I’ve always wanted to travel to Greece.
It’s one of those beautiful places that makes for sparkly social media content designed to entice you to book your next trip. Although we all know how most things on the internet are not as they appear, I can confidently share with you that being in Greece is way better than the pictures.
If you’re thinking of taking your next vacation in Greece, read on for an idea of how to shape your itinerary to make the best out of your time there! We visited Santorini, Athens, Mykonos, and Olympia over the course of four days.
Who knew that in a moment (or in four days) you could fall in love with someplace new?
This post is all about travel to greece.
Travel to Greece
Day 1: Santorini
We traveled by cruise ship to get to the various islands in Greece. Our first stop being Santorini.
Although some in my group disliked how little time we could spend in each area, I think it’s perfect for first time visitors. You get to almost sample Greece, getting an idea of what the country is like and what you might do differently upon returning.
Essentially, being on a cruise allows you to not have to fully commit to any particular place.
Driving to Oia
My first impressions of Santorini was that it was way rockier than I expected. I thought the white buildings would be right in my face, but you’d have to be at a high elevation to get that view.
It’s pretty incredible that the ancient Greeks were able to create whole communities on such gigantic rocky islands!
Our excursion for Santorini was to visit the towns of Oia and Thira. After taking a tender boat to actually get on the island, we got onto our tour bus and began driving to Oia.
I recommend having a mode of transportation planned for this island. As our tour guide liked to joke: “You have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting a taxi here.” Of course, he could’ve been exaggerating, but he is a local.
And anyways, the drive up the pure rock part of the island felt like something you’d probably want to be the least stressed about. The lack of railings and steep incline instantly reminded me of Mt. Rainier in Washington.
Oia
It was a hot day, but even though the weather was a bit unbearable, the atmosphere of finally being on land in Greece more than made up for that. It was so surreal!
I’d never seen water that blue before, or towns full of pristinely kept white homes. The sky was clear, the air soft, and suddenly my mental space eased too. “Vacation Delusion” was sinking in and I welcomed it.
Is it possible to stay unhappy when you’re in such a beautiful place?
Thira
We didn’t have a rigid itinerary for Oia or Thira. Instead, we allowed ourselves to wander. Everything seemed more precious to us, luckier.
We could wander down one road, and then decide to make a turn. Or go up an incline and through a narrow alley. There was a giddy adventure in having the freedom to get lost and be glad for it.
Though our novelty in what surrounded us faded, our excitement only increased. We were still at the beginning, there was still so much left to discover…
Day 2: Athens
Upon docking in our second stop, I immediately noticed that Athens felt more familiar in terms of the architecture and landscape. Athens is the capital of Greece, and it holds a great deal of history.
Knowing today’s activities would be more physically strenuous, I ensured that I was prepared for the long day ahead.
The Temple of Zeus
There are more than enough museums, historical sites, gift shops, and restaurants to occupy your time in Greece’s capital city. Thus, we booked a hop on-hop off bus tour for Athens.
Since we only had until about 6 pm to explore, we sacrificed most of what the tour offered. Our main goal, if nothing else, was to visit the Acropolis.
Before we ventured there, we visited the Temple of Zeus as it’s right across the street.
Pre-Acropolis
To truly explore the Acropolis, you would need to embark on a steep hike. There are several food places and shops along the road leading up to the site. I strongly suggest you eat, use a restroom, and anything along those lines beforehand.
This way, you can fully appreciate the historical feat that was the center of Ancient Greece.
Additionally, I recommend booking tickets in advance because the lines can be quite long. You can use the official website to get your tickets: Hellenic Heritage
Hiking The Acropolis
Reaching the Acropolis
As we walked up those stairs, officially reaching the top of the Acropolis, I felt like something magical had swept through me. Though we were walking upwards, it was almost as if I was being led backward…in time.
The sun slid along the columns and polished marble of the entrance, propelling us towards an ancient greatness. Thousands of years later, despite some ruin, miraculously intact.
I wonder what roaming The Acropolis in those days was actually like. With architecture that impressive, you can truly imagine it.
Here’s your ticket to the past:
Day 3: Mykonos
Is it valid to say that Mykonos is infamous?
In my research, I noticed that it’s easy to get scammed here into paying ridiculously expensive prices. Others have also noted that Mykonos is overrated. They say there are so many Greek islands that are just as beautiful as this island.
In my opinion, Mykonos feels like the perfect beach town. There’s those stunning white buildings and roads you can truly get lost in again. The blue/green of the sea with the bright white of the architecture and that beaming sun, instantly puts a smile on your face.
While the areas of Santorini we visited were stashed high above the water, Mykonos danced along its shore: open and welcoming.
Not to mention, being there is like falling into Mamma Mia!. That undoubtedly added to its charm for me.
Elia Beach
Elia Beach was about a 30-minute car ride away from the dock. Though it’s a popular spot, it wasn’t too crowded the day we were in Mykonos. There’s plenty of shade and a bar for drinks.
Tiptoeing into the sea, the last thing I expected was for it to be cold. But the crystal clear water beckoned me and I gave in.
It was just what we needed.
Lunch: Kadena
Kadena is situated right in front of the sea. Since it’s semi-outdoors, you never entirely feel as though you’ve abandoned Mykonos’s beauty.
As we ate, I could still hear the sea gently hitting the shore, the birds calling out, and the subtle hum of chatter from people passing by. All of the memories of today and the last few days came back to me at once, like the sea against its shore. The all of it made me feel dizzy.
Somewhere in between placing orders — drinking Greek coffee, eating pita bread and fregola pasta — and embracing that dizzying feeling, I fell in love with Greece.
Strolling Around Mykonos
Day 4: Olympia (Katakolo)
Olympia is more in land from where the cruise ship docked. Feeling more spontaneous today, we didn’t book any excursions or make transport plans to get there.
To give you an idea of what you could do in Olympia, I remember seeing a few different excursions. There were beach day activities, a honey farm & olive oil tasting trip, and the Olympic games site.
A Seaside Town
Personally, we were satisfied with Katakolo. As it was right by the sea, it did feel just like a relaxing seaside town would.
There were lots of shops on the main road to indulge in. First stop was pagotó (ice cream), which, in Greece, was always divine!
We also did some last minute souvenir gift shopping. One that I found unique was a honey store.
Back to the Ship
It was bittersweet leaving Greece. I soaked it all in as long as I could, widened my eyes to capture as many images that could hold in my memory. Then, I headed back to the ship.
I could’ve rued that I was leaving, but the overwhelming happiness I felt from even having the chance to have been there at all, was what I held on to.
Goodbye doesn’t have to mean forever…
This post was all about travel to greece.
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