I recently returned from an amazing trip to Greece to celebrate my 10-year wedding anniversary. While this wasn’t my first visit to Greece, it was my first visit to three destinations: Mykonos, Santorini, and Athens.
Travel between most of the islands is easy with different transportation options from ferries to planes to helicopters. There are numerous ways to “see” Greece and combine an array of islands for different experiences. All the islands have their own twist to them–from authentic fishing villages to a glitzy party scene, from calm sandy beaches to cliffside towns–so there’s something for everyone.
From families traveling to Greece, couples looking for a romantic Greek getaway, or friends traveling together on a Greek vacation, there are infinite possibilities.
MYKONOS
Mykonos is most well known for its high-end, beach club scene popular with adults. Families are also drawn to its calm, sandy beaches and a plethora of dining and water activities. The island offers a ton of romantic luxurious options, like Bill and Coo (and the new Bill and Coo Coast Suites, which is adults only) and Kalesma. These boutique hotels offer privacy and proximity to the lively Mykonos Town.
If you’re interested in resorts, there’s options like the Mykonos Grand and Santa Marina with a private beach, family pool, and adults-only pool. These options cater more to families. Myconian Collection Villas is well located on the quiet side of the island on the family-friendly Elia Beach with plenty of, you guessed it!, private villas for families to spread out with a private pool and a more residential experience.
While in Mykonos we loved our lazy days by the beach, taking a swim in the afternoon, late beachfront lunches and even later dinners, gorgeous sunsets, and walking around Mykonos town.
SANTORINI
Up next was Santorini! It is a two-hour ferry away or a 30-minute helicopter ride (which doubles as both a transfer and an incredible aerial tour).
While in Santorini, most guests opt for a stay in Oia or Imerovigli, although there is also a great option located away from the crowds in a vineyard called Vedema. Oia and Imerovigli are both busy cliffside villages. Oia is the most sought-after village for its unique caldera views and more sophisticated town but Imerovigli offers gorgeous sunsets, a slightly more authentic town feel, and is close to Fira, the more commercial capital town.
IMEROVIGLI
We stayed at the Auberge Grace Hotel in Imerovigli and loved it. It is located a bit off the main pedestrian sidewalk but along the path to the Skaros Castle Rock hike, so you do get some foot traffic coming by the property. It's so hard though for these cliffside hotels to be completely private though because of how close everything is to each other. Aubgere’s pool is the largest in Imerovigli and a welcome break after a hot morning hike. There are only 20 rooms and one villa so the property feels very intimate and luxurious. The staff, food, and views were all incredible and there were thoughtful considerations around every corner. The entry-level rooms were a bit small (but as is everything in the area), but very well-appointed and used the space well.
OIA
For our time in Oia, we opted for the grand dame, Canaves Oia Suites. Family-owned, with 40 suites, two hotel pools, a spa, and an elevator (which is a big deal here!), this property was larger than the Auberge Grace Hotel, but still felt very boutique and gave you a great sense of place. Again, the staff was attentive and offered a high level of service, the views were breathtaking and the meals were delicious. Its location right at the beginning of Oia gave you proximity to all the shops and restaurants without having to walk through the crowds to get to and from your hotel (and it does get crowded!).
Of course, there are a ton of great 4 and 5-star hotel options around Imerovigli and Oia catered to different kinds of travelers with a range of personal tastes and preferences. It’s part of our job to help match our clients with the best properties for their vacation.
ACTIVITIES
As far as activities, a boat trip while in Santorini is a must. There is so much to explore by water. We help arrange private Santorini boat trips or small group outings, both of which stop at several different locations: around the volcanic rock, Jacques Cousteau's favorite diving caves, and red and black beaches (named after the sediments that surround them). The landscapes from the water are otherworldly.
Another Santorini favorite activity is wine tasting! I was delightfully surprised by how much I enjoyed all the local Santorini wine. There are several grape varieties uniquely grown on the island and a handful of great winery experiences for travelers to learn about the specialized vine-growing process. For instance, the vine is buried into the ground (who knew?) to avoid wind and make the most of the limited water and humidity on the island, and volcanic conditions that make the wine different from any other.
Ultimately, you can’t go wrong on any Greek island. Working with us, we will help plan the perfect trip catered to your interests.
NOW….LET’S TALK ABOUT PACKING.
In Santorini, you are walking around on slick stones and marble all day and taking about 15 flights of stairs daily…so my stylish, but flimsy, sandals didn’t really cut it. You certainly need something more substantial if you are going further than the hotel pool.
Tennis shoes are a must for the hikes with loose rocks and uneven terrain and you need a hat and sunscreen. I was really happy I made space for proper tennis/hiking shoes and only wore my wedges once. Some nights can get windy in Mykonos and Santorini depending on when you visit so you might bring a sweater or wrap for late dinners when the sun goes down.
With all the island hopping, I tried to use packing cubes to divide clothing by islands/destinations (as opposed to clothing categories which is what I normally do) so I wouldn’t have to fully unpack at every stop. For the most part, this method worked.
I needed more swimsuit coverups and was happy that I packed a different swimsuit (or option) for every day. I was also happy to have several daytime/non-swimwear that worked well with walking shoes and were breezy for the warm afternoons. Outlet adapters are a must in Europe, and I found that there were great hairdryers everywhere, so leave yours at home.
For toiletries, I’d recommend packing aftersun care. We were in the sun a lot and while I lathered on the sunscreen (and went through the bottle!) I could still use some aftersun lotion for dry, chapped skin.
