The kitchen smells of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and sweet honey. We’re getting closer to Christmas and it’s that time of the year when we start baking the Greek traditional Christmas cookies. Our favorites are Melomakarona of course!

Melomakarona are traditional Greek Christmas cookies, that are served during Christmas time throughout Greece.

The word “melomakarona” is a combination of the two words “meli”, which means honey and “makarona”. “Makarona” comes from the ancient word “makaria” and means blessed.

Find the recipe below and you can also enjoy a bit of Greek Christmas with your family too. Happy Holidays and “Kala Christougenna”!

The island of Tilos in the South Aegean offers an idyllic alternative to the busier islands of Rhodes and Kos. Boasting tranquil beaches, mesmerising history, charming villages, and astounding birdlife and landscapes, Tilos is a holiday destination for those seeking an escape from the norm. Come to Tilos to feel rejuvenated and refreshed — we promise tranquillity and natural beauty abounds here.

If you’re keen to book your escape, check out our Tilos accommodation. And then add our favourite things to do in Tilos to your itinerary. That is, unless you intend to do absolutely nothing except relax!

A volcanic land rising from the luminous blue waters of the Aegean, Nisyros is a cinematic feast for the eyes. The creation of the island of Nisyros is told in the pages of Greek mythology: the sea god Poseidon was giving chase to the giant Polyvotis when he decided to snap a piece off the island of Kos to trap Polyvotis underneath — this rock, having landed on top of its target, became the island we know as Nisyros today.

The Greek islands are world-famous for their stunning natural beauty, making for quite the desirable holiday destination. But our islands are as diverse as our visitors who come from all around the world. Whether you’re seeking a tranquil escape from the norm or a nonstop party, you’ll find a Greek island to suit your travel style.

At Nissia Holidays, we love to help visitors uncover the true, authentic Greece beyond the typical tourist spots. Our Greek Island Getaways help you find the best non-touristy destinations to bask in natural beauty, traditional culture, fascinating history, and so much more. 

Whether you visit our favourite quiet Greek islands of Halki, Nisyros, and Tilos or you opt for any of these other non-touristy Greek islands, we hope you thoroughly enjoy your escape to our lovely paradise. 

Without further ado…

Our Favourite Non-Touristy Greek Islands to Visit

It is Easter in Greece and the all the usual preparations have began. Easter, as many other Orthodox holidays in Greece, is a great opportunity for family bonding and get togethers. We’ve shared recipes from our Greek islands in the past and you love them. Remember the popular Halki pasta recipe? So, we’ve decided to share another great recipe for you, this time it’s our favorite Greek Easter butter cookies, also known as “Smyrneika”.

Our painting holidays offer the opportunity to explore the magical ‘Island of Peace and Friendship’, while learning a new skill or improving your painting technique in the company of a friendly group of people with shared interests and a mutual love of Halki and Greece.

The Covid-19 pandemic has touched all of our lives, and our thoughts go out to our treasured guests and trusted partners who have been affected. It feels as though the world has been turned upside down and our lives transformed in unimaginable ways.

Over the years we’ve been in the extremely proud position to have all of you as customers, guests and friends. Together we have supported our beautiful islands of the Dodecanese and have created some memorable holidays.

A quick travel update for the Tilos ferry.

We have some great news to share! There is now a Wednesday ferry connection between Rhodes and Tilos, operated by the Panagia Spiliani ferry.

The new Tilos ferry will depart from the little harbour of Kameiros Skala on Rhodes at 18:15 in the evening. Below you will find the Wednesday timetable.

Some great news just in! We have started selling our Halki holidays  for 2017 and our villas in Halki that are not pre-booked are now free for 2017. Get in touch as soon as possible to secure your favourite villa!