Just Back From: Greece

I recently set off on a 10 day Grecian adventure to check out historical sights, quiet Greek islands, and, of course, eat all the Greek food possible. I also got to stay at some incredible properties. Here are the highlights!

Athens

If you’re going to do one activity in Athens, I’d recommend doing the walking food tour. This tour started at the hotel and had us first visiting the Ancient Agora, one of my favorite historical sites in Athens (I preferred it to the Acropolis), that overlooks the Acropolis and gives you the opportunity to really understand the history and culture of Greek civilization. This tour is also great because it allows you to break up the history with some food. The food scene in Athens is delicious, and if you can get out of some of the more touristy areas, it’s even better and more affordable. 

Paros

Greek island ferry tips: Greek ferries are, in a word, chaotic. They’re often late, and getting on and off can be very crowded. To make things easier for yourself, book your ferry tickets ahead of time on the Ferry Hopper app. We upgraded our seats too, which made a huge difference. 

Paros might just be my favorite of the Greek islands. It felt a bit more authentic to me, and less chaotic than bigger islands like Santorini. There’s the possibility to have a remote and serene experience in Paros while still having access to plenty of cafes and restaurants. We stayed a couple miles away in a nearby town which was much more peaceful than staying in the main village. 

I loved visiting the nearby town of Naoussa and checking out the shops and restaurants. But my favorite day was our day spent out on the water. We took a private boat from Paros and had the whole day to sunbathe and swim. 

Our final stop in Paros was the village of Lefkes, which I also adored. Lefkes is great if you’ve had a lot of beach time and want to see a more authentic Greek village. It’s so fun to walk around, and it has a byzantine road that goes through the village that’s great for hiking and for seeing some of the town. Here, we had a great lunch at a small fishing village on the east side of the island called Piso Livadi. This area is known for its seafood, and paired with the great views overlooking the water, it did not disappoint. 

Another favorite meal during our time in Paros was a meal at Yemeni, a small but popular restaurant in Naoussa. We had a 3 hour dinner here consisting of traditional greek food made with family recipes. Everything was incredible. 

Santorini 

In Santorini, we split our time between two sides of the island. For a beach experience, the east side of the island is where you want to be. We stayed at the Istoria Hotel, which was absolutely beautiful. The hotel only has 12 rooms and it’s right on the beach with a relaxed and laid back vibe. The pool at the hotel was fantastic and it was a truly unique stay. 

On the east side of the island we did what most visitors do—spend time at various beach clubs and bars. From there, we set off on a wine tasting tour and visited three wineries, including Boutaris Winery, Gavalas Winery, and Estate Argyros. Estate Argyros is a popular winery with great views and was hands down my favorite. 

For the second half of our stay in Santorini, we headed to the popular village of Oia on the sunset side of the island. We stayed at the Andronis Arcadia, which had one of the best pool setups I’ve ever seen. There was a private pool in each room and three different public pools throughout the hotel. In addition, this hotel is set on top of the cliffs of Santornini, which means endless views overlooking the Aegean Sea.

We didn’t have one bad meal in Oia, from the Ammoudi Fish Tavern along the bay, to the traditional cafe Elinikon, and the delicious open-air sushi bar and restaurant at our hotel, Pacman. 

My last trip to Greece was to the island of Crete, and I love how the Greek islands can give you such diverse experiences each time you visit and explore. After ten days in Greece, much of which was spent on the Greek islands, here’s my takeaway: there are so many opportunities to have an authentic Greek experience off the beaten path in Greece. I’d highly recommend pairing popular islands like Santorini or Mykonos with another island that will show you a different side of Greek life for some balance. Santorini is gorgeous—when you see a postcard of Greece, you’re likely seeing a picture of Santorini. But don’t hesitate to go beyond just the island of Santorini and add in another less crowded island to round out your trip.

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