In Benitses there was the Corfu shell museum with one of Europe’s largest collection of shells and other marine species, it was housed in a building on the highway at the entrance of the village as we enter from Corfu, but from 2015 onwards moved in a lobby of Potamaki hotel.
The museum was a gem for Benitses, not only because it was one of the few of its kind in Greece but also because the rich collection consisted of very rare and beautiful marine species, some of which claimed Guinness awards due to their rarity and beauty.
The museum and its exhibitions
Created by the diver and collector Napoleon Sagias who enriched the museum with rare findings collected during his 20 years traveling in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, diving and collecting shells.
The museum’s collection was huge, as important exhibits were the shell Kypraia foultoni, the shell Melo Amphora, the HALIOTIS IRIS from Zealand of the most beautiful in the world, TRIDACNA GIGAS the largest in the world. But also other poisonous shells, rare starfish, small and large stuffed fish, rare sharks, piranhas from the Amazon, many crustaceans, and others.
There were shells from Australia, the Philippines, the islands of Samoa, Fiji, the coral reefs of Australia, and other places.
Shell “Kypraia Foultoni” (Cypraea Fultoni) of the Cypraeidae family was one of the rarest in the world, it was purchased by Mr. Sagias in Mozambique from a fisherman who found it in the belly of a fish.
Shell “Melo amphora” of the “Volutidae” family was perhaps the largest in the world, was found in Rosemary Island at Dampier archipelago north of Australia.
In the museum, there was also a blue shark fished by a fisherman in the waters around Athens.
The maritime museum has been honored for his contribution and internationally prized by the Italian Institute of marine research I.R.E.D.A.
Besides tourists, frequent visitors to the museum were schools from all over Corfu and the rest of Greece.
The Shell Museum is permanently closed
We are sorry to announce that Mr. Sagias had passed away a couple of years ago, 2018, and his relatives couldn’t keep the museum open, so the Sea Museum is permanently closed and all its exhibitions have been sold.
Greece is one of the most beautiful and amazing European countries. Thanks to its beautiful seaside, islands, and natural treasures, it’s on so many people’s bucket lists. And, while some people can easily afford to travel to Greece comfortably, it could be a financial challenge for college students.
Still, there’s no reason you should give up on the idea of traveling to Greece as a student. All you need is some guidance and better organization, and you can do it. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of 6 tips to make it possible for you to have a great time in Greece without breaking the bank.
Accommodation is one of the biggest financial challenges you’ll have to face when traveling around Greece on a budget. Below, you’ll find our top three suggestions for cheap yet satisfactory accommodation.
Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is one of the most popular forms of traveling for young people. The concept is simple:
you find someone who’s willing to share their home with you for free
in return, you share your home with others as well
All you need to do is register on a Couchsurfing website and explore potential hosts and locations. This will save you a significant amount of money, even if you do it for just a part of your road.
Combining Couchsurfing with paid accommodation is great for exploring Greece since you want to visit as many different islands, beaches, and locations.
Hostels
Another thing you can do to save money on accommodation is to stay in a hostel. Hostels are great for young, adventurous people who want to make new friends.
You can find a great hostel in Greece for around $15 a night. It’s a huge money saver and a friend to your student budget.
Airbnb
Finally, there’s another great way to save money on accommodation. You can rent an apartment via Airbnb. This accommodation option is far cheaper than staying at a hotel.
Naturally, you’ll have to satisfy with a less comfortable option, but you won’t be spending that much time in your room anyway.
You can find accommodation for two people for less than $30 per night. That’s less than $15 each!
Spend some time exploring AirBnB to catch the best offers.
2) Eat Street Food
Greek street food is super delicious and nutritious. It may not be the healthiest option you have, but you’re only staying for a couple of weeks, so you might as well enjoy it.
You’ll be well-fed and full, but you won’t have to spend a fortune on food. Even though it’s not the finest Greek cuisine, it’s still authentic. Plus, you’ll be experiencing local food as a true traveler should.
Street food in Greece is affordable and delicious, so this shouldn’t be a problem for you.
3) Rent a Bicycle
Greek islands are perfect for experimenting and exploring different locations each day. There are wonderful beaches waiting for you to discover every day.
And, since you’re traveling on a budget, it can be quite challenging to afford to rent a car.
However, you can reach the same places by riding a bicycle. A bicycle is a great choice because it’s:
affordable
healthy
exciting
You can find a bicycle for as little2€ per day, which is amazing.
You’ll get to see everything you’ve wanted, and you’ll manage to save your money for other necessities.
4) Go Off-Season
Greece is a country of tourism. That’s why from the beginning of June to the end of August, it’s the busy summer season in Greece, and the tourists start flooding in.
Naturally, the prices go significantly up during this season.
But luckily, the weather is great in both May and September. You should visit Greece in the off-season to save money and see it from a different perspective.
Plus, it comes with a lot of other perks:
fewer people on the beaches
peaceful
romantic
The off-season is a great way to save money but still enjoy all the beautiful sights in Greece.
5) Book a Flight Far in Advance
The closer the summer season in Greece, the more expensive is the flight to Greece. Planning your trip in advance could save you some serious money and allow you to travel comfortably even as a student.
Try to plan your trip months in advance and buy a plane ticket as soon as possible. That way, you’ll be able to:
find cheaper flights
get the best deal
The money you save here can go a long way once you find yourself in Greece, so consider this idea.
6) Be Your Own Tour Guide
If you want to explore Greece from a historical and cultural perspective, you can save a lot of money by being your own tour guide.
Here’s how to prepare yourself for touring Greece like a professional:
read online blogs and revise about places to visit and things to do
download an offline map of the area
download audio tours
read tour guides and forums
take notes and prepare your own tours
Parthenon
In case you’ve never written anything similar before, you can check out the websites that write essays for students. They can help you put together your first tour guide and use it to save money on your trip to Greece.
Some major cities like Athens even offer free walking tours you could join, which is another great way to save some money.
Final Thoughts
Greece is a mesmerizing beautiful country that you have to visit as soon as possible. And, if you’re worried it may be too pricey for you, just make sure you have a great budget plan.
Use the tips we’ve shared above to create a great strategy for visiting Greece on a student budget. Learn how to have a great time in Greece, even while saving money
AUTHOR Bridgette Hernandez is a freelance writer and blogger with years of experience covering versatile topics. Her main goal is to always provide actionable tips and tricks that are immediately applicable. She specializes in lifestyle and travel blogging.
Kassiopi Corfu is a picturesque tourist resort on the northeastern tip of the island looking across the narrow channel to the Albanian coasts and the port of Saranda.
It’s at a distance just a little over 36km from Corfu town and the airport.
Kassiopi at northeast Corfu
The Ancient Village of Kassiopi
Kassiopi was an ancient village and has played a major role in Corfu’s history, as can be proven by the impressive ruins of the castle overlooking the harbor.
The city was built in the 3rd century BC by the king of Epirus Pyrrhοs and was used as a supply point during his war against Rome.
Later, during the Roman conquest of the island in 230 BC, many Emperors visited it, most notably Emperor Nero.
It is said that Nero watched a play in the local theatre and visited the temple of Dias here.
Antony and Cleopatra stayed here a couple of days before the battle of Actium, where they suffered a huge defeat.
The castle of Kassiopi overlooks the picturesque port of Kassiopi. It was a major stronghold in Byzantine and Venetian times, one of the four castles scattered around the island, with watchtowers in between so signals could be rapidly exchanged.
Unfortunately today it’s in ruins but it is still an important archaeological spot for all visitors to see.
Divers say that in the middle of the harbor a freshwater spring rises, and not far offshore is an islet with a well to enable sailors to refill their water supplies.
How to come from Corfu town and wander around the area
Kassiopi is relatively far from Corfu town, so the daily green bus service takes a couple of hours to reach the village.
Despite this though the trip through the eastern side of the island is quite interesting and in some places magic. It is worth a try.
Of course is always possible to reach the place with a car, the one you will rent and use for your wandering around the island.
If you are already staying in Kassiopi except for the rest of the tourist activities you can rent a jeep or motorbike here and use it to discover the fascinating northeast side of Corfu. Visit the lovely beaches of Erimitis etc…
Of course, there are also other boats for rent with which you can experience lovely trips to the caves and beaches around.
Beaches in and around Kassiopi
The area of Kassiopi is surrounded by many cute small bays which are small and beautiful beaches with very clean waters.
Some of them are among the best in Corfu, examples are the famous Bataria and Pipitos beach, but also the beaches of Kanoni, Kalamionas, and Imerolia are equally nice and easily accessible.
Kassiopi is a quite large resort that dominates the northeastern part of Corfu island.
A wide choice of restaurants and tavernas can be found here- offering something for every taste and pocket.
Also, many supermarkets and local shops that sell traditional lace and more modern souvenirs are scattered all around the area.
There are many bars and some clubs for low-key nightlife as the place is very lively when the night comes. Especially in the area around the port.
Lodging in Kassiopi
In Kassiopi, you will find plenty of Apartments, rooms, and hotels, both luxury and cheap, that are scattered around this large area.
The port of Kassiopi
The center of the village is around the port, which itself is a small natural bay with two small quaysides to protect it from the north winds, from the port starts paths and roads take you to the amazing small beaches around the area.
This port is the settler of the area’s fishermen, as fishing was for centuries the main income for the locals of Kassiopi, but also the mooring spot for vessels during the tourist summer season.
All roads here lead to the sea and particularly to this port that seems the center of daily activities in the village. Here are mooring small boats with tourists from all over the island and therefore is quite busy.
But the port is mainly aimed at the fishermen of the village as Kassiopi has been a fishing village for generations and still is.
The quayside and surrounding esplanade are the hubs of local life. In the cool evenings, people enjoy strolling and chatting with friends and neighbors, and the harbor is surrounded by attractive bars and tavernas offering welcome shade.
Attractive small bays can be reached in a short walk around the headland, and small boats can be chartered to enable visitors to explore the delightful villages, tavernas, and beaches of the beautiful northeast coast.
But Kassiopi remains a very Greek village, a charming and picturesque place surrounded by green vegetation, that welcomes visitors, many of whom return every year, as the village retains its traditions and local color.
At the junction of Eugeniou Voulgareos and M. Theotoki streets, there is the City Hall building that dominates the homonymous square.
The building began built in 1691 and was originally the gathering place for the Venetian nobles of Corfu, loggia di Nobili in Italian.
In 1720 it transformed into a theater. The theater of San Giacomo. It was the first theater in Corfu and the first in the later Greek territory.
Between 1733 and 1893 it became the center of Greek opera, attracting many Italian musicians and composers, many of whom were residents of Corfu and contributed to the local music scene.
The theater was the center for the creation of the Ionian Scholl of Music, its cultural influence was catalytic.
The mixture of Italian and Corfiot music traditions was cultivated by the musicians who created in this theater with the prominent figure of the Corfu composer Nikolaos Halikiopoulos Mantzaros, who later musically invested our national anthem in poetry by Dionysios Solomos.
The theater mainly performed operas and usually a light type of comic opera known as opera buffa, less demanding and therefore less expensive.
Performances also continued in difficult times, such as in situations of siege, when the performances became tools of propaganda and revitalization of the morale of the inhabitants.
Needless to say, the actors of the theater such as professional musicians, performers, and teachers were mainly Italians from southern Italy, of course missing the Greeks.
This is where the first Greek musicians and composers emerged and started at a time when music was unknown in later Greek territory.
At that time Corfu was the capital of the Ionian state, it was considered a political and spiritual center, and especially the San Giacomo Theater had a prominent place on the cultural map of Europe.
The theatrical audience of Corfu had an infallible criterion, in order for a theatrical work to succeed on the European stages, it had to first be able to be applauded in Corfu.
The expression “applauded in Corfu” gave the author informal permission to present his work in other cities.
Antonio Vivaldi presented here the oratorio Juditha Triumphans written on the occasion of the repulse of the Ottoman siege of Corfu in 1716, and then went to Milan and toured all the major European theaters.
It was the composer’s first major oratorio.
Corfu Old Municipal theater
In 1892 the San Giacomo Theater stopped its performances after moving its stage to the old Municipal Theater of Corfu, which in turn unfortunately suffered enormous damage after being bombed by the Germans in 1841 and later demolished to be replaced by the New Municipal Theater, this ugly building we see in the next photo.
New Corfu Municipal Theater
The building of San Giacomo in 1903 become the City Hall of Corfu.
Greece is a country with some of the best islands in the world with distinct characteristics that make it a standout among many other tourist destinations.
But if you think you know everything there is about, there is another hidden Greece, and you might need to make another trip to the islands and discover that other gems are waiting for discovery.
We’ve prepared a list of twelve other beautiful and unspoiled places in Greece you probably never knew existed, but surprise! They do exist, and it’s worthy of a visit.
1. Elafonisos
Elafonisos at Lakonia Greece
Elafonisi beach is a tiny island off the coast of Cape Malea and Vatika. It’s a different paradise, but it is just as stunning as the famous pink sands.
The thing with Elafonisos is that because it’s less famous, there are lesser tourists around which means you can sometimes enjoy the island all to yourself.
Those who know about this tiny gem in the middle of Peloponnese and Kythira love the sandy beaches surrounding the island.
With crystal clear waters, you can surely have a taste of fresh fish straight from the ocean. There are plenty of Greek tavernas around town where you can get a fresh serving of fish dishes that will make your mouth water.
Sure, Santorini is one of the most famous villages in Greece, but did you know that you can have a better view of the whole Santorini beauty when you hike going to Imerovigli.
Just when you thought Oia and Fira could give the best views of the island, you probably haven’t been to Imerovigli, also known as “The Balcony of Santorini.” It gives you a spectacular view of the entire volcano and caldera.
But like its neighboring towns, Imerovigli also has many restaurants and cafes where you can have your lunch or afternoon drink while enjoying the immaculate view of nature right in front of you.
Honestly, if you ask us, it’s the best seat in the house.
Get your hiking poles ready! Mountains in Greece are deserving of your love and attention. One of which is the lush peaks of Pelion.
Pelion is a mountain on a small peninsula. Attractions around this peninsula are all about natural paradise and havens. Unleash your outdoor-loving self. Pelion has many sites where you can hike and then swim in beaches and waterfalls right after.
Pelion was the summer residence of the Gods and the homeland of the Centaurs.
It is a high mountain and has a high-quality ski center. Can you imagine a ski resort from where you can see the seaside where others are swimming?
Because Greece is not only for summer but a beautiful winter sports destination too in its many snow skiing centers.
So get ready for skiing in Greece and imagine that you are here with the help of your Skiworld Coupons.
There are also springs on the mountain where you can take time off from your hectic tour schedule to relax and breathe fresh air from the mountains. It’s not every day that you can inhale goodness into your body and soul, so take advantage of it as much as possible.
Aside from the spectacular natural display of this land, the residential area is like walking into an ancient era where villages with stone-built houses are the trend. For someone who also likes the vibe of old towns, this is where you should go.
Tinos has always been just a stop for travelers going to Mykonos and Athens. It’s time to highlight this island to convince you to intend your visit here fully and not just treat it as a stopover.
It might make you want to stay here for the rest of your Greece adventure once you find out that excellent barrels of wine in the country come from Tinos. There’s even a town on this island where olives and artichokes are everywhere, which you could pick and pair with your bottle of wine!
Tourists also go here for some pilgrimage. The Church of Panagia Megalochari is usually packed with visitors every March 25 and August 15 in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
When you hear the name, it sounds like a fictional town in some Greek mythology chapter. It’s a real part of the country, and a big one, with mystic charms and untouched sceneries where you can instantly feel like you can meet with your favorite Greek gods and goddesses hiding behind a bush or under the water.
The first attraction on your list should be dragon lake. No, there are no dragons around this area, but its incredible beauty surely feels like a dragon is about to emerge from the waters at any time. The picturesque view is unbelievable, and the only way to make you believe is when you visit the place. Let your own set of eyes be your witness.
Remember to bring out your sturdy hiking boots and your big bag of confidence when visiting this tiny Kalymnos island. Why? Because it’s becoming a popular rock climbing spot for adrenaline junkies.
Fulfill your Spiderman dreams on this island and get a unique but interesting point of view of the island while hanging from a solid rock from Armeos or Gefyra.
If you’re not into all the daredevil climbing stuff, you can also take a safe and conservative hiking route that can lead you to abandoned castles and churches, which makes for a great photo opportunity.
If you think that the name Ikaria has something to do with Icarus from Greek mythology, yes, you are right— at least according to tradition.
Ikaria is notorious for having citizens who live a very long life, probably even longer than the Japanese people who are also known to have an extended life span because of their ikigai lifestyle. It’s yet fascinating how this island is sometimes known to be where people forget how to die.
We’re betting it’s because of the awe-inspiring natural sources of fun and relaxation you can find on the island. Their beaches have turquoise waters that will make you shy to even wade your feet in it. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world, and we couldn’t also give it justice just by describing it.
Colorful houses and establishments lining the hillside are the first things that you will see when you arrive in Cephalonia via ferry.
It might interest you to kayak to the famous roofless cave of Melissani after you feast at one of the impressive tavernas by the sea. You should not forget to try the sensational Kefalonian meat pie while you’re here.
The good thing about this island is that the local government has advocated limiting the rise of commercial resorts around its beaches to preserve its grace and charm.
Away from the maddening crowd of popular Greek tourist spots, Karpathos remains one of the many hidden gems of Greece where you can walk peacefully by yourself without worrying about bumping into a crowd of giddy tourists wanting to take photos at every corner.
You can take a boat ride from the town’s center to Saria’s inhabited island and bask in its glory with almost no one to bother you. This island also has monuments from the olden times, which makes it even more attractive.
10. Loutro
Suppose you’re dreaming of a town where you can cover the whole area just by walking, head over to Loutro. It’s a tiny fishing village located in the southwest of Crete.
It’s a 100% guarantee that you won’t be seeing any cars around the town since there are no roads big enough to accommodate them. The only way around is by riding a boat or using your foot.
It’s a quiet haven for people looking for peace, especially when you have had enough time exploring other busy Greek islands.
11. Diapontia Islands
Church at Othonoi
Diapontia Islands is a cluster of 3 main islands, plus many small, laying northwest of Corfu. Yet another ocean paradise for the lovers of the sea. The waters on these islands are so clear; you could right through the bottom of the seafloor without squinting.
We know how hard it must be to take you away from the beautiful sandy beaches, but you also need to see how pretty the villages are on these islands and that they deserve to be seen by travelers like you.
You might be surprised to find a hamlet during one of your evening walks. Diapontia is also where you can get inspiration on living a simpler life, especially when you engage yourself with a conversation with locals.
You probably know this to be the home of Odysseus, the famous poem written by Homer.
If you’re a fan of Greek mythology, this is enough reason to visit the island; that’s for sure. But more than being recognized as part of a famous mythology book, the Island of Ithaca is home to phenomenal beaches and coves where you can spend an entire day just chilling out with friends and then heading to a nearby taverna by the ocean to grab lunch or dinner.
It’s probably better than the one in the book because here, you won’t have to come face to face with a mythical creature and get killed in an instant if you say the wrong words or be cursed for the rest of your life if you eat a forbidden fruit of some sorts.
Discover Greece
Mykonos, Athens, Santorini, and all other more popular Greek attractions are undoubtedly some of the most beautiful towns in the world. But if you try to see beyond these famous tourist spots, you’ll realize that there are plenty more options to discover the raw and unspoiled beauty of Greece.
PUBLISHED BY
Jean Deruiter
Jean Deruiter is a brand consultant and an outdoor enthusiast from the US. She writes about high quality and innovative travel gears, as well as the dos and don’ts of outdoor traveling.
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