Greece
Athens, Santorini & Mykonos!
Greece had been on my travel bucket list for a while before I booked the trip. When my partner and I started looking up ideas for a baby moon we decided that this would be the best time to go! Once you have kids travel is just different and we knew that. By the way if you’re interested in learning more about what a baby moon is, check out my blog post here.
We knew we wanted a lot of relaxation and good food. That is exactly what we got minus the times when we ventured off for some excitement, per usual.
All of the places had their own little vibe which was really cool to experience. In this post I want to cover everything from food to how to get around Greece. I will be breaking down the logistics by city/island. All of the hotels we stayed at will be linked.
Athens (adventure; thrill seeking)
Athens by far had the most adventure. Even though I was 7 months pregnant, that did not stop me from hiking up the Greek ruins all the way to the top. Now that I think about it that may be why my child is so energetic and a little dare devil. My entire pregnancy I was very active right up until I gave birth.
Transportation
We flew straight from NY to Athens. We did not rent a car in Athens as we normally do on our trips since our stay was not for too long. We mostly walked and only took a taxi to and from the airport.
Accommodations
We stayed at Academia of Athens which at the time was almost brand new and really nice. From our hotel we were able to walk around everywhere as everything was no more than 20 minutes away. We live in NYC so we love walking and also, you really get to explore things differently on foot rather than speeding by in a car.
Food
The food in Athens was just okay but not as good as on the islands in Santorini and Mykonos. Athens is very touristy so I feel like they were catering to what Americans or visitors want to eat—fries, Pizza, etc. Thanks but no thanks. We were there for the seafood and real Mediterranean flavor.
What to do
Climb to the top of Acropolis, duh! That was a must. There are also several other ruins in that area that are open to visitors. We stopped by the Temple of Olympian Zeus as well during our stay. We did not partake in any bus trips or other typical tourist activities so I can’t speak to that. Everything we did was self-guided and explored.
Overall, I would say Athens is a must stop when you are traveling to Greece from afar just because of Acropolis and the fact that Athens is usually a cheaper airport to fly into from overseas. Once you’re in Athens then you can get around the other Greek islands easier.
Santorini (Luxe relaxation)
Transportation
We also went to Italy on this same trip so we actually flew in from Naples to the Santorini airport. Once again we took a taxi to our hotel room. Aside from the fact that renting a car is impractical, in Greece, they require an international driver's permit (IDP) to rent a car. We did not have that!
Santorini is one of the more populated islands so that was evident while we were driving up to our hotel. There was a little market where many people gathered which we did not get to stop by and shop around but that’s ok. If you are into markets then for sure you will find your spot in Santorini.
Accommodations
We stayed at Pegasus Suite & Spa. The views are literally better than the pictures you see online. Absolutely breathtaking. All of the rooms are on the side of the cliff looking out into the water. It is so relaxing and romantic. The hotel gave us complimentary champagne upon arrival (not that I could enjoy it) and mugs as a parting gift. Five star service honestly.
Food
Hands down the best food we had on our trip. The most expensive too. Still worth it though! We had everything from grilled octopus to stuffed lobster and more. Truly a seafood haven. If you don’t eat seafood (must be because you’re allergic) they have regular meat and vegetarian options as well no worries. I find that with Mediterranean food no matter your dietary choices you have something delicious to eat.
What to do
Two words—Eat and lounge. We checked out the restaurants that were within walking distance from our hotel. The food was delicious at every restaurant. We are pescatarian so any island that we go to we are usually in heaven when it comes to food options.
Overall, Santorini is another must. Not just because Rick Ross mentioned it in a song either. It really just has the most perfect views, sunsets/sunrises, and uniqueness you won’t find anywhere else.
Mykonos (Party town)
Transportation
From Santorini, we took a ferry to Mykonos. It was so beautiful to cruise pass the other islands and witness that rich blue water for miles and miles. Taking a ferry also enabled us to save the money and avoid the hassle of getting on another flight. In total the ferry took about 2 1/2 hours, it makes several stops along the other Greek islands. If you’re interested in visiting several different islands the ferry is a popular option.
Accommodations
Another posh stay— The George Hotel was perfect. I’m actually really wishing I was back there right now. As with all of the other locations, everything is pretty much walking distance. The hotels and restaurants are all in the same general area and the streets are super tight so it is actually not practical to rent a car, even if you have the required driving permit.
Food
The food was good but again more tailored to tourist and western flavors/foods. I like to eat authentic when I travel and I felt like it was a tad regular. Still decent though.
What to do
Eat, shop, and lay by the pool. This was a perfect last stop for us because it was the most relaxing. Although it definitely has the upbeat, party scene, we literally laid out by the pool and just enjoyed our last couple days of our trip. On one of the nights we walked down to check out the club scene and it was really nice. Think Miami but way classier.
Did I leave some crucial details out? Let me know your questions in the comments!
With LOVE,
KayaDejure