Stumbling upon tiny chapels and monasteries in unbelievable places is my favorite part of exploring Greece. This obsession began after we visited a monastery built into a cave on the south coast of Crete that required driving an hour on an extremely precarious off-road adventure. There was little information online, and even our Airbnb host was unsure of the exact route to access it. This monastery with the single monk in his 90s and the pristine beach below it, changed my brain chemistry.

Cave Monastery, Crete

Since then, I’ve been addicted to the thrill of hunting for unique sacred architecture.

While planning this trip, I realized we would be just a four hour drive from the otherworldly monasteries of Meteora. I knew we had to add it to our itinerary.

A bit of history:

Beginning in the 14th century, monks established these monasteries on sandstone pillars hundreds of feet above the valley as places of prayer and refuge during a period of political upheaval. Without roads or modern machinery, supplies had to be hauled up the cliffs using ropes, baskets, ladders, and pulley systems. It is said that it took 22 years just to transport the materials for Varlaam Monastery. Inside, centuries-old Byzantine frescoes have somehow survived, and six monasteries remain active to this day.

Meteora is a masterclass in organic architecture. So much of modern construction tries to dominate its surroundings. Meteora does the opposite. The monasteries seem to emerge as though they grew from the rock itself.

Where we stayed:

We booked our accommodation relatively last minute, and the remaining options in Kalabaka and Kastraki didn’t feel particularly compelling.

We decided on a simple stone house in the tiny village of Gavros, about 30 minutes from Meteora. The house was comfortable, and the surrounding countryside was beautiful, with unusual rock formations and a small taverna.

If you have limited time in Meteora, I'd recommend staying in Kalabaka or Kastraki. We loved being tucked away in the charming little village of Gavros, but the 30-minute drive became a bit of a drag after long, hot days exploring the monasteries, especially when we were trying to get there early in the morning. That said, staying farther out meant driving through beautiful countryside and tiny villages we otherwise never would have seen.

Double rainbow on our drive from Gavros to Kalabaka

Where we ate:

We had our favorite meal of our travels at Restaurant Meteora Gkertsou Family

There's a Sklavenitis right in Kalabaka that had the best selection of gluten-free snacks I found outside of Athens. I was able to stock up on more of my favorite Nutree bars, along with some simple peanut and honey bars that were perfect to keep in my bag while we explored.

Monastery Visits:

Quick tips

• Each monastery has it is own schedule. Check to see which ones are open when you want to visit.

• Consider dress code requirements

• Friday and the afternoons were noticeably less crowded. We visited Roussanou later in the day and St. Nicholas on a Friday, and both had only a handful of other visitors.

• When visiting the monasteries, make sure to pop into the gift shops. I love buying the various products made by the different monasteries like soap, olive oil and liquor.

We made it to 4 of the 6 active monasteries, each with their own incredible view points and sanctuaries. Photos are not allowed inside, so unfortunately I can’t share the ancient frescoes.

• Roussanou Nunnery

• Monastery of Varlaam

• Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas

• Holy Monastery of the Great Meteoron

Sunsets

We spent the evenings at the sunset viewpoints overlooking Kalabaka and the monasteries.

• Main Observation Deck of Meteora

• Viewpoint Meteora

This content is completely free, and I don't make any money from creating it. If you find it helpful and would like to support my work, I'd be grateful if you subscribed, followed me on Instagram, shopped my vintage collection, or used one of my affiliate links. Thank you for your support.

If you’ve ever attempted it, you know choosing a Greek island can feel daunting. With more than 200 inhabited islands, the options seem endless, especially when nearly every one is described as having “beautiful beaches, charming villages, and great food.”

By now, your social media feed has probably already been taken over by videos of the usual suspects. There’s nothing wrong with those places, and i’m sure you will have an absolutely fantastic time in Milos. However, if you get as much of a thrill from discovering overlooked places as I do, I want to encourage you to consider the island-less-traveled. Our recent stay on Kalamos reminded me how much I love this approach to travel.

I came across Kalamos while searching for places to stay near Lefkada. This is often how I find my favorite destinations, I stumble upon a stay that feels special first, and then build the itinerary around it.

Especially in this part of Greece, it can start to feel a little mind-numbing searching for accommodations. There are plenty of luxury villas with infinity pools for groups looking to party, or families with children. There was very little info about Kalamos available, with only a few stays and not a modern villa in sight. I felt confident that this was exactly what we were looking for.

We met our hosts in the tiny port after a short private boat transfer. They picked us up in the electric golf cart, which would be our mode of transportation for our stay. The island is car-free, though few locals do have their own vehicles.

The house itself is a lesson in simplicity. Thoughtfully chosen materials and natural textures leave room for the surrounding landscape to take center stage. The owners are the stewards of an NGO dedicated to “building sustainable and resilient remote island communities through environmental, educational, technological, and hospitality innovations,”. That intentionality is reflected in every aspect of the property, including the lush fruit and vegetable garden. They even led the restoration of the island’s natural spring, allowing residents and visitors to collect fresh spring water from a communal refill station.

I find myself drawn to places with a deep connection to their surroundings, and Kalamos turned out to be exactly that. Our days consisted of slow mornings picking veggies from the garden, trips through the cypress and pine forest to explore various beaches, chats with the owner of the taverna, and meals on the patio. There is nothing to do, and it is perfect.

This is one of those places where it doesn’t yet feel like tourism has fully reshaped the rhythm of daily life. We didn’t need a long list of attractions because the island itself was the experience.

Curiosity, rather than the algorithm, led the way.

Links

• Airbnb link

• Pelagoo link to book directly (We booked directly)

• My vintage store

• Shop My Home & Favorites

This content is completely free, and I don't make any money from creating it. If you find it helpful and would like to support my work, I'd be grateful if you subscribed, followed me on Instagram, shopped my vintage collection, or used one of my affiliate links. Thank you for your support.

Links

• Part 1

• Available vintage

• What i’m wearing

  • Gingham capris (on sale)

  • Fisherman sandals

Where we stayed

Kypseli Apartment

We loved this sweet little apartment. From the terrazzo floors to the intentional details throughout, we felt both inspired and right at home.

Located outside the tourist center but just off a lively residential square, we had easy access to restaurants and shops while returning each evening to a quiet apartment.

What we did

Provelegios Modernist House

A quick stroll by this renowned modernist work.

Aristomenis Provelegios was an architect of international prestige who studied urban planning at the Sorbonne and worked in Le Corbusier’s office.

One of the most characteristic examples of modern architecture in Athens, which remains unchanged over time, the work of architect Aristomenis Provelegios , built in 1958. In 2009 it was sensitively renovated by architect Dionysis Sotovikis , who uses it as an atelier. - Source

Alekos Fassianos Museum

I've never been particularly drawn to Fassianos' work, but seeing his moodier paintings in person completely changed my mind. As an architecture lover, exploring the collection within the reimagined site of the family's former home made the experience all the more immersive. Don't forget to browse the gift shop—we came home with several prints and a few other treasures.

The site was home to the Fassianos family in the 1930s. The townhouse was demolished in 1970 and a polykatoikia (Athenian apartment building) was erected in its place. Along with his close friend and prominent architect Kyriakos Krokos, Fassianos remodeled the newly built polykatoikia over the course of two decades, completing their work in 1996. - Source

Retronion

Pedestal tables and art galore. I loved their selection of mirrors and bedside tables.

Nikolakis Bookstore

Filled with old, rare, and out-of-print books, I found a beautiful Greek book to take home. When the owner noticed the spine was weak, he kindly offered to repair it, and we returned the next day to pick it up.

Monastiraki Antique Market

The last time we visited Athens, we intentionally skipped the markets in Monastiraki, assuming they would be too touristy. This time, feeling a little braver (and visiting earlier in the season), we were pleasantly surprised to find them quite manageable.

While I saw various interesting objects and art, our best find was a lighting shop where you can create your own custom lamp. Shades line the walls, and once you’ve made your selection, the owner can make you your preferred style of fixture right there in his workshop.

Mouki Mou Athens

Located on an incredibly charming street lined with Neoclassical buildings in Plaka, this shop carries a mix of familiar brands and pieces by Greek and international artists, all housed within a 1970s building reimagined by a Greek designer. It's on the pricier side, but if you're looking to splurge on something special, it's a fun place to do it. The space itself is beautiful.

Benizelos Mansion

Since we were already passing by, we stopped into the oldest surviving house in Athens.

Admission is free, and it’s a quick visit if you’re in the area, though I’m not sure I’d go out of my way to see it.

Holy Church of the Holy Unmercenaries of Kolokynthis - Metochion of the Holy Sepulchre

A gorgeous church to pop into.

Head up to Anafiotika after.

Soul & Matter

An antique store worth browsing. I came home with this fish bottle opener.

Holy Church of Saint George of Lycabettus

I initially wrote this off as another tourist attraction, but the little chapel combined with the sweeping views over the city made it well worth the trip.

We took the cable car up since we were short on time, then walked back down while taking in the views over Athens.

Where we ate

Komna Traka

A great neighborhood spot for coffee and a bite to eat. We recommend the yogurt dessert.

Greek Stories

I'm gluten-free, which is why you won't find many restaurant recommendations from me. This was a solid option if you're looking for gluten-free pita!

More links:

• Travel essentials

  • travel sound soother (essential for traveling in busy European cities)

  • travel pillow (bringing my own pillow has been revolutionary for me)

This content is completely free, and I don't make any money from creating it. If you find it helpful and would like to support my work, I'd be grateful if you subscribed, followed me on Instagram, shopped my vintage collection, or used one of my affiliate links. Thank you for your support.

When visiting a new city as a design enthusiast, there’s a certain understanding that what will actually excite me rarely sits neatly inside a “Top 10” list. The places that stay with me tend to require a bit more digging.

The few Athens design guides I found ahead of the trip were already outdated, just a year or two old, but enough time for a surprising number of places to have closed. Most (understandably) focused on the usual suspects like the Acropolis and Parthenon. On top of that, several museums I had bookmarked were closed during our visit. I had to rely more on following small leads and Reddit deep dives.

What I found in Athens wasn’t concentrated in a single neighborhood or a neatly packaged experience, but revealed itself in fragments beneath layers of graffiti and ancient ruins.

Where we stayed

Subscribe now

Airbnb link

I have the disorder where my brain does not allow me to select an accommodation until I have carefully explored each of the standard 15 pages returned from an Airbnb search query. Unfortunately, this does result in finding some pretty incredible places to stay, fueling my neurosis.

Cannot recommend these sandals enough, they helped me survive 15k+ step days in the 95 degree heat.

Buried in the listings I found this gorgeous apartment.

The kitchen is what initially caught my eye, but it was the sensitive restoration and renovation the owner accomplished that really blew me away. I couldn’t get over those restored original columns in the living room.

We loved our stay here—our only piece of feedback was regarding the lack of air conditioning in the kitchen and living space. This made for a comfortable sleep, but quite a bit of sweating otherwise. It was in the 90s, but I imagine it would be just fine in a bit cooler temperatures.

Where we shopped

• Old prints

• The Antoine Shop

• Psyri Secondhand Stalls

• Antiqua

• Mofu

For Art

My first recommendation is a shop near Syntagma Square called Old Prints. We spent quite a bit of time going through their endless collection of antique prints, and the owners were absolutely lovely, despite the fact that we could not communicate with them in Greek. There’s something about paper ephemera that always feels like an entry point into a place’s visual language.

A painting discovered at The Antoine Shop caught my attention. When I asked about it, the owner took us to his private studio to see more of his work. I fell in love with this Yannis Tsarouchis reproduction, but sadly the owner wasn’t willing to ship it, and I ran out of time to do it myself. Perhaps I will pick one up on my next visit!

Secondhand Stalls

In Psyri, you’d turn a corner and find chaotic passages filled with objects. These weren’t curated vintage shops, but felt more like an archaeological dig. So many treasures to discover. I came home with some Bulgarian pottery for 1 euro.

For curated vintage

I make a point to check out the vintage scene wherever we go. Though I am less likely to try to ship a bigger piece home, I love seeing what collectors all over the world are currently interested in.

Antiqua —great for rare designer vintage for the serious collector. Think Sottsass, Scarpa, Ponti, etc. We had a beautiful conversation with the person who was working there. She was headed to Tinos the next day, too!

Mofu was closed, but through their big walls of glass I was able to see that it is worth a visit. Filled with collectibles but with a sense of humor, space-age lighting, and colorful Italian design. Right up my alley, and I hope to make it inside next time :)

Other beauty

• Marble Carving Class

• Panagía Kapnikaréa Church

From there, a marble carving class with a third-generation sculptor—an Airbnb experience I found through Meredith on TikTok. This was a challenge, especially while we were incredibly jet lagged, but we had so much fun. Working with marble, even briefly, gave a completely different appreciation for the craft.

We stumbled into Panagía Kapnikaréa Church and I was blown away by the iconostasis, so much so that I came back for a second visit later in our trip. Bumping into ancient architecture is one of the most delightful parts about roaming around Athens. I will work on forgiving them for opening an H&M right next to this beautiful church.

Shop new vintage arrivals here.