Exploring The Greek Islands…Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini

The only place hotter than Texas one might say. Greece definitely earns a top spot on my travel list. The beautiful Greek Islands were the first place we visited after the pandemic. With so many islands it is hard to choose where to settle. We spent two weeks island hopping between Athens on the mainland, Mykonos, and Santorini. It is super easy and convenient to travel by ferry.

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While in Athens we stayed at the Athens4. It was a very modern, affordable, and clean hotel right in the heart of everything. Walking distance to all of the restaurants and attractions. We loved our stay here!

Greece Flag

We had booked a tour of Olympia, but unfortunately that fell through. He instead took us on another day trip that visited two UNESCO World Heritage Sites! We went to Epidaurus’s 4th Century Amphitheater, the ancient site of Mycenae, and visited the little harbor Village of Nafplio. We also were able to stop and see the famous Corinth Canal. That’s two more UNESCO Sites I can check off my list. Since we had booked a private tour we were the only ones so that was nice. I definitely want to go back and see Olympia!

Eating gluten free and vegetarian in Greece is easy. They had rice and veggies, aubergine, stuffed peppers, and of course Greek salads. The salads spoiled me though, as I can no longer eat them here in America. They just don’t taste the same. One of my favorite meals in Athens was Aliola’s Pasta Bar. A tiny little place, he was making pasta from scratch. I walked past it assuming there wasn’t anything for me but my husband stopped and asked. The owner was there and made me the most amazing gluten free pasta I have ever had.

Athens – The Big City

Athens, Greek Islands
PARTHENON, ATHENS

The capital and the largest city in Greece. It is very urban. Probably why this city girl loved it so much. From the hustle and bustle of shopping and restaurants to what is left of the ancient temples of Greek history. Sitting just above the city is the Acropolis and its monuments, a Unesco World Heritage Site monument. This will be the highlight of your visit to Athens. On our way up we made our way through the Ancient Agora Museum and the Temple of Hephaestus. Check out the Temple of Olympian Zeus as well. Don’t miss the incredible sunset from one of the rooftop bars. Get the combo ticket that gets you into all 6 archaeological sites.

Mykonos – Beautiful Beaches and Vibrant Nightlife

Island of the winds. Of all the Greek Islands, Mykonos might be most known for its beautiful beaches and party atmosphere. Mykonos is definitely a fun island. A charming little town with maze like alleys you could get lost in. Beautiful painted doors and shutters with bougainvillea everywhere. Cafes and shops. Make sure to get a pic in front of the Happiness store and the I ❤️Mykonos stairs.

Mykonos, Greek Islands
MYKONOS

Plan to spend a day at the beach, the most popular being Paradise Beach. Though beautiful and just steps from our hotel, it was very crowded and quite loud. After spending a day there we chose to take the water taxi to Elia Beach. This beach was quieter and less rocky. We loved this beach. There was also a nude beach around the corner.

Paradise Beach, Mykonos, Greek Islands
Paradise Beach

Mykonos has the most beautiful sunsets. Head over to Little Venice in the evening and get a table along the waterfront or to the sea wall in front of the windmills.


Just a quick ferry ride from the old port is UNESCO World Heritage Site Delos, birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. If you love ancient archaeology and Greek mythology you will definitely want to take this half day trip. Take lots of water and a sun hat as there isn’t any shade.


While on Mykonos we stayed at the Paradise View Hotel. A small, family owed, budget friendly hotel. We had a wonderful stay here. Just a five minute walk to Paradise Beach. The bus to and from town picked up at the entrance. They were even able to make me homemade gluten free bread for breakfast and a wonderful risotto for dinner.

Santorini – Romantic Caldera Sunsets

Santorini, Greek island
SANTORINI

Probably the most popular of the Greek Islands for good reason. Let’s face it, it’s postcard perfect. From the whitewashed blue domed buildings to the mesmerizing sunsets it really doesn’t get and better. This is one place I recommend you splurge on a cliff side room overlooking the sea. We stayed at Agali Houses in Firostefani. It was a perfect location.

We were able to walk through Thira, the capital, to shopping, restaurants, and sites. There are many beautiful chapels like the Church of the Three Bells. A must is a visit to Oia to watch the sunset. It gets very crowded so get there early to find a spot.

Crowded Oia Sunset

Head to Red Beach or have a wine tasting. We did an island tour that took us to several of the most popular spots including Red Beach, a wine tasting, and Oia for sunset.

Another fun option is a sail. Head down to Ammoudi Bay and have lunch before you board a sunset cruise. Definitely one of the highlights of our Santorini trip. We swam, we sang, we danced until the sun went down. It was amazing!

If you want to feel like a Greek Goddess I recommend a photoshoot with https://www.santorinidress.com/. This was on my bucket list for a long time and I was able to schedule it as a birthday gift for myself. Definitely one of my most memorable experiences, running around the rooftops of Santorini wearing no shoes and a princess gown! For all the deets check out my blog post Santorini Flying Dress Photoshoot – Your Guide To An Amazing Photoshoot Experience


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