Which Islands to choose
Everyone has different tastes, for me, I knew I wanted fun aka Nightlife, beach clubs but also beautiful and peaceful scenery and a lot of history and culture too. So I started off with History and mythology in Athens, which can be seen in a day. The headed for the fun in Mykonos with a day trip to the archeological island of Delos. The more peaceful Naxos, Paros and Santorini in all it's volcanic beauty. To end the trip in the ruins of the Palace of Knossos in Crete as well as its Neolithic "Hippie" cave in Matala Beach.
How to get around
Ferries are the best way to get around the islands and for those who get sea sick, don't worry too much the ferries are very big I tend to get sick sea, but I was fine on every ferry. From Crete to Athens I ended up taking a plane, it was much faster and cheaper to go all the way back in a ferry.
To get around in the islands the best way is by Quad bike, there are lots of place to rent and not very expensive.
Itinerary:
Athens-1 day
Mykonos -4 days
Naxos- 1 day
Paros- 1 day
Santorini- 3 days
Crete- Heraklion & Matala- 1 day
Athens- One day
Named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare, the city has lots to offer. I spent only one day in Athens, which was perfectly enough to visit all the archeological sites and have a first taste of Greek food!
Visit:
Acropolis Museum
Athens Flea Market
The Library of Hadrian
Acropolis +The Temple of Olympian Zeus
Mykonos- Four Days
A must on your Cyclades Island Hopping, it's popularity is not undeserved. Mykonos is as iconic as they come, in the 1930s many celebrities, artists and affluent Europeans began to flock to the island in the summertime followed by stars such as Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly and Jackie O. It is known as the for it's party scene, picture-perfect streets and well-preserved heritage, the island is one of the most populated islands on the tourist-island-hopping itinerary of Greece. Famously called “the island of the winds” due to the strong northern winds.
Beach clubs / Restaurants
- Sant’anna (Vegas style)
- Cavoo Tagoo
- Branco
- Nammos
-Coya
- Principote
- Jackie o (drag)
- Alemagou
- Scorpios (most famous)
the cookie dough desert :
- Spilia - Amazing spot for Lunch
the entrance to Spilia ( or you can also arrive by boat)
Chora Centre
Every corner is instagrammable here!
Little Venice
-Negrita
Windmills in Chora
180 Sunset
Beach- Agios Sostis
You can leave your Quad at the top and walk down the beach
-Pinky Beach
-Jimmy´s Gyros
-Can you spot a Pelican?
Petros was a great white pelican and the official Mascot of Mykonos.
In 1958, a wounded pelican was found off the coast of Mykonos by a local fisherman. The pelican was nursed to health and remained on the island supported by locals. It soon adopted the name "Petros", as a joke among locals, as "petro" in Greek means "rock" or "stone", but metaphorically "old and grumpy". Now there are three new pelicans on the island, and one was given the name "Petros".
Day Trip to Delos
Pronounce "Dilos", the Immortal Island where no one was born or died there.
It is a short ferry ride away and worth getting a guide to explain this incredible archeological site. Delos had a position as a holy sanctuary for a millennium before Olympian Greek mythology made it the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.
-Temple of the Delians dedicated to Apollo
-Dionysus mosaic in the House of the Lake
The Terrace of the Lions, also dedicated to Apollo
-Theatre of Delos
Naxos - One Day
Naxos is the largest of the Cyclades island group, formerly known as Dionysia for its green orchards and vineyards (in Greek mythology the hard-drinking god Dionysius resides on Naxos).
Getting There
From Athens you have two ferry options: regular Blue Star ferries take 5-6 hours to reach Naxos, while faster catmarans operated by Hellenic Seaways and SeaJets take 3-4 hours.
You can include another island in the cyclades to your island hopping, Paros is a popular choice.
Chora
Naxos’ beautiful main city of Chora (often called "Naxos Town," or "Hora") makes a great first impression. As you enter the harbor you’ll spy Portara, a square marble gate dominating a tiny island (Palatia) connected to Chora’s harbor front by a cobbled isthmus. The great portal looms over the meager ruins of the Temple of Apollo, built (but never finished) in 522 BCE.
What to See
Rising above Chora's harbor front Kastro, the historical center, houses the former Palace of Sanudo, built in 1627, and incorporates two of the palace towers. The five-story structure displays archaeological finds dating back to Neolithic times. While the Kastro was originally occupied by Venetian nobles, the Greeks lived below and to the north, in the medieval Bourgos district. It's a warren of narrow streets lined with bougainvillea, geraniums, and studded with chapels. Don’t miss the 18th-century Mitropoli Zoodochou Pigis Orthodox cathedral.
Naxos is full of Archaeological Sites:
Temple of Dionysus
Temple of Demeter
Kouros Melanes & Kouros Flerio
Kouros of Apollonas
Villages of Naxos:
Chalki
Koronos
Komiaki
Apeiranthos
Beaches
Agios Gorgios
Agios Prokopios
Agia Anna
Plaka
Orkos
Mikri Vigla
The Portara
The most incredible sunset you'll see!
Paros- One Day
Although Paros isn't always a first choice, since it doesn't have Mykonos nightlife or Santorinis Volcanic beauty, but it has become a favorite to everyone who's visited!
Why? It has beautiful beaches with warm sea, whereas in Mykonos, for example, "the windy island" you won't find this privilege. There are lots of sports activities and hiking, trendy cocktail bars and delicious local food and wine. It also the perfect choice for a relaxing holiday. You will find families, students, people travelling alone or with friends, it's a great mix!
Getting There
Fit Paros in your Cyclades island hopping, it is only 2h by ferry from Santorini, 1h30 from Mykonos and 3h from Athens.
Day Trip to Antiparos island
Don't neglect this day trip, Antiparos is simply beautiful and a 10-minute ferry away! Although in the recent years it has changed a little as it attracts more tourists every year, it is still perfect for total isolation and relaxation. Enjoy the beaches-the most popular ones are Agios Georgios and Faneromeni- and visit the 15th-century Venetian castle, there is also a camping beach which is nudism friendly!
My favorite thing about Paros- Kolymbithres Beach
The magic of this beach lies in the formation of large granite blocks boarding it, sculpted into strange smooth white shapes by the sea and the wind over the centuries.
Santorini- Three Days
As one of the most beautiful islands, it is a bucket list destination we all dream off.
There’s something about the white houses and blue rooftops that you just can’t get enough of.
Getting to Santorini
We took a ferry from the island Paros, this is the most popular way to get there by ferry after flying to Athens but there are a few other ways you can arrive in Santorini, if you are on a budget and want to do something special, you could also choose to sail across on a catamaran or a helicopter from Italy although due to the weather conditions these flights get cancelled often.
How Long Should You Stay
Since the Island is very big you can stay a week, more than that I would say you'd get bored, I stayed three days and it was enough to do almost everything on the list.
How to Explore the island
The best and most popular option is by Quad Bike, since the island is quite large.
Where to Stay
Oia is a very busy place to stay, as is Fira, I would recommend Akrotiri close to the Beaches and with an amazing pool with a view, because bear in mind the beach in Santorini are not sand!
We stayed in Acroterra Rosa Luxury Suites & Spa:
Oia:
Oia is Santorini’s crowning jewel. Pronunced "eea".
- Ammoudi Bay
- Kastro oia houses(orange hotel instagramable)
- Three domes / Anastasis church and The Blue Domes of Oia, Santorini (Church of Agios Spyridonas) - To get a good photo here you have to walk into private property which I decided not to do, but if you want to go, go very early otherwise the residents will not let you through.
- Oia Byzantine castle ruinsand Windmills- The Sunset -How to get there: When you get to the Western part of the town near Kastro House, turn left to walk to the castle remains.
Tip: Get there early before sunset to get a good place because it is always packed here at sunset.
- Pelekanos Restaurant with an amazing view
I had the Moussaka, an eggplant- or potato-based dish, often including ground meat, typically Greek but also is common in Egypt, the Balkans and the Middle East.
-And don't miss Marcos the Donkey! Keep an eye, you might also catch real donkeys in Oia.
-I loved this shop, it's got an ancient Greek look
-Solo Gelato Oia, Self service frozen yogurt
Fira:
Restaurants:Lombranos, Meraky,Kapari Wine
- Church of St. John theologian
Imerovigli:
- Skaros rock & Panagia Theoskepasti Chapel ( a little above fira) - This is a long hike be prepared especially on the way back since it a climb. Most people give up when they can't find the church, but the secret is you can only see the church on the other side of the skaros rock it is invisible before then. And I promise you the hike is worth it, try and go near sunset!
-Skaros Rock
-Panagia Theoskepasti Chapel
Akrotiri:
- Red Beach + lighthouse -It is very tricky to get to Red Beach, Google Maps won´t take you exactly there, you must park at the top of a beach then walk down to the red beach.
- Perissa black sand beach - perivolos beach (11 min)
- White beach - beware it is not as white as the pictures show. -Akrotiri ruins is an interesting prehistoric site to visit. Since I only spent three days in Santorini there was no time.
Crete - Heraklion & Matala - 1 Day
Crete in two days- Heraklion & Matala (Hippie Caves Beach)
A week in Greece- Heraklion & Rethymnon & Chania & Elafonisi (Pink Beach) & Matala
Bear in mind Crete is the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, you'll even notice the weather changes in different places on the island. So to entirely visit the whole island a week isn’t enough to choose your favorite parts or spend two weeks. Which is why I selected the itineraries above, depending on how much time you spend on the island.
The northern coast of Crete is well-developed and more touristic. A National Road crosses the island from Chania to the easternmost point in the Lasithi region.
The southern coast of Crete, on the other hand, is untouched and quite inaccessible, it also encompasses the Libyan sea.
Heraklion - The archaeological site of Knossos
In Heraklion the only thing worth doing is to visit the palace of knossos, the city itself is nothing out of the ordinary, but there are amazing beaches close by.
Fresco of The Minotaur:
-Heraklion Archaeological Museum-This museum is one of the top places in the world to view Minoan art. Built in the 1930s, it holds many archaeological treasures discovered in Crete. -Koules Fortress-Situated near Crete’s old port and is known for being a former Venetian fortress when Venetians once ruled the island. It was designed to help soldiers keep a close eye on the island and protect it from possible invaders. You can take a tour of this fortress and see some former military weapons used, like cannons. -Archaeological Site of Phaistos- Phaistos was one of the most important palatial centers of Minoan civilization. Matala Beach I drive from Heraklion to Matala Beach which was a very beautiful drive, you could tell how different each part of Crete is from the other. You could see clouds afar and mountains. The Matala caves are man made from the Neolithic age, suggested that the caves were once used as tombs, but it is more likely that they were used as living spaces, given their volume. In the 1960s, the caves were occupied by Hippies such as Joni Mitchell in the summer of 69 (which might explain here missing Woodstock).
- On the entrance to the Beach I found the most amazing tree, by Spyros Stefanakis, a Cretan artist. The main themes are 4 Gods of Olympus. Dionysus is the god of joy. Next is Zeus, the center of the world, what was then to me Matala, Poseidon by the sea and Hermes to spread the culture to the world.
Chania It is a very lively city full of nightlife. Crete's crystal blue waters will entice you, try Falasarna Beach and Stavros Beach which is surrounded by a red mountain and the filming location of Zorba the Greek. If you are looking to add some culture to your trip, visit Rethymno and Arkadi Monastery. Elafonis Pink sand and crystal clear waters, It is almost the bahamas. Agia Triada Tzagarolon Monastery, Seitan Limania Rethymno -Arkadi Monastery -Preveli Monastery and Preveli Beach, this beach is bordered by a forest and features large boulders scattered around on the shore. There’s also a small stream that runs through the center of the beach and out to sea. -Melidoni Cave Greek Tips! Regarding traditional alcohol, you can’t leave Greece without tasting Raki (mainly in Crete island), ouzo and tsipouro! Yamas!! It means “to our health”. These drinks are quite strong and normally are mixed with water (especially ouzo). Have some froyo, greek salads, feta, gryros.. Did you know iced coffee is from Greece? You won't find it as foamy as Starbucks though! Kosmos taxi. You call at 18300 and the minimum charge is 5 euros. Highly recommended for quick pickups. Cheaper than Uber.
* “Giasou” – Hello,
* “Ti Kanis?” – How are you?
* “Kalimera” – Good morning,
* “Kalinixta” – Good night,
* “Efxaristo” – Thank you,
* “Mou aresi i Ellada” – I like Greece
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