Greece Holiday: Discover the Undiscovered

Greece welcomes millions of visitors every year, but the genuine experience - the one that makes you want to come back year after year - is found away from the selfie crowds at Santorini's caldera and the beach club queues of Mykonos. This guide is for those who want to go deeper.

The Challenge of Choosing Greece

The paradox of Greece is that it's too big and too varied to see in one visit, yet the same ten destinations appear in every guidebook and tourist brochure. Most visitors end up at the same Halkidiki beaches, the same Santorini viewpoints and the same Athenian landmarks. There's nothing wrong with that - they're famous for good reason. But Greece has so much more.

Northern Greece - The Underrated Region

Northern Greece (Macedonia and Thrace) offers spectacular landscapes, outstanding food and almost no mass tourism. The city of Thessaloniki has arguably the best street food in Greece. The wetlands of the Axios Delta shelter flamingos and rare birds. The village of Arnea on Halkidiki produces some of the finest honey in Greece. The Axios Delta National Park is extraordinary in spring.

The Peloponnese - Ancient and Authentic

The Peloponnese is Greece's heartland - Sparta, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, the Byzantine ghost city of Mystras - all within a few hours' drive of each other. Yet outside the main archaeological sites, it's remarkably undiscovered. The Mani peninsula in the south has tower houses, wild coast and an extraordinary end-of-the-world feel. Kalamata is a thriving city with one of Greece's best markets.

Authentic Experiences to Seek

• Panigiria - traditional village festivals (usually on a saint's day) where the whole village eats, drinks and dances together. If you stumble on one, you'll remember it forever.
• Morning market (laiki agora) - the weekly outdoor market in any Greek town; fresh produce, local cheese, honey and olives at excellent prices
• Kafeneio - the traditional Greek coffee house; order a Greek coffee and watch the world pass by
• Sunset from a Byzantine castle - there's one in almost every coastal town; usually free and almost always deserted

Practical Tips for a More Authentic Visit

• Stay in family-run accommodation rather than hotel chains - you'll get local recommendations that aren't in any guidebook
• Eat where Greeks eat: look for the mageirefta board (daily-cooked specials) rather than multilingual tourist menus
• Visit archaeological sites first thing in the morning - you'll have them almost to yourself
• Learn 10 words of Greek: "efharisto" (thank you), "parakalo" (please/you're welcome), "yasas" (hello/goodbye). The reaction from Greeks will warm your whole trip.