Helen Iatrou

Whether it’s learning the art of beekeeping or spinning wool at a working sheep farm, guests are encouraged to get their hands dirty at these farms with accommodation too — ranging from stays in the Peloponnese to the Central Macedonian region.

History, culture and classic Greek hospitality abound in these three scenic Peloponnese coastal towns — and each can be discovered over a weekend.

Carolina Doriti, a chef, recipe developer and culinary tour guide from Athens, describes her perfect gastronomic day in the capital.

It’s impossible to understand the offbeat charm of modern-day Thessaloniki without first knowing a little of the forces that shaped it. The Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires all staked a claim to the port city, founded in 315BC, and each saw the addition of new monuments, crypts, churches and culinary quirks that paved the way for today’s affluent melting pot city.

Athens may be known as the European city that never sleeps, but a flurry of alluring hotel openings suggests this reputation may be about to change. We round up five places to bed down in the Greek capital.

My debut feature for National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine is the cover story for the April 2021 issue.
Departing in heavy mist, our hiking party zigzags its way up the mountain track from the still-sleeping village of Mikro Papigo, stopping to fill flasks at a spring-fed fountain half-concealed by the morning haze. Local lore claims our destination, the twin alpine pools of Drakolimni — ‘Dragon Lake’ in Greek — take their name from ancient duelling dragons once poised atop the opposing mountains of Tymfi and Smolikas. The boulders they cast at one another are said to stud the hillsides

Paros is the elegant yet unfussy Cycladic island that Greeks retreat to for long, languid days on sandy beaches, strolls through cobblestoned alleyways and dining at family-run tavernas where guests are welcomed as friends. For my client Kanava Hotels, I wrote the script for this video of Parīlio, a Member of Design Hotels, Paros, which reveals why couples choose this serene, whitewashed boutique pad for their holidays.

Santorini is synonymous with romance and eye-popping sunsets. For my client Kanava Hotels, I wrote the script for this video that shows why Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Santorini, is the penultimate hideaway for couples looking to unwind and reconnect.

For my client Kanava Hotels, I wrote the script for this video that showcases the authentic Cycladic village vibes and family friendly character of Vedema, A Luxury Collection Resort, Santorini.

Europe’s major cities are teeming with cultural and historical attractions that, by default, amass crowds. But sometimes you just want to escape for a day of peaceful exploring. Here are some enchanting towns to discover while visiting five big cities in the Old Continent.

If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing it well, as the saying goes. So if you’re planning a luxury European getaway with all the trimmings, here are five destinations where you can splash the cash on sumptuous dining, cultural deep dives and one-of-a-kind private tours that will remain etched in your memory bank.

When Italy bore the brunt of Europe’s first wave of coronavirus this spring, the tiny, isolated village of Castelluccio in Umbria came to mind. The town was wracked by an earthquake in October 2016 (the epicenter was in the nearby Perugian town of Norcia), and the crumbled stone-built homes of Castelluccio are still off-limits to residents.

Just over a year before the catastrophic temblor, I had taken a whistle-stop road trip through Umbria, Tuscany, Liguria, and Emilia-Romagna, inspired by the taste bud-taunting film “The Trip to Italy.”

Athens has long laboured under the stereotype that it is smog-filled

and chaotic. Li Xia, who has lived in the Greek capital with her husband

and 10-year-old son since they acquired a flat in the leafy northern

suburb of Maroussi three years ago, would wholeheartedly disagree.

She considers the city to have a cleaner natural environment than

her native Beijing, coupled with a better quality of life and

international schools that are more multicultural.

*This is the print version of the article

A renewable 5-year residence permit open to non-EU nationals with €250,000 spare, Greece’s Golden Visa is one of Europe’s most successful residence-by-investment schemes, offering the coveted privilege of being able to travel freely throughout the 27-member European Union

29.08.20

The Greek capital is a ghost town in August, its inhabitants decamped to the coast or to their home towns for a respite from the relentless summer heat. By September, most have returned, reinvigorating the city with the intoxicating buzz that has transformed it into one of Europe’s most visitor-friendly destinations, where ancient monuments comfortably coexist with a youthful, live-in-the-now attitude.