Greek islands - Santorini
Greece is a popular vacation destination with the perfect collection of history on the mainland in Athens and beyond, phenomenal hiking in the North and of course, stunning, romantic islands at sea. Not to mention, the beautiful weather that succumbs Greece for most of the year. The capital of Greece, Athens, is the site of the first Olympics, the Parthenon, the Acropolis, and much more ancient culture. For the adventurers, you have the challenge of Mount Olympus, the country’s highest peak and the distinctness and notable Meteora, a rock formation unlike any other.
Our 10-day experience in Greece, with a large group of 7, was split between enriching ourselves with Greek culture and enjoying the beauty of three of the Greek Islands. Our trip was in mid-September so there were less tourists than usual, and the weather was just perfection!
We will undoubtedly be making a trip back soon to experience the more adventurous side that Greece has to offer.
Only 200 of the thousands of Greek Islands jutting out from the Ionian and Aegean Seas are inhabited, with Santorini and Mykonos in the Aegean Sea being arguably the most famous and visited of the Greek Islands.
With our home base being on the mainland, we took day trips to Santorini and Mykonos, longing to see what all the buzz of these islands were about. We also opted to stay a bit longer – 3 nights – in a lesser-known island in the Ionian Sea, Zakynthos, which had significance to my family. My great-grandparents were natives here.
Read on for more information on things to do in Santorini.
Santorini – How to see Santorini in a day (lots of walking!)
Getting There
Santorini was the first Greek Island that we visited (I was accompanied by my husband and brother). Santorini, famous for its many, white-washed buildings, derived its unique shape and formations due to a volcanic eruption. Situated in the Aegean Sea, Santorini is also known for producing wine and its abundance of churches. We didn’t find Santorini to be particularly authentic though. The island even shuts down for the most part from October-April when it’s not high season.
We pushed through jet lag – taking the first flight out of Athens at 7:00am (Aegean Airlines) that arrived in Santorini just 45 minutes later. There is an option to take a ferry, but this was a much longer trip and apparently less reliable. I ended up walking just under 35,000 steps during this Santorini day trip so be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and hydrate.
Fira to Oia Walk
Upon arrival in Santorini, our first mission was to make the sought-after expedition on foot from Fira to Oia. In September, the trail was not crowded but I imagine it becomes quite packed in the high season. (It was very hot with seldom shade so bring lots of water).
Our taxi dropped us off at Three Bells of Thira at Agios Theodoros, 5.5 miles from Oia. Although not the official start of the hike, this was an impressive viewpoint (albeit it was cloudy skies while we were here).
As we passed through the towns of Imeroviglion and Therasia, we admired the vast Seas, hilltop buildings, and the more than 400 whitewashed facades and sky-blue dome churches, that occupy Santorini. Santorini hillside is filled with hotels and homes with unimaginable views of the Aegean Sea.
Skaros Rock
Not in the plan, but one of our favorite memories, was the detour to Skaros Rock. Skaros Rock is a rock formation that juts out from the mainland and was a fortress of protection for Greece in the medieval times. Unbeknownst to us, a church, the Chapel of Agios Ioannis Apokefalistheis occupies the edge of Skoros Rock, making for a magnificent surprise (sorry!) at the edge of the cliff. Skaros Rock is not for the faint of heart as there were many drop-offs and edges along the route. There’s also limited shade and some elevation. It takes about an hour out-and-back but can be as long as you like. Take caution on this trail.
Lunch - Greek Salad of Course!
We ventured back on trail to continue our hike to Oia. Along the way, we met stray dogs, hiding in the shade, many stairs, and of course, magnificent views all around us. When we finally arrived in Oia, we were overwhelmed with people – the small cobble stone streets were jam packed with tourists. We enjoyed some much-needed refreshments at Flora before heading to Roka for a Greek lunch. Roka is off the main stretch and feels like a quintessential Greek restaurant. Of course, the Greek Salad at Roka is as traditional and delicious as it gets!
Swim in Ammoudi Bay
After lunch, we continued walking, this time with the goal to see and perhaps even swim in Ammoudi Bay. The walk to Ammoudi Bay was much more crowded than the Fira to Oia trail (it starts in the heart of Oia). We stopped at various overlooks along the way which were filled with tourists eager to capture the awe-inspiring views. Once at sea level, we were met with a quaint fishing village featuring a waterfront restaurant and a hidden Gelato stand. We continued on the complicated path, determined to find a swimming spot. Be sure to wear sneakers as the landscape is not friendly.
Once we stumbled upon swimmers (and there were many), we stopped to cool off and cliff jump. My brother also stepped on corral so make sure to pack a first aid kit (or at least some band aids).
Sip on Wine and Enjoy the View
The walk back up from Ammoudi Bay to the town of Oia is a bit steep. There are taxis you can take but we wanted to save money and relish in the experience. At the peak, we had enough walking and waited for the bus back to Fira. Once in Fira, our next destination was Santo Wines. We ended up walking from the Fira bus stop to Santo Wines. While there were sidewalks for the most part, sometimes we were hugging the side of the road sans sidewalks. Therefore, I recommend arranging transportation on this side of the island. Santo Wines brought breathtaking views, and of course scrumptious wine. It is a bit hard to get to Santo Wines so be sure to arrange transportation ahead of time. We had trouble getting from Santo Wines back to the airport but eventually a taxi driver called his friend for us.
At the end of the day, we tracked over 30,000 steps each, experiencing hiking, swimming in the Aegean Sea, Greek Salads, panoramic views, scrumptious wine and much more!
Santorini is the perfect destination to experience tropical bliss and serenity (albeit with travelers alike).
Greek Islands - Mykonos
Mykonos – Relax in Mykonos for a day
Similar to Santorini, Mykonos is a popular island in the Aegean Sea. Mykonos is a bit closer to Athens though so if you are set on taking a ferry as part of your trip, Mykonos is the better option to do so. We opted to fly to save time and left on the first Aegean flight at 8:00am, arriving around 8:45am.
Mykonos is definitely known as the Greek party island. It’s infamous for its party scene and beach club vibes. Since we were visiting in mid-September, the scene had died down a bit and we focused our trip on enjoying the beautiful beaches and eclectic, authentic culture of Mykonos. Read on for things to do in Mykonos.
Explore downtown & try pastries
We took a taxi from Mykonos airport to the transportation station in Chora. When we arrived, the alleys and island seemed almost deserted. We took fully advantage of the unadorned architecture and peaceful streets, exploring and discovering as many side streets and hidden alleys we could.
Tip: Get to Mykonos early! I couldn’t recommend this more as getting to see Mkyonos without the tourists felt more inspiring than when we returned to find it overflooded with people. There’s a serenity about exploring the white-washed buildings with colorful shutters, while locals prepare for the day. Make sure to discover Matoyianni Street and Mattheou Andronikou Streets as we found them to be the most picturesque.
Our first official stop of the day was for breakfast at il forno di gerasimo, a bakery and café with an abundance of delicious baked goods including pastries, pizzas, sandwiches and desserts. We tried different pastries and coffee of course! Tip: you order your food in the front and coffee/drinks at the café in the back. There are limited seating options here, so we took our breakfast to a bench in nearly Little Venice. Because it was early, we basically had Little Venice to ourselves!
Our next stop in Chora was Panagia Paraportiani Church, a collection of five white-washed churches on the shore of Mykonos. Absorb the history and learn about the island of Mykonos. Next, we grabbed tickets in advance from the Old Port to Paradise Beach in the late morning, before heading to the Windmills. The Windmills section of the island was quite crowded (unlike the rest of downtown at this time) when we arrived around 10:00am. Here you will battle many tourists seeking the best photo of these giant windmills.
After all the walking, we worked up an appetite and just had to experience another bakery (we’re on vacation right?). Gioras Pastry Café, a quaint, legendary bakery that opened in 1420, was the perfect spot. As you walk down the steps back into medieval times, the aroma of oven baked goods fills your body, and it will be impossible to resist ordering lots and lots of treats. We couldn’t help but sample every sweet, pie, tart, and dessert (especially baklava!) that we could stomach. It was worth every bite!
Relax at Paradise Beach
Bellies extremely full, we were ready to cozy up on the beach for a few hours. We boarded a boat from Old Port of Mykonos Town to Paradise beach, which departed at 12. Once we arrived at Paradise Beach, about 30 minutes later, there were many different beachfront restaurants and bars, all with their own cabanas and lounge chairs for rent. The chairs and cabanas varied in condition, cost, and amenities (towels, umbrellas etc.). After walking passed a few options, we opted for the first bar with chairs and towels under hatch umbrellas in the second row.
Tip: There was extremely limited space (if any) where you could lay a towel out without paying. Also, smoking is allowed on these beaches.
We soaked up the sun, sipped on strawberries daiquiris, and of course people- watched until returning to the boat at 3:00pm.
Enjoy drinks, dinner, and sunset at Little Venice
What was once a quiet, peaceful little town, when we returned to Little Venice at 3:30pm, we immediately felt the tourist-vibes we were expecting. Shops were open for business, souvenirs draped all the beautiful architecture we admired earlier, and the alleys were so crowded with tours and people that we could barely move at some points.
It was time for happy hour so we took advantage of the Little Italy waterfront experience and sipped on tasty drinks at Negrita. The staff was friendly, views were impeccable, and vibes were out of a magazine.
Our final stop in Mykonos was Kastros, an authentic, hidden Greek restaurant in the heart of Little Venice. We stumbled upon this place by accident – making the mistake of not having a reservation. We had low expectations given the prime location but the food surpassed all expectations! Every dish we tried was absolutely delicious and the staff were so friendly. They even called to order a cab for us back to the airport (this can be tricky). Highly recommend stopping here for dinner.
We took the last flight out of Mykonos back to Athens. This was our fourth flight in two days, and we were running on vacation-adrenaline. I think all three of us fell asleep at the tiny Mykonos airport before we departed.
Mykonos and Santorini are arguably the most well-known Greek Islands. While both incredible Greek Islands, our next island was lesser-known Zakynthos where we opted to stay for three nights. My mother’s side of the family is native to Zakynthos. Read more about this unforgettable trip here: Zakynthos, Greece
