GREECE

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The Parthenon 

The Parthenon 

Sunset view from Mount Lycabettus 

Sunset view from Mount Lycabettus 

Athens 

Things to do: 

  • Acropolis: UNESCO World Heritage site, this ancient citadel sits on a hill in Athens and contains several ruins of historical and cultural significance.
  • Parthenon: Temple dedicated to Athena on one of the highest hills in Athens. This is one of the most iconic sites in Greece.  
  • Ancient Agora: This is the best known Agora in Greece, and housed a massive marketplace in ancient times. It's also an easy walk to the Acropolis.   
  • Hike Mount Lycabettus: This was one of the coolest things we did in Athens. You can hike up at night for food or a drink, and then watch the sunset over the whole city. It's breathtaking!
  • Day trip to nearby islands: We took a day trip to Hydra, Poros, and Aegina and I loved it. It was a great way to see several islands without taking too much time, and offered a chance to explore. I didn't love the company we went with, so I would ask your hotel/hostel/Airbnb host before booking. 
  • Library of Hadrian: Built in 132 AD near the Acropolis, this is the site of major ruins today.   
  • Aristotle's Lyceum: Where Aristotle founded his school and taught Plato.   
  • Temple of Zeus: AKA the Temple of Olympia. The ruins are of huge cultural and historical importance. 
  • Erechtheum: Dedicated to Athena and Poseidon, this temple was built in the Golden Age of the city right by the Acropolis.  
  • Hephaestus: Massive temple built years before the Parthenon. 
  • Olympic Stadium: Home of the 2004 Olympics   
  • Avissynias Square: Hosts a big Sunday morning flea market. To get there, cross Athinas Street to Psiri for vintage shops, galleries, and restaurants.
  • Plaka neighborhood: The oldest section of Athens, this neighborhood is home to all manner of shops, restaurants, and cafes. 

Where to eat and drink: 

  • Gazi: Area with lots of popular bars, restaurants, and live music.  
  • Byzantine: It's been open over 60 years and there's a reason why! The food was delicious, and when we got there we immediately felt like family. We ate all sorts of local dishes, and were positively stuffed when we left (this was a theme throughout Greece). 
  • ZAXAPπAETEIO (Desire): Best ice cream shop and bakery ever! 

Where I stayed: 

  • Athens Backpackers: This place was perfect! It had a rooftop bar overlooking the Acropolis, rooms were decent, staff was knowledgeable, and we even got free breakfast! The other guests were great, and we made lots of friends while we were there. 

Quick tip: 

  • "The Ancient Site Pass" is 30 Euro and gives access to seven sites: the Acropolis, North and South Slope of the Acropolis, Ancient Agora, Hadrian’s Library, Roman Agora, Kerameikos, and Olympieion. I would highly recommend getting it if you'll be in Athens for more than a day or two. 
 
Sunrise over the Samaria Gorge 

Sunrise over the Samaria Gorge 

Palace of Knossos 

Palace of Knossos 

Crete

Things to do: 

  • I loved Crete so much I extended my stay by several days! I would advise being on the island for at least 4-5 days. 
  • Chania: We spent most of our time here wandering around and eating. The seafood was so good! We mainly used this as a home base to do day trips to nearby areas, but there is plenty do to in town. Check out this site for ideas. 
  • Elafonisi: AKA the Pink Sand Beaches. Some of the most beautiful and remote beaches I've ever been to! We took a bus up, over, and down the mountains (which was terrifying, but beautiful) and came to a stop at a remote, wide beach. Very few people were there, and it was easy to feel like we had stumbled onto a private paradise. The sand was white and pink, the water was clear and blue, and the view was incredible.
    • Note: the beaches are pinkest in late summer.
  • Heraklion: Main attractions include the Palace of Knossos (built nearly 9000 years ago), Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and Heraklion Fortress. For food, go down to the water and grab a bite at any of the restaurants there -- the seafood is so fresh! 
  • Samaria Gorge: this was the best (and one of the most challenging) hikes I've ever done. We started early in the morning and walked into the gorge as the sun came up. The mist rose off the rocks and truly took our breath away. The hike took several hours to complete (its 16 km), but we were rewarded with incredible views the entire time and we ended on a beautiful black beach where we spent the rest of our day!

Where to eat and drink: 

  • Tamam (in Chania): Opened in the 1920's by Turk/Greek refugees, this was one of the most unique and homey meals we had on our trip. We were served a really cool blend of food, and everything was delicious and inexpensive. 
  • Mikio (in Chania): Teeny restaurant out of an older woman's home. Food was incredible, the family was so sweet and attentive, and they fed us until we thought we would pop! 

Where I stayed: 

  • I stayed in an absolutely wonderful Airbnb in Chania and stayed in the Heraklion Youth Hostel in Heraklion which I would not recommend at all. It was dirty, staff was unhelpful, and the other guests (several of whom seemed long term) did not make me feel comfortable or particularly safe. 

Quick tips: 

  • While many people spend their time in Knossos, I would recommend only doing a day or two there and focusing your efforts in the Samaria Gorge and Chania. 

 

 
The ruins of Delphi 

The ruins of Delphi 

Delphi/Meteora/Kalambaka

Things to do: 

  • Temple of Apollo (Delphi): Built around the 7th C. BC, legend has it that the great Oracle of Delphi lived here. She is hugely historically and culturally important, and is said to have spoken for Apollo on matters of colonization, religion, and power.  
  • Thermopyles: Site of the Battle of the 300 (Spartans vs. Persians). This is an easy stop on the way to Delphi. 
  •  Mountain Monasteries of Meteora: They literally look like little tiny floating castles in the middle of the mountains. The monasteries were build nearly impenetrable to protect the monks, priests, and nuns that live there. While many of the monasteries have fallen off the cliffs, the ones that remain still house religious figures. 

Where to eat: 

  • In Kalambaka you have to check out Ms. Katie's, and not just because it's my name sake ;) It's a delicious, traditional restaurant run by a Greek family. They cook a ton of food and you go through with a plate to pick what you want from their kitchen. It's awesome! 
 
The windmills of Mykonos 

The windmills of Mykonos 

Mykonos

Things to do: 

  • Water activities! Mykonos has incredible beaches, so I recommend sunning, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, jet skiing, and spending as much time on the water as you can.  
  • Paradise Beach: Massive party beach. You can go literally any time of day and find people drinking and dancing to beach DJ's. It's awesome! 
  • I'll be honest, I'm sure that there are plenty of activities to do on the island (other travel sites I like recommend the Archaeological Museums and the archaeological site on Delos), but I spent the entirety of my trip on the beach and at the windmills. 

Where I stayed: 

  • Praga Beach Hostel: I do not recommend this hostel. It looks like since we stayed there they have added "camping" to their name, but it certainly was not there when we stayed! Imagine our surprise when we booked a room and arrived to find a tent with cots in it instead! It's a close proximity to the beach parties which is nice, but the accommodations were awful. If I go again I would shell out more to stay literally anywhere else. 

Quick tips: 

  • I would not recommend this as a place to come with family. It is definitively a "young person" place, and the party culture is everywhere. Come for a good time, and very little sleep!
 
View from Amoudi Bay 

View from Amoudi Bay 

Sunset view from Oia 

Sunset view from Oia 

Santorini

Things to do: 

  • Hike the Fira Trail: If you're mildly athletic and have time to do only one thing in Santorini, it should be this. You can hike from Fira to Oia, and the views are absolutely unreal. Plus, it let's you see so many different aspects of the island that are a little more off the beaten path. 
  • Book a catamaran tour to see the volcanic island of Nea Kameni and its hot springs: This was one of the best things I did in Greece. We relaxed, ate, drank, swam, and saw the black sand volcanic beaches. There are a ton of different tours to choose from, all offering about the same thing for the same price. I can't imagine there's a bad way to go.  
  • Cliff jumping at Amoudi Bay: Walk down the steps to where the water meets the rock in Oia and head to your left past all the boats. You'll see a steady stream of people headed out to a massive rock in the middle of the water where you can climb up and jump off. It's so fun!! 
  • Watch the sunset from Oia: One of the most picturesque places in Santorini -- think: beautiful white and blue buildings with the sun setting behind them. 
  • Black sand beaches: The beaches are often closed due to rock slides, but there are areas on the far side of the island where you can see them, or you can get to them by boat! 
  • Parissa: This is a much more low-key side of the island, good for an inexpensive, relaxing time at the beach. I would recommend going for at least a day or two to sun and do water sports. 

Where to eat and drink: 

  • You absolutely must go into Oia, go up as high as you can (the city is a whole chain of steps) and get dinner at one of the restaurants towards the top for sunset. We ate at a couple different places and had delicious food at each, but you're really there for the sunset. I cannot describe what it looks like to see the sun dip beneath the horizon, painting the white buildings in reds and oranges. It's a must see. 

Where I stayed: 

  • Fira Backpackers Place: Highly recommend! Pool outside, central to everything, and the other guests were awesome! We made a ton of friends, and had a great time here. 
  • Tranquilo (in Perissa): This place was paradise!! Literally looked like a hippy dream -- big bean bag chairs, hammocks, a fire pit, yoga courses in the morning, and right on the water. Some of the best food and definitely for the best price! 

Quick tips: 

  • Rent ATV's: ATV's are by far the easiest way to get around the island, and at just €15 a day they're much cheaper than continuously getting cabs. 
  • I know that getting a donkey ride will be incredibly appealing, and it seems like THE Santorini thing to do, but if you can resist please do. The animals are horribly treated, and the industry is cruel. You can read more about it here, but I leave it to you to make the choice. 

Foods to Try: 

  • Seek out local spots whenever possible -- they are often cheaper, more authentic, and tastier than the big restaurants that cater to tourists. Ask your hotel/hostel/Airbnb host for recommendations. 

  • Seafood: This should be your go-to on any of the islands or near the coasts. It is incredible fresh, delicious, and perfectly cooked. I particularly liked the octopus! 

  • Pita and dips: Great way to start a meal. Try the tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber, and garlic), taramasalata (fish roe), melitzanosalata (aubergine). These dips are often served with olives in oil. 

  • Dolmades: grape-leaf wrapped rice, meat, and herbs. 

  • Moussaka: Kind of like a Greek lasagne. This is a baked dish with cheese, meat, tomato, garlic, herbs, and spices. 

  • Cheese: They're all incredible! Eat as many and as much as you can. 

  • Orzo/Raki: This is a traditional appertif, and is served after most meals. 

General Info

  • Due to a declining economy, Greece is in a bit of a bad way. This has led many to refuse credit cards so they don't have to pay taxes on them. Carry cash as often as you can, and be aware that you may reach a limit on how much you can take out from an ATM at a time. 

Safety Tips: 

  • Beware the sea urchins!! They cling to rocks and are so so painful. Take it from my experience, watch out from them and if you see them follow this advice

  • As always, be sure to keep a close eye on your valuables (pick pocketing is common in most major, global cities) and ask you hotel/hostel/Airbnb host for advice on what areas to avoid at night. 

Transportation in Greece:

  • If you're traveling between cities in the mainland, busses and trains are the easiest way to get around. If you want to take a train, or if you're traveling for more than a few days, I suggest buying an unlimited Eurail Pass. This allows you to takeas many trips, to as many countries as you like for one flat rate. I bought the one month pass, but you can buy them for almost any length of time

  • If you're traveling between nearby islands, or islands and the mainland, it's best to take a high-speed ferry. If you're going to a far away island, you may want to take a plane. They're inexpensive and quick. There are lots of discount flight websites, but I particularly like Ryanair, Rome2Rio, and Google Flights.  

  • Cities on the mainland have excellent public transportation, so you can easily catch a metro or electric rail. Taxis are another good way to go! 

  • On the islands, ATV's are an inexpensive and fun way to get around. You can rent them for about €15 a day, or cheaper by the week.

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