12 Tourist Traps To Avoid in the Greek Islands for an Authentic Experience 2024

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Millions of tourists visit Greece and its picturesque islands yearly to enjoy wall-to-wall sunshine, warm turquoise waters, traditional Greek food, and historic whitewashed towns and villages. However, like most popular places worldwide, tourist traps do exist.

Whether it be an unauthentic souvenir shop, an overrated photo spot, or locals trying to charge travelers more than the locals, tourist traps in Greece can waste your time and drain your budget.

With so many things you need to avoid during your visit if you want a truly authentic experience, we’ve decided to help. To learn more, here are 12 tourist traps to avoid in the Greek islands.

Visiting the Most Popular Islands

Stunning European Landscapes Santorini, Greece — © Patryk Kosmider / Adobe Stock

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One of the easiest ways to avoid tourist traps in the Greek islands is to visit lesser-known islands, where prices tend to be cheaper and crowds are smaller. While places like Santorini and Mykonos are breathtaking destinations, avoiding tourist traps is difficult.

Around famous beaches and attractions, you’ll find overpriced hotels, souvenirs, food, and large crowds. Therefore, visit somewhere quieter and enjoy a more authentic experience.

A fine example is Folegandros. This beautiful island neighbors Santorini, but it’s much more peaceful, affordable, and relaxed despite offering many of the same things. With this in mind, try not to succumb to the pull of picture-perfect destinations on Instagram.

Eating at the Beach

Visa-Free Travel to Exotic Locations Kefalonia, Greece — © adisa / Adobe Stock

One of Greece’s biggest tourist traps is eating in the bars, cafes, and restaurants that line the beaches. Food prices at beachfront locations are almost always hiked up to target tourists on vacation. Food ordered at the beach can be 20% to 30% more expensive than food prepared in a taverna a few streets back.

The best way to avoid this tourist trap is to eat before or after you visit the beach. Alternatively, take a small something with you to eat when you arrive. Either way, don’t eat at the beachfront to save money and keep your budget looking healthy.

Traveling Around by Tour Bus

Greek Islands That Have Airports Rhodes — © lubos K / Adobe Stock

Traveling by tour bus offers a convenient way to see an island’s main attractions in a short amount of time. However, tour buses are generally more expensive than local transport, and they usually end up at an overpriced tourist store in the middle of nowhere. Taking local transport is a more authentic way to explore the islands.

Local transport might take longer, but you’ll experience local life, meet new people, and find hidden gems other tourists won’t. Alternatively, hiring a local tour guide for the day might be better than spending a large sum on a bus tour.

You’ll be taken to more authentic locations, shown the best local restaurants, and told more about the island by someone who’s lived there most of their lives.

Buying Overpriced Souvenirs

We all love shopping for souvenirs to take home to our loved ones on vacation, but that doesn’t mean we have to spend far too much money on overpriced and, quite frankly, awful souvenirs. Souvenir shops in popular towns and at popular attractions are usually overpriced, and they sell cheaply made souvenirs that, in all honesty, nobody wants back home.

Therefore, save money and make someone back home happy by buying something smaller and more meaningful. For example, sending home a postcard of the places you’ve visited is more meaningful than an overpriced, poorly made keyring. If you have room in your luggage, you could also take home some traditional Greek sweets or alcohol. Either way, this is better than wasting money on mass-produced souvenirs.

Visiting Restaurants From Social Media

Unmissable Things To Do in Santorini Divulge in Wine Tasting — © kityyaya / Adobe Stock

If you want to find internationally renowned dining spots influencers fill up your Instagram feed with, then expect to spend a lot of money. Restaurants that have experienced viral success tend to be more expensive than lesser-known restaurants, which are just as good.

For a more authentic and budget-friendly experience, visit a family-owned taverna or grab a bite from a local market. These places offer a more traditional Greek island experience at a more reasonable price and are usually quieter, so you can enjoy your food in peace.

Paying for Chain Hotel Rooftop Views

Similarly to visiting restaurants you see all over social media, don’t fall into the trap of dining or staying at a chain hotel just because it has rooftop views. On social media, it’s become popular for travelers to visit luxury hotels just for the photo opportunities from the rooftop bars and restaurants.

While these hotels offer a fantastic experience, you’ll pay a premium. Not only will your room cost more, but drinks and food will likely be more expensive! What makes this even worse is that you can easily take in intoxicating views from all over the islands. Whether it be a small local taverna or a nearby viewpoint, you can enjoy iconic views without the viral rooftops!

Buying Designer Knock-Offs

On famous Greek Islands, it’s not uncommon to encounter markets selling what appear to be the latest designer goods at lower-than-market-value prices. While the idea of a bargain is enticing, you should avoid these stalls because the goods on offer are likely fake.

Admittedly, this tourist trap happens in most places, but it’s good to know if you come across any fake designer products. Some fake items at a market include designer handbags, clothes, and jewelry. The best way to avoid this trap is to think, ‘If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably isn’t.’

Only Eating Greek Food You’ve Heard About

In the Greek Islands, it’s easy to fall into the trap of only eating the food you’ve already heard about. While this isn’t necessarily bad because most Greek food is delicious, you’ll do yourself a severe injustice.

Greece is a vast country, and almost every region has its own specialties you probably haven’t heard about. Therefore, by researching before you visit, asking the receptionist at your hotel, or asking the server for recommendations, you can try a vast range of interesting, authentic dishes you’ve never tried. This will open you up to a world of new flavors, smells, and textures.

Taking Photos of Santorini at Sunset

Unmissable Things To Do in Santorini Enjoy a Sunset in Oia Village — © Aleh Varanishcha / Adobe Stock

If you have Instagram, you’ve undoubtedly seen the famous sunset photographs of Santorini and its colorful, whitewashed buildings with blue roofs. If you haven’t, you must’ve been living under a rock because the image of this iconic Greek island has become a symbol for Greek island vacations.

However, as serene as this spot looks, the truth is the opposite. At sunset, the queues to take just one photograph in front of the white Anastasis Church with the fiery skies behind you are enormous. You can wait up to two hours to take the Santorini cable car. With that in mind, consider visiting somewhere else for sunset if you want to avoid the crowds.

Staying in an All-Inclusive Resort

Staying in an all-inclusive resort can be great fun. You’ll have everything you need to enjoy your time in Greece at arm’s length, including food, drink, a swimming pool, and activities. However, that’s part of the problem with all-inclusive resorts.

Having everything in one place makes it extremely tempting to spend every day at the resort, which will prevent you from seeing the real Greece. Outside the resort walls is a Greek paradise filled with authentic food, local people, internationally renowned landmarks, and unique experiences. To experience all this and more, either avoid staying at an all-inclusive resort or spend time away from it. For example, don’t eat every meal at your resort. Head out and eat somewhere local instead.

Not Checking Prices Before Eating at a Restaurant

Things You Should Know Before Going to the Greek Islands Budgeting — © pkazmierczak / Adobe Stock

Unfortunately, a common scam in the Greek islands is restaurants charging tourists well over the odds for food and drink. Therefore, it’s crucial to carefully read the menu and check prices before ordering anything at a restaurant. If a restaurant doesn’t have a menu with prices and won’t divulge how much items cost, don’t eat there!

When reading the menu, it’s also essential to try to spot any hidden tricks. For example, some restaurants list the price of a cocktail as a shot, and each cocktail will contain three of four shots, so when you come to pay, the cost could be three or four times higher. This tourist trap could quickly ruin your Greek island vacation, so do your research and avoid it.

Visiting Major Attractions at Midday

Unmissable Things To Do in Santorini Best Time To Visit Santorini — © Kirk Fisher / Adobe Stock

If you visit the Greek Islands during the peak season, you’ll have to fight your way through the crowds to get up close to some of the most famous attractions and landmarks. Not only does this detract from the authentic feel of your vacation, but it also wastes a lot of time.

An excellent way to avoid this is by visiting early in the morning before the crowds arrive. If you arrive as soon as an attraction opens, you might have the entire place to yourself while everyone else is just getting out of bed. Better yet, it won’t be as hot yet, so you’ll feel more relaxed and comfortable walking around.