Helen Iatrou

In recent times, the main problem facing Greece’s picturesque island of Santorini has been the crowds of tourists jostling for space among the whitewashed walls of Oia town as they hunt for the best spot for sunset selfies.

Then, earlier this year, another problem reared its head — one that has been lurking deep beneath Santorini millions of years before camera phones turned it into an Instagram playground.

A swarm of mild earthquakes that saw thousands of residents and visitors leave Santorini, Greece, on flights and ferries appears to have petered off, according to experts.
In late January and February, more than 20,000 temblors were recorded in the Aegean Sea between the volcanic islands of Santorini and Amorgos.

When Athens-born-and-raised Alexandros Kaloutas abandoned the Greek capital for Amorgos to cultivate oregano on the sleepy Cycladic island, the locals thought he was crazy.

So, you’re finally going to go on that long-awaited getaway to Greece. But while you’re daydreaming about beach-hopping on the islands, marveling at ancient sites, and feasting on meze on the sand, consider adding some Greek phrases to your vocabulary. While digital translators can be useful tools to have, taking the time to learn a few keywords and phrases can go a long way with locals.

Milos, Greece, was born of earthquakes, tsunamis, and undersea volcanic eruptions over hundreds of thousands of years—and destined to carve out a distinct name for itself. But up until the mid-2010s, the mineral-rich Greek island was little more than an unassuming summer hideaway for doe-eyed Athenian couples.

Born of earthquakes, tsunamis and undersea volcanic eruptions over hundreds of thousands of years, Milos was destined to carve out a distinct name for itself. But, up until the mid-2010s, the mineral-rich Greek island was little more than an unassuming summer hideaway for doe-eyed Athenian couples. It was there, in 1820, when a farmer accidentally unearthed the Louvre’s prized Venus de Milo (Aphrodite to the Greeks) in a field. This might explain the subconscious pull this once-untouristy outpost had on young lovers.

An impromptu birthday celebration on a tiny, almost-deserted Fijian island for a stranger is not what you would expect to happen during a round-the-world sailing rally. But it’s one of the most memorable experiences Gakyung Chung has had since she and husband Robert Kirkman set off on the 2024-25 edition of the Oyster World Rally aboard their Oyster 575 named Aurora.

A resident of Athens for almost three decades, I’ve long been drawn to sunny, seaside destinations over frosty mountain peaks. And, until recently, exploring the colder climes of northern Europe hasn’t really been high on my list.
But sweltering summer temperatures in Greece this year had me — and a growing number of people who are seeking “cool-cations” — looking for an escape.
I found mine on a 13-day voyage through Iceland and Norway aboard Viking Saturn, the 465-cabin ship that is the newest ocean-going vessel from Viking, a favorite of Travel + Leisure readers.

Santorini, the volcanic Greek island that launched a thousand sunset selfies, and party isle Mykonos are popular for good reason. Luxury hotels carved into precipitous cliffs peer out over Santorini’s sunken caldera, and narrow alleys wind between blue-shuttered, whitewashed houses in Mykonos. But if you’re planning to visit Greece’s most famous islands by cruise ship, be prepared to shell out some extra cash.

Scuba diving off Mioskon, a minuscule islet in Indonesia’s far-flung Raja Ampat archipelago, I’m staring in disbelief at the wildy-colored hard and soft corals populating a gently-sloping reef. From pale brown finger corals reaching up to the sky and huge, aptly-named brain coral to staghorn coral and deep red fan coral, I feel like I’ve stumbled on an underwater garden of Eden.

I was commissioned to write a story on 10 reasons to Love Athens for easyJet Traveller magazine's December 2024 issue.

Dark sky sanctuaries. Floating nightclubs. Blueberry farms. Indigenous-owned lodges. These are just some of the facets of Afar’s list of top 25 places to go in 2025. This year, we have focused on some of the world’s most fascinating and lesser-visited countries, regions, and cities where you won’t find crowds of travelers angling for the same Instagram Reel. From Chios, Greece, and Columbus, Ohio, to Guyana and Jordan, these destinations (presented in alphabetical order) are bound to inspire another year of joyful and intentional travel. Where will you go first?

Travelers in Athens on Monday, August 12, watched as a cloud of smoke and ash billowed above the Acropolis as a result of a massive wildfire that burned 24 miles northeast of the Greek capital.

Brought under control by Wednesday morning, Greece’s worst wildfire this year claimed the life of one woman, injured dozens including firefighters, razed around 124,710 acres of land, and destroyed or damaged about 100 homes and businesses.

A dreamy vacation in Greece is, without a doubt, more sought-after than ever. The Mediterranean destination has already surpassed prepandemic visitor numbers. In 2023, the country of 11 million received over 32.7 million international arrivals compared to 31.3 million in 2019. Credit ratings agency Fitch expects this figure to reach 34.5 million in 2024, prompting concerns about overtourism.

While most visitors tend to make a beeline for antiquity-rich Athens, the whitewashed cave houses of Santorini, and glitzy party isle Mykonos, there’s much more to explore in Greece.

Lovers and honeymooners gravitate to Santorini to meander amid cliffside cave houses that hover almost imperceptibly above a lustrous, inky Aegean Sea.

A catastrophic volcanic eruption some 3,600 years ago, which saw half the island swallowed by the sea, is responsible for the dizzying visuals. Famed for its sunsets, photogenic blue-domed whitewashed churches, and intensely mineral white wine, Greek tourism’s poster child has long epitomized romance.