Greece (Greek: Ελλάδα, romanized: Elláda, [eˈlaða]), officially the Hellenic Republic,[b] is a country located in Southeast Europe. Its population is approximately 10.7 million. Athens is its largest and capital city, followed by Thessaloniki. Situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, Greece is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the northeast. The Aegean Sea lies to the east of the mainland, the Ionian Sea to the west, the Cretan Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Greece has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean Basin and the 11th longest coastline in the world, featuring many islands, of which 227 are inhabited. Eighty percent of Greece is mountainous, with Mount Olympus being the highest peak at 2,918 metres (9,573 ft). 

Language: While in touristy areas, some may speak English, The vast majority of the 10.7m population of Greece speak Greek, which is the country's official language. The other languages spoken there are Macedonian (called "Slav-Macedonian" in Greece), Albanian, spoken in the centre and the south, Turkish, spoken by Muslim communities around the Aegean, Arumanian and Bulgarian. 

Currency: The Euro is the official currency of Greece. Greece joined the European Union in 1981, and adopted the euro in 2001 

Pros

• Affordable in comparison to most Western countries and therefore can budget an affordable trip (e.g. US, UK)

• Easy to get around (subway, taxis, flights, Sea ferries)

• Friendly locals who speak English in tourist areas

• Many historical places to visit.

• Great Food

• If you live a pretty active lifestyle then you  will enjoy that there is a lot to do within walking distance of touristy areas.

• Safe to walk around during the day and explore

Cons

• Lots of smokers everywhere

• You need to be in shape because the terrain is very mountainous which means you are walking up and down a lot of hills and a ton of stairs.

• Not ADA friendly. Sidewalks can be rugged with many stairs, so its not ideal for those in a wheelchair or the elderly.

• Water is not safe to drink

This Greece Travel Guide will provide itineraries for 3 locations in Greece:

• Athens

• Santorini 

• Mykonos

Each itinerary will prioritize the top things to do in order of days, with the 1st day being the most important sites to see and the 3rd+ day being other options and alternative things to do if you are enjoying a longer stay. 

ATHENS

ATHENS INFO

• Acropolis
• National Gardens
• Kotzia Square - antique stores and cafes
• Plaka Neighborhood

• Zurbana Restaurant
• Ellyz Cafe
• GB Rooftop Garden
• Dinner in the Sky
• Bandiera
• Oroscopo
• Little Kook

• Plaka -- closest Metro station: Akropoli
  • Near a lot of sightseeing, historical locations, museums
  • Near restaurants, bars, outdoor cafes
  • Near the Acropolis/Parthenon
  • Near Shopping
  • Picturesque pedestrian streets that are reminiscent of old Athens
• Near the Beach -- there are no Metro Stations with Beach Access
  • Link: Athens 10 Best beaches and how to Get there
  • The closest beach to the city of Athens is Edem. Since it's the closest, it can get busy.
  • The most luxurious beach is Astir Beach, which is located in the suburb of Vouliagmeni. Entrance fee is 25-40 euros
• Near the Airport
  • Since there is a metro stop at the airport, you really can stay at any hotel that is walking distance to the metro.
• Near the Center of the City: Syntagma Square (closest metro is Syntagma Metro)
  • Many tours meet and leave from Syntagma Square. Therefore, it is a convenient area to be in. 

• Rooftop Pool
• Metro Accessible
• Rooftop views of acropolis
• Near another major attraction

• Cocomat Athens- starting at $125 / night (This is what I paid in 2021).
  • Affordable boutique hotel
  • Breakfast Included
  • This hotel doesn't have a rooftop pool, but there's a small rooftop patio where you can see views of the Parthenon
  • Rooms are nice. but the hotel itself is definitely small. Breakfast is in the basement. Therefore a nice feature wall down there.
  • We walked to the Parthenon from here. It was a long walk (like 30 minutes), with hills up and down, but we passed lots of shopping and lots of bars and restaurants.
  • In the downtown area, about a 15-20 minute walk to Syntagma Square.
  • I wanted to book Cocomat Athens BC - which is in the same chain, but they have a rooftop pool along with views of the Parthenon. The rooms here are more luxury as well. They just didn't have any availability for our dates. They are slightly more expensive, but still within budget.
• The Duke Boutique Suites - starting at $115 / night (This is what I paid).
  • Affordable boutique hotel
  • Breakfast Included
  • Rooftop pool
  • Rooftop views of the Parthenon
  • Rooms are nice and modern, with floor to ceiling windows that over look a hill/park. Situated at the foot of Mount Lycabettus
  • In the downtown area, about a 15-20 minute walk to Syntagma Square.
  • Cons: You can here everything in the hallways and in other people's rooms. The walls are very thin.
  • Honorable mention: St. George Lycabettus. More expensive but 5 star feels. Rates starting at $370/night

Athens Metro Map

Hint the airport stop is on the right at the bottom

EXCURSIONS

If you like to walk around and explore, I really suggest getting tickets for one of the Hop On Hop Off Buses. For 29 euro/$35 you can explore many sites for 2 days. 

Ticket price: 29 euro / $35 (cheaper than taking the metro or taxi to each of these different sites)

Time: 8:30am to 7pm

Audio historical tour in 13 languages.

Hop on and hop off at any of their different stops.

Tickets last for 48 hours.

Here is the bus company that we used: City Sightseeing aka the Red Bus.

Click here to book your tickets. 

Otherwise, here are some other excursions you might be interested in.

Athens Itinerary

Day 1 - Acropolis Day +  Hop on Hop Off

• Book a Ticket with the City-Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off bus for: 29 euro

  • • You can book this on your phone since you can show the voucher on your birthday.

    • Book the red line which is the Athens line to explore the beautiful historic city of Athens

  • The Acropolis is one of the stops on the bus (Stop #4). So ride the bus to that stop, and then spend a couple of hours exploring the Acropolis. 

• Acropolis Entrance Tickets: 20 euro

  • Closest metro: Acropoli

  • Sights to see:

    • Parthenon

• Hop back on the red City-Sightseeing bus. Ride the entire line so that you get a feel for the different sites to see. If you see something you like, hop off and explore, and then return to the bus stop to hop back on. You will receive earphones to plug into the back of the seat so that you can listen to an audio guide that gives you a historical background of each stop. Sit at the top of the double decker for the best views. You will have more time to explore the different stops tomorrow, since the tickets last 48 hours

• Hop off at Kotzia square - Stop 15

  • • Things to do around Kotzia Square: antique stores + Little Cafes + waterfall feature

      • Ellyz Cafe - the most beautiful pink cafe

      • Little Kook - a beautifully decorated restaurant

      • Waterfall

  • There are so many places to eat. But make sure you are done eating and exploring by 5:30/5:45 because there will be only 1 more bus that will do the full route again, so that you can get dropped off at a location closest to your hotel. Otherwise, you will need to take a taxi or the metro home.

Day 2: Explore more sites for Day 2 on the Hop on- Hop Off Bus  - Red Line/Athens Line

• Plaka Village -- old Athens. Many cafes, and old sops. Take a stroll, and grab a bite to eat. Take pictures of the cobble stone pedestrian streets. Buy Souvenirs. 

  • Places to Eat in Plaka Village:

    • Cafe Melina, named after the Greek politician Melina Mercouri -- afternoon tea

• Panathenaic Stadium

  • hosted the 1896 Olympic Games

• Temple of Zeus - Stop 8

  • completed in the 5th century

• National Gardens - Stop 9

• National Archaeological Museum - Stop 11

• National Library - Stop 10

• Syntagma Square - Stop 1

Day 3 - Summertime only option: Beach Riviera 

• Everyone things that you need to go to the Greek islands to touch the water. Well, that's not fully true. Athens has some great beaches nearby. 

• You can either take a taxi to the locations below or you can hop in the Purple Line for the Hop on Hop Off Bus.

  • For a Boat Day

    • C Mikrolimano Harbour

    • Port Piraeus

  • For a Beach Day

    • Votsalakia Beach

• Another Option it to find your way to one of these beautiful beaches near Athens

  • Beach Resorts

    • Varkiza Resort Yabanaki Beach

    • Grand Resort Lagonissi beach

      • Go for a day

  • BArs

    • Bolivar Beach Bar

      • designed liked an exotic island; coffee, eat, cocktail at sunset, romantic moonlight; lively musical entermaintment

  • Beaches

    • Eden Beach Resort in Anavyssos - crystal clear waters and sandy beaches

      • Guest of the resort enjoy - swimming, sunbathing, watersports, fly fshing, kayaks, watter ski, beah volleyball; baby beahc for the kids, live music in the evenings, cokctail par, food, beach huts

    • Schinias Beach = blue waters, water sports

      • Karavi - vibrant atmosphere

      • Galazia Akti on the coast of Schnias

        • beautiful beach

      • Moraitis Beach Cultur - sports center and beach club - in the Marathon Gulf - ater-skiing, wake-boarding, windsurfing lessons, catamaran, tubes

      • Day excursion to Euboea or Petalious

    • Astir Breach at Vouliagmeni

      • exclusive destination for celebrities

    • Sounio

      • beautiful, temple of Poseidon overlooks the Aegean Sea

Other Things to do if you have more time in Athens:

• ATV tour of Marathon Lake

• Cave of Lakes

• Wine Tour

• Sunset Cruise 

• Watersports

• Shopping, Eating, Exploring

Santorini

Santorini Info

• Oia
  • This is the city that you see in all of the post cards. I counted more blue top churches here than in Fira, which makes me believe that this is where people go to take those famous Santorini flyway dress photos. 
    • Places to Eat in Oia (see if you can make reservations in advance due to COVID. But some places will still accept walk-ins, you just won't get the best seats).
      • Pelekanos
      • Armeni
      • Nocturni
      • Karma
      • Thalami
      • Lauda
      • 218 Degrees
• Fira
  • This is where I stayed and fell in love with. Not all of the hotels have heated infinity pools. Me boutique resort Daydream Luxury suites did. Since I visited in October, where the weather was a little colder (jacket weather for sure), I was obsessed with the heated pool. It was like being in a hot tub while the cold air blew, as I overlooked the caldera and the volcano. I fell in love with Fira, but I'm sure if I would have stayed in Oia, I would have fell in love with Oia as well.
    • Places to Eat in Fira (see if you can make reservations in advance due to COVID. But some places will still accept walk-ins, you just won't get the best seats).
      • Kaliya
      • Idol
      • Zafora
      • Rastoni
      • La Colline
      • Volkan on the Rocks
      • Classico
• Near the Airport
  • Don't stay near the airport. The airport is on the side of the island that does not have caldera views. While waterfront views is cute and all, the whole point of going to Santorini is staying on the side of the island with the caldera views. From my research you can find cheap hotels both on the caldera view side and the other side of the island. I suppose, if you want, you can rent something super cheap without a caldera view and then take a taxi to the towns of Fira and Oia to see the Caldera. You got options.

• Infinity Pool with views -- heated if you are traveling in the cuff seasons
• Walking distance to bars, restaurants, shopping
• Wifi
• On-site concierge 
• Clean
• Place where you can take dope pictures

• Daydream Luxury Suites (in Fira/Thira)- starting at $210/night (This is what I paid).
  • Beautiful Caldera Views
  • Heated Pool and Hot Tub overlooking the water
  • Breakfast Included
  • Beautiful views of the town of Fira 
  • Walking distance to bars and restaurants.
  • On-site hotel manager is very hospital. Brings you breakfast. Will book excursions for you. Will help you plan out your stay.
  • Cons: Not Accessible for those that are handicapped. Lots of walking up and down heels and lots of stairs

• Rent a Yacht
• Visit the Volcano + Hot springs
• Wine Cave Museum
• Hop around to different Vineyards
• Black Beach
• Red Reach
• White Beach
• Sunset in Oia at the Edge of the island
• Eat
• Drink
• Drop
• Take Rooftop Pictures.

Santorini Itinerary

Santorini Sample Itinerary

Day 1 - Relax and Explore, Sunset Dinner - either in Oia or Fira

Day 2 (Summer only option): Rent a Catamaran to visit the Volcano + Hot springs, Red Beach, Black Beach, and White Beach

Day 3 - Relax and Explore, Sunset Dinner - either in Oia or Fira (go to whichever you didn't explore on the first day)

Day 4 - Hop around to different Wineries

• Wine Cave Museum

• Domaine Sigalas

• Gaia Winery

• Santo Winery

• Venetsanos Winery

• Estate Argyros

• Vassaltis Vineyards

• Anhydrous Winery

Extra Days: Things to do

• Hike 4 hours from Fira to Oia

• Akrotiri Archaelogical Site - similar to Pompei the entire city was destroyed by a volcanic eruption. Many parts of the city are preserved under ash of the volcanic eruption from 3500 years ago.

• Amoudi Bay

• Beaches

  • Kamari Beach - hotels, bars, restaurants, shops

  • Perissa Black Sand Beach

  • Perivolos Beach

  • Red Beach

  • White Beach

  • Vlychada Beach

  • Armeni Bay

  • Caldera Beach

• Ancient Thera ruins

• Ride the Santorini Cable Car

• Lighthouse

• The Castle of St. Nicholas

• Skaros Rock Geoligic Formation

• Zoodochos Pigi Cave

• Karavolades Stairs

• Blue domed churches are all over, but I thought Oia had more rooftop views of the Blue Domed churches, like you see in the postcards. (But Fira/Thera had the best caldera views.)

  • Three Bells of Fira Church

  • Castelli of Pyrgos

  • Panagia Theoskepasti Chapel

  • Church of Tlmios Stavros

  • Agios Georgios Church

EXCURSIONS in Santorini

Mykonos

Mykonos Info

• Paradise Beach
  • Touristy beach
  • Head to the Mykonos Diving Center on Paradise Beach to ret equipment to dive at Paradise House Reef 
  • Can take photos of the Windmills fromt he beach
• Day Trip to Delos
  • Tour the Ancient ruins in the City of Delos - the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis -- UNESCO World Heritage Site  - roundtrip boat tickets to this island are around $20 or 18 euro. Entrance tickets cost 5 euro
• Little Venice
  • 16th century Windmills, restaurants, shopping, beautiful views, art galleries, over looks the southwest end of the harbor
• Old Port Beach - both locals and tourists visit here. 
  • can walk to Little Venice from here 
  • Can walk to Panagia Paraportiani Church from here. (most famous church on the islands)
  • Mykonos Folklore Museum - near Paraportiani Church
  • Aegean Maritime Museum in the center of Mykonos at Tria Pigadia - 6 minute walk from Aegean Maritime Museum
• Drive to the Armenistis Lighthouse
• Platis Gialos - the most popular and most crowded beach, white sands, turquoise waters, beach bars, sunbeds - eat Greek food at Avli Tou Thodori
  • Catch a boat from Platis Gialos to visit the southern beaches - Paraga, Agrari, Elia, Paradise, Super Paradise
• Visit the "Bonis Windmil" Argo-museum of Mykonos during the summer months
• Psarou Beach
  • less crowded that the more touristy Paradise beach but still touristy
• Party
  • Buddha Beach Club Mykonos
  • Tropicana Mykonos Club Beach Bar
• Matogianni - fashion and nightlife, cafes, bars, taverns
• Catch a show at the Cine Manto open-air cinema in the Municipal Garden of Meletopoulos in Matoyianni - Tickets: 9 euros

• NOA Greek Restaurant
• Lyo Bar Restaurant
• In the downtown area, there will be plenty of bars and restaurants to stop at.

• Pick a Nice Resort and take a taxi around the island
• Or Stay in the downtown area near are the shops, bars, and restaurants. Hotel will be smaller, but everything is walking distance.

• Pool with Views
• Champagne Breakfast Included
• Less than 10 minute drive/15 euro taxi ride to Mykonos Town
• Concierge can arrange transfer to and from airport to cruise port

• Katikies Mykonos starting at $450/night (This is what I paid).
  • 2 pools
  • Rooms had a small private pool/tub
  • Large breakfast spread 
  • Not on the beach but the sand around the pool gives it beach vibes
  • Pay extra for shuttle pickup from airport or boat terminal

• • Cons: Not Accessible for those that are handicapped. Lots of walking up and down heels and lots of stairs. Not walking distance to bars and restaurants. At night you have to plan your taxi in advance. The pools are not heated,

EXCURSIONS in Mykonos

Transportation around Greece and Greek Islands

• Flights

• SeaFerry

• Cruise Port

• Tours

BUDGETING

Travel Planning and Budgeting

1. Find a flight deal. Hopefully your dates are flexible, because that's the best way to find cheaper flight deals. My flight was around $700 but my friend found a flight deal for $300 just by changing the dates around. I use Skyscanner to search for flight deals by month and typically look for the cheapest dates in that month or the cheapest months. Then I cross reference these dates with my flight deals. Look for flights in ATH (aka Athens International Airport aka Eleftherios Venizelos). This is the largest international airport in Greece. Remeber this is the flight that will get you into