I went to Ikaria a days ago. Not for some big philosophical reason. I just needed a break. I live in Katerini, so I took a flight from Thessaloniki to Athens and then to the island—nothing exciting. Just wanted to get away somewhere quiet, no schedules, no noise. And Ikaria delivered.
You’ve probably heard the usual stuff. “It’s where Greeks live the longest.” “One of the Blue Zones.” All that National Geographic talk. I thought it was exaggeration, but honestly, they’re not wrong. People there just don’t care about time the way we do. I’m not even sure their clocks work properly.
From the minute I landed, it was obvious this wasn’t your typical island. No resorts, no loud beach bars, no influencers doing TikToks by the sea. Just normal people doing their own thing, slowly. Very slowly.
The lady I rented the room from gave me boiled greens and homemade cheese for lunch, then told me I looked tired and should probably nap. That was the tone for the whole trip. Sleep, eat, talk a bit, go to the beach, maybe have some wine at lunch. No one’s in a rush. Literally no one.
I asked one guy when the bakery opens. He said, “When Maria wakes up.” That was the answer. No hours. No stress. Just vibes.
Even the cafés operate like they’re doing you a favor. You sit down, eventually someone shows up, takes your order if they feel like it. And you just accept it because, well, that’s how things work there. You either adjust or you leave.
Most people work in the morning and then disappear. You’ll see them in the evening playing cards, talking, drinking wine like it’s water. There’s no hustle culture here. Nobody talks about productivity or goals. They talk about the weather, their gardens, or who made the best goat stew at the last panigiri.
Speaking of food—it’s legit. Everything is either from someone’s yard or their cousin’s. Tomatoes that taste like tomatoes. Wine that tastes like wine. Not fancy. Just real.
I went to a restaurant, and the staff left the place, went for a quick swim, and then returned to take the order—not just one member, but the whole staff, even the owner.
What surprised me the most is how many old people are just... out and about. Walking around, carrying bags, arguing about politics, drinking coffee at 10 p.m. without collapsing. In any other place they’d be indoors, tired, complaining. Here they’re alive, like actually alive.
By the end of the trip, I was slower too. I stopped checking my phone. I didn’t care what day it was. I didn’t even open my laptop once. It’s like the island forces you to chill whether you want to or not.
I came back to Katerini with a bit of a shock. Cars honking, people complaining again about bills and work. Same problems, different week.
Ikaria didn’t fix my life or anything. But for a few days, it reminded me that maybe we overcomplicate everything.
