Whitewashed villages, ancient ruins & deep blue seas
Ancient Athens at its most magical - before the crowds and under golden light
The world's most-photographed sunset from Oia village's castle ruins
Multi-day catamaran through Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, and Ios
Grilled skewers in warm pita with tzatziki, tomato, and onion - the ultimate Greek fast food
Giant block of Feta, Kalamata olives, cucumber, tomato, and olive oil
Marinated and chargrilled on a terracotta rooftop overlooking the sea
The main way between islands - book in advance for July–August
Perfect for exploring islands at your own pace
Greece's intercity bus network - cheap and reliable on the mainland
Aegean Air connects Athens to islands in 40–60 minutes
Greeks tilt their head back (or raise an eyebrow) to mean 'no' - easy to confuse with a nod of acknowledgement
'Kefi' is the Greek spirit of joy and passion - embrace it, especially at dinner
Dinner starts late - restaurants fill up at 9pm, not 7pm
Never rush through a meal - lingering over food and wine is culturally sacred
Haggling is acceptable at markets and some tourist shops but not restaurants
Blue-domed churches in Santorini aren't actually everywhere - only 3 on the whole island
Naxos - largest Cycladic island with far fewer tourists than Santorini, incredible beaches, and a mountain interior
Zagori villages - 46 stone villages in Epirus mountains connected by ancient arched bridges
Folegandros - tiny Cycladic island with no cars, dramatic cliffs, and an authentic village square
Cost of living, visas, healthcare, taxes, expat life and everything you'd need to actually move and stay long-term.