How to Avoid Ruining Your Greek Vacation: 5 Common Tourist Mistakes

Many Israelis fly and sail to Greece for vacations due to the proximity, relatively affordable prices, the sea, and the food. However, poor planning can quickly lead to disappointment. Travel writer Chantal Kinsey shared her personal experience from a visit that ended in frustration and compiled five major mistakes that are highly recommended to avoid in order to ensure an authentic, enjoyable, and comfortable Greek experience.

Cruise instead of staying on the islands

The first and most common mistake is choosing to arrive at the islands via a cruise ship instead of booking local accommodation. Arriving at popular islands like Santorini or Mykonos on a cruise ship creates heavy congestion, as thousands of passengers disembark at the same time. The infrastructure on small islands is not equipped to handle such a volume of tourists, and the ascent from the port to the villages by cable car, on foot, or on donkeys can take long hours. This wastes precious time out of only a few hours dedicated to the visit, so staying in hotels or vacation apartments on the islands themselves provides a much calmer experience.

Focusing only on the most touristy islands

Another major error lies in focusing solely on the most visited destinations. Sticking to Santorini and Mykonos and staying for only one day in each leads to a rushed and superficial experience. Greece is not a destination meant to be checked off a list, but a country whose atmosphere should be absorbed slowly. It is recommended to skip the crowded spots and incorporate smaller, quieter, and more authentic islands into the route, such as Hydra, Kimolos, or Ithaca, which offer a relaxed pace and an unmediated encounter with local culture.

Athens without an organized plan

Even arriving in the capital city of Athens without an organized plan of action can lead to significant time waste. Athens is a wonderful historical city that is fun to walk around in, but wandering randomly can end in getting lost or walking through less recommended areas. To use your time properly, it is recommended to plan the tour route in advance, book accommodation in the picturesque Plaka neighborhood located within walking distance of the Acropolis, and book tables at popular restaurants in advance.

The exhausting pursuit of the "viral photo"

Furthermore, the exhausting pursuit of viral photos for social media sometimes takes too high a price. The famous queue for a photo in front of the blue-domed churches in Santorini, for example, requires walking through crowded alleys and standing for over an hour in a dense line for a few seconds of photography. It is recommended to skip the crowded spots and explore the less known sides of the island, where one can find quiet beaches with black or red sand and picturesque churches with no queues at all.

It is hot in Greece — prepare for the heat

Finally, many travelers tend to underestimate the intensity of physical effort and the local weather. The heat in Greece can be very heavy even in the autumn months, and long walks on stone-paved streets and steep inclines require appropriate preparation. Attempting to maintain a fashionable look in uncomfortable clothes or elegant shoes can turn the daily schedule into a physical nightmare. Proper preparation includes packing comfortable walking shoes, equipping oneself with sun protection, and planning the schedule according to the hours of heavy heat.