A Greek travel expert has highlighted a common mistake tourists make when visiting the Greek islands: bringing large suitcases while island hopping.
Sophie Jensen, a 31-year-old from the Netherlands, shared her advice on TikTok, where she has over 780,000 followers and offers tips on exploring Greece.
In her latest video, Sophie emphasized the difficulties of navigating the narrow, stone-paved streets and car-free town centres with heavy luggage. “Large suitcases and overpacking are huge mistakes when going to Greece,” she warned. Sophie recounted her experience from an 81-day tour of Greece, admitting that even though she had a smaller bag for essentials, she regrettably brought a large suitcase. “Big mistake. Avoid it at all costs,” she advised.
Sophie clarified that bringing a large suitcase might be acceptable if you stay in the same hotel for two weeks with a direct transfer from the airport. However, she cautioned that her “simple rule” for travelling to more inaccessible places is to “not bring what you can’t carry yourself.”
In addition to luggage advice, Sophie shared other tips for making the most of a trip to the Greek islands. She stressed the importance of researching the islands in advance to ensure they meet everyone’s expectations. “Not every island is budget or child-friendly, and some islands are less suitable if you can’t rent a car,” she noted.
She also recommended checking ferry timetables before booking hotels, as not all islands are connected, which could complicate travel plans. “Make sure you don’t have a non-refundable hotel booking before figuring out how to get from A to B,” Sophie advised.
Another tip from Sophie was to check shop opening hours, as some may close from 2-3pm until 5-6pm. She added that it’s polite to stay quiet during “siesta” hours in residential areas, as many Greeks take naps at that time.
Sophie’s advice comes amid growing concerns about overcrowding on popular islands like Santorini. Recent videos on TikTok show hordes of tourists struggling to navigate narrow laneways with their suitcases or queuing for sunset selfies. The overcrowding has become so intense that what should be a short walk to a clifftop view can now take over 20 minutes.
Tourism plays a significant role in Greece’s economy, accounting for around a quarter of its economic output. The country has seen record-breaking numbers of visitors in the post-Covid era, with 32.7 million tourists in 2023—a significant 18% increase from the previous year. The trend continues in 2024, with a nearly 25% rise in visitors in the first quarter alone.
