My Summer Adventure to Discover the Best of Greece

By Pamela Nandi | Oct 13, 2019

TIME OF VISIT: JULY

After travelling to many beautiful destinations in Europe, I chose Greece as SOLO traveller to spend my leisure vacation hub during late summer to hit its most popular scenic islands of Santorini, Mykonos – to enjoy its deep blue oceanic landscape and architectures. Gaze the breathtaking view of the distinct landscape of the Caldera with its deep blue sea and the white-washed buildings with the famous blue domes add mesmerizing beauty making it an incredible holiday destination.

DESTINATION 1: ATHENS, GREECE

GREECE DAY 1: ATHENS (The City Tour)

MY ARRIVAL: Flew from India to Athens by Qatar Airways (one STOP flight duration of 9 hrs). Checked-in to my hotel at Athens the capital city of Greece during the early afternoon.

TIPS: The concierge service at my hotel booked a late afternoon Cape Sounion Sunset Tour From Athens from a local operator which was a duration of about 4 hrs – a HALF-DAY TOUR.

Cape Sounion Sunset Tour From Athens

Travelling south from Athens, Sounion is located at the southern end of the Apollo coast, right on the tip of the Cape. A 1.5-hour drive to reach Cape Sounion from the city centre of Athens. A stroll through the ancient ruins of the Temple of Poseidon at Sounio, East Attica Region, with the immense blue of the Aegean Sea (named after Aegeas, the legendary king of Athens) in the backdrop is just mesmerizing.

**The scenic route of Athens Riviera up to the Poseidon Temple at the Cape Sounion**

**Drive through the elegant suburbs of the Greek Riviera**

**The views along the coastline drive were too gorgeous**

Greek temple of Poseidon – The most magnificent ancient landmarks, 60 metres (200 ft), built during 444–440 BC, of the Golden Age of Athens, surrounded on three sides by the sea situated on the coastal cliffs of Cape Sounion.

**Majestic** **Sunset view of Temple of Poseidon overlooking the breathtaking views of Aegean Sea.**

**Warm waters of Lake Vouliagmeni, (“Sunken Lake”), a small brackish-water lake fed by underground currents seeping through the mass of Mount Hymettus – view from Sounion.**

**The picturesque south coast of Attica**

**Tour followed by some of Greece’s best wines,** **produced in Markopoulos, Attica.**

DESTINATION 2: SANTORINI, GREECE

GREECE DAY 2: SANTORINI

MY ARRIVAL: Flew from Athens to Santorini by Aegean Airways (NON-STOP flight duration of 45 minutes). Checked-in to my hotel at Santorini during the early morning.

TIPS: Grab a window seat to get best views of the Santorini island when landing? You may board the ferry from Piraeus port of Athens to Santorini. It is advised to take a flight one way ride and ferry.

My journey started with the most populous Cyclades islands – Santorini on the Aegean Sea demolished by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC leading to the Caldera view of its 2 main towns Fira and Oia with whitewashed painted houses overlooking the crystal clear blue waters of Aegean Sea.

TIPS: You may buy a ticket for a cable car from the old port to the capital of Santorini. You may ride a donkey or may walk down 100 steps. Then take a boat tour departing from the town of Oia, the Old Port of Fira, on Santorini’s main island.

**The Santorini cable car connects the port**

**Boarded a cable car that takes to the Caldera down to the sea**

**Breath-taking and relaxing view of Caldera**

GREECE DAY 2: Half Day Volcano Spring Tour (Santorini)

MY ARRIVAL: Pre-booked 3 hours Half Day Volcano Spring Tour through Viator.Com – the late afternoon tour to avoid the heat. On reaching the town of Thira by cable car, the boat departed from port of Thira to the volcano on Nea Kameni.

TIPS: You may opt for the early morning tour. Wear hiking-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes, if you plan to walk 30 minutes to the crater’s rim. Must carry a hat, sunblock, and water to protect against the scorching Mediterranean heat.

The “Santorini volcano” may refer to two different peaks: the first, Thira, exploded around 1600 BC and ended the thriving Minoan civilization.

**“New” port, called Athinios, where the inter-island ferries dock (also called the Port of Thira – the Greek name for Santorini)**

**Ruggedly beautiful volcanic crate – Nea Kameni, uninhabited Greek island located in the Aegean Sea within the flooded Santorini caldera.**

**Millennia of eruptions formed the second “Santorini volcano”—the island of Nea Kameni.**

**Took a hike up to the crater’s rim and take in the views across lava fields.**

After visiting the active volcano lava islet of Nea Kameni, the ‘caldera’ boat takes to the lava islet of Palea Kameni.

**Palea Kameni, also known as Palia Kameni, is a volcanic island within the Santorini Caldera.**

**Hot springs on Palea Kameni and you can swim to the springs beneath.**

GREECE DAY 3: SANTORINI

Started my day by enjoying rich high protein fresh buffet breakfast with full of local flavours served every morning that used to keep me all day running for sightseeing to explore the beautiful village of Santorini, while enjoying the panoramic breathtaking Caldera view – hallmark of the island on one side and the lush blue clear resort pool on the other end. In short, this was simply a little paradise.

**Breathtaking view of Caldera from my breakfast table**

GREECE DAY 3: SANTORINI (The City Tour)

MY ARRIVAL: Pre-booked full day 9 hours Santorini City Tour Tour through Viator.Com with pick-up and drop off back to my hotel.

Enjoyed a day of discovery on Santorini island with this tour from Fira by discovering Santorini’s ancient history, local culture and famous views.

Visit the village of Akrotiri (Santorini City Tour)

The sightseeing kicked off to explore the ruins of a Bronze Age civilization at the renowned archaeological site of Akrotiri, that thrived here between 3000 and 1500 BC. Considered the best-preserved Minoan ruins outside of Crete.

**Volcanic ashes at the Archaeological site of Akrotiri**

Lunch break at Perissa (Santorini City Tour)

This was followed by a lunch break. Approximately of 2 hours of break to explore around the beach in leisure at Santorini ‘s most beautiful black sand beach – Perissa. A perfect place to explore authentic Greek cuisines.

**Perissa, on the southeastern side of Santorini located at the foot of the enormous rock, called Mesa Vouno**

**View of Perissa beach from the restaurant**

Visit the village – Megalochori (Santorini City Tour)

Welcome to Megalochori – in Greek means “Big Village”. One of those hidden gems, sitting on a hill facing to the east that offers sublime views of the breathtaking caldera on the west and on a vast valley on the east flagged by full of vineyards.

**The most picturesque quiet traditional village of Santorini** **with it blissful Villas** **and maze-like streets**

**The beautiful arched belfries of its churches with its traditional Cycladic architecture** – **three bells monument**

Visit Prophet Elias Monastery (Santorini City Tour)

Take in panoramic views from the island’s highest point at 18th-century Prophet Elias Monastery.

**Admiring the sweeping views from the highest point of Santorini** **– Mt. Profitis Ilias summit**

Tasting of Santorini’s distinctive wine (Santorini City Tour)

My stay at Santorini would have remained incomplete without sipping the world-class fine wine which leads to a session of RED and WHITE wine tasting from local vineyards at Pyrgos village while enjoying the breathtaking view of Caldera at late afternoon at an island winery – Santo Winery.

**Wine Tasting at Santo Wines Winery** – **one of the island’s largest and most modern estates**

**Picturesque view from the terrace of Santo Wines Winery**

Gaze at the sunset over the caldera at Oia Village (Santorini City Tour)

Finally, capped off the day on a high note to catch a spectacular sunset at the most beautiful and picturesque village of Santorini – Oia located on the top of the cliff of the South Aegean on the islands of Thira by watching the sun slip into the sea.

**Oia’s Main Square – Church of Panagia Platsani**

**Stroll through the narrow streets, browse local boutiques** **– a shopper’s paradise with its youthful collections**

**Adoring the breathtaking view of the Caldera.**

**Unforgettable SunSet View of Oia Village – the most photogenic places on Earth.**

MY STAY: Orizontes Hotel & Villas– located in the historic district between Fira and Pyrgos village, and near the airport boasting the natural beauty of Santorini Caldera.

**Breathtaking morning view of the Caldera from my room** **– Orizontes Hotel & Villas**

**Breathtaking sunset view of the Caldera from my room** **– Orizontes Hotel & Villas**

**Poolside –** **Orizontes Hotel & Villas**

DESTINATION 3: MYKONOS, GREECE

MY ARRIVAL: Pre-booked my ferry ticket from GoFerry to travel from Santorini to Mykonos – 2.5-hour journey by SEAJETS. Boarded the ferry @10:45 am from the port of Fira.

TIPS: On booking the ferry ticket, a voucher is issued. Please make sure to carry the soft copy of the voucher in order to collect the original ticket from the ticketing office of SeaJets before 1 hour of departure at the cruise terminal.

**Seajets – Greek/Cypriot ferry company operating passenger and freight ferry services in the Aegean Sea.**

Waiting at the terminal to board the cruise from the Port of Santorini.

A short halt at Tinos (also known as Ophiussa and Hydroessa ) – a Greek island situated in the Aegean Sea, located in the Cyclades archipelago.

GREECE DAY 4: MYKONOS (The City Tour)

MY ARRIVAL: Pre-booked half day 4 hours afternoon Mykonos City Tour through Viator.Com with pick-up from and drop-off at the island’s square – Fabriqa Square to enjoy the highlights of Mykonos.

My next destination was Mykonos – Greece’s most famous cosmopolitan island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea, a great summer party island with massive dance clubs, world-renowned DJs that stay open well past dawn, magnificent views of pristine beaches with bars that blare thumping music, whitewashed villages and historic monuments.

Stop at Ano Mera village (Mykonos City Tour)

Ano Mera – a small Cycladic second bigger village after Mykonos Town, is one of the oldest villages of Mykonos. The beautiful historic Panagia Tourliani monastery – iconic landmark situated in the southeast end of Ano Mera surrounded by impressive walls, dates from the 18th century with a marble bell tower.

**Admire the historic Mykonos 16th-century windmills which sit on a hill above Mykonos town.**

**Spectacular views of the surrounding islands** **– picturesque fishing villages**

**Whitewashed paradise in the heart of the Cyclades**

Stop at Elia Beach (Mykonos City Tour)

**Elia – the longest white sandy beach located on the Southside of the Mykonos island.**

**The beach offers a wide choice of bars and water sports facilities such as water-skiing, parasailing and windsurfing**

Kalafatis beach – located in the southeast of the island, between the beaches of Kalo Livadi and Lia, approximately 11 km from Chora. Well known for its water sports. Only beach on the island surrounded by trees.

**A glimpse of the evening view of beach Kalafatis, Mykonos, Greece** – **long sandy beach with sunbeds & umbrellas**

MY STAY: At Aphrodite Beach Hotel located on the Southeastern side of Mykonos Island overlooking the quiet, incredible view of beach Kalafatis, Mykonos, Greece. The stay was really an additional gain to pamper my palette into the best freshwater seafood served in their restaurant.

**PoolSide –** **Kalafatis, Mykonos, Greece**

Fully relished my dinner with the lovely view on the terrace by the sea at their sea beach ala- carte restaurant – Thalassa, Aphrodite Beach Hotel.

DESTINATION 4: DELOS, GREECE

GREECE DAY 5: DELOS (The Island Tour)

MY ARRIVAL: Pre-booked half day 4 hours morning guided Delos tour through Viator.Com departure from the Deliana port in Mykonos to Delos.

TIPS: Look for the desk with the name “Tours to Delos” and present the voucher in order to get the original tickets. If you are taking the morning tour, be there before 09:30 am.

**Boarding the ferry from** **Deliana** **Port of Mykonos**

Took a guided walking tour for about 2.5-hour to explore this spiritual inhabited island located near Mykonos in the South Aegean of the ancient Greeks with an influence of the Roman culture ringed by impressive sanctuaries, temples, notable monuments and a museum that stands in terms of the great collection of mosaics and sculptures.

**Delos – World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the sacred island, the birthplace of Greek mythological gods Artemis and Apollo in the Cyclades archipelago.**

**Naxos Lions (sculptures in shape of a feline that honoured the God Apollo) – the notable landmark of the island**.

**The ‘open-air’** **archaeological** **museum**

**Archaeological Museum of Delos built-in 1904 exhibits an extensive collection of objects from the excavations.**

My day ended at Delos by boarding the ferry back to Mykonos Old Port.

MY ARRIVAL: Pre-booked my ferry ticket from GoFerry to travel from Mykonos to Rafina Port, Athens – 3-hour journey by SEAJETS. Boarded the ferry from the Mykonos New Port, departure @16:30 pm. Ferry Options are also available for arrival at Piraeus Port, Athens.

TIPS: A free transfer is available for transfer from Mykonos Old Port to Mykonos New Port. On booking the ferry ticket, a voucher is issued. Please make sure to carry the soft copy of the voucher in order to collect the original ticket from the ticketing office of Blue Star Ferries before 1 hour at the cruise terminal. OR You may take a flight from Mykonos back to Athens.

GREECE DAY 6: ATHENS (The City Tour)

Athens – World’s oldest cities, the capital city and heart of Greece, was the final destination of my dream vacation. A powerful civilization and empire, dominated by 5th-century BC landmarks – the hilltop citadel, Acropolis, Parthenon temple, Acropolis Museum.

City Sightseeing Athens, Piraeus & Beach Riviera Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

TIPS: Pre-booked 24 hours Hop On and Hop Off City Sightseeing Tour through Viator.Com.

Acropolis, the influential landmarks in the history of Western civilization located on the rocky hilltop, above the city of Athens crowned by the Parthenon, Caryatids, Temple of Athena and the famous amphitheatre. The monumental beauty, great architectural jaw-dropping ruins of the Golden Age of Greece are universal symbols of the classical spirit and civilization.

TIPS: Get a ticket for admission into the Acropolis and head up to the top of the hill, about 20 minutes walk.

**Propylaea – monumental gateway to Acropolis** **boasting ancient Greek architecture**

**Parthenon, the focal point of the eternal that dominates the hill of the Acropolis built-in the mid-5th-century bc and dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena Parthenos (“Athena the Virgin”).**

**Former temple on the Athenian Acropolis, built in 447 BC during the Athenian dynasty, dedicated to the goddess Athena.**

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus – legendary open-air stone theatre located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis, built in the Roman times, in 161 A.D. An important sacred site for a gathering place for all sorts of rituals during ancient times. Considered to be the world’s first theatre.

**Odeon of Herodes Atticus** **– Open-air theatre**

**The majestic aerial views over the city of Athens from Acropolis**

Acropolis Museum – a must-see Athens tourist attraction. An archaeological museum that houses every artifact on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine and crowned with dazzling displays of exquisite items.

Temple of Olympian Zeus – magnificent ancient monument and one of the largest temples in the ancient world located in the southeast of the Acropolis. A former colossal temple dedicated to “Olympian” Zeus, king of the Olympian gods built over several centuries starting in 174 BCE. Originally had 104 columns but only 16 have survived.

**Temple of Olympian Zeus also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus**

If you are you looking for the most spectacular or a relaxing way to spend a day by the sea in Athens? Then visit the beachline and the picturesque Piraeus Port.

**Athens Riviera – the coastal area in the southern suburbs of Athens**

Port of Piraeus – the chief seaport of Athens, since 500 BC, largest passenger port in Europe situated upon the Saronic Gulf on the western coasts of the Aegean Sea ringed by ferries and cruise ship. Located 10 km from the city centre, can be accessed by metro.