10 Days and 9 Phenomenal Nights Exploring Greece

Exploring the country of Greece has been a longtime dream of ours, as we love the history, culture, and attractions that can be found there. No other place in the world has numerous Olympian sites nearby open spaces filled with natural attractions and wildlife. Of course, we also couldn’t wait to try all the delicious foods that this area of the world is known for.

Athens happens to be the capital, as well as the largest city, within the country of Greece, but it is also famous for being one of the oldest cities in the entire world. This is where the most history within the country can be found, but don’t let that stop you from seeing all the other destinations that are there. After all, the history that begun here is what helped create this country and turned it into the amazing place that it is today.

When we arrived in Athens, we checked into the AVA Hotel & Suites in Plaka. We settled into our room quickly, as we were anxious to venture out to discover the secrets of Acropolis. After all, this is the historical site within the country, and we wanted to make sure that we could experience it all when we were there.

We started at the Parthenon, where the massive statue of Athena can be found. This structure has been around since 438 BC and the restoration work that has been completed is ensuring that my grandchildren and even future generations of my family will be able to see it for themselves.

We grabbed a bite to eat on Dionyssus Street, which is part of the Acropolis Loop, before continuing on with our day.

Once we had our fill of Athena, we decided that it was time to see Mars Hill, or the Areopagus, up close. This is a marble hill that is around Acropolis and it is well-known for the speech that was made there by Paul the Apostle.

We couldn’t leave this area until we saw the Theater of Dionysus, which is at the foot of this historical destination. This is not only a major theater within this city, it is also potentially the first theater to have been built in the world. When it was in use, approximately seventeen thousand people could sit in the theater to watch the performance that was taking place on the stage.

We headed over to the Agora, which is an archeological site, next. This area is in the heart of the city and while we couldn’t comprehend its original beauty, we could feel the history surrounding us.

The Acropolis Museum was our last stop for the day. If you are into history, this is a must-see. The Acropolis Museum was founded to exhibit all the significant finds from the Sacred Rock and its foothills. Spend a day or half a day at the Acropolis Museum, enjoying a range of activities such as strolling through the galleries, watching the conservation of the Caryatids, browsing through books relating to the Parthenon etc. If you have kids with you, be sure to ask about A day at the Acropolis Museum Family backpacks. Τhis families the opportunity to enjoy their visit and learn about the exhibits in a creative way through the specially designed Family Backpacks. Families can borrow the backpack of their choice from the Museum’s Information Desk by leaving an identification card.

The Monastiraki Market is a great place to visit on Sundays, although we discovered that it is best to arrive early to beat the crowds or come later in the evening to avoid heat. This massive flea market has everything that you are looking for, so be prepared to take a few items home with you. We spent a lot of time strolling around.

We also saw the square and parliament building within the Syntagma neighborhood. People also rave about the soldier transition and march in Syntagma, but we thought it worth a visit if you are in the area.

Nearby Plaka and Syntagma is the National Garden and Hadrian’s Arch. This is a quick stop to grab couple of pictures.

The Olympic Stadium is also close by, but we didn’t take the time to go over there during this trip. Maybe it will make our list next time!

Quick and Helpful Tips:

• Plaka is the main tourist area, so the shops and restaurants are slightly more expensive.  However, it is still an excellent place to see and experience.
• Take a guided tour of the Parthenon, as it will save you time from waiting in line.  Totally worth getting a guide.
• Parthenon can be visited in morning or in the evening, as the lights are turned on, however the morning is a good time as well.  It's a completely different experience from morning to evening because city views in the morning are amazing however Parthenon is lit up at night and this is when you want to be the last one walking out of there.  Avoid midday if at all possible to avoid heat.
• Take water with you to avoid getting dehydrated with all your exploring.

This is one of the most famous islands within the country of Greece and it is in the middle of the Cyclades. This is a great destination to relax while walking along the waterfront and spending some downtime as you explore the capital city of Chora. The 18^th century neighborhood of Little Venice, or Alefkántra, is the best scenic area of the island and it can be found within the capital city. It is full of mansions with colorful balconies and charming windmills gracing the background.

We knew that we wanted to explore this wonderful island, but we also knew that we wanted some time to relax and do nothing while we were there as well. We stayed near Platys Gialos, which ensured that we were close to many of the areas of the island.

There's a beach near Platys Giolos where you can reserve a seat. We spent some time down there wandering around and looking for something to eat. One of the first restaurants that we discovered served pizza, so we ate there one night.

Another night, we found a wonderful seafood restaurant around the corner from the pizza outlet, so as I am sure you can guess, we ate there. Our food was delicious, and we tried many different types of seafood dishes. I think we even left with a few new favorites.

While we spent a lot of time sleeping and chilling out in Mykonos, we did spend an entire day in Chora. We wandered around looking at the windmills and perusing the shops at the market. We were amazed at how many people seemed to spend their entire day at the market, but as we explored some more, it became evident as to why they do. We made sure to stay until the sun was setting in the sky, which was easy with all the fun we were having at the market. There are multiple areas in Chora where everyone gathers to watch the sun set and we decided to join them for the experience.

Mykonos is definitely a great island for partying and having fun. If you're looking to looking to go clubbing or find a private beach, rent a private boat and head out to paradise Island.

Santorini is part of an archipelago that has the same name and it is more than one hundred miles from the mainland. The current island was formed after a volcano erupted, destroying everything that was originally there. Many people choose to visit this phenomenal island for the panoramic views, the beaches filled with volcanic sand, and the massive cliffs that seem to loom far over the sea.

One of our first stops in Santorini was Fira, and from the amount of people filling the streets, we were not the only ones with that thought. There are too many hotels to count within Fira and we were pleasantly surprised with all the shopping opportunities for tourists. This area has plenty of activities taking place practically all day long and we loved experiencing it all in between stops at the stores.

The small village of Oia holds a major surprise, which you will only discover after driving up narrow streets and parking in an area that doesn’t seem like much of anything. However, our breath was taken away after we walked up a set of stairs and walked through a small opening. We found this magnificent village on the other side, simply spectacular on the side of humongous cliff that overlooks a volcano and the island of Thirassia in the middle of the Aegean Sea.

We loved strolling along as we passed blue domed churches, quaint houses, and beautiful verandas. All the blue domed churches that we saw are the ones that you will see on post cards everywhere. There are plenty of luxury stores to make purchases at and we had a hard time deciding which restaurant would be the best for our next meal. The dessert shops are a must when it comes to sweet treats after meals and for snacks too.

You will spend your time relaxing while in Oia. Seriously, you could be there three days or three weeks and you will never be bored or tired of the phenomenal views. We highly recommend walking around, taking in the beautiful sights, while stopping to relax at charming cafés with your favorite drink. This is a fantastic way to admire and revel in what God has created for us all.

Our favorite café Melenio Cafe is near the entrance to Oia and we loved sitting out in the back of the café. The views back there were amazing, and we captured so many pictures of the blue domed churches and other unique views from that spot.

Sunset catamaran cruises are a must when you visit Santorini. If you're not a great swimmer, there's no need to jump in the Aegean sea to enjoy the beautiful sunset. If you are confident with your swimming abilities, jump right in, just like this little one here.. who out braved his parents.

And why would you want to miss out on this awesome sunset.... just look at these breathtaking pictures.

On an evening when we were not out on the catamaran cruise, we made dinner plans on the side of the village that offers the best location for watching the sun set in the sky. It is always crowded on this side of Oia at this time of the day, which is why I was happy that we had chosen to dinner when we did. We had fantastic views of the sun as it lowered in the sky and we didn’t need to worry about that view being blocked by dozens of other people.

Quick and Helpful Tip:

• The easiest way to get around this island is by car, so renting one can be very helpful.
• It is very important to stay on the caldera side in Santorini.  Unfortunately, we didn’t choose as wisely and we ended up on the wrong side, but that is why we can now tell you that you will always want to book your stay on the caldera side.  
• Anyone with food allergies will love the fact that the restaurants in Santorini are very accommodating.  All you need to do is alert them to your concerns and they will cater to you accordingly. 
• Fira has a fabulous vibe, so you may be better off staying there if you are looking for that type of vacation. 
• Oia has luxurious accommodations that can turn a regular vacation into an extraordinary one.  Couples looking for a little romance might want to reserve a room at one of the cave hotels there, as they will not be disappointed.

Our last night in Greece had us back in Athens and we chose to stay in the Psirri neighborhood. We weren’t too thrilled with our choice at first, due to the cost of our room at Athens Lodge, but it ended up being an excellent choice. It was next to the Monastiraki Market and we were able to walk everywhere that we wanted to go. Psirri is a local neighborhood that we loved wandering through and finding local gems.

• Cabs are the main transport option from the airport in Athens.  The rates are 1.5 x at night and there is no way around the cost, so be prepared for that and plan accordingly. 
• Neighborhoods that I mentioned are easy to walk around.  There is only one exception and that is the parliament area in Syntagma, but it is still walkable or you can just take a short cab ride. 
• When there's a need to call a cab in Athens to pick up from airport or ferry, contact Perikli on What's app.  Here's Perikli picking us up from the airport.  He's punctual and fair with pricing.  Keep in mind that in Greece, price is 1.5 x after business hours.

• The public transport is excellent on Mykonos and the bus is your best option.  There is a main bus stop in Chora, which makes traveling anywhere simple.  We found that we could have our hotel arrange transport for us when we were staying in Platys Gialos, so you should check into that upon your arrival.  If not, understand that the buses run approximately every half hour, so you’ll never need to wait too long for the next one. 
• As I mentioned above, it is best to get a car in Santorini.  You could get an ATV instead but understand that it can be windy, and you’ll have a chance of having rocks fly into your eyes as you are riding around in one of those. 
• Request your hotels in Mykonos and Santorini to provide a courtesy pick up from the ferry terminal or airport.  Most hotels take care of that.

We loved every minute of our time in Greece and I cannot wait to see where our next adventure is going to take us!

• We booked our ferry rides through a website called greeka.  We chose the Sea Jets, because they travel faster than the regular ferries.  You must arrive well in advance for your ferry, but do not expect them to be on time, as they are normally late. 
• It takes approximately two and a half to four hours to travel from Athens to Mykonos and between three and four hours to get to Santorini from Mykonos. 
• There are other islands between Mykonos and Santorini, so you may want to consider visiting those as well.
• We ended up flying back to Athens from Santorini, due to the seven-hour ferry ride that we would have been facing.  However, things move just as slowly at the airports there, so it still took a long time to reach our destination. 
• Be wary of the security at the airports as well, because they do not do much other than move people from one place to another, and not getting anyone any further along in their journey during the process. Be prepared with ample time and you will need a lot of patience.

Athens:

We stayed at AVA Hotel & Suite located in Psirri neighborhood. We liked this hotel because it is in one of the most accessible neighborhoods to all the sightseeing, walking distance from Parthenon and nearby restaurants.

We also stayed at Athen's Lodge located in Psirri neighborhood. We liked this hotel because it was local and close to amazing local restaurants and the Monastiraki Market.

Mykonos:

We splurged and stayed at Palladium Hotel located in Platys Giolos neighborhood. We liked this hotel because it is in a nicer neighborhood with access to small beach, restaurants yet it's close enough to Chora via bus ride.

Santorini:

We didn't do so well with our hotel because we stayed on the wrong side of the island. When reserving, try to stay near Fira (Phira) or Oia Neighborhoods but generally stay on the Caldera side. If you're celebrating honeymoon or some special event with your spouse, I would highly recommend look into one of the cave hotels in Oia. It's beautiful out there but be ready to open up your check book.

Athens:

• Hans & Gretel in Monastiraki market is a popular place with children and adult for desert.  
• On tap is a great pizza place by Psirri, Monastiraki area. 
• Restaurant or Cafe at the Acropolis Museum.  Restaurants at the Museum are open Friday nights with one of the best views of Acropolis.

• Get a Souvlakia at the restaurant that I can't spell or pronounce in Psirri... it's awesome and super cheap.

Mykonos:

• Niko's Taverna is a great place for traditional greek and sea food.  We celebrated birthdays at this restaurant.  Desert is also amazing.
• Avli Tou Thodori is also a great restaurant by the beach in Platys Giolos.

Mykonos:

• Momo indian and Thai restaurant in Fira (Phira) is a great place.  We went there twice.
• Melenio Cafe is an awesome location for views and pastries.  This is where you can enjoy the view of the blue dome church... one of the most iconic and most photographed place on earth.  
• Meteor Cafe in Oia Santorini is a great place to grab some pastries, coffee and just enjoy the view.
• Strogili Restaurant is another great place for greek and seafood.  The views are amazing and I would recommend going there during sunset.  If you're in Oia for sunset, you can visit this restaurant and avoid the craziness by going to this restaurant at the right time.