Tag: Greek Isles

Visiting the Greek Island of Santorini

On By wherekatieisIn Europe, Greece, Travel1 Comment

Santorini is hands-down one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Located in the Aegean Sea, this rocky island looks how it does today after an enormous volcanic eruption hundreds of years ago created its caldera. Home to incredible sunsets, fresh seafood galore, amazing wine, and endless stunning views, Santorini is a dream to visit!

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On our hotel terrace in Fira, Santorini.
  • How to get here:
    • If you’re coming from the US, you’ll typically fly through Athens first to get to Santorini, so if you’re looking for how to spend a day or two in Athens, you can find that here. From Athens, you can catch another flight to Santorini on Aegean Airlines or RyanAir, or take a high-speed ferry instead. If you choose to visit Mykonos first like I did here, there’s also a ferry that you can take from Mykonos to Santorini. And while you’re here, check out GigSky’s eSIM options to keep you connected for an affordable price during your trip.
  • When to visit:
    • Santorini is a popular summer destination for good reason, so I recommend avoiding most of the crowds by visiting before or after peak summertime.
    • April or May are great times to visit, when the weather is still typically quite warm but the island is much quieter, as are mid-September to October.
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Oia at dusk, looking back towards Fira.
  • Where to stay:
    • Santorini has several towns that are located on the cliffs of the caldera, the most popular being Fira, Oia, and Imerovigli, that all have fantastic views, gorgeous sunsets, and plenty of charming streets and restaurants to enjoy. I suggest staying in one of these towns for easiest access to all of Santorini’s best sites and scenery.
    • We stayed at the Cori Rigas Suites on the cliffside of Fira, and I can’t recommend the location, the service, the food, or the views highly enough!
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I couldn’t have asked for a better view from our adorable hotel in Fira.
  • What to do:
    • Hike from Fira to Oia:
      • My absolute favorite thing to do in Santorini is to hike from Fira to Oia, a 6.2 mile (or 10km) hike along the cliffside that has the most incredible views I’ve ever seen. It takes about 3 hours to do this hike with plenty of stopping to enjoy the scenery and take photos, which you’ll definitely want to do!
      • I highly recommend starting in Fira and hiking to Oia, (rather than starting in Oia), because it’s less uphill hiking this way. After your hike, you can take the bus back to Fira or Imerovigli, or wherever you are staying.

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        This doesn’t do any justice to how stunning the views are while hiking from Fira to Oia!
    • Do a wine tasting:
      • While planning our trip, I learned that Santorini’s dry climate makes it perfect for wine making. Vinsanto is a dessert wine that is unique to the area, so we actually brought a bottle home to open on our ten year anniversary!

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        It’s hard to beat views like this while wine tasting!
      • Taking a winery tour like this one is the most convenient (and safest!) way to visit a few of the wineries, where you can enjoy incredible views and try a variety of different red and white wines. Make sure you make a reservation for Santo Winery if it’s not included in your tour. Their views and their wines just cannot be beat!

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        Enjoying all the yummy wine at Santo Winery.
    • Take a sunset catamaran tour:
      • Another highlight of my time in Santorini was a sunset catamaran cruise that took us everywhere from the famous Red Beach, the White Beach, the Venetian lighthouse, and the natural hot springs.
      • A cruise like this one typically include dinner, and despite being prepared in a tiny kitchen plus on the catamaran’s barbecue, our seafood dinner here was one of our best meals in Santorini! Add in some wine and beer, plus champagne during sunset, and it was an amazing time.

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        Such a lovely sunset from our catamaran cruise.

Santorini was definitely my favorite destination of our two weeks traveling throughout Greece, and I hope these tips help get you started on having an incredible time here! Have you been dreaming of visiting Santorini, or have you already visited this beautiful island? Let me know in the comments and leave any questions that you have for me!

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Santorini almost had me quitting my job so I could stay on this island forever. We’ll definitely be back again for another visit!

Five Must-Dos in Mykonos

On By wherekatieisIn Europe, Greece, Travel1 Comment

Mykonos is one of the more popular Greek Islands to visit, and with good reason. It’s small enough that you can certainly get a feel for it in a few days, with plenty to explore, great places to relax, and delicious food to eat. I spent four nights here as part of my two week honeymoon to Greece last year, and both my husband and I absolutely loved the scenery and atmosphere that Mykonos provides. Here are five must-dos while you visit this beautiful island!

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A lovely view of Mykonos from our hotel terrace. 
  1. Watch the sunset in Little Venice: 
    • Sunsets in Mykonos are pretty spectacular, and one of the best places to take one in is a corner of Mykonos Town called Little Venice. It’s an 18th century district with colorful balconies perched right over the sea, with plenty of cafes and restaurants while you can enjoy fresh fish and other authentic Greek food while watching sun set over the blue Aegean Sea.
  2.  Get lost in Mykonos Town: 
    • My favorite thing to do in Mykonos is to simply get lost in the winding cobblestone streets of Mykonos Town. Around every corner, you’ll find small shops and restaurants, each lovelier than the last, and whitewashed buildings with blue trim, accented by blooming pink bougainvillea flowers. I never got tired of exploring these adorable streets!

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      The colors of Mykonos are my favorite. 
  3. Relax on the beach: 
    • A visit to the island of Mykonos isn’t complete without enjoying some of its many beaches. Paradise, Super Paradise, and Elia are some of the more popular beaches with sandy shores and bright blue water, all accessible from Mykonos Town by bus or taxi.
  4. Visit the famous windmills: 
    • Mykonos is home to over a dozen 16th century windmills, with seven of them on a prominent hill overlooking Mykonos Town. They are iconic feature of Mykonos, and one of them has even been converted into a museum.

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      A gorgeous Mykonos sunset with the windmills in the background.
  5. Take in the nightlife: 
    • While I enjoyed Mykonos more for its relaxing nature rather than its wild nightlife, I can’t finish this list without mentioning what Mykonos is widely known for. There are plenty of bars and clubs scattered throughout Mykonos Town, so if you’re looking for a night one, you won’t be disappointed!

Stay tuned for more tips on visiting Athens and the Greek Isles, including day by day itineraries, and more! Is visiting Greece on your bucket list?

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Looking out over Little Venice in Mykonos Town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Planning a Trip to Greece: Where to Start

On By wherekatieisIn Europe, Travel1 Comment

I had been dreaming of visiting Greece for years, and the reality of traveling here was even better than I’d imagined. The beautiful blue water of the Aegean Sea, the adorable cobblestone streets, all the blue and white domed buildings, the beaches, and of course, the food. Greece is honestly perfection if you ask me, especially if you plan your trip right!

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Soaking in the magic of Santorini on our hotel’s terrace.
  • How to get here:
    • From just about anywhere, you’ll have to fly through Athens to get to other parts of Greece, and if it’s your first time visiting Greece, I recommend spending at least one full day in Athens. This way, you’ll have time to visit the Acropolis and explore the Plaka, the oldest district in Athens, before heading on to other parts of Greece.
    • You’ll fly into the Athens International Airport (AIA), which is about 20 miles outside of the city center of Athens and an easy taxi ride away.
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The Acropolis is a must-see while in Athens.
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At the Parthenon, which dates back to the 400s B.C.
  • When to visit:
    • Mainland Greece and particularly the Greek Isles are a very popular summer destination, so to avoid the crowds and higher prices of peak season, I recommend visiting in shoulder season.
    • By visiting in mid April to May, or mid-September into October, you’ll still typically have great weather, but will have significantly less crowds than you would during most of June through August.
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The sunsets in the Greeks Isles just can’t be beat.
  • Which islands to visit:
    • Many people want to visit Greece for the incredible Greek Isles, a group of over 6,000 islands, of which 227 are inhabited.
    • Some of the most popular Greek islands to visit are Santorini, Crete, Mykonos, and Rhodes, with each one having their own variations of scenery and culture.
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The views in Santorini are pretty incredible.
  • Visiting Santorini:
    • Santorini is the most visited Greek Island, and after spending almost a week here on my honeymoon, I can certainly see why! I have traveled all over Europe, and nowhere else I’ve visited is anything like Santorini. The charming whitewashed streets and houses, with blue roofs and blue domes overlooking the caldera are simply stunning. I think everyone should have Santorini on their bucket list!
    • Just wandering the streets of Fira or Oia is a great way to spend the afternoon, and hiking along the caldera cliffside from Fira to Oia is an absolute must! You’ll swear you’ve never seen more beautiful views.
    • Santorini is also known for its wine, and a trip here is not complete without visiting at least a winery or two, or better yet, booking a tour so a sommelier can take you around to a few different wineries for tastings!
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Hiking from Fira to Oia was a highlight of my entire time in Greece.
  • Visiting Mykonos:
    • Mykonos is widely regarding as the “party island” and known for its nightlife, but by visiting Mykonos in early May, just before peak season, I found it to be quiet and so charming.
    • Mykonos Town is full of winding cobblestone streets, with shops and restaurants that just get more adorable around every corner. Add in the beautiful beachfront views, watching sailboats and yachts come in on the Aegean Sea, and the hill of windmills, and you have a perfectly lovely place to visit.
    • We spent much of our time here just relaxing poolside, overlooking the ocean, wandering the streets of Mykonos Town, and eating incredible Greek food.
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Mykonos, where every street looks like a postcard.

This is just a starting point for planning a fantastic trip to Greece! I’ll be sharing many more details, including itineraries for Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini, and day trips and outings to consider while visiting. One thing to note is that an eSIM like GigSky’s can be much more affordable than your phone carrier’s international plan, so check it out here! And stay tuned for more, and let me know if there’s anything you’d like to know about visiting Greece!

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I wouldn’t mind waking up to this Santorini view every day.