- ATHENS
- SANTORINI
- MYKONOS
Athens was an incredible surprise….we thought a quick trip to the Acropolis and Parthenon would be sufficient for one day/night …we ended up loving our stay in this ancient, historical city-lots to explore! We stayed at the Acropolis apartment we booked through Hotels.com…they conveniently set up our transfers for 10 euro per person from the Athens airport — a 10 min walk from the Acropolis. It was a charming, modern, clean reasonably priced apt with two floors nestled at the end of a pebble stone street. The manager greeted us with a bottle of red wine which we toasted each other and shortly crashed after arriving that evening~ This was our first Greece sunset upon arriving in Athens! We spend the next day exploring the ancient citadel of the Acropolis and Parthenon…we did our own two since we had reservations fo fly out that afternoon! 
After a wonderful day of exploring the Acropolis, we flew from Athens to Santorini on Aegean Air…such a beautiful site to fly over the islands! When we landed in Santorini, we were awe-struck! WOWZA…What a beautiful Caldera…the largest island of a small, circular archipelago formed from the volcanic caldera! Amazing panoramic views of the Aegean Sea juxtaposed with whitewashed architecture composed of housing made of local stone.
We booked our “Eden Villa” through Booking.com and were pleased with the accommodations! Gorgeous view, all white cave-like interiors in the village of Imerovigli famous for its beautiful sunsets and a balcony to the Aegean Sea! A short walk down the path to the town of Fira…. all the restaurants, bars and shopping only 10 minutes away! I highly recommend this area if you want the convenience of walk to town! The Eden Villa Property Manager Nasia was awesome….she set up dinner reservations, sunset boat cruise through the caldera, transfers to the gorgeous beaches and the boat dock when we took the fast boat to Mykonos! We loved our stay at Eden Villa and moreover the wonderful hospitality of Nasia! We ate dinner at Ovac at the lovely Cavotagoo hotel. The pool lounge was great to have a cocktail, watch the sunset while waiting for your table! I had the crab tacos and they were outstanding….. a fine dining place on the pricey side however the seaside setting and view of the caldera made up for the expensive dinner-we chose this one over another restaurant located at the rim of the Caldera recommended with amazing views and a unique gastronomic experience and delicious food “ALALI” which means “Speechless” in Greek.
IT was truly a magical experience~ The 5-hour SUNSET boat cruise was a big highlight. We were picked up on a bus from Sunset Cruises and boarded our Catamaran at the Vylchada Marina, sailed past the Red and White Beaches, swam and snorkeled at the Mesa Pigadia Beach, enjoyed delicious BBQ prepared by the fun crew and other amazing greek food…. unlimited beer and wine also included in the price of $160 per person! The crew dropped anchor allowing passengers to swim over to a big rock for cliff diving~overall an amazing day watching the sunset within the caldera on a big catamaran and such a relaxing cruise! I highly recommend the SUNSET boat cruise! The only downside was our limited time preventing the boat to stop for a swim in the hot sulfur springs near the volcanic rock which was part of this excursion! Our favorite beach day was to Akrotiri...relax, sun and eat was marked on the entrance to this magical alcove secluded beach. You can rent a cabana chair for 40-50 euros and the beach wait staff brings you with cocktails, food etc. Additionally , there is a wonderful restaurant on the veranda….and you can swim to the nearby cave to explore….a beautiful day at AKRO beach!
We visited the booming small village of OIA on the island’s northernmost point of Santorini, part of this community was destroyed in the 1956 earthquake but has been rebuilt and this quintessential Greek village is know for its sugar cube houses and blue-domed churches.
Many tourists flock to OIA for the incredible SUNSETS atop near the ruins of a Venetian castle. You can stroll down quaint streets on the side of cliffs to see views of the caldera-most of the the sunset cruises end their excursions in OIA …we had a delicious greek dinner at OIA Gefsis dining on the rooftop of the restaurant enjoying another amazing sunset! The next day, we enjoyed a beach day at SEASIDE…we rented cabanas and loved our seafood lunch at the seaside bar and grill~what a great boho vibe this place had…at the end of our beach day, we traveled to PYRGOS, a medieval town and the highest settled village of the whole island, with the best panoramic views of both sides of Santorini with castle ruins high above the village…we walked all the way up to the top with our driver George who actually lived in this village, so he was full of history and knowledge of this enchanting village. We stopped at the Santo winery on our way back to Imerovigli and bought a couple bottles of the sauvignon blanc white wine-so good! 
We took the SEAJET fast ferry to MYKONOS after 4 nights in Santorini….it was a 2.5 hour ride equal to 73 miles or 63 nautical miles…..with a stop in IOS and PAROS…..two beautiful smaller islands! The price was 45 euro for the trip–Santorini has one port on the west side of the island-ATHINIOS…the boat ride was great with lots of comfortable seats and food/drink options aboard…we placed our luggage in the cargo area upon boarding and headed upstairs to the passenger cabin! Most important …be ON TIME…the ferries leave promptly and the port was really crowded especially in high season. We arrived about 45 min before our ferry departed! Upon arriving in Mykonos at the New Port, we located our driver and headed to the ROCABELLA BOUTIQUE HOTEL. A bohemian resort with a laid back, relaxed vibe~ Minimal chic design with earth tones interiors and white-hued villas creating a natural, authentic aesthetic . Prior to our arrival, we heard the REEZA restaurant in the hotel was #1 on the island….they were RIGHT….the food was amazing offering creative Greek cuisine and our favorite breakfasts we enjoyed each morning while in Mykonos! The staff was so accommodating and made us feel so special at every meal. The hotel is closest to Agios Stefanos beach offering a gorgeous view of the sea from the pool deck! 
Our first stop was LITTLE VENICE…in Mykonos town. Beautiful views of the restored windmills adjacent to the sea from the picturesque waterfront bars and restaurants–the BEST spot to watch the sunset and enjoy a cocktail!
A short walk away, we loved our delicious dinner at a recommended restaurant MAMALOUKA….steps away from the hotspots of Little Venice. INCREDIBLE VIBE…the atmosphere was amazing…We sat on a beautiful patio adorned with vibrant bougainvillea in a charming setting with lights illuminating the trees and delicious mediterranean cuisine! We all shared a beautiful Red Snapper fish prepared table side large enough for 4 of us accompanied with a few side dishes and lovely cocktails! We had an unforgettable evening…and we highly recommend! 
Mykonos is know for its beach and night clubs….we chose the beach route and booked a day at SCORPIOS BEACH CLUB to celebrate my birthday! There are lots of beaches to choose from, SCORPIOS was recommended to spend the day and enjoy the sunset. We didn’t know what to expect although it was quite welcoming upon our arrival. This gathering place encompasses a beautiful beach with 3 tiered terraces overlooking the sea, a restaurant, cabanas, sunbeds and a large main house with a bar, comfortable seating, and a clothing store….. What a concept…the natural~ organic, scenic setting was very relaxing and chill so we stayed the entire day, soaked in the sun, ate an incredibly delicious lunch, watched the sunset and enjoyed beachy music! Advanced reservations/bookings are a MUST , we arrived early at 11 am to ensure we could get a sunbed. There was a large wedding party in the afternoon and lots of people filtered in about 2 PM and later- crowding the beachfront. The restaurant on premise had delicious greek food and an accommodating wait staff! I had the best ORZO dish with zucchini, feta, lemon and tomatoes! I already made it a few times at home but didn’t quite taste the same!
The next day, we rented ATV’s and drove up to the North part of the island at AGIOS SOSTIS beach! Recommended to be there by NOON because the wait may take up to two hours to get a seat in the small local, Kiki’s tavern but well worth every minute. You can’t make reservations here in advance. It opens at 12:30 and that’s the first seating! You join a queue/ line and hang with the other people waiting while drinking ROSE´ out of a wine box offered to the patrons! At least one person from your party needs to be in the queue/line when called so we split up our foursome and headed down the gravel path to the beach to check it out! SUCH A GORGEOUS BEACH…..and best lunch spot in Mykonos! We met KIKI, the owner when finished and gave him our regards …such a nice man!
Once Kiki called us for our table, we entered the small, quaint tavern with a shaded, large tree surrounded with tables and chairs. The menu offered fresh grilled seafood and meat options, a salad bar and other baked entrees ….our fave starter was the baked feta…absolutely delicious! This was the beach view from Kiki’s Tavern….a hidden GEM and worth the drive and wait!
The ROCABELLA MYKONOS hotel made our ATV reservations and brought them to us so it was convenient to leave right from the parking lot! Our last stop on the ATV was the 180 SUNSET BAR atop Mykonos town! We stopped on our way home for another incredible sunset at yet another hotspot! Unforgettable, breathtaking views which will always remain engrained in your mind! A visually stimulating experience amid castle ruins and a windmill overlooking the whitewashed stucco houses below with a panoramic view of the gorgeous sunset over the sea….listening to music in a relaxing, chill setting enjoying a drink~ nothing short of “MAGICAL” is the only word I can think of to describe this place! Another MUST while in MYKONOS! 
Our last day in MYKONOS, we stayed by the pool and then wandered into the old port in the afternoon for some exploration! IT’s best to wear comfortable shoes to wander the uneven streets. SO many quaint shops lining the clean, narrow cobblestone walkways and fresh seafood restaurants on the Marina. This old town has so much character with the whitewashed architecture…..it’s easy to find your way around and many tourist and water activities are offered by a variety of companies in town-We took a shuttle from the hotel less than 10 minutes away. Additionally, cruise ships come in daily to the new port and passengers crowd the narrow- stone streets during the busy season. There is a also a small church St. Nikolas right near the old port beach which is the most lively area and great for people watching!
We had a blast wandering and walking around… Mykonos is known for not only its beautiful sunshine -averaging 300 days per year but it’s called Island of the “WIND”. It’s so beautiful which all the amazing beaches, whitewashed architecture, nightlife and windmills but can be very touristy depending on time of year you are visiting…..we went in SEPTEMBER, the shoulder season. We were quite surprised how windy this island was compared to Santorini! We didn’t get a chance to go but the least windy beach in Mykonos is PLATOS GIALOS, surrounded by rocks and shallow beaches great for families! The most famous beach was AGIOS IOANNIS, known for its tranquil, azure blue waters!
At the conclusion of our wonderful stay, we flew from MYKONOS back to ATHENS on Aegean air. The Mykonos airport is small and easy to fly out of….our flight was 40 minutes and departed on time! Upon arriving in ATHENS, we arranged for a driver to take us to the hotel MET34….a 30 min drive from the ATHENS airport near Syntagma Square and the Greek Parliament. It was a stylish, boutique, modern apartment hotel in the city center and a great option for a family or party of 4 like we were! We had a two bedroom suite with a kitchen which included a wonderful breakfast brought to us in the morning in a basket full of breads, jams, cheese and fruit! The hotel was clean, comfortable and had great design! We wandered to ERMOU street to find many authentic greek restaurant options~the ACROPOLIS was also nearby….ATHENS is an amazing city and you should take at least a full day or two to explore before heading to the islands to tour the ancient Parthenon, Acropolis and wander through the bustling city center! Greece is a magical place and so many islands to explore….delicious mediterranean food, friendly, hard-working people and the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen …..next time we hope to get too MILOS!
