Greece Travel Guide – My Favorite Spots

After our amazing time in Capri, we decided to spread our wings and explore the beauty of Greece! 

 

Our first stop was Santorini, so for those of you wondering how to get there, there’s a direct flight from Naples to Santorini, so it’s super easy. A 2-hour flight and we landed in Greece!

 

Santorini is definitely a feast for the eyes. Everyone talks about the incredible sunsets…and for good reason. They are magnificent! With all the white buildings and blue domes, Santorini has become a “hotspot” for Instagram posts. We knew going in that it would be very crowded and hot, but we had no idea that it would be as bad as it was. The town of Oia is where everyone comes to see the famous spots, including the many cruise ships and hundreds of buses carrying thousands of people! Oh my goodness…it was mobbed! To be honest, if you are thinking of experiencing this beautiful island, I would encourage you to go “off-season” in either April or the end of September or October when the crowds are gone. The town of Oia is cute but mostly filled with t-shirt and souvenir shops, a few nicer boutiques, and LOTS of jewelry stores. The Greeks love their jewels!!

 

We stayed in Oia, in probably one of the most beautiful hotel’s I’ve ever been. It’s called the Canaves Oia Suites. Canaves owns a few properties, all a bit different but absolutely gorgeous. Their attention to detail, the service and food was outstanding. The hotel is literally built into the side of the mountain, so there are many steep steps to get anywhere. Thankfully I was prepared with sneakers and very comfortable sturdy shoes! 

 

We had 2 delicious dinners, one in our hotel and one in their sister property. Both were exquisite and worth going to!!

Our favorite experience was lunch at the Armeni Fish Tavern. We took a taxi down to Amoudi Bay, and then a small boat (from the restaurant) picked us up and took us about 5 minutes to the restaurant. The food was unreal, and the owner is a character! He’s so sweet and loving and really gives you a Greek experience. His food, hands down, was the absolute best.

 

 

We attempted the hike from Oia to Fira, but once again, it was too hot. We lasted about 3 minutes before our skin felt like it was frying! I’m fine with heat, but the sun and heat in Santorini were quite different, so once again, I wouldn’t go during the summer months. 

 

We thought about exploring other parts of the island, but the with heat and crowds… it made it difficult to get around.

So, we enjoyed sitting by the pool at our hotel and relaxing a bit. I personally got a bit bored, but my hubby was as happy as a clam!

 

 

After 3 days in Santorini… off to Paros we went. I would say that 2 nights in Santorini is enough unless you really enjoy relaxing by a pool with a book 🙂 and then longer would be fine! Just my 2 cents!

 

We took a two-hour ferry on the Ferryhopper from Santorini to Paros—it was really lovely! I purchased the VIP ticket (very reasonable, like €50), and it was definitely a luxury ferry. Amazing air conditioning, lovely seats, a cafe to get food—it was all really good!

 

We stayed in Naoussa. It’s sort of the “main town” with all of the hustle and bustle, but it’s really fun! Lots of shops, restaurants, bars, etc. It’s where the action is, for sure.

 

Hotel

Our hotel was lovely, called Avant Mar—I would definitely recommend it. We were able to walk out of our hotel and walk about 10 minutes and be right in the middle of it all!

 

   

Sight-Seeing

The BEST day was a day on the water, we rented a private boat and he took us all over, including the island of Antiparos, definitely worth visiting. It reminded me of St. Barths meets Montauk!

 

If you rent a boat, you can also see the island of Naxos, but it’s in a different direction, so we weren’t able to do both on the same day. 

 

• Parika (the capital, shops, places to eat, cute)
• Alika (this is a port where you might pick up your boat for the day)
• Pisso Livadi (beach town)
• Lefkes (old village charming)
• Monastiri

The shops in Paros are more organic, authentic and touristy in nature. They definitely had a few nicer shops, but Antiparos had the most!

(This is where Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have their home, as do many other celebrities!)

 

Restaurants

We had an amazing lunch at Taverna Yorgi. It’s right in the middle of the main town (Antiparos), where all the shops are. I’d say if you like elevated, elegant things, this is the place to go.

 

Here are 2 other restaurants that we ate at…absolutely delicious: Both are in the village of Naoussa where all the shops are.

Athens

After Paros, we flew to Athens because the ferry would have taken 4 hours and that was a bit too long for me. Unfortunately, we had a big delay at the airport (welcome to European travel!!) so we ended up losing most of the day and arrived in Athens in time for some walking around before dinner. 

 

 

   

Hotel

Our hotel was the perfect location, with a stunning rooftop view of the Acropolis. The hotel was a bit tired…definitely needs a renovation, but the service was excellent and it runs like a well oiled machine. There must have been 5 or 6 men standing at the concierge desk at all times, so I was impressed. 

 

 

 

Restaurants

Dinner that night was lovely, but the view was unbelievable! The restaurant, GB Roof Garden is a must “go-to” while in Athens. This is also where breakfast is served and it’s quite delightful.

 

 

Sight-Seeing

The following day, we had a private guide take us to the most important sights in Athens. We started at 9:00 am and finished around noon, and the heat was unbearable. Once again, visiting a city like Athens in the dead of summer isn’t the best idea! I highly suggest a private guide so you don’t have to wait in any lines…that was worth every penny.

 

Shopping

After the tour we spent some time walking around Placa, lots of shops and restaurants to choose from, but once again, a bit touristy! 

 

I found a fabulous boutique in another area called Aesthet that had only Greek designers and beautiful items. 

 

And if you are looking for an authentic bakery….Karavan is a tiny hole-in-the-wall with the most delicious Greek desserts and cookies.

 

 

We were only in Athens for about 36 hours, so it was short and sweet. Then, we had to fly back home.

All in all, Greece was beautiful with its turquoise waters, delicious food, and warm and lovely people. We had a fabulous time and look forward to our next adventure!