Thousands of years of ancient history, gorgeous islands, incredible Mediterranean food, crystal blue water, hillside sunsets, beautiful whitewashed walls and bright blue rooftops – Greece offers much more than meets the eye!
A vacation in Greece was always on my bucket list item and planning the same was a challenge as there was so much to explore in an abbreviated time!
Keep in mind, traveling in Greece during summer is expensive and requires pre-booking of flights and accommodations to get the best deal.
Planning tips/suggestions:
1. Carry 450-500 Euros cash per person for a 10-day trip and if possible carry zero foreign transaction fee credit card. If not carrying a credit card then I would recommend taking more cash assuming hotel/flights/rental are prepaid.
2. Most of the restaurants we visited accepted credit cards.
3. Credit card is also accepted while visiting the archaeological sites in Athens.
4. Driving is right-hand side so make sure you are aware before renting and are carrying an international driving permit.
5. You can reference this link for Archaeological site tickets in Athens.
6. Reserve Airbnb or hotel which is centrally located and is walkable from the main attractions.
7. There are many rental companies like Avis/National/Budget offering good rates, you can search on https://www.autoeurope.com/car-rental-greece/
8. Carry sunscreen, sunglasses, comfortable footwear and a hat/cap.
Here is my 10-day itinerary visiting this beautiful country in the month of May.
Athens – Capital of Greece
One of the oldest cities in the world, Athens is not to be missed. We flew into Athens from Boston, USA. We had booked airbnb (2 months in advance) for our 2-day stay in Athens and the hostess was kind enough to arrange for our pick from the airport which cost us around 50 Euros.
Airbnb was centrally located to tourist attractions and restaurants. We landed late in the evening, so we went out to a local restaurant recommended by our hostess – Grill “The Kalyas”.
Day 1: Temple of Zeus and Acropolis of Athens
Stop 1:
Our first stop was watching “The Changing of the Guards” ceremony held every Sunday morning at 11 am in front of the Hellenic Parliament. The ceremony consists of a parade to honor the guards who diligently stand motionless throughout the day.
We took a cab to reach the parliament which cost us around 15 euros from our accommodation.
Stop 2:
After the ceremony we walked passed the National garden on our way to the Panathenaic stadium (Adult entrance fees 5 Euros), it is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble.
We enjoyed walking around the stadium and clicking endless pictures on the racetrack.
Stop 3:
We started walking towards one of the ancient Greek temples “The Temple of Zeus”, dedicated to God Zeus. During the Roman emperor times, it was the largest temple in Greece and had 104 columns.
In Greece, a column means decorative elements used for structural purposes. Now there are 16 columns remaining, 15 standing and one lying. Entry to visit this site in summer is 6 euros but in winter its 3 euros.
Stop 4:
Our last stop for the day was visiting the Acropolis of Athens located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites.
Before heading to this site, we decided to have lunch at a historic neighborhood “Plaka” located at the base of Acropolis. Plaka offers a nice leisurely stroll with a variety of shopping and dining options.
Entry to Acropolis in summer is 20 euros for adults and in winter its 10 euros, I would recommend buying the multi-ticket for 30 euros if visiting the other main archeological sites (such as Hadrian’s library, the ancient Agora, Temple of Zeus, Kerameikos cemetery museum) in Athens.
First, stop on the way to the Acropolis you will witness the Dionysos Theatre. One can walk through the first theatre in the world!
Next, you will come across the ancient amphitheater, known as the Herodes Theatre. The walls and seats are preserved, and the theatre is still being used for live concerts organized during summer.
Finally, at the top, you will see the massive Parthenon, an ancient Greek temple dedicated to Goddess Athena. We spent hours admiring this archaeological beauty and enjoyed the city view from the top.
Day 2: Visit to Delphi and the Temple of Poseidon
We were confused about driving to either Delphi or Meteora on day 2. To avoid a tiring drive, we chose driving to Delphi that was 5 hours round trip as compared to Meteora which was 9 hours. I would recommend adding one more day to visit the hanging monasteries in Meteora including a night stay.
Stop 1:
We rented a car for a day and started our 2.5-hour drive to Temple Apollo in Delphi. The drive was scenic with beautiful mountain views and you will pass through a small-town named Arachova; known for its cliff facing restaurants.
Entry fee for Delphi was 12 euros. This heritage site was mostly ruined but had spectacular mountain views and stunning scenery. It's a small hike to the top so make sure to carry your sports shoes and a hat!
Stop 2:
After soaking ourselves in Greek history we decided to drive to Temple of Poseidon to watch the blazingly beautiful sunset overlooking the Aegean Sea. It takes around 3 hours by road (approx. 234 km) to reach Temple of Poseidon situated in Cape Sounion so plan on leaving Delphi accordingly.
The entry fee is 5 euros per person cash only and is open daily from 9 am to 8 pm.
We ended our day 2 by exploring the ancient history of Athens and learning more about the Greek philosophies. Our troop was now excited to visit the first Greek island, Mykonos. It would be unfair to name one favorite restaurant for local delicacies, as one cannot go wrong with any Greek food joints in Athens.
Mykonos - Greek Island.
Tip: Don't forget your swimwear!
Day 1: Platis Gialos beach and Windmills at Chora
One-way flights to Mykonos from Athens are under $100 (USD) if booked in advance (preferred: Aegean Airlines). We chose to stay in Argo hotel which was walkable (100m) from the famous Platis Gialos beach and beach-front restaurants. They also offer complimentary pickup and drop off from the airport.
Mykonos is a small island full of charm, culture and beautiful views. So get ready to color coordinate your outfit for some amazing pictures while exploring this island.
Stop 1:
As we were so close to the beach, it was an obvious first stop for us to relax and enjoy a meal with a view. Its white sand and gorgeous turquoise waters attract visitors from all parts of the world.
We spent a couple of hours enjoying the view of the horizon, taking a dip into the cold sea and then laying down on the warm sand.
Stop 2:
Our next planned transport was to rent a car to visit other parts of the islands, but surprisingly we found a fun way to do the same with ATV bikes or a Scooter or a Moped! Unfortunately, USA license permits renting only a 4-wheeler versus my cousin who had a UK license could rent a 2 wheeler. You will find many rental deals so check out with your hotel staff for a recommendation.
Stop 3:
With our newest mode of transport, we headed out to discover the windmills in Chora. The windmills are situated on the coastline within Mykonos town itself and easily seen when you’re on the island. While walking towards the windmills you will come across the whitewashed narrow alleys and picturesque churches of the town.
One of which is the charming Paraportiani church with over 500 years of history, which is not be missed while walking to the windmills. We were lucky to capture a photo of the white church with the blazing orange Aegean sky and sea as a backdrop.
The best part was watching the sunset from the windmills with the view of Little Venice on the opposite side of the shoreline. It gets windy in the evening so carry a light jacket for the stroll.
After witnessing our 2nd best sunset in Greece we walked the narrow alleys and found numerous cafes, souvenir shops, and live music bars, which gets busy and lively at night making it a perfect place to spend an evening. We ended our day after having an Italian dinner at Fato a Mano in the town.
Day 2 : Armenistis lighthouse and Paradise Beach
Stop 1:
We went to the northern tip of the island to see the Armenistis Lighthouse. When you near the place, the roads are quite steep, curvy and narrow so good driving skills are needed to reach the top. Personally, I found the lighthouse to be okay, but the view was breathtaking with bright blue sky and endless sea in front of you.
Stop 2:
Mykonos is also known for its nightlife on the beach and there is one beach in particular which is famous among its locals as well as tourists for that. It’s called “Paradise beach”. We planned to spend the rest of the day on the beach. There are ample of free parking spots outside the beach and you need to walk a couple of minutes to reach the beach area.
The place offers covered shacks for 25 euros a day. So, take a dip into the sea, come back to the shack, order food and drinks and enjoy them while listening to the soothing sound of the waves. There are few restaurants/bars on the beach but the Tropicana beach bar turns into a live music bar and their dance floor is open for an ultimate beach party.
Day 3 : Goodbye Mykonos
It was time to leave this beautiful island but our flight to Santorini was in the evening, so we spent around 3-4 hours in the Mykonos town, walking the whitewashed alleys.
You will never get enough of the traditional dotted alleys and Venetian houses built close to one another with colored painted balconies, doors and windows; all this scene adds a unique charm to this wonderful island.
Must try food delicacies:
Saganaki (fried cheese)
Baklava
Souvlaki (meat on a skewer)
Tzatziki sauce
Gyro with Tzatziki sauce
Must try alcohol:
Ouzo (flavored liquor)
Tsipouro
Santorini
Coming soon...
~ Nomadic Traveler ~
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