Many Brits fly to Greece for their summer holidays – and one woman who visited the European country shared one thing you should avoid doing if you visit too
It’s well known that summer is the peak season for traveling overseas, particularly because children are on school break and many destinations enjoy their warmest weather during this time. Brits regularly travel to European favourites, including Spain, France, Greece and Italy, to enjoy seaside breaks and outdoor activities, like watersports.
Whilst these countries sit relatively close to the UK, they have distinct cultural customs and practices that might catch tourists off guard. So Alexa, a British holidaymaker in Greece, took to TikTok to share a useful piece of advice for fellow travellers heading to the southeastern European destination.
She shared a video from a restaurant on the Greek island of Skiathos, showing herself seated around a table with friends, who were the only diners there.
Alexa added the on-screen text: “God forbid a girl makes a dinner reservation at 6.30pm in Greece.”
The clip shows her surrounded by lots of empty tables and chairs throughout the venue. In the caption she wrote: “We’ve learned our lesson but still.”
The video has gained two million views, attracted more than 100,000 likes, and sparked hundreds of comments, with most people agreeing that 6:30 p.m. is too early for dinner in Greece.
One local explained: “At 6:30pm in Greece we’re having our afternoon coffee. Dinner is after 20:00.”
Another chimed in: “The earliest we eat dinner here is 8pm.”
A confused European resident exclaimed: “6:30??? As a European that is diabolical! I’m surprised it was even open.”
Another person, familiar with Greek dining habits, added: “My family in Greece eat dinner around 9-10 PM lol.”
A fourth viewer quipped: “Pretty sure that’s not legal… people still at the beach girl..”
Other holidaymakers confessed in the comments section that they were also unaware of the later dining times typical in Greece compared to the UK.
One shared: “The first night we got here we went for dinner at about 7 and it was empty besides one American family.”
A second echoed: “Girl same we were super early.”
However, another viewer saw a positive: “The lesson here is keep booking for 6.30pm so you don’t have crowds lol.”
Travel agent Greeka suggests that locals may have their last meal as late as 11pm, especially during summer when sunset is around 9pm.
Many Greeks prefer to wait until nightfall before having dinner, as they spend much of their day outside soaking up the sunny, warm climate, with temperatures climbing to 35°C.
According to the travel guide, lunch is typically served between noon and 5pm while restaurants see their busiest dinner hours from 8 to 10pm.
It’s certainly a lifestyle that feels quite different!