Aww, the gorgeous islands of Greece…Must see Santorini for its white architectural landscape surrounded by sparkling waters and sunsets.  Visit Athens to grasp the immense history of this country at the Parthenon.  Head to Mykonos for the fun beach life and watersports.  Eat a lot of yummy food and take in a wonderful culture.  Bliss!

#10 - Parthenon

Pretty much every trip to Greece begins with Athens, as most flights to the islands connect from here.  There’s a lot of great history here in Athens to check out!  We recommend flying into Athens and staying two nights, so you can adjust to the time difference and have a day to check out Athens.  We stayed in an Read MoreAirbnb south of the acropolis with Parthenon views.  While it was a really nice place, if we went back I would probably try to stay east of the acropolis, as you’re closer to the touristy areas.   As for the Parthenon, we walked up and waited in a long line in the sun to purchase tickets, but after that, it was all easy, fun exploring a 2,500ish-year-old site.  Not only is it a great piece of history, but it also offers amazing 360-degree views of the city.  Bring your camera, sunblock, and comfortable shoes and you’ll have a great time.

#9 - Mykonos Beaches

The beaches in Mykonos were unlike any beach experience we’ve had in the states.  Basically, the restaurants own and operate the beach in front of their facilities as an extension of their restaurants.  So, the awesome thing is you’ll have a server bringing you drinks and food whenever you want.  Read MoreThat was really nice.  The negative, however, is that you have to pay to sit on the beach chairs.  There’s little to no space that is just free to relax in.  Some restaurants will offer you free chairs if you dine with them beforehand, so look for signs or people offering that.

#8 - Watch the Sunset in Oia

A must-see while visiting Santorini!  Join the flocks of people who come to witness the beautiful colors painted across the sky over the Mediterranean Sea.  Enjoy this majestic view while dining or sipping atop one of the many rooftop restaurants while taking in the cool evening air.  Or stroll over to what the locals Read Morecall the “castle” and join the crowds and music goers all taking in this natural beauty.  Remember to bring your selfie stick and get out a little early to get a good viewing spot.  We visited during the very hot summer month of July and the sunset was at about 8:00 pm every night.  We learned to make reservations at restaurants ahead of time to get the best spots on the rooftops.  Such a relaxing city and atmosphere!

#7 - Santorini Sunset Cruise

As you just read, the sunset is the biggest event on the island of Santorini.  For an alternate viewpoint and an excellent way to see the different parts of the island, we set out on a catamaran sunset cruise.  We got to see White Beach and Red Beach, jump into a hot spring (that wasn’t hot at all BTW), and eat some Read Morelocal food.  While you don’t get to lay out at the various beaches, they stop the boat periodically and allow you to jump into the ocean and swim awhile.  And of course, the finale is the sunset. On the return home you get to enjoy that aforementioned famous sunset while rocking in the water.  All and all, a great adventure!

#6 - Wine Tasting Tour

We had a fabulous time on a private wine tour with our guide Apostolos.  He showed us the island, gave us the history, talked to many locals, and also gave us our own private time at our leisure to enjoy this tour.  First, we visited the Santo Wines winery which was great!  It offered an open-air cave feel overlooking the Read Morebeautiful sea along a cliffside.  The price of the tour includes wine tastings and snacks.  We also went to Gavalas Winery which had a relaxed and down-to-earth feel encompassed by beautiful violet flowers.  The tour was very personalized, so if you’re wanting to see something, just ask your guide!  Ours was very flexible and took us to the highest point of the island to enjoy the gorgeous views and see the ancient Prophet Elias Monastery.  Then, we walked along Kamari Beach and grabbed some ice cream, perused the street shops, and enjoyed a nice view of the water.  We booked our trip just the day before by walking into the Atlantis Oia Dive Centre right in town in Oia.  They also offer other excursions such as scuba diving or group tours.

#5 - Rooftop Bar & Restaurant in Monastiraki Area in Athens

Eating and drinking on rooftops is a big business in Greece.  After visiting the Parthenon, we walked over to an area called Monastiraki, which is one of Athen’s primary shopping and dining districts.  While perusing through the streets, you’ll be met with many restaurant hosts inviting you up for a meal.  We took up one Read Moresuch offer and enjoyed an incredible meal at the rooftop restaurant atop the 360 hotel.  It was one of our favorite meals on the entire trip.  On top of that, we had a wonderful view of the Parthenon.  Afterward, we went back to the streets and got some delicious ice cream at DaVinci’s.  It was a fantastic way to spend our afternoon in Athens.

#4 - Rooftop Restaurants in Oia

Have you noticed the trend of watching the sunset in Greece?  And all the different ways to view it?  Another big part of your day in Santorini will be securing a table on a rooftop at the precise time to see the beautiful skies.  During peak season, this will be competitive!  We learned it’s best to stop by a Read Morerestaurant when they open (when we’re heading out for a day of adventure) and make a reservation for dinner then.  We tried three or four different spots and they all had great views.  Simply look up the sunset time on Google and plan accordingly.  Some of the restaurants had set “sunset” reservation times, but others would let you set the time however you liked, so you can start dinner with the sunset or enjoy it during dessert.

#3 - Shopping Along Santorini “Streets”

Oia is a place like none we’ve ever seen.  The city “streets” rest right above your cave hotel, so every morning when you walk up the stairs to the street, you’re immediately thrust above the walking street, which is where you’ll find all their shops and restaurants.  We walked this path every day and it never got old.  There Read Moreare souvenir spots, jewelry stores, clothing boutiques, cute cafes, and much more.  One of their most popular stops is Atlantis Books, which has a very Instagram-able storefront and carries rare and new books.  If you purchase a book they will stamp the inside with their store stamp, making it a memorable book forever.

#2 - Stay in a Cave

When we first decided that we were going to spend our honeymoon in Greece we knew we had to stay in one of the cave-like structures that you see on all of the postcards.  We knew nothing about how it all worked and learned a lot after our trip.  First off, the area that you see in most postcards is a city called Oia in Read MoreSantorini.  Before the trip, we figured it was like booking a room in a hotel.  The difference, we learned, is that the caves are owned by many different groups.  The one we stayed in was part of a group that owned a handful of rooms.  It was a special experience to spend the night in a cave-like room, overlooking the Caldera, and be able to walk out our door to our private pool.  The customer service was exceptional, from getting picked up from the airport to a man carrying our huge suitcases down the many stairs (the only drawback of staying in the caves is the stairs), to breakfast delivered to our room daily.  Such an unforgettable experience!

#1 - Panathenaic Stadium

We capped off our full day in Athens by going on a stroll through the National Garden, leading the way to visit Panathenaic Stadium, home of the first modern Olympic games.  It was cool to look at a great piece of world history.  Today, you can go there for a daily run from 7:30 am to 9:00 am, take an audio tour, sign up Read Morefor the Authentic Athens Marathon that ends at the stadium, or catch the occasional concert that they host.  We took some photos and admired the site before walking over to a rooftop restaurant where we capped our day off with food and drinks with a sunset view of the Acropolis.  What a memorable day.

Greece (Athens, Mykonos, Santorini) Travel Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do to prepare for a trip to Greece? The most important thing to prepare is when you're going. Peak season will be the most expensive but will provide you with the best weather. Research the different islands so you know which ones you want to travel to and book your travel arrangements ahead of time (planes, boats, etc.). Experiences on the island may book up in advance too so be on top of that.Read More

Is it safe to travel to Greece right now? We never felt unsafe in any part of Greece. As with any major city, be aware of your belongings, especially in crowded tourist areas.

How much money should I take to Greece for 7 days? Greece will set you back some serious cash. Staying in that dream Santorini Cave or a fancy Mykonos hotel is expensive. On top of lodging, plans for at least $100-$200 a day on eating, shopping, and/or entertainment.

Does Greece prefer cash or card? Some street vendors only accept cash, so having some on hand is smart. But, for the most part, most places in Greece accept credit and debit cards.

Can you use US dollar in Greece? No, Greece does not accept US money, so exchange your dollars in the US ahead of time to save on larger exchange rates while in Greece.