What can I say about Greece? Honestly, I can talk about my visit to this beautiful country for days. My trip was inspired by a promise made with my best friend at the age of 17. Just two school girls dreaming about the beautiful blue sea, the cobble stoned street, and the warmth of the sun hitting our skin. Trust me, it was everything you dreamed of.

Fast forward ten years, and we finally were able to uphold our promises and was off to an adventure of a lifetime. I planned a 10 days trip with six other friends, which made the expenses of the trip cheaper than with just two visitors. Transportation, food, and Airbnbs were split evenly within the group and we were able to keep tally of the amount owed per person by using an app called Splitwise. I highly recommend this app when traveling with a large group, it is easy to use and allows you to split all expenses that was made. It even allows users to include and exclude certain participants when dividing the cost.

Best time to visit

We spent 10 days in Greece. YES, 10 days! We knew that two of those days will be spent traveling (from the U.S.), which gave us eight days to explore. Something to consider while planning your trip, are the months you are intending to visit. Peak seasons are during the summer, so June to early August. Keep in mind that this means there will be other travelers and more crowded streets. Several other blogs listed that late August to early November were off seasons for Greece (especially the islands). We decided to go in September (09/10/21-09/19/21), where the flight tickets were cheaper and less visitors on the islands. I honestly could not imagine it being more crowded than it was. During our time on the islands, there were a decent amount of people roaming around the major cities. A little crowded but easily able to move around and to find spots to view the famous Santorini sunset. When we visited Mykonos, we were told that we made it just in time, as the shops and restaurants were getting ready to close for the off season in two weeks. September weather on the islands were also warm, mainly hovering around high 70s and low 80 F. Athens on the other hand was very hot, staying over 90 F or higher during our visit.

So, what’s the break down of the vacation? As mentioned earlier, we spent a whole day traveling, leaving on the 10th and arriving to Athens on the 11th. We spent our first and last day of the trip in Athens, three days in Santorini, and two days in Mykonos. The agenda was as followed:

09/10- Flight out

09/11- Athens

09/12 to 09/15- Santorini

09/16 to 9/17- Mykonos

09/18-Athens

09/19- Flight home

We did travel during the pandemic, when the borders between countries opened up, but made sure we were always cautious about ways to stay safe and healthy. Please review the guidelines and documents required for each country prior to entering, including the location of your layover. You can find the requirements by visiting the country’s website.

Athens

I’m grouping both days of Athens into this section to make it easier to navigate through this page. We stayed at the same Airbnb for both days, located near the main city.

We opted to get around Athens with Uber. Mainly because it was more convenient for our large group and when split between 7 people, cost roughly the same as taking the public transportation system (train and buses). Since we had a large group, we always had to request two Ubers, as the smaller cars that seat up to 5 people (including the driver) were more available and cheaper than a van. Keep in mind that Ubers in Athens are actually taxis, so you would not have local drivers as you usually see in the states. We always requested a ride with Uber because it gave us a fixated rate, as opposed to hailing a taxi and having to negotiate the price of the trip before getting into the car. Our rides to the airport were about 50-60 euros per car per trip, but our rides within the city varied between 5 to 20 euros. On our first day in Athens, we went to visit Monastiraki Square right from the airport. We found a luggage storage location near the square where we were able to offload our suitcases to make it easier for us to explore the city and wait for our Airbnb check-in. We booked at the Luggage Storage Monastiraki Station at only 5 euros per luggage (including book bags) for the whole day. When picking up your luggages, be sure to check all your bags to ensure it’s there and it’s yours. (We were accidentally given another guest’s luggage on the way out when we noticed it didn’t belong to one of us.)

Things to do in Athens

Monastiraki Square is also where you would find Monastiraki Flea Market. This is a huge flea market where several stores line the streets with different items such as clothes and souvenirs. (We visited the market again on our last day to buy souvenirs instead of having to lug it around from island to island with us.)

When walking around the square, you will stumble upon some of the ancient Greek ruins. You could buy tickets to visit each site or a package deal that includes entrance to the Acropolis and six other ruins. But, keep in mind that the package does not include access to the Acropolis museum, which will have to be purchased separately. We visited the Acropolis early in the morning to beat the heat and the crowd. Our Uber dropped us off at the base of the ruins where we walked uphill to the Acropolis. The views were amazing and the site was beautiful. Each structure/view had a description of the location’s history that you could read. You definitely cannot go to Greece without visiting the Acropolis. We were there for about 2 hours, taking our time reading and exploring. We did visit 3 other ruins since they are relatively close in distance, but decided to stop when the temperatures reached 100 degrees for the day. Although we did purchase the package, I don’t think that it was necessary since you could see most of the ruins outside the gates. However, if you are a history lover, the package will be a better option to get a closer look at all the structures and everything it has to offer.

Just a 5 minute walk from Monastiraki Square, you could visit Little Kook, a cute cafe that is decorated a different theme every season. When we visited, it was Peter Pan themed. It was truly a magical visit and we stood there in awe of the decor.

After your quick visit to Little Kook, you can walk over to Plaka stairs. It’s a historic neighborhood in Athens that has restaurants lined up along the steps. You will also see people sitting outside on cushions or tables along the stairs enjoying meals and drinks. It was definitely a very cute location where you can see part of the Greek culture, the only downside of this experience was the pressure from restaurant owners to get people to dine in at their place. But don’t let this discourage you in visiting! It is a great site to see at the least.

If you’re looking for a unique experience and something to bring back from Athens for yourself, you could get some custom made leather sandals from Pantelis Melissinos the Poet Sandal Maker. You could choose a sandal design from their pamphlet and get the straps and soles tailored to your feet! After some wears, the leather will form to your feet to make it more comfortable for you. We spent about 1 to 1.5 hours in the store waiting for our turn to get measured and for the shoes to be made. The design I chose cost roughly $83 USD and I can’t wait to wear it more often in warmer weather! TIP: When using a credit card internationally, always choose to pay in that country’s currency. Some stores charge to convert to USD, while your credit card usually gives you the best conversion fee. Don’t forget to check with your credit card lender to determine any international or additional fee.

Food in Athens

We only made reservations at one restaurant in Athens, while the other times we did a quick search of food near by. But let me tell you about our reservations at Orizontes!!! It is a restaurant located at the top of a hill that oversees the city of Athens. We opted to be seated outdoors to enjoy the view and weather, and even saw the Acropolis lit up across the city. Hands down the most beautiful venue I have ever had dinner at. It is an upper scale restaurant, so something to consider with your budget and attire plans. When arriving at Orizontes, be sure to find the cable car that will bring you up to the top of the hill. The cable car requires purchased tickets to get up and down the hill (about 7 euros per ride), otherwise you would have to hike up the side of the hill that has several switchbacks. Trust me, it was horrible to do this in your nicer clothes. This restaurant is definitely a view over food place, where you pay more for the experience and the food is decent. The seafood risotto was voted the best dish that we ordered within our group.

Falafella is located outside of the Monastiraki square and is a quick and cheap bite to eat. I ordered the pocket falafel wraps with some heat added to it and it was more than enough food. There are no designated areas for seating, so this place is more of a grab and go.

Indian Haveli is an Indian restaurant that we also tried. There were several options to choose from the menu and the plates are large enough to share. We started with the mix starter, where the vegetable samosa was my favorite dish of the night, and ordered chicken biryani, chicken tikka masala, buttered chicken, a lamb curry, and some naans. This is a great option for budget friendly travelers.

Blue Bamboo is a modern Thai restaurant and was our final meal before departing from Greece. Their food and drinks were delicious and I tried the Pad See Ew, peking duck, and curry.

Dessert in Athens

LUKUMAΔΕΣ sells lukumades, an authentic Greek dessert. Think of it as a donut hole covered in cinnamon and honey. It does come in other variations and toppings but I opted to try the original flavor. Definitely sharable.

Le Greche was the best gelato that I tried in Athens. It was fresh and smooth, just the way it should be. They had several flavors to choose from along the window showcase and within the store, my favorite flavors are pistachio and hazelnut. Le Greche also sold other pastries and drinks, if frozen treats aren’t your thing.

DaVinci Gelato is another gelato location that could be found around Greece. I got to try it both in Athens and Mykonos. If you haven’t noticed yet, frozen desserts are my favorite.

Santorini

Santorini is known as the romantic island around Greece, as it is the most visited spot for couples. You could see why, with the world known sunsets, white staggered buildings, and sail boats floating across the blue waters.

We arrived to Santorini from Athens by plane. We purchased a one-way ticket from Ryanair, totaling about $52 a person including luggages. It was a whopping 45 minutes direct flight. From the airport, we rented a car (in advance) with a local company, who met us there for pick up. Getting around the island via car and finding parking was relatively easy and the quicker option.

NOTE: There are only 3 ways to get around on the island: bus, car, or scooters/ATV. Keep in mind Ubers are not operated on the islands. Don’t forget to look up the requirements for international rentals. International driver’s license were required to rent a car in Greece. Requirements for obtaining a license for a car, scooters, or ATV are different.

Cars on the islands are small and barely fit all of our luggages. If you find yourself dreading the idea of dragging your suitcase around, you may be wondering were you can offload your bags. In my research, I only found one location that stores luggages on the island, which is J&K Left Luggage Service and Souvenirs. However, I cannot vouch for this business since I did not actually use it during my stay in Santorini but wanted to suggest it to those who are searching for options. Our Airbnb host was gracious and allowed us to drop off our bags prior to check-in.

My group and I stayed at an Airbnb in Imerovigli, the town between Fira and Oia. It was the best location for us, because it allowed us to visit Fira everyday since it was only a 10 minutes drive away. We actually all agreed that we preferred Fira over Oia. We found that Fira had so many more shops and restaurants, while Oia seemed more touristy than expected.

Things to do in Santorini

The first excursion that we did in Santorini was a sunset sail. (We booked this event with Tripadvisor.) This was my favorite experience during my time on the romantic island. It was a 5 hours event that included food and drinks that stopped at four different locations to view/swim. It was so much fun and the sunset on the catamaran was the best sunset I have ever seen. Our group agreed that the sunset cruise was one of our favorite things we did on the whole trip. I highly recommend this experience to anyone going to the islands.

Fira is the capital of Santorini and where we spent most of our time. It was a great town to walk around to shop and had lots of food options to try. Almost every restaurant had a great view and each alley was more beautiful than the last. If you’re looking for places to shop or purchase souvenirs, Fira would be the place to do so. Oia is definitely the more well known area to tourists, and the price tags there knows that too.

Oia is more than likely the city that you think of when you think “Greece.” It’s the spot where you can find the iconic blue domes and the stoned streets, but truthfully, it was somewhat disappointing. I found it to be very touristy and crowded (even during the off season). The staggered, white homes is exactly how you picture it and very beautiful, but you could get the same view in Fira. My group and I did not stay in Oia for long, we found that it was mainly shopping that was available in the city, and only worth a day trip. However, if anyone else has any recommendations for other things to do in Oia, let me know in the comments!

Cliff jumping on Amoudi Bay was a check off my bucket list. To get to the area for the cliff jump, you would reach Amoudi Bay (we got there by the roads) and walk past all the restaurants on your left then follow the trail made by other visitors. You’ll know that you reached the right spot when you see other people lounging or swimming around the rocks. To be clear, this trail takes you to the edges of the land, where you will see a small man-made island/platform. From there, it’s a short swim to the platform, where you would have to climb the rocks on the sides to get on. It was a fun experience but also terrifying. It’s a pretty long drop, so it’s not ideal for those with a fear of heights, but sometimes you’ll hear the people on the main land cheer you on! (If you do decide to jump, be sure to make a running start. I watched people jump and land pretty close to the bottom of the rocks.) TIP: It is quite a bit of a walk, so be sure to pack the right shoes. I recommend water shoes to walk through both land and water! The rocks are really slippery, especially those settled in water, and the current near the land is much stronger, so it’ll help you get a grip when trying to get back on land.

Akrotiri is a prehistoric city in Santorini that was once covered by ashes from a volcano eruption, and is now preserved for visitors to view. You will view two to three story buildings below and even some historic items that survived the eruption. It’s a great place to take a glimpse into the past and to learn from, especially for any architectural and history lovers. I do recommend a walking tour for this experience because they provide so much more interesting facts and stories than the signages that are on display. (Keep in mind that walking tours are not included in your ticket to this historic site.)

Akrotiri Lighthouse offers a nice view of the caldera. The lighthouse was not open for entry during my time there, but it was a nice, breezy spot to sit and soak in the moment.

Red beach and white beach are beaches to lounge around. However, Santorini is not known for their beaches and the sand are more like rocks. My group and I did not visit the beach during our three days in Santorini since we had already viewed and swam at these location on our sunset sail. But there were always people soaking in the sun whenever we were in the area.

Place to eat on Santorini

Μεταξύ Μας (Metaxi Mas) was my FAVORITE restaurant in Greece. The service was so friendly and accommodating to our group of 7. We parked on the side of the cliff and walked uphill to the restaurant and somehow ended up on the back, outdoor seating of the restaurant. Luckily, it didn’t matter since the hostess was standing outside and we requested an outdoor table. The outdoor venue was so cute and fun where you will find stray cats wondering between tables. (The cats really did not bother any of us or the guests, they only stuck around for any scraps that fell on the floor.) We ordered a wide variety of food, with the grilled octopus as an appetizer being the hit of the group. I ordered the veal which came with potatoes and it was delicious!!! The restaurant was so kind, that they gave us complimentary vodka shots and cheesecake for dessert. But let me tell you about that cheesecake!!!! It was the best cheesecake that I have ever had. The cheesecake was so soft, the crust was perfectly buttery, and the berry topping was to die for!! I cannot speak any more highly of this place. Go if you get the chance!

Argo is a chic restaurant with great views of the sea located in the heart of Fira. This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants I tried during the Greece trip. Their food was so good, especially their roasted feta appetizer, which I still dream about to this day. We also tried their fried calamari as an appetizer, which was *chef’s kiss*, their salmon plate, gyro plate, and stuffed squid. Everything was delicious and I highly recommend this place to anyone visiting.

Lucky’s Souvlakis is small shop also located in the heart of Fira. You’ve probably heard of this place in your research of the island and it’s pretty well known in the area. They sell all sorts of gyros and is a quick and inexpensive place to eat. The food is made fresh and to order and we tried the chicken, pork, and shrimp gyros. There are no seating in the shop but you can find an area across the street to sit and enjoy your gyro. We got there pretty early and were the second group in line but after getting our food and turning around, the line was wrapped around the corner. The gyros were good and very affordable. It filled us up for most of the day.

Dessert in Santorini

Lolita’s Gelato is located in Oia. Definitely the best gelato on the island. (I tried other gelato places in Santorini, but none good enough to share except this one.)

The Family Bakery offered several types of desserts as well as small bites to eat. We stopped by to grab some treats in the morning and it had something for everyone. They are also a small convenience store that sells drinks, candies, and pastries.

Mykonos

We arrived from Santorini to Mykonos by ferry. We purchased tickets in advance with ferryhopper.com with the fastest ferry available at the time, Seajets. There were no extra charge for luggages and we got to our next designation within two hours. You must move fast and pay attention to the stops announced on the intercom as the ferry stops and unloads at other locations as well. We realized it only took about five minutes to load and unload the boat with passengers and sail away from the dock. Once the boat leaves, it will not turn back, which we saw first hand with an unfortunate group of friends who missed their stop. From the ferry, we took a 10 minute sea taxi to Mykonos Town where our Airbnb was located. If you stay at one of the villas in Mykonos Town, be aware that you will end up carrying your luggages across the stoned road and up some stairs. (Not so glamorous but something no one tells you about.) Fortunately, our stay wasn’t too far from the dock, so only a few sweat drops were shedded.

Overall, my group and I enjoyed Mykonos the most and wished that we spent more time here (we spent 2 days). I found that Mykonos was more of what I imagined Greece to be, with clothes drying outside of the blue and white buildings, the cute alley ways at every turn, and the gray stoned roads. Mykonos is very modern and tailored to the younger crowd as it is known as the party island. The atmosphere is energetic and exciting, especially when the sun settles down and music could be heard from all corners of town.

Things to do in Mykonos

Mykonos Town is the main area that you would find all the shopping and restaurants. It’s located near the waters where you’ll find all the water taxis and it’s absolutely beautiful day and night. We found ourselves wondering around town every day. It’s definitely easy to get lost with every turn so make sure you have your Google maps handy.

Little Venice is located near Mykonos Town and is another spot for food and shopping. Here, you can take close photos of the famous windmills, Kato Milli.

Beaches on Mykonos are plentiful and located all over the island. Each beach is different than the next, as far as what it is known for. We went to Paradise beach, which is known as the party beach. The water here is crystal clear, one of the best beaches that I’ve been to. There was a built-in wall used to soften the waves reaching the shore and you could even see small fishes swimming around your legs. (Be careful, the fishes bite!) The sand on the other hand was the roughest I’ve ever experienced. It felt like walking on gravel, and after about ten minutes walking barefooted, I gave up and wore my sandals everywhere. I definitely recommend water shoes, it might look silly but your feet will be thanking you.

Nightlife is huge in Mykonos. There are several clubs available for dancing or sitting around the bar. We opted for a chiller night after dinner, and found a nearby bar to sit and order drinks at. Some places we found but never got the opportunity to try are VOID, Cavo Paradiso, Skandinavian Bar, and Scorpio. Some of these clubs require reservations, so be sure to do your research prior.

Luxury shopping was something we did on the island, where you can find brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and YSL. I enjoyed shopping in Nammos Village more than Mykonos Town. It has all the brands clustered into one shopping center and we found that the employees were more accommodating. TIP: Don’t forget to bring your passport and get your paperwork done at the store to claim a credit on foreign taxes. This will save you hundreds of dollars on your luxury item. You just bring the paperwork to the tax exemption counter at the airport and they will guide you on where to go and what needs to be done. Sometimes the agent will ask to see the items as proof of purchase, so keep this in mind when packing your luggages. Be sure to give yourself amble time to do this before your departure.

Food to eat in Mykonos

Kastro’s restaurant is one restaurant where we had lunch. The dishes are mainly seafood and everything was fresh and delicious. They also have alley and balcony seatings available to enjoy the view. This was one of our more expensive lunches we had during our trip, so it may not be best for budget travelers.

Pasta Fresca Barkia is a snug restaurant opened for lunch and dinner. All the dishes contain fresh pasta that’s made daily. The menu has pasta in every shape and form that you could imagine and you will even stumble upon fresh pasta drying outside the restaurant. It was delicious and very budget friendly, I tried the seafood pasta with fresh crabs and the black truffle pasta.

Captain’s- Food for Sharing is one restaurant I found in almost all the blogs and websites when I was researching places to eat. As it says in its name, the plates are more than enough to share with others and mainly sells seafood dishes. It is quite popular on the island, and was actually the only restaurant that we found ourselves having to wait on. We tried the crab meat salad, grilled octopus, fried calamari, seafood platter, and pan fried cod. All great dishes to try!

il forno di Gerasimo / ο φούρνος του Γεράσιμου is a bakery shop located in Mykonos Town. It’s a shop that sells fresh pizza and baked goods. The food there were good and it is a great option as a quick bite to eat.

Katerina’s Restaurant & Cocktail Bar was our last meal in Mykonos. We sat on the outdoor balcony and enjoyed the last glimpse of the windmills and the sea. I ordered the feta cheese as an appetizer and the seafood linguine. It was a great way to end the last day on the islands.

Desserts in Mykonos

You could also get some sweet treats at il forno di Gerasimo / ο φούρνος του Γεράσιμου. I tried the cookies and all sorts of cakes they had. The cakes were definitely better than the cookies and there were different options on both days that I visited the shop.

I switched it up and got ice cream instead of gelatos at I SCREAM homemade ice cream-cafe. It was so creamy and soft, with so many options to choose from. It melted quickly in my cone while sitting outside the shop but it was definitely worth the sticky fingers after.

There is a DaVinci Gelato in Mykonos Town if you loved it in Athens or did not get the chance to try it. This time I ordered the mango gelato and it was very refreshing.

Overall view

Greece was so much fun, truly a life experience. Everything felt so surreal during my trip and I constantly found myself in awe. I would love to visit again, maybe to other islands next time. I hope that you will get the opportunity to visit and enjoy it yourself!

Here are some other tips for you when visiting Greece:

• Tap water is not drinkable and you must get bottled water!! (Restaurants will serve you bottled water too)
• The islands’ pluming system can get easily clogged, please toss all toilet paper and trash into the trash bin
• Getting around Santorini with a car is easier than you think
• Get a travel wifi box if you are not purchasing an international plan with your phone service.
  • We get our portable wifi with Travelwifi which can hold up to 4 devices and it’s so easy and convenient. We are able to send messages and use most of our apps!
• Bring water shoes
• Greece has a large coffee culture. Try the Greek coffee, but I personally found it to be really bitter and half foam (I like my coffee sweet and creamy).
• Santorini Dave is a great blogger who gives you great in-site on things to do and places to eat in Greece. He even explains how to get around the city with photos. I visited his website several times when doing my research and found it to be very informative.

If you have visited Greece, please let me know what’s the best thing you did on your trip and if you have any recommendations and tips for future travelers!

To my future rovers, I hope your trip is everything that you wanted and more!

Thank you for being here! I really appreciate each and every one of you!

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