Greece

Greece

CAPITOL CITY

Athens

LANGUAGE

Greek

CURRENCY

Euro

FLIGHT DURATION

+/- 3 hours

Which small beach shall we visit today?

In recent years, I’ve been going on holiday with my parents quite regularly, and I really enjoy it. Ideally, I’d take my brother and sister along too, but of course, everyone has their own life. Maybe one day we’ll all travel together again, who knows…

I recall sitting in my parents’ garden, pondering where we should go for our next trip. I had never been to Greece before, and my parents hadn’t been back in 40 years. They went to Rhodes back then, so it felt special for them to return and see what had changed.

Anyway, I started searching for flights. I opened Skyscanner and found tickets without a stopover. Perfect. Skyscanner sent me to Kiwi.com to complete the booking. That’s when the trouble started. Kiwi.com has now been added to my personal blacklist.

It turned into a proper nightmare. I initially booked a direct flight, but a week later, I received a message saying it was no longer available. I was given a list of alternative flights, for which I had to pay extra. I spent days on the phone with customer service agents in India. Then the flight was changed again, and the entire process had to start over.

Eventually, I managed to arrange a flight to Rhodes, with an overnight stop in Thessaloniki. So, we just decided to book a hotel there and make the most of it. I honestly don’t mind paying extra, but if you’re selling me a flight, at least give me the confidence that things will be sorted. Instead, they left me in a state of stress for weeks.

Deep breath in… and out…

Practical tips

  • In most of the restaurants I visited, the focus was mainly on meat dishes. If you’re a vegetarian, you’ll often end up with a salad as your main option.
  • The power voltage in Greece is 230 volts. You won’t need a travel adapter.
  • Renting a car is an excellent idea if you want to explore the islands at your own pace.
  • Don’t drink tap water – always go for bottled.
All photos

Around lunchtime, we landed in Thessaloniki and took a taxi to our apartment. It was in the perfect spot—right in the city center. We had a coffee while waiting for the host to arrive, then dropped off our bags. The sun was out, so we freshened up and headed out. A nice walk through the city, along the waterfront. A bite to eat here, a drink there. Just the way it should be.

Food & drink experience

  • Mikfro Kafe: This coffee spot was right below our apartment. The owner was a friendly guy and spoke good German.
  • The Dubliner:,Whenever we’re in a new city and spot an Irish pub, it’s almost tradition to stop in for a drink. This one’s big and cozy, with comfy outdoor couches. They even had power banks to charge your phone – super handy.
  • Omikron: Nice setting, but the food didn’t quite do it for me. I ordered mussels, but they were cold. Then I tried the pasta, but it lacked flavor. Ah, well, just roll with it. My parents both had the Bolognese and really enjoyed it.

Where I stayed 

  • Studio Antigonidon Square: This 4-person Airbnb was clean, modern, and easygoing. Highly recommended if you want to explore Thessaloniki – it’s close to shops and just a five-minute walk from Antigonidon Square.

What I saw and did

  • Aristotelous Square: A lovely square to wander through, complete with a statue of Aristotle.
  • Nea Paralia: The old waterfront. Great spot to relax in the sun and watch the boats go by.

After a great night in Thessaloniki, we woke up in our cosy apartment. First stop: coffee and a pastry at Mikro Kafe. Then we took a taxi to the airport and caught our connecting flight. We had already reserved a rental car from the Netherlands, so it was waiting for us when we arrived on Rhodes.

Off we went—well, sort of. Unfortunately, the GPS (yes, it’s always the GPS’s fault) sent us the wrong way several times. I think we drove around for about 2.5 hours in total. The mood? Let’s say: tired from travelling all day, hungry… You know how it goes.

Once we finally arrived, we grabbed some groceries at the local minimarket (hello double prices) to get us through the next day. Then we wrapped up the day with a delicious meal.

Food & drink experiences 

  • Taverna Michel: My favorite restaurant of the trip. Very friendly staff, delicious food, and a calm setting. They served sea bass nearly every day—one of my all-time favorites.
  • Taverna Ouzaki: Classic Greek look (blue and white). We went here for lunch. I remember the Greek salad with a big slab of feta on top—amazing!
  • Olive Grove: Right across from our apartment and a bit of a special place. It’s a family-run restaurant where the mum does everything (and was running around like a headless chicken at one point), and dad sits behind the till on a stool. Food was decent, but I’d rather walk a few blocks to Taverna Michel.
  • Oki – Asian Cuisine: You don’t always want the same type of food, right? Let’s be honest: Greek food can get a bit repetitive. So we opted for a change and went to this Asian spot. Their menu featured a variety of dishes from Chinese, Thai, and Japanese cuisines. We all love a spicy Asian soup, so that’s what we had as our starter. Then we had chicken curry, chow mein, and black bean chicken. As always, way too much food.
  • Carrusel restaurant – grill: Yum! Had a really tasty club sandwich here.
  • Limanaki Seafood Restaurant:Grilled Sea bass and a stunning view of the ocean.

Where I stayed 

  • A lovely lovely Airbnb from Elias: Once we figured out where it actually was, we had a fantastic time here. The apartment was spacious with a large kitchen and three bedrooms. The terrace was cosy, and there was even a jacuzzi. Best part? It was only 300 metres from the beach—perfect for catching the sunrise.

What I saw and did

  • ABBYCAR Rentals: Solid car rental service—picked us up straight from the airport.
  • Bezoek Lindos: We took a ferry from Kolymbia Harbour to Lindos Acropolis, the white town. It’s absolutely stunning. Beautiful village with amazing views.
  • Akroplis van Lindos: You’ll need to climb (116 metres), so bring enough water. But once you reach the top, the view over the Lindos coastline is worth it. There are also many ancient ruins, which are very impressive. It was really too hot for the climb the day we went.
  • Seven springs: If you love waterfalls, this place is for you. I also walked through a 150-metre-long tunnel. You could just about stand upright, and it was pitch dark—bit of a thrill!
  • Running along the beach: I always bring running gear on holiday—it’s a great way to explore. I went for runs along the beach and jumped in the sea to cool off. That’s when you really feel alive.
  • Visiting Rhodos town: We parked the car at Mandraki Marina & Port. A beautiful city, perfect for strolling through medieval gates and alleys. Great place for lunch too.
  • Anthony Quinn Bay
  • Butterfly Valley: A really fun experience. We drove to this nature reserve filled with hundreds (maybe thousands) of butterflies. We grabbed a coffee, but only after a steep climb.
  • Kolymbia Beach: Just a 300-metre walk from our apartment—one of the best beaches. Not too crowded, soft sand. Only thing missing was a beach bar, but luckily our place was nearby.
  • Agia Agathi Beach (Golden Sand): Another beautiful beach. I brought my snorkel gear but didn’t see many fish. Definitely bring your water shoes!
  • Afandou Beach:Yet another gorgeous spot for swimming and admiring the rocky coastline.
  • Tsambika Beach: A bit too crowded for my taste. But if you’ve got kids, they might love it—there’s a big floating playground.
  • Beach fun in Afandou and Archangelos: Take a dip in the sea at beautiful Red Sand Beach in Archangelos. It’s perfect for a relaxing swim in the Greek sunshine. And for serious beach lovers, Kolymbia offers a dreamy seaside day.

From Mandraki Marina & Port, a ferry departs for Symi Island. We made stops at Saint George Bay and Anthony Quinn Bay along the way. These stops were very welcome, because on the day we visited the island, the heat was nearly unbearable—it felt like the sun was frying us alive.

Food & drink experiences 

  • Taverna Vasilis: It was scorching hot, so we were happy to sit in the shade. We all ordered a delicious pasta (bolognese and carbonara) along with a classic Greek salad.

What I saw and did

  • Saint George Bay: Wow, what an incredible bay—only accessible by boat. We arrived by ferry and had a few hours to swim and snorkel. The water is crystal clear and the bay is calm and peaceful.
  • Climb the Kali Strata: You’ll need to tackle around 300 steps, but the view over Symi is worth it. Go when there are as few tourists as possible, or you’ll be stuck in line waiting to take your next step.
  • Walk the promenade by the harbor: A lively promenade lined with cute shops and bars—perfect for a wander.