That Cool Travel Couple

Every time we get back from a new trip, we ask each other – which was your favorite trip you’ve ever been on. Our answer is ALWAYS the same. Greece, hands down! Read on for tips to make your Greece adventure truly magical and as memorable as ours was.

Practicalities

Currency: Euros

Recommended length of stay: two to three weeks 

Month of visit: June

Useful tips: Bring your International Drivers Permit in case you want to rent an ATV on the islands!

CDC’s Recommended Vaccinations: Click here! 

Packing List: 

• 3 bathing suits and cover ups
• 1 lightweight jacket
• 3 dresses or lightweight shirts/pants
• Sneakers
• Water shoes
• Waterproof bag
• Sunscreen – lots!
• A good book

Interested in watching a few movies featuring Greece while you wait for your trip? Click here!

Santorini

Our Greece journey began on the iconic island of Santorini. There are few places in this world that actually appear the same in person as they are in photos. Santorini is one of them! Think striking white and blue domes, sparkling blue waters as far as your eyes can see. 

We arrived in Santorini jet lagged and hungry, and took a quick shuttle from the airport to Oia where we would be staying for the first leg of the trip. Solstice Luxury Suites is where we stayed and we definitely recommend. There are a LOT of amazing looking hotel and villa options in Santorini, but we are still very happy with our selection. We booked the grande hot tub suite. This suite is super special. It has an indoor warm pool next to the bathroom with a waterfall and twinkling lights, and it has a private rooftop with a hot tub on a terrace. The terrace overlooks the ocean and we had breakfast up there a few days as well. 

Note: If your hotel doesn’t have a pool and you want to cool off, check out Lioyerma Lounge Cafe and Pool Bar! They had options for day passes to relax in front of the sea with a nice large pool, and serve food and drinks as well. 

We wasted no time in heading to dinner and had made reservations at Candouni, a romantic and authentic Greek restaurant. The owner is very delightful and allowed us on to his private terrace to watch the sun set before we sat down to dinner! Everything was to perfection at Candouni, including the seafood, pasta, vegetables and wine. Ambrosia restaurant for dinner is also a solid option.

If you’re into seafood, Taverna Katina’s is the place to go. It is located in the Amoudi Port next to a couple of other restaurants, and the tables are set directly by the water. We love that everybody in Greece is so personable and friendly. The owner came out to chat with us, and we found out that Gordon Ramsey tends to visit Taverna Katina’s when he is in Santorini! Can’t confirm this for sure, but we were pretty excited! You order fish by the kilo here and select from a variety of preparation styles. It was ridiculously delicious and fresh. 

We spent a lot of our time either relaxing in our suite in front of the ocean or exploring Oia. This town is as picturesque as it seems in photos. Strolling down the main cobblestoned street, stopping into little boutique shops…it was absolute heaven. We do recommend you spend at least a full day just wandering around Oia.

Greece is also well-known for its wines. There are multiple beautiful vineyards on the island of Santorini. They look a little different than traditional vineyards in California do, as they are all built on volcanic rock! You can visit some of the wineries on your own, but it is much easier and safer to do so as part of a tour. We went with this one from Viator.

Imerovigli

One of our favorite hikes that we’ve ever done was hiking from Oia to Imerovigli with our luggage on our backs. We LOVE the flexibility that traveling with a backpack affords. It’s so much more convenient than traveling with a rolly bag, and we never have to pay to check our bags! The staff at Solstice were so surprised when we didn’t need a taxi to our next destination and simply picked up our bags and started walking. The path from Oia to Imerovigli is nearly 6 miles and took us about three hours to complete. You will need to take lots of water with you as it is quite hilly and hot during this hike. The views you will see are unlike no other. 

During our time in Imerovigli we stayed at Hotel Sunny Villas, in the honeymoon suite. This had a gorgeous view overlooking Skaros Rock, which you might recognize from the movie Mamma Mia! We spent many afternoons and evenings lounging in the pool which we found to be a perfect temperature, singing along to ABBA tunes. 

Imerovigli is also a great launching point for visiting the caldera. We loved this tour because it took us to the base of the caldera and we climbed up to the top. Our tour guide pointed out interesting things along the way. Next, we were on our way to the hot springs. Definitely wear your swimsuit on this trip because you’re able to jump off the side of the boat and swim in the hot springs! 

Fira is also a lively town that is a little further along than Imerovigli, and is where the boat to the caldera departs from. There are many bustling market stalls and lots of delicious food available in Fira. It is a little more lively than Imerovigli, which we would say is more relaxed. So you may opt to stay in Fira instead of Imerovigli instead. 

We really enjoyed the pace of Imerovigli. Watch the sun set while having dinner or drinks at the White Lounge. Enjoy fresh mediterranean flavors and sip original cocktails as the sea sparkles in front of you. It is super close to Sunny Villas – only a few minutes walk. We did try a couple of other restaurants in Imerovigli, but this one stood out as our favorite. 

Speaking of special dining experiences, one you cannot miss is the Sky Dome at Santorini Sky. Santorini Sky is also a villa, and we would definitely consider staying there during our next visit. The dome is located on the highest point of Santorini and has an amazing view over the island and the sea. Its a great indoor/outdoor experience because you can see everything but still be protected from the elements. We were super thankful for this as it was very windy during our dinner! The food and drinks are catered from a nearby restaurant and were all delicious, but the highlight was clearly the view. There were comfortable chairs, blankets, lights and even a sound system which made for a great evening. We enjoyed watching the colors in the sky change and relaxing under the stars. Link to this experience is here!

We did rent an ATV while in Imerovigli which allowed us to visit the volcanic beaches down below, and get to Santorini Sky. The process was super easy and we used a local company that our hotel put us in touch with. 

Ios

After spending a blissful week on Santorini, it was time to move on to our next stop – the island of Ios. A quick 35 minute ferry will get you from Santorini to Ios. Booking on FerryHopper was easy and showed multiple different timings.

 We had heard that every island in Greece has its own vibe and we realized that was true when we arrived in Ios. There were far fewer blue domed churches and white buildings and the overall silhouette of the island was lower and rockier. English is spoken less and Greek is spoken more, but the people on this island are just as personable. Ios is also significantly cheaper than Santorini, assumedly because it is more off the beaten tourist path. 

We absolutely loved our time in Ios. We stayed at Ios Palace which truly is a palatial hotel. Our room type was the Superior Suite with Private Pool and Sea View, and boy did it deliver. I found the best rate through booking.com as they included breakfast, transfer to and from the port, and a 20 minute massage per person. We did check out the spa at Ios Palace and had a wonderful couples massage there.

For dinner, you must go to Drakos Tavern. We were able to walk over (it is about a 10 minute walk down the beach from Ios Palace) and reserve a waterfront table for the time of sunset. You can also just walk in and be seated, but that doesn’t guarantee a waterfront spot! The seafood and drinks here are delicious, and we were stuffed by the time we headed back to our hotel. 

Karma is a great beach bar with delicious breakfast or lunch if you don’t want to eat at the hotel. It is decorated with brightly colored lights and hammocks and cushions. It is a “good vibes only” kind of place and we spent lots of time relaxing here due to its spectacular view of the sea. We also liked grabbing drinks in the evening at Nostos, which is also along the beach area. Most of the restaurants along the beach also rent sun loungers on the sand as well, if that’s more your scene. There are quite a few small shops along the beach selling beach towels, cover ups, toys and much more. 

Athens

And for our final leg of the journey, we were off to Athens. The ferry from Ios to Athens takes about 4 hours and drops you off in the busy Athens port. It is then up to you to figure out how to get to your hotel. You can either pick up a taxi at the port, or take the metro train from Piraeus metro station which is really close to the port. The metro was pretty quick and easy once we found the station, and dropped us off almost exactly outside our hotel. If you are less confident in figuring this out you can always have someone meet you at the port with your name on a sign.

A For Athens is probably the best hotel in Athens. The reason for this is the Red Suite. The highlight of the Red Suite is the sprawling terrace that overlooks the acropolis and has its own personal hot tub which is clean and easy to operate. A For Athens also has a very happening rooftop bar which is difficult to get into – unless you’re staying at the Red Suite, in which case they always have a table for you. The drinks are amazing here and the bar tenders are super friendly. The rooftop is also where you eat breakfast in the morning, which is a varied self-serve situation of deliciousness. 

Athens is a city steeped in history, and every corner you turn you’re likely to see something historical. It can be difficult to remain focused at times due to multiple exciting and attractive side streets, small local shops, bustling markets and more. Here are a few things you should not miss during your time in Athens, but remember to give yourself time to explore as well! Keep in mind there are many museums in Athens and you want to choose the ones that are going to give you the best experience but also be affordable. 

You must visit the Acropolis while in Athens, this is non-negotiable. There is something breathtaking about seeing these ancient ruins from past civilizations that have been preserved even in the modern times. The Acropolis museum is a fantastic place to learn about the historical aspect of the ruins as well, and showcases certain pieces and active excavation processes. It costs 10 Euros to enter and is well worth the price. We suggest also visiting the Temple of Zeus, Hadrian’s Library and the Roman Agora. Plaka is a really cool shopping neighborhood that is definitely worth an afternoon stroll as well. Watch the hourly changing of the guard at Syntagma Square and visit the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. It’s a really close walk to the Panathenaic Stadium and the walk is through the National Gardens which are really beautiful and shaded. This is a nice place to relax after a long day walking around.