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Greece Travel & Culture Blog

Stories, Guides & Perspectives from Greece and Greeks Abroad

Curious about life in Greece? Wondering if Mykonos is worth the hype, or where to find the country's best-kept secrets? Whether you're dreaming of a wedding in Santorini or planning your next island hop, this blog has the answers.

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Discover Greece With GetGreece

The Greece Travel & Culture Blog is your front-row seat to all things Greece. From island guides, ancient traditions and how-to's to real stories and interviews with Greeks around the world. Whether you're planning a trip, exploring your roots, or just obsessed with the Greek lifestyle, you'll find honest insights, helpful tips, and hidden gems right here.

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Greek Recipes for Authentic Greek Dishes

Dessert

Amygdalopita

A rich, dense, and naturally gluten-free almond cake soaked in a light, citrus-infused syrup.

Amygdalopita: A moist Greek almond cake soaked in citrus syrup.

Soup

Avgolemono

A velvety, comforting chicken soup thickened with a signature egg and lemon emulsion.

Avgolemono: Creamy lemon-egg soup with shredded chicken and rice.

Dessert

Baklava

Layers of crisp, buttered phyllo packed with spiced walnuts and drenched in honey syrup.

Baklava: Layers of crisp phyllo pastry with spiced walnuts and honey syrup.

Dessert / Breakfast

Bougatsa

Layers of exceptionally thin, buttery phyllo wrapped around a warm, creamy semolina custard and dusted with cinnamon.

Bougatsa: Creamy semolina custard wrapped in crunchy phyllo with cinnamon.

Main Course / Side

Briam

A vibrant medley of zucchini, potatoes, and eggplant roasted in a rich garlic and tomato oil.

Briam: Medley of roasted Mediterranean vegetables in a rich tomato sauce.

Main Course

Chicken Gyro Merida

Juicy, marinated chicken gyro served as a platter with pita, "Athens" yellow sauce, and fresh garden salad.

Chicken Gyro Merida: Chicken gyro platter served with pita bread, fries, and salad.

Dessert

Diples

Delicate, thin sheets of dough folded while frying to create crispy, honey-drenched "folds."

Diples: Thin fried dough spirals drizzled with honey and crushed walnuts.

Appetizer / Meze

Domatokeftedes

Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, these fritters burst with the flavor of sun-ripened tomatoes and fresh mint.

Domatokeftedes: Crispy fried Santorini tomato fritters with fresh herbs.

Soup / Main Course

Fakes

A hearty, earthy lentil soup finished with a signature splash of vinegar and olive oil.

Fakes: Hearty Greek lentil soup finished with vinegar and olive oil.

Soup / Main Course

Fasolada

A simple, hearty white bean soup enriched with extra virgin olive oil and fresh vegetables.

Fasolada: Classic white bean soup, the national dish of Greece.

Meze / Appetizer

Fava

A velvety, sun-colored puree of yellow split peas topped with caramelized onions and capers.

Fava: Smooth yellow split pea purée topped with onions and capers.

Main Course / Meze

Garides Saganaki

Plump shrimp simmered in a piquant tomato sauce and topped with melted, salty feta cheese.

Garides Saganaki: Sizzling shrimp cooked with tomato sauce and melted feta.

Main Course

Gemista (Orfana)

Sun-ripened tomatoes and peppers stuffed with herb-flecked rice, raisins, and pine nuts.

Gemista (Orfana): Meatless stuffed peppers and tomatoes with rice and herbs.

Main Course / Meze

Gigantes Plaki

Giant "elephant" beans slow-baked in a rich, herb-filled tomato sauce until creamy and caramelized.

Gigantes Plaki: Baked giant beans in a rich tomato and garlic sauce.

Main Course

Gyro Wrap (Traditional Blend)

A seasoned blend of minced beef and lamb, roasted and thinly sliced for the classic, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Gyro Wrap (Traditional Blend): Seasoned meats with pita and tzatziki.

Dessert

Halvas (Sιmigdali)

A toasted semolina pudding cake scented with cinnamon, cloves, and orange, naturally dairy-free and vegan.

Halvas (Simigdali): Semolina pudding flavored with cinnamon, cloves, and toasted nuts.

Main Course / Side

Hortopita

A savory, earthy pie filled with a mix of wild seasonal greens, fresh herbs, and tangy feta.

Hortopita: Traditional greens pie made with wild herbs and phyllo.

Meze / Main Course

Grilled Octopus

Tender, charred octopus tentacles infused with red wine vinegar, oregano, and premium olive oil.

Grilled Octopus: Charred octopus tentacles with lemon and olive oil.

Dessert

Karydopita

A dark, intensely aromatic walnut cake infused with cinnamon and cloves, drenched in a cool honey syrup.

Karydopita: Moist walnut sponge cake finished with light honey syrup.

Appetizer / Meze

Keftedakia

Juicy, herb-infused meatballs fried until golden and served as the star of every Greek gathering.

Keftedakia: Small fried meatballs seasoned with mint and oregano.

Main Course

Kleftiko

Succulent lamb and vegetables slow-cooked in a parchment pouch to lock in every drop of flavor.

Kleftiko: Lamb slow-roasted in parchment with garlic and herbs.

Main Course

Kokkinisto

Succulent beef or veal slow-braised in a rich, velvety tomato sauce scented with cinnamon, allspice, and red wine.

Kokkinisto: Hearty beef stew braised in spiced tomato sauce.

Main Course

Kontosouvli

Extra-large chunks of marinated pork slow-roasted on a rotisserie until the exterior is charred and the inside is meltingly tender.

Kontosouvli: Large skewers of pork slow-roasted over charcoal.

Soup

Kotosoupa Avgolemono

A rich, restorative chicken and rice soup finished with the iconic, silky egg-lemon emulsion.

Kotosoupa Avgolemono: Chicken soup with silky egg-lemon emulsion.

Dessert / Cookies

Kourabiedes

Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth almond cookies heavily dusted in powdered sugar.

Kourabiedes: Buttery almond shortbread cookies dusted with powdered sugar.

Dessert

Loukoumades

Crispy, deep-fried dough balls soaked in warm honey syrup and dusted with cinnamon and walnuts.

Loukoumades: Fluffy honey puffs sprinkled with cinnamon and walnuts.

Main Course

Pastitsio

A soul warming bake of tubular pasta, aromatic meat sauce, and thick, fluffy béchamel sauce.

Pastitsio: Baked pasta with meat sauce and creamy béchamel.

Main Course

Souvlaki

Tender, marinated meat grilled to perfection and served with warm pita and tzatziki.

Souvlaki: Grilled meat skewers seasoned with lemon and oregano.

Main Course

Stifado

A rich, aromatic stew featuring tender meat simmered with plenty of pearl onions, cinnamon, and red wine.

Stifado: Slow-cooked beef stew with whole shallots and spices.

Breakfast / Dessert

Tiganites

Golden, fluffy fried dough discs drizzled with thyme honey and topped with toasted walnuts or cinnamon.

Tiganites: Traditional pancakes drizzled with honey and nuts.

Bread / Dessert

Tsoureki

A rich, stringy, brioche-like sweet bread flavored with the exotic aromas of mahlab, mastic, and orange zest.

Tsoureki: Sweet braided Easter bread flavored with mahlab.

Appetizer / Dip

Tzatziki

A refreshing, creamy blend of thick yogurt, crisp cucumber, and punchy garlic.

Tzatziki: Cool yogurt and cucumber dip with garlic and dill.

Dessert

Xerotigana

Crispy, paper-thin ribbons of fried dough coiled into intricate roses and drenched in honey and cinnamon.

Xerotigana: Crispy fried pastry ribbons from Crete with honey.

Soup / Main Course

Youvarlakia

Tender beef and rice meatballs poached in a light broth and finished with a velvety egg-lemon sauce.

Youvarlakia: Greek meatballs in silky egg-lemon avgolemono sauce.

Main Course

Roasted Lamb with Potatoes

Succulent lamb and potatoes roasted together in a lemon, garlic, and oregano-infused olive oil sauce.

Roasted Lamb with Potatoes: Roasted lamb with potatoes seasoned with garlic, lemon, and mountain oregano.

Main Course

Bakaliaros Skordalia

Crispy, beer-battered cod served alongside a powerful, velvety garlic and potato mash.

Bakaliaros Skordalia: Crispy fried cod served with pungent garlic potato dip Skordalia.

Main Course / Side

Batzina

A rustic, flour-based zucchini and feta bake that is wonderfully thin and golden.

Batzina: Traditional crustless zucchini and feta pie baked until golden.

Appetizer / Meze

Bouyourdi

A bubbling, spicy pot of melted feta, tomatoes, peppers, and high quality olive oil.

Bouyourdi: Spicy baked feta cheese with tomatoes, peppers, and olive oil.

Main Course

Chicken Gyro Wrap

Tender, yogurt-marinated chicken thighs roasted and sliced into juicy strips, served with a bright mustard-mayo sauce.

Chicken Gyro Wrap: Chicken gyro wrap stuffed with pita, tzatziki, tomatoes, and red onions.

Salad / Meze

Dakos

Crunchy barley rusks topped with juicy grated tomatoes, creamy mizithra or feta, wild oregano, and plenty of olive oil.

Dakos: Cretan barley rusks topped with grated tomato, feta, and olives.

Meze / Appetizer

Dolmades

Tender grape leaves stuffed with a savory herb infused rice filling.

Dolmades: Tender grape leaves stuffed with a herb-infused rice mixture.

Dessert

Ekmek Kataifi

A decadent three-layer dessert featuring syrup-soaked kataifi pastry, cool custard, and fluffy whipped cream.

Ekmek Kataifi: Dessert with shredded pastry, custard, and whipped cream.

Dessert / Cake

Fanouropita

A vegan, spiced cake baked with nine symbolic ingredients to honor Saint Phanourios and find "lost items."

Fanouropita: Spiced Lenten cake flavored with cinnamon, cloves, and raisins.

Main Course / Side

Fasolakia

Tender flat green beans braised in a rich tomato and olive oil sauce with potatoes and carrots.

Fasolakia: Green beans braised in a rich tomato and olive oil sauce.

Dessert

Galaktoboureko

Silky semolina custard baked between layers of crispy, butter-drenched phyllo and soaked in lemon syrup.

Galaktoboureko: Creamy semolina custard baked in crispy buttered phyllo.

Main Course

Gemista

Vibrant bell peppers and tomatoes bursting with a savory rice and herb filling.

Gemista: Bell peppers and tomatoes stuffed with seasoned rice and herbs.

Meze / Main Course

Gigantes

Creamy, oversized white beans baked in a rich, herbed tomato sauce until butter-soft.

Gigantes: Large buttery beans slow-cooked in a savory herb broth.

Main Course

Giouvetsaki Thalassinon

A luxurious clay-pot bake of orzo pasta and a medley of shrimp, mussels, and calamari in a light, briny tomato broth.

Giouvetsaki Thalassinon: Seafood and orzo pasta baked in tomato sauce.

Main Course

Gyro Merida (Plate)

A generous deconstructed gyro served on a plate with pita bread, heaps of meat, tzatziki, onions, and a mountain of fries.

Gyro Merida (Plate): Sliced rotisserie meat with pita, onions, and fries.

Salad / Side

Horiatiki (The Greek Village Salad)

The classic village salad made with ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and creamy feta.

Horiatiki (Greek Village Salad): Cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and feta.

Main Course / Meze

Octopus Krasato

Tender octopus slow-simmered in a rich, aromatic red wine and tomato sauce.

Octopus Krasato: Tender octopus slow-simmered in red wine sauce.

Dessert

Karidopita

A moist, dark walnut cake infused with cinnamon and cloves, drenched in a fragrant honey syrup.

Karidopita: Syrup-soaked walnut cake with warm autumn spices.

Dessert

Kataifi

Shredded "angel hair" pastry wrapped around a spiced nut center and soaked in lemon-honey syrup.

Kataifi: Shredded phyllo pastry filled with nuts and soaked in syrup.

Meze / Appetizer

Keftedes

Crispy, herb-scented meatballs that are juicy on the inside and perfectly golden on the outside.

Keftedes: Juicy Greek meatballs served with lemon.

Dessert / Pastry

Kok

Small, soft sponge cake "sandwiches" filled with velvety vanilla pastry cream and dipped in a glossy chocolate glaze.

Kok: Small chocolate cream puffs topped with glossy glaze.

Appetizer / Meze

Kolokithokeftedes

Light, herb-flecked zucchini fritters with creamy feta and a crisp golden crust.

Kolokithokeftedes: Golden zucchini fritters with feta and fresh dill.

Dessert

Kopenhai

A majestic dessert featuring a thick, spiced almond and walnut cake sandwiched between buttery layers of phyllo.

Kopenhai: Cake with almond filling and crisp phyllo crust.

Bread / Breakfast

Koulouri

A simple, chewy bread ring coated in a thick layer of toasted sesame seeds.

Koulouri: Sesame-crusted Greek bread rings sold as street food.

Dessert

Kourkoubinia

Miniature, bite-sized phyllo rolls fried until glass-shatteringly crisp and soaked in a light, aromatic syrup.

Kourkoubinia: Crispy fried phyllo rolls soaked in aromatic sugar syrup.

Main Course

Moussaka

Master the iconic layered masterpiece of eggplant, spiced meat, and creamy béchamel.

Moussaka: Layered casserole with eggplant, meat sauce, and béchamel.

Appetizer / Meze

Saganaki

A thick slice of hard Greek cheese seared until golden and bubbly with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Saganaki: Fried Greek cheese seared until golden and bubbly.

Main Course / Side

Spanakopita

Flaky, buttery phyllo dough wrapped around a vibrant filling of spinach, feta, and fresh herbs.

Spanakopita: Classic spinach pie with feta and phyllo.

Appetizer / Dip

Taramosalata

A creamy, tangy, and salty dip made from high quality fish roe, lemon, and olive oil.

Taramosalata: Creamy fish roe dip served with warm pita bread.

Appetizer / Side

Tiropita

A golden, flaky masterpiece filled with a rich blend of Greek cheeses.

Tiropita: Golden feta cheese pie wrapped in flaky phyllo.

Appetizer / Dip

Tyrokafteri

A creamy, sharp feta cheese dip with a bold kick of roasted chili peppers and Greek yogurt.

Tyrokafteri: Spicy whipped feta dip with roasted red peppers.

Dessert / Cake

Vasilopita

A fragrant, moist cake scented with orange and mahlab, hiding a lucky coin for the New Year.

Vasilopita: Traditional New Year’s cake with a hidden coin.

Main Course

Grilled Swordfish

Meaty chunks of fresh swordfish marinated in lemon and bay leaves, grilled to smoky perfection.

Grilled Swordfish (Xiphias Souvlaki): Swordfish skewers grilled with lemon and oil.

Main Course

Youvetsi

Tender lamb or beef slow-roasted in a rich tomato sauce with silky orzo pasta.

Youvetsi: One-pot baked orzo with tender meat and tomato sauce.
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