Is Greece Europe's Thailand?

Hey Freaking Nomads,

I'm writing this from a village called Arillas, on the northwest coast of Corfu.

I'm at a beach bar playing reggae. A woman selling homemade jewelry on a blanket is just beside me. And a guy with a ponytail just told me he moved here fifteen years ago after one winter too many.

I'm not joking. For a second, I thought I was in Koh Lanta.

Not literally. But that energy. The slow pace, the barefoot vibe, the little businesses run by people who came here once and just stayed.

I've been in the north of Corfu for a week now, and what keeps surprising me is how many people here have a Southeast Asia or Latin America backstory.

The guy running the yoga studio I go to used to live in Costa Rica for ten years. And the couple with the cafe I'm basically camped at now told me straight up: "We basically copied what we saw working in Thailand and brought it here."

There's a reason this part of Corfu has that feel. It was a hippie destination decades before it became anything else (I think it was around the 60s, but I might be wrong). And some of that DNA is still here, in the laid-back pace and the alternative-ish crowd.

So yeah. Europe's Thailand. I get it. I kind of felt it.

But the one thing that keeps bringing me back to reality is definitely the different demographic here.

A lot of Greece is becoming more of a retiree destination. The villages are beautiful but quiet in a way that can feel a bit lonely if you're in your twenties or thirties and looking for community. Most evenings, I'm the youngest person walking down the road by a comfortable margin!

And the infrastructure... I hate to say it, sometimes it's worse than Thailand. Like waaaaay worse. We're talking Wi-Fi that drops every time someone in the village turns on a washing machine.

In Thailand, you get cheap, fast, reliable basics almost everywhere. Here, the charm sometimes comes at the cost of the practical stuff.

I don't say this to be negative. I genuinely love it here, and there's something rare about a place in Europe that still feels this unhurried and unpolished.

But if you're coming here expecting Chiang Mai with better cheese, adjust your expectations a little.

It's more like the version of slow living where "slow" applies to the internet too.

Have you been to a place in Europe that gave you Southeast Asia vibes? I'm curious. Hit reply and tell me.

Irene

🏷️ ADVERTISEMENT

Your Boss Will Think You’re an Ecom Genius

Optimizing for growth? Go-to-Millions is Ari Murray’s ecommerce newsletter packed with proven tactics, creative that converts, and real operator insights—from product strategy to paid media. No mushy strategy. Just what’s working. Subscribe free for weekly ideas that drive revenue.

Sign up now

Bali Digital Nomad Guide 2026: Costs, Visas & Neighborhoods

Canggu rents hit $1,200 for a one-bedroom villa, but warung lunches still cost $2. Bali remains one of Asia's biggest nomad hubs if you know which neighborhood, visa, and budget tier actually fit your work.

Freaking Nomads

Sri Lanka fee-free visas for 40 countries in 2026

Sri Lanka now offers free tourist ETAs for 40 nationalities from May 2026. Here is what digital nomads and short-stay travelers need to know.

Freaking Nomads

EU air passenger rights reform in 2026: key changes

After 13 years of deadlock, the EU agreed to overhaul air passenger rights. Delay payouts aren't cut, claims should get easier, and hand baggage fees face new transparency rules.

Freaking Nomads

Who is hiring this week? Here are some top roles to check out:

• Head of Backstage Marketing

• Web3 Marketing Manager

• Deal Desk Manager

• SEO Automation Engineer

🙏 Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend who might like it and help us spread the word. This would help us a lot to spread the word about it!

💖 Join our Community Hub! Discover & review digital nomad places, find workspaces, track your countries and connect with like-minded people who are nomading just like you → Create your profile for free here.

📚 Want more digital nomad guides? Read our articles on all things nomad, including travel tips, budgeting & finance, legal and taxes, community, productivity and more.

If you haven't already, you can also follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Threads for more no-BS digital nomad content (and plenty of memes!)

We'll see you there, Freaking Nomads 👋