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Ancient history, vineyard-covered tavernas and stunning beaches – there’s nothing quite like a Greek island.
But you’ve been visiting them all the wrong way.
Here Sophie Jansena 31-year-old Greece travel expert from the Netherlands whose Tips for TikTok in Greece has earned her 78,000 followers, reveals the key mistakes beginners make and her top tips for making the most of what Greece’s islands have to offer.
She reveals why ferry times are key to enjoying a Greek island holiday, the best local dishes to try, how to order Greek coffee, whether it’s okay to drink tap water, and why you’ll probably regret bringing a suitcase.
Read on to learn more…
Sophie Jansen, a 31-year-old Greece travel expert from the Netherlands whose Greece tips on TikTok have earned her 78,000 followers
Choose the right island
Sophie tells MailOnline Travel: “Greece is a big, spread out country,” with 227 inhabited islands, adding that “every part” has “something to offer.”
Although an island may seem perfect, it may not be the right destination for you.
Sophie explains: ‘Do your research to see if it’s the right place for the month you’re going, the number of days you want to stay, the mode of transport you’re considering, the type of activities you want to do and, of course, your budget.
‘Not all islands are cheap or child-friendly and some islands are less suitable if you can’t rent a car.’
Check the ferry schedules
Sophie warns: “Don’t book your hotels before checking the timetables and ferry schedules. Not all islands have connections to each other.”
‘So make sure you don’t have a non-refundable hotel reservation before you figure out how to get from point A to point B.’
She recommends using ferryhopper.com to find out about boat routes and schedules.
Pack a suitcase of the right size
Sophie says: ‘Sure, if you’re staying in the same hotel for two weeks and getting transferred there from the airport, bring your heavy suitcase.
However, if you’re going island-hopping or visiting cities with pedestrian-only centers, cobblestones, or lots of stairs (like Santorini), it may be best to pack light.
As seen in Sophie’s video, tourists can have a hard time carrying a heavy wheeled suitcase.
You might regret bringing a heavy suitcase on a Greek island holiday, as visiting many of them (such as Santorini) involves climbing up and down long flights of stairs.
The Greece expert says her “simple rule” for inaccessible places is “don’t bring what you can’t carry yourself.”
Be careful with tap water
While Sophie says you can use the water on smaller islands for brushing your teeth, “it’s not meant for consuming large quantities.”
Tourists can buy water from the supermarket, but Sophie recommends keeping an eye out for the island’s wells, which are free, and refill stations, which cost a small fee of around 6 cents (5p), as they are better for the environment.
Check store opening hours
Sophie comments: “Tourist shops are open every day, all day, well into the evening. The same goes for supermarkets and mini-markets, although the big supermarkets are closed on Sundays.”
However, other stores may close for “siesta time” from around 2-3 pm until 5-6 pm, so it’s best not to plan a shopping trip for the early afternoon.
Sophie adds: “It is generally polite not to make noise during siesta time in residential areas, as many Greeks are sleeping at that time. In the evening they go out again and have a late dinner (around 9 or 10 pm).”
Download an offline map
Sophie warns that travellers should never blindly trust offline maps as they could lead you down complicated routes
“You may not have a stable internet connection while driving and may need a GPS. It’s best to download an offline map of the island on your phone,” says Sophie.
However, he adds: “Never blindly trust these apps. They barely know the difference between asphalt and dirt roads and sometimes they send you down back roads and alleys that you might feel really uncomfortable with. Or down a road that has a dead end and leads nowhere.”
‘Before setting off, check whether the suggested route is mainly on gravel roads or not. Some dirt roads are suitable for any vehicle, others are not. If in serious doubt, just turn around and don’t take any risks.’
Try Greek coffee and cuisine
Sophie says: ‘Greece is more than just gyros and souvlaki. Historically, it is a vegetable-based cuisine.’
She recommends going as a group to a ‘mezedopoleio’ or ‘tsipouradiko’ – restaurants that serve smaller plates mezze style or the ‘Greek version of tapas’. She adds: ‘This way you can try more dishes and the bill ends up being cheaper. At the end of the meal, you’ll probably be given a free sweet or shot of alcohol, which you should politely accept!’
When it comes to coffee, Sophie recommends trying a frappé (an iced drink made with instant coffee) or a cappuccino freddo (a cold cappuccino with cold milk foam on top).
He adds that there are three levels of sweetness in a Greek coffee: ‘Sketo’ – unsweetened, ‘metrio’ – medium sweet – and ‘glyko’ – sweet.
Sophie recommends trying a cappuccino freddo – a cold cappuccino with cold milk foam on top.
