Greece Explained

experience

“Walt, which has been operating in Athens uh for some years now, has started expanding to the islands.”

experience

“enter the Acropolis 15 minutes after the start of your time slot, not before. That will be the quietest possible moment. And don't worry, you have a limited time once you're inside. So, entering later doesn't change how long you can stay inside. Pro tip number two regarding the Acropolis. What is the best time slot? There are 11 time slots. What's the best one? Well, it's the very, very first one at 8:00 a.m. when the site opens.”

experience

“Acropolis Museum Tickets”

restaurant

“But, since Athens is the capital, there are a few additional things to try, which you wouldn't find anywhere else like 'Zisis', for instance, which serves fried seafood in a cone. Squid, shrimps, sardines and many more. And you can either sit down or have it to go.”

restaurant

“It's called 'Obelistirio I Vonitsa'. It's just next to the Neos Kosmos metro station... Now, this place is actually a butcher's shop at first... And, on top of the usual chicken and pork gyros, they have two more ... lamb gyros, which is so hard to find in Greece... And doner.”

restaurant

“My all around favorite 'souvlatzidiko', so, that's the name of places selling pita wraps, is called 'Street Souvlaki'. Delicious pork and chicken gyros. But also many other options.”

restaurant

“The second place I want to recommend is 'Lefteris O Politis'. They only have two things on their menu : soutzoukia and biftekia... And, at 'Lefteris', they have delicious super fresh pita bread usually charred on the grill with some lamb fat to make it even tastier.”

restaurant

“The third place I want to recommend is 'Just Pita'. They have chicken and pork gyros and they're very nice. But if you go there, it's to try the kontosouvli, which are these thick pieces of meat slowly roasting on the rotating spit and served whole...”

restaurant

“Next, we have 'Elvis'. Most Athenians will tell you that's where the best kalamakia are, which Northern Greeks will call souvlakia, by the way. They don't serve it in pita wraps. They just give it to you on a small platter with some fries, some bread and a lemon to be squeezed on the whole thing. And it is delicious !”

restaurant

“Next, we have a place called 'Hoocut'. Now, this one is very alternative. So, this is a place you want to go after you've already tried all the basics which I just talked about. They have stuff like pita wraps with fried calamari and tarama...”

cafe

“My three favorite bakeries for all of that are : 'Takis bakery' near the Acropolis Museum, 'Ariston Lobotesi' near Syntagma Square and 'Crème Royale' near Monastiraki Square.”

cafe

“My three favorite bakeries for all of that are : 'Takis bakery' near the Acropolis Museum, 'Ariston Lobotesi' near Syntagma Square and 'Crème Royale' near Monastiraki Square.”

cafe

“My three favorite bakeries for all of that are : 'Takis bakery' near the Acropolis Museum, 'Ariston Lobotesi' near Syntagma Square and 'Crème Royale' near Monastiraki Square.”

cafe

“And, as a little bonus, I'm going to give you one more, which is specialized in bougatsa... The place is called 'Bougatsadiko' and it's located on Psyri's main square. The most famous type of bougatsa is the bougatsa me crema, which is stuffed with custard. So this one is sweet. But they also have bougatsa stuffed with ground beef. Which is what I always order when I'm there. Awesome stuff !”

restaurant

“'Feyrouz' is a Lebanese place where you can have some delicious lahmajoun, stuffed with babaganoush. And, for dessert, the absolutely amazing kunefe, which is basicall”

restaurant

“Mentioned in the video description as a recommended spot for vegan street food.”

restaurant

“Next we have "To Steki tou Ilia" in Thiseio. This one is specialized in grilled lamb chops. And, by the way, since this is a meat restaurant, what should you order if you want to be like Greeks ? Tzatzikiiii ! Mind that To Steki tou Ilia has two restaurants. It's the same thing. The only difference is that one is open only for dinner, the other one for both lunch and dinner. So, if you go there for lunch and you see it's closed, it means you have to go to the other one.”

restaurant

“And "Fine Mess" has my favorite American style barbecue. And it's actually located pretty close to the city center. It's three blocks away from Prigkipas, the fast food place we talked about earlier.”

restaurant

“"Bar Bee Kiou", in Piraeus, is my favorite burger place.”

restaurant

“"O Theios Matthaios" for the best lamb skewers. Absolutely delicious. This one is way out as you can see. Only a taxi can bring you there, no metro.”

restaurant

“"Zarkadoulas - Sta Kavourakia" is where I go for fresh crab. Amazing quality. It's located just next to the brand new Nikaia metro station.”

restaurant

“"Gidi" is an awesome steakhouse. Very meat oriented, obviously.”

restaurant

“My favorite place for all around Greek traditional food is over here at "Michael - Stu Koutrouli", really close to the Panormou metro station, in case you prefer metro over taxi.”

restaurant

“Next, we have "Prigkipas", in the Exarcheia neighborhood. There are four things I love there. One, the mutton skewer : Mutton is the adult sheep... So, if you like lamb and you've never tried mutton, you have to try this... The second thing I love at "Prigkipas" is again mutton but as a patty... So, this is also a must try. Next thing I recommend are the buffalo skewers... So, if you want to try Greek buffalo, this is your opportunity. And, then, to accompany all these meats you can order tzatziki, of course, but you can also go for ajvar, which is this amazing roasted bell pepper and garlic spread. Ajvar is not a Greek thing... And Prigkipas is the only place I know in Athens that has it on their menu. So, there you go, another hidden gem I'm offering you on a silver plate...”

restaurant

“Alright, the first restaurant is "Klimataria" in Psyri. It's one of the oldest taverns in town. It opened a hundred years ago and I love how they haven't really changed the decoration since then. It's hard to find a tavern that still looks old and authentic in the heart of Athens. They have live Greek music every night starting at 9:30 P.M. for which you will be charged €3 per person. And a minimum consumption of €20 per person is required. They're specialized in what we call "mageirevta", which basically means stews and all sorts of slow cooked meals in the oven. My favorite is the lamb that has cooked for hours with those potatoes, meaning the potatoes have absorbed all the lamb flavors. They also have several savory pies. This one is a zucchini pie but they have a few more. And these pies are always freshly baked. Nice and crispy. And, then, another favorite of mine is this : stuffed zucchini with rice and ground beef and "avgolemono sauce", which is this creamy lemon sauce that covers the whole thing. So, yeah, Klimataria : awesome place.”

restaurant

“Alright, next we have "Dioskouroi", in Plaka. It's a very cute place as you can see here. But speaking of Plaka, you need to be a little careful there. That's where the vast majority of tourist trap restaurants are because it's the most visited part of Athens. But Dioskouroi is different. Many locals go to eat there and the quality of the food is perfect. Their specialty is fried calamari, super tasty. And, then, they also have these marinated anchovies you see here. If you're more of a meat person, I would go for their meat and cheese platter. Dioskouroi is what we call a "mezedopoleio". So, a place to eat mezedes, the equivalent of Spanish tapas. In other words, when you go there, it's not to order one main dish each. Instead, you want to have many different things and have it all in the center of the table for everyone to share. And be careful : there are two Dioskouroi in Athens. It's not the one near Monastiraki Square. It's the other one, on the steps leading to the Acropolis.”

restaurant

“Alright, next we have Atlantikos, in Psyri. Huge variety of fish and seafood. Just to name a few : Their chickpeas with smoked herring is excellent. Then, you also have grilled squid, this tuna souvlaki or their fried sardines. And this place is very much Greek authentic. It's located in a very narrow alley in the heart of Psyri. Nothing fancy, just a typical place where locals go for fresh fish.”

experience

“It starts and ends on Monastiraki Square. So, it's super easy to find.”

cafe

“If you want to find these stairs on Google Maps just type "Yiasemi" : it's this cute Cafe here on the right.”

shopping

“Plaka is one of the must do's of Athens, I'm pretty sure you already knew that. It's got all those cute alleys and amazing restaurants on the steps leading to the Acropolis.”

shopping

“if you want to go souvenir shopping, go to the flea market area of Monastiraki. It's much cheaper there !”

restaurant

“This leads us to another very cute restaurant, a bit similar in vibe as the previous one ! This one is called Klepsydra.”

restaurant

“Next the "GB Roof Garden", located here on Syntagma Square, on the upper floor of "Grande Bretagne Hotel", the most luxurious five-star hotel in town. So, this is fine dining at its purest. Prices will be around €50 for one main dish. If you have something special to celebrate, it doesn't get better than this!”

restaurant

“Alright! The second restaurant is "Mirame", located here between Psyri and Thiseio neighborhood... Beautiful view at the Acropolis and also at the Temple of Hephaestus, which is just across the street... "Mirame" only opens at 7 P.M. So, no lunch ... Only dinner.”

bar

“Alright! The next Rooftop Bar is also on Monastiraki Square and it's called "360 Degrees Cocktail Bar". It's very similar to "A for Athens"... If you want a romantic vibe, with a classy atmosphere, those are the two.”

bar

“Next, we have Buena Vista Social Bar over here. Many locals will tell you that this is their favorite Rooftop Bar, because it has the nicest atmosphere. It's a very chill place, prices are really low... And they also serve Mexican street food, by the way.”

bar

“Next, there's "Couleur Locale" located here. This is definitely the most hidden one... This is definitely the one with the least tourists because only locals know of this place.”

bar

“First, we have "Anglais Athens". And it has both the view at the Acropolis and Monastiraki Square, on the other side. This place also serves some very tasty gyros portions and kebab sausages. So, if you're a meat fan, this one's for you.”

bar

“The first one is "A for Athens". It's located on Monastiraki Square. And it has one of the most iconic views of Athens! I mean ... Look at this! And, unsurprisingly, it's also the most expensive Rooftop Bar there is.”

hotel

“Next, there's the "Athens Gate Hotel" in the Makrygianni area, which has a roof garden with an amazing view! If you've watched my video on the "Best hotels with the Acropolis view", you know how much I like this one.”

restaurant

“First, we have "MS Roof Garden", which is the neighbor of "A for Athens", by the way. So, the view is as iconic... But you can still get dishes like lamb chops or grilled octopus. That's why I put it in this category. And, by the way, this is the most affordable restaurant on this list.”

hotel

“Next, the "Electra Roof Garden", which is located on the rooftop of the "Electra Palace Hotel". Another favorite hotel of mine.”

experience

“If you were planning on going for a romantic lunch or dinner down at Amoodi, which is this tiny bay at the bottom of Ian...”

experience

“In my video of 2023, I was actually recommending uh to park your car in FIRA and then take the bus to IA since parking in IA was mission impossible.”

experience

“If you're coming to Sanini on a cruise, then there's also huge news, which is that it's finally possible to skip the line for the cable car.”

outdoor adventure

“If you were planning on going for a romantic lunch or dinner down at Amoodi, which is this tiny bay at the bottom of Ian, I have great news for you. You no longer need to walk these horrendous 240 steps smeared in donkey poop.”

restaurant

“Well, food-wise, the one I like the most is the Ammoodi Fish Tavern. It's located right on the water, and uh everything's super fresh and super traditional.”

restaurant

“And if you want to order Yos, uh just know that my first choice is always Nick the Grill, best yos in Santorini, and the only ones to have lamb yos on top of the usual pork and chicken yos. And if you want to go to Nigril in person, um it's very easy to find them. They're located on Fid's main square.”

experience

“The Greek state has stopped giving new licenses in areas that already have tons of Airbnbs. So we're mostly looking at downtown Athens and Santorini.”

experience

“And that road passes through Imerovigli, Firostefani, Fira, Pyrgos and Megalochori. And from Megalochori, you have one going to Vlychada, Perivolos and Perissa.”

experience

“And that's Zoodochos Pigi or the Spring of Life, in English. These are travertines, which are basically limestone deposits that have been piling up for thousands or hundreds of thousands of years carried by natural springs coming from the mountain. No one knows about this place ... It's a huge hidden gem ! ... This place is pure magic ! I love it !”

experience

“Let's start with the Lighthouse of Akrotiri. This one is very straightforward. It's at the end of the main road of Santorini. And there's a large parking area, 100 meters away from the lighthouse.”

outdoor adventure

“And from Megalochori, you have one going to Vlychada, Perivolos and Perissa.”

experience

outdoor adventure

outdoor adventure

“And, then, from Fira, you have another road that goes towards the airport and Kamari.”

experience

“Mentioned in the description as 'AKROTIRI EXCAVATION SITE Free Parking Lot'.”

experience

“And that road passes through Imerovigli, Firostefani, Fira, Pyrgos and Megalochori.”

experience

“And that road passes through Imerovigli, Firostefani, Fira, Pyrgos and Megalochori.”

experience

“And that road passes through Imerovigli, Firostefani, Fira, Pyrgos and Megalochori.”

restaurant

“Next, we have "Lefkes", located in Finikia, which is a very cute little village, by the way. So, if you go to "Lefkes", definitely also spend some time walking some of these alleys. You won't regret it ... My favorite dish there is a pretty strange one, when you hear the ingredients ! But trust me, it's amazing ! It's ravioli stuffed with pears in a Gorgonzola cheese sauce and marinated shrimps. So so good ! I also really like this black spread you see here, that they bring you as an appetizer. It's made of black olives and honey. Didn't know this combination was even possible ! But, yeah ... Turns out that olives with honey taste delicious ! And then, something else I really like ... And I think it's kind of their best seller ... Are these papardelles, which Italians call tagliatelle, in Parmesan sauce with slow cooked beef. Very very nice ! Oh ... And by the way, "Lefkes" has a sunset view !”

restaurant

“First, we have the "Cave of Nikolas", located in Akrotiri, within walking distance of the Red Beach and the Excavation Site of Akrotiri. It's located by the water. And just look how cute this place is ! ... My favorite dish there is the moussaka. It tastes amazing ! And that's because they add two local Santorini products : hloro cheese, which you see here grated on the top and white eggplants, instead of the usual purple ones. Delicious stuff !”

restaurant

“Alright ! The fourth restaurant is "Aroma Avlis", located in Exo Gonia. It's actually part of a winery called Artemis Karamolegos. So, if you feel like going to a wine tasting before your meal, this is a great two-in-one type of place. It's a very green and relaxed area ... Plus, they have this very nice sea view. My favorite dish there is called gamopilafo. It's something like a lamb risotto to which they add Greek yogurt. Gamopilafo is the traditional meal for weddings on the island of Crete. And even though it's delicious, it's pretty rare to find a restaurant that actually has it on their menu, especially outside of Crete. So yeah, if you're a lamb fan, definitely order this hidden gem ! And then, something else I like is their pastourmadokeftedes, which are these little pockets, stuffed with a mix of spicy meats. If you're a meat lover and you like strong tastes, this will hit the spot for you.”

restaurant

“They serve Greek traditional food but always with a twist to it. So, even if you've already tried a lot of Greek food in your life, "Roza's" will still manage to surprise you ! My two favorite dishes there are : The giouvetsi, which is a beef stew ... And then, this : homemade ravioli with squid ink (that's why they're black) ... stuffed with feta cheese. But mind that "Roza's" only cooks local and seasonal products. So, their menu keeps changing. And I can't promise that those two meals I just showed you will be available when you go. But, I mean, everything they make is super refined.”

outdoor adventure

“If you're renting a car, then, I also recommend checking out Kapari Beach, on the west coast. Very cute and secluded. And no sun beds whatsoever ! That's where many locals go.”

outdoor adventure

“In my opinion, there are three: Agrari, Kalo Livadi and Kalafatis. The main reason I'm choosing those three is that it's the only beaches on the south coast which are not covered with sunbeds... if you'd rather go to a place with less people and sun beds, then, Agrari, Kalo Livadi and Kalafatis are the ones that I recommend.”

outdoor adventure

“In my opinion, there are three: Agrari, Kalo Livadi and Kalafatis. The main reason I'm choosing those three is that it's the only beaches on the south coast which are not covered with sunbeds... if you'd rather go to a place with less people and sun beds, then, Agrari, Kalo Livadi and Kalafatis are the ones that I recommend.”

outdoor adventure

“In my opinion, there are three: Agrari, Kalo Livadi and Kalafatis. The main reason I'm choosing those three is that it's the only beaches on the south coast which are not covered with sunbeds... if you'd rather go to a place with less people and sun beds, then, Agrari, Kalo Livadi and Kalafatis are the ones that I recommend.”

day trip

“One, the day trip to Delos island. Which is THE absolute must do tour, if you're coming to Mykonos.”

experience

“Second amazing thing in Mykonos is Mykonos Town, also called Chora. It's this beautiful maze of narrow whitewashed alleys.”

experience

“And, then, inside Mykonos town, there's a small neighborhood called Little Venice. Which is Mykonos' super iconic spot that you see on all post cards.”

day trip

“And if you're not sure what other islands to visit apart from Santorini, you can watch uh this video where I explain why Cit is such a fantastic island.”

hotel

“It's basically one road going from the northern tip, so Oia... One, leaving Oia just after sunset. Because, as you know, everyone goes to Oia for the sunset. ... Oia is beautiful at night. Plus it's all empty ... Because everyone has left.”

restaurant

“This place only serves fish. And the quality is so so high! Like this, for instance: it's called 'opson', it's raw tuna on barley rust. It's very simple but so so good because the tuna is so fresh! And then, something else that really surprised me: Asparagus with anchovies ... And ... Wait for it ... Black chocolate! Yeah ... Crazy mix ... I know ... But really delicious!”