers, and fans of moody beauty.
Hiking & Yoga Retreat in Crete
Retreat Info
When: November 2-8, 2025
Where: Crete
Price: 2,950€
Email: steph@nefelinine.com
Contact Number: 697 4184 632
Organizer: Nefeli Nine
Organizer's Website: https://www.nefelinine.com/crete-retreat
Zagorochoria Trekking Adventure
Embark on a journey through some of the most breathtaking and lesser-known landscapes of Northern Greece — a land where ancient history, vibrant culture, and awe-inspiring mountain scenery meet.
Designed for lovers of hiking and the great outdoors, this unique experience takes you deep into the heart of Vikos Aoos National Park. From seasoned hikers to curious nature enthusiasts, the trails here offer an unforgettable immersion into Greece’s wild beauty and rich heritage.
Walk along timeworn stone paths, cross the iconic bridges of Zagorochoria, ascend the storied Vradeto Steps, venture into the dramatic depths of Vikos Gorge — the world’s deepest canyon — and hike to the mythical Dragon Lake, nestled high in the Pindus mountains.
This is your chance to explore the untouched side of Greece — far from the crowds — through verdant valleys, historic trails, and awe-inspiring natural wonders.
Retreat Info
When: October 12-18, 2025
Where: Zagorochoria
Price: 2,050€
Email: steph@nefelinine.com
Contact Number: 697 4184 632
Organizer's Link: Nefeli Nine
Signature Retreat Dikastika
Forget crash diets, relentless crunches, or uninspiring workouts. This retreat is about balance — a holistic approach to wellness that blends movement, meaningful travel, discovery, and nourishing food.
You’ll explore some of Greece’s most breathtaking trails, suitable for all fitness levels and ages. You’ll savor abundant, organic meals inspired by slow living and the longevity principles of the Blue Zones. And each day, you’ll enjoy two beautifully tailored yoga sessions — designed specifically for you, your body, and your energy.
Retreat Info
When: October 5-11 & 19-25, 2025
Where: Dikastika
Price: From 2,035€
Email: steph@nefelinine.com
Contact Number: 697 4184 632
Organizer: Nefeli Nine
Hiking & Yoga Escape In Pelion
September 7-13 - Leave behind the noise and pace of city life and embark on a truly memorable escape in the breathtaking Pelion region of Greece.
Retreat Info
When: September 7-13, 2025
Where: Pelion
Price: From 2,550€
Email: steph@nefelinine.com
Organizer: Nefeli Nine
Somadhi yoga lab
At Somadhi, we offer more than just yoga—we offer space. Space to breathe, to move, to observe, to feel.
Our classes are thoughtfully designed to meet you exactly where you are—sometimes more physically or mentally challenging, sometimes gentle and restorative—always aligned with your personal needs and rhythm.
With intentionally small class sizes, each session becomes a personal journey. We focus on helping you reconnect with your breath, your body, and the present moment.
Beyond yoga, meditation and pranayama, our Bach Flower Remedies and Somatic Experiencing sessions provide deep emotional and mental relief. These gentle yet powerful tools help release internal patterns that keep us stuck in repetitive cycles, opening the door to greater freedom, resilience, and presence.
Contact Info
Address: Antoni Tritsi 76, Halandri
Website: www.somadhiyogalab.gr
Instagram: @somadhi_yoga_lab
Facebook: Somadhi yoga lab
Yoga Meditation & Mindfulness Retreat - Crete
This immersive retreat is an invitation to reset your mind and body through the healing powers of daily yoga, meditation, and conscious living. You’ll enjoy gentle, grounding yoga practices each morning and evening, breathwork, mindful walking, and moments of self-reflection to foster clarity and calm. Each day is nourished with wholesome, plant-based meals prepared from seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
Let the serenity of Crete’s natural surroundings - from olive groves to turquoise beaches - hold you, while meaningful connections unfold in a safe, intimate group setting. Accommodation is nestled in nature, offering simple yet cozy shared or private rooms designed to support rest and restoration.
This retreat is ideal for anyone seeking to pause, breathe, and realign with themselves - whether you're a beginner or an experienced yoga or meditation practitioner. It’s for those craving calm, clarity, and mindful restoration, and for lovers of nature, simplicity, and soulful connection.
When: September 13-20, 2025
Where: Kissamos, Crete
Price: £975 based on 2 sharing – ensuite – Sea view | £1295 Single occupancy – ensuite – Sea view
Email: info@meditation-is-my-medication.com
Contact Number: +44 7956316497
Organizer's Retreat Page: Meditation is my Medication
Return to Flow – Yoga Retreat in Hydra
When: October 14-18, 2025
Where: Hydra
Email: theresa@theresamoodie.com
Organizer's Retreat Page: Theresa Moodie
5 Reasons We Keep Falling In Love With Greece In The Summer
There’s just something about summer in Greece. It’s not just the weather or the sea, it’s a whole mindset. Things slow down, the days feel fuller (but somehow more relaxed), and life shifts outdoors. If you’ve spent even one summer in Greece, you’ll know exactly what we mean. For us, here’s what makes it so special:
1. Slow living
Summer in Greece feels like permission to pause. The pace changes; less rushing, more doing things just because. Coffee isn’t taken 'on the go', it’s always taken sitting down and typically in conversation with others. Plans are loose, and the best days often come together at the last minute. It’s a reminder that not everything needs to be scheduled for sometimes; life's best moments are unplanned.
2. Late nights & lazy mornings
Everything runs a little later in the summer — dinner at 10, walks at midnight, conversations that last into the early hours. And the mornings? They’re slow and gentle. You wake up to light pouring in, the sound of cicadas, maybe a frappe on the balcony. No urgency, just ease.
3. Outdoor everything
When the weather’s this good, life moves outside. Dinner tables spill onto sidewalks. You catch a film at an open-air cinema or stumble upon a neighborhood panigiri. Even the simplest things — a drink on the balcony, a walk by the sea — feel like mini celebrations of summer.
4. The sea, the sun, the reset
There’s nothing quite like the Greek sea. Whether it’s a hidden cove or a buzzing beach, something about diving into that blue washes everything else away. The sun, the salt, the sound of the waves; it just clears your head in ways you didn’t know you needed.
5. Fruits & veggies that actually taste like something
Summer is peak season for Greece’s local produce. Tomatoes that smell like the sun, peaches so juicy they drip down your chin, sweet watermelon by the kilo. It’s all grown nearby, sold at the weekly laikí (farmer’s market), and picked at just the right time.
Our wish to you this summer in Greece > Savor the bliss of feeling the moment & enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
Stoiximan AegeanBall Festival Sets Record With 168 Teams & 340 Games In Syros
With continuous flow of games on 4 open courts, Stoiximan AegeanBall Festival set a new participation record, with 590 male and female athletes and 168 teams (70 adult and 98 youth teams, as well as many women’s teams) taking part — numbers that surpass every previous similar event in Greece. Within 3 days, 340 games were held across different categories, offering non-stop action and strong emotions for all ages. Each day, more than 2,500 spectators filled the square, while professional and amateur athletes — aged from 9 to 58 — gave their best, filling Syros with basketball energy. The participants came from Greece, Europe, and America, confirming the international character of the festival.
The importance of the event as a basketball institution was underlined by the presence of Greek Deputy Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Mr. Giannis Vroutsis, in Syros, reinforcing the significance of Stoiximan AegeanBall Festival both for sports and the local community. In the context of strengthening collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, the festival proceeded with the renaming of the U11 children’s category to U11 Dimitrios Vikelas, paying tribute to the Syros-born author Dimitrios Vikelas, who played a pivotal role in the revival of the Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.
With this initiative, under the auspices and support of the National Organizing Committee for Athletic, Olympic, and Paralympic Education, History & Values, the aim was to highlight the timeless values of sport and bring children closer to the values of sports and education through inspiring role models.
On Saturday, at the Adidas 3 Point Contest, the winner was Pinelopi Pavlopoulou, while in the L’Oréal Paris Men Expert Shoot All Around, Eleanna Christinaki stood out. Dionysia Alexandri won the KOIS Long Shoot, while the SEIKO Hangman was conquered by Nikos Plotas, and in the Blue Star Ferries Free Throw, Nelly Bibiri distinguished herself.
Vangelis Mantzaris impressed and won the Stoiximan Shooting Star, while in the Intersport Knock Out, the winner was Dimitris Mavroeidis, who also claimed the Stoiximan Shooting Star on Sunday. Sunday’s contests continued with the COSMOTE TELEKOM Skill Challenge, which was won by the event’s visionary, Georgios Printezis. In the Trident Looong Shoot, Theodoros Papaloukas made the decisive shot that gave him the win. Ismini Prapa emerged victorious in the Seneca 3 Point Contest, while Giannoulis Larentzakis stood out in the Nespresso Shoot All Around, and the Snappi Hangman was won by Giorgos Fillios. Among other things, what truly sets the event apart is that many players offered the valuable prizes they won to the crowd, further enhancing the purpose of the event and reinforcing the message of giving and generosity.
Strategic Media Sponsors: EUROHOOPS, SPORT24
The event was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, the Cyclades Basketball Clubs Union, and the Cyclades Amateur Basketball Referees Association, as well as with the kind support of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO).
#StoiximanAegeanBallFestival #ΓιαΤηΣύρο #WeAreSyros
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