I visited the stunning Santorini-dupe village hidden inside Greece’s capital city – but it wasn’t what I expected

TIKTOK has been credited with changing the face of how we travel – bringing a whole host of underrated and little-known gems to a wider audience.

One such place is Anafiotika in Athens, the cutest little neighbourhood that until recently flew completely under the radar for most visitors to the Greek capital.

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On a recent trip to the city, I made sure to stop by the area that has been likened to Santorini by visitors, thanks to its whitewashed properties and winding lanes.

Located on the northeastern side of the Acropolis Hill, Anafiotika was built by a group of construction workers from Anafi, a tiny Cycladic island near Santorini and Ios.

The area has become a star on social media and has been praised by travel bloggers and influencers alike.

For example, travel blogger One Quarter Greek wrote: “The quirk of Anafiotika is that it looks like a village of an island.

“With its white walls, blue doors, narrow streets, plants everywhere, it really reminds you of a typical Cycladic island.”

Another holidaymaker on TripAdvisor commented: “It’s just like being on Santorini!”

The large majority of guidebooks don’t include Anafiotika in most itineraries, making tourists who do visit feel like they’re in the know.

My quick three-minute tour round Anafiotika left me with an uneasy pit in my stomach.

While the area may look beautiful in photos, the whitewashed buildings are inhabited by locals.

The streets are very narrow, making it hard to walk around without feeling like you’re invading someone’s privacy.

While I felt uneasy about my quick tour around Anafiotika, other holidaymakers didn’t seem phased.

Several hung their coats and bags on railings and walls so they could pose for Instagram-worthy photos, while others talked very loudly about finding the perfect spot for a picture.

In the future, I can see the Santorini dupe becoming a resident-only zone, similar to those recently introduced in parts of Spain, because of disrespectful tourists.

Alternatively, I can see visitors being charged to enter the area in a bid to maintain its well-trodden stairs.

In hindsight, I’d recommend viewing Anafiotika from afar, from one of the rooftop bars.

I spotted the whitewashed area when I was having a drink at the MS Roof Garden.

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After all, it was certainly better to stare at the slopes of the Acropolis with a glass of white wine in my hand.

My trip to Athens wasn’t the first time TikTok had influenced my holiday planning.

At the end of last year, I visited the Infinity Book Tower in Prague and felt disappointed by the TikTok famous attraction.

Then back in 2023, I visited Bratislava after watching a video about its Blue Church, officially known as the Church of St. Elizabeth.

Other places I’ve visited because of the social media platform include Meatballs for the People in Stockholm and Trattoria Zà Zà in Florence.

While both restaurants served top-notch food, they were packed with tourists.

I often pride myself on visiting authentic restaurants but it seems I’d fallen foul of TikTok fame.

Trattoria Zà Zà in Italy felt like it was catering to American holidaymakers with its large portion sizes.

The food was delicious, but I’d much rather have gone to a small family-run restaurant packed with Italians.

Even though each TikTok-famous attraction had been aesthetically pleasing, they were either overhyped, crowded, or somewhat invasive.

It’s safe to say I’ll be sticking to my resolution of avoiding TikTok-inspired travel in the future.

I’ve also revealed the best of Birmingham’s hidden gems – including the UK’s best curry.

Birmingham is home to a number of other attractions that have flown under the radar, including the country’s number 1 hidden gem attraction.

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