Six Ways to Experience Athens Like a Local

As iconic European destinations grapple with the adverse impacts of overtourism, some places like Venice have created entrance fees, while in Athens, travelers have to reserve time to visit the Acropolis. On the Spanish island of Mallorca, an audacious movement is capturing global attention for its unique—and controversial—approach to keeping tourists away from its azure waters and stunning coastlines.

This is part of Breaking Bread, a collection of stories that highlights how bread is made, eaten, and shared around the world. Read more here. 

You’ll find moussaka, with its chunky layers of deeply savoury, sweetly spiced meat, silky aubergines and creamy bechamel sauce, on the menu at every whitewashed tourist taverna. No surprise, then, that it’s perceived by many visitors as Greece’s national dish. Some in the Greek diaspora, however, seem less convinced, with chef Peter Conistis telling listeners to the Ouzo Talk podcast that, “You might hate me but… it started as a Turkish dish”. 

Post-Covid travel has been booming, and many travelers have been using travel credits saved up over the past few years. Cruise lines are seeing record business, too, and are not wasting time adding new amenities. If you are wondering about the most recent cruise news, there is a lot happening on the high seas this summer. Here’s the latest to explore within the cruise industry, which has everything from new shows to new itineraries on offer.

Traditional food has a stronghold on Athens’ dining scene, and Greece as a whole. Widespread respect for classic dishes means that family recipes are often untampered with, even at restaurants, but contemporary newcomers have also found their voice in the sea of tradition.

As our hot, stuffy plane approached Bodrum, the seaside resort city on Turkey’s southwest coast, I closed my eyes and imagined a cool plunge into the crystalline turquoise waters of the Aegean. It was late July, and I was going home for vacation, despite warnings about the record heat. Southern Turkey is always hot in the summer, but the thought of sea breezes and swimming made it seem a desirable destination — especially after spending the last month in a heat wave in Geneva where air-conditioning is all but banned.

‘Slipping through my fingers all the time / I try to capture every minute …,” mourns Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia! as we drive along a dusty road lined with goats and olive trees to Kefalos beach. I glance over at my girl – rosy cheeks, sun-kissed hair, phone glued to hand – and I’m overcome with emotion and involuntarily snort tears down my face.

Although the legend of Dionysus—a Greek deity responsible for wine and other pleasurable pursuits—is centuries old, the mythological figure is still influencing modern-day Greece. The nation’s indigenous grapes and unique terroir create one of the world’s most exciting wine-producing countries, but given Greece’s vast and mountainous geography it would take as much time to visit all the different regions as it did to build the Parthenon.

Here are eleven of London's hottest new restaurants, where culinary innovation reigns. From cutting-edge gastronomy to old school excellence and hidden gems, these are the capital’s latest dining delights.

Greece will limit daily visitors to its famous Acropolis next month in an effort to control crowding.

Among the many wonderful things about Greece is that everyone has a favorite island—and everyone is right. For veteran Forbes travel contributor Jim Dobson, that magical isle is Sifnos. Reachable by ferry from Athens in a little over two hours, Sifnos has beautiful beaches, numerous hiking trails along the Aegean Sea and a remarkable 237 churches. Here’s where to eat, stay and play on Sifnos.

If you’re heading to one of Greece’s biggest tourist attractions later this year, make sure you are aware of the new visiting rules.