
XpatAthens
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 here, you’ll know exactly what we mean. If not, 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 for takeaway; it’s for sitting with. 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, the 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.
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
www.aegeanball.gr | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok
Taxisnet – Greece’s Online Tax System
- Submit annual income tax returns.
- Register leases, purchases, or changes in property ownership.
- View archived property documents, filings, and contracts.
- Access and download tax clearance certificates (often needed for loans, property sales, or official applications).
The AFM is your personal tax ID in Greece. You can get one by visiting the local tax office (DOY), or by assigning a tax representative to do it for you, especially helpful if you don’t speak Greek or are still abroad.
Once you have your AFM, the tax office will issue your TaxisNet credentials, a unique username and password. These are essential for accessing the online portal.
Head to TaxisNet and log in using the credentials provided. From there, you can manage your tax filings, update your records, and access key documents related to your residency and financial affairs in Greece.
Your Guide To AMKA In Greece
- Access public healthcare
- Pay social insurance contributions
- Receive pension benefits
- Book medical appointments
- Renew or issue your health booklet
- Medical care: Required for booking hospital or GP visits.
- Employees: Employers use your AMKA to register you for social insurance.
- Pensioners: It’s necessary for pension applications.
- Self-Employed & Freelancers: You need AMKA to contribute to EFKA, the main national insurance fund.
- A valid AFM (Greek tax number):
- Proof of address in Greece (e.g. rental agreement, E9 document, or hospitality declaration)
You can apply without a residence permit or additional legal documents.
- Any KEP (Citizens Service Center)
- A KEM (Center for Migrant Integration)
- An EFKA/IKA office
- Passport or national ID
- Residence permit (for non-EU nationals)
- Birth certificate (for minors, translated into Greek)
- AFM number
- Proof of Greek address
EFKA: Greece’s Public Health & Social Security System
What is EFKA?
- Doctor visits and hospital care
- Dental care, including:
- Preventive treatments
- Orthodontics for children under 13
- Denture replacements (every 5 years)
- Rehabilitation and physiotherapy
- Prescription medications (typically with a 10–25% contribution; free in some cases)
- Medical transport in emergencies (via EKAB)
- Support items, such as eyeglasses, prosthetics, and hearing aids (25% contribution or free in certain cases)
- Self-employed/freelancers: Choose from six insurance categories annually, starting from around €136/month
- Employees (private sector): 14.12% of gross salary
- Employees (public sector): 15.33%
- Employers (private sector): 22.54% of gross salary
- Employers (public sector): 24.33%
ENFIA: Greece’s Real Estate Property Tax
Who Pays ENFIA?
- Full or bare ownership
- Usufruct and occupancy rights
- Surface rights
- Exclusive use of parking spaces, storage areas, and swimming pools
- Location
- Area and use
- Age of the property
- Floor level and number of façades
> Supplementary Tax (Legal Entities Only): 0.55% of property value; reduced to 0.1% if the property is used for business activity.
ENFIA applies to all real estate acquired in Greece.
Log into the AADE platform and file the E9 form to declare your property’s details, including:
- Address and size
- Use and age
- Floor level and special features
The AADE system processes your E9 and generates your ENFIA assessment.
You’ll be notified via the AADE platform (and optionally by email). Pay:
- In full by the end of the next month after issuance, or
- In up to 10 monthly installments (minimum €10 each), with the final payment due in February.
Maria - Yoga Instructor & Wellness Advocate
You can find me here: www.somadhiyogalab.gr
My Certifications
* 300-hour foundational yoga teacher training with Swami Nirvikalpa (Olga Alexiou) and Mahatman (Michalis Evaggelidis), including an introduction to meditation techniques and retreat organization. During this time, I also had the opportunity to study at the Bihar School of Yoga in India.
* 300 hours of advanced training with Mahatman, focusing on restorative yoga, the healing aspects of yoga and Ayurveda, and clinical yoga. I also completed my teaching practicum with him, both as a teacher of students and as a trainer of future teachers (Train the Trainer).
* 90-hour Prenatal Yoga training with Gaia Laskou
* Thai Yoga Massage at Sunshine House (with Krisnatakis & Alexandros Petridis)
* 90-hour Budokon Yoga at the Budokon University of Mixed Movement Arts
* Nada Yoga – the yoga of sound
* Anatomy and yoga class sequencing
* Raja Yoga – the yoga of the mind, including meditative practices
* The phases of womanhood: Conversations with the Womb
* Train the Trainer (instructional design and teaching methods)
* Yoga for Children
* Personal coaching and career counseling at the Vocational Training Center of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
* Facilitator Training with Kommunikationslotsen
* Ongoing studies in Somatic Experiencing (Peter Levine's method)
* Trauma-Informed Yoga with Hala Khouri
* Bach Remedies and Mental Health with Gaia Dimitriou
For more information visit: www.somadhiyogalab.gr
Hiking & Yoga Escape In Pelio
Uncover the hidden treasures of Pelion—secluded coastlines, charming villages, forested mountains, and secret beaches where the sea feels like a dream. Disconnect completely and soak in the serenity of this enchanting destination.
Your home for the retreat is a beautiful villa tucked into the green slopes of the mountain, embraced by nature. Wake up to sweeping views, savor wholesome, locally sourced meals prepared fresh each day, and recharge your mind and body in a setting alive with vibrant plant and animal life.
When: September 7-13, 2025
Where: Pelion
Price: From 2,550€
Email: steph@nefelinine.com
Organizer's Retreat Page: https://www.nefelinine.com/pelion

A Greek Beach Named Among Top 25 Beaches In Europe For 2025
In the latest ranking of Europe’s most beloved seaside escapes, Simos Beach on the Greek island of Elafonisos has claimed its place among the Top 25 Best Beaches in Europe for 2025, and for good reason.
Praised for its dazzling turquoise waters, golden sand dunes, and natural tranquility, Simos Beach stands proudly at number 8 on the list, according to a new report released by Holidu, the holiday rental platform. Based on thousands of Google Maps reviews, this Greek gem earned an impressive 4.8-star rating from over 4,500 beachgoers, solidifying its spot as one of Europe’s most awe-inspiring coastal destinations.
Where the Aegean Sea Unfolds in Technicolor
What makes Simos truly unique is its twin beaches, Megalos Simos and Mikros Simos, divided by a narrow stretch of sand and hugged by softly rolling dunes. The sea here sparkles in surreal shades of green and blue, so clear and calm it almost feels like a natural infinity pool.
Located off the coast of Laconia, in the Attica region, the beach is accessible via a short ferry ride to Elafonisos, a small island that remains largely untouched by mass tourism. This isolation is part of Simos’s charm; it’s a place for sun-soaked solitude, snorkeling in crystalline coves, and evenings watching the horizon melt into the sea.
An Escape Worth the Journey
While some of Europe’s best-known beaches come packed with bars and crowds, Simos offers a peaceful alternative. Visitors come for the sheer beauty and stay for the sense of freedom and space. Behind the beach, fragrant juniper and cedar forests stretch inland, while soft, white sand invites barefoot walks that can last for hours.
Camping is popular there too, for those who want to wake up with the sunrise over the Aegean just steps away from their tent. It’s a rare chance to disconnect and let nature take the lead.
A Greek Highlight Among European Giants
To be listed among iconic coastlines from Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the UK is no small feat. Simos Beach shares the 2025 Top 10 with destinations like Spiaggia dei Conigli in Italy and Barafundle Bay in the UK. Yet Simos brings something truly different: a raw, uncommercialized coastal beauty that feels like discovering a secret.