Greece is a place I have dreamed of going to since I was young (I feel like I say this about every place I go). Between the beautiful, white cave-like buildings and shops, beautiful purple and pink flowers, and breath-taking Mediterranean views, it was like the islands were made for postcards. Every single picture I took looked like a magazine cover without even trying. It truly was paradise.
Tackling Greece is a feat, however, as it is not the easiest to get to out of all the European countries, and there are so many islands to visit it’s hard to choose. For our Summer trip, my friend and I decided on Santorini and Mykonos, two of the most famous islands. Santorini is known more as the “honeymoon” island, as it is beautiful, relaxing, and romantic. Mykonos is the “party island” and was not only beautiful, but absolutely wild and so much fun (the parties go until 6 AM kind of fun).
For anyone planning a trip, I thought it would be helpful to write a few different posts about where we stayed, and what we enjoyed most on our trip. Starting with Santorini, here are some details that I hope will help anyone reading if they are going to adventure here anytime soon!
Where to stay
Hotel Atlantis: Staying at Hotel Atlantis was by far one of the best decisions we made on our trip – 5 stars in my book! First of all, it is in the best location right in Fira, which is the more lively of the towns in Santorini. We wanted to be in a location where we could easily walk to stores and restaurants, so this was the most ideal location. The room had the most fantastic view of the water, the hotel was clean and the room was spacious, and they had fantastic service. My favorite part was the complimentary breakfast every morning, including delicious real Greek yogurt with honey, fruit, bread and jams, eggs, bacon, fresh orange juice, and more on their beautiful terrace with gorgeous ocean views. I still miss those breakfasts!
What To Do (and Wear While Doing It!)
- Watch the Sunset in Oia at The Castle
If you have done your research about Santorini, you have already heard about the world-famous Oia sunset. You can watch a Grecian sunset really from almost anywhere in Greece and it is breath-taking, but the famous Oia “Castle” is known for having the best view, and it did not disappoint. Be sure to get there early as it does get extremely populated with tourists and you want to make sure you get a good spot. I also recommend bringing a snack and some wine, to sit back and relax and watch the most beautiful sunset of your life!
What we wore:
Romper: White Fox Boutique (sold out but put a similar one here)
Sunglasses: Ray-Ban
Dress: Saved by the Dress
Sunglasses: Primark
2. Wine Tasting at Santowines
If you love wine, Santowines will make all of your dreams come true. You can taste every type of wine imaginable (we got 12 wine ‘samples’ each – no joke) with some snacks, and the most stunning view. It is very easy to get to via cab, and is definitely something I would not miss if you are a wine-o. I mean, wine-not? 🙂
What we wore:
My Maxi Dress: From a Local Boutique in Greece 🙂
Sunglasses: Ray-Ban
Dress: Saved by the Dress
Sunglasses: Primark
3. Boat Cruise through Caldera Yachting
The beauty of Santorini is not just found on the island, but of course is discovered floating through the Mediterranean Sea. Through the Caldera Yachting company, we were able to take a catamaran boat with a small group, and see the beautiful red beach, black and white beaches, dreamy Amoudi Bay, and take a dip in the crystal blueish green waters, all by boat. It is something not to miss!
What we wore:
My Sunglasses: Ray-Ban
Hat: Local Greece Store 🙂
My Bathing Suit: Triangl
Both our Kimonos: Amazon
4. PK Cocktail Bar
I discovered PK Cocktail Bar on Instagram and absolutely HAD to go there. Funny enough, it ended up being right near our hotel – 1 minute walk! I no joke booked this a month in advance online so we could have the best seat in the house for the sunset. The views are absolutely insane, and I would recommend anyone to watch the sunset from here. Not to mention, the cocktails were some of the best I have ever tasted, with fresh fruit. Make sure to try anything with passionfruit in it. 🙂
What we wore:
My Earrings: Baublebar
My Romper: White Fox Boutique
Sunglasses: Primark
Erin’s Maxi: Saved by The Dress
5. Get a Fish Pedicure at KissingFish Santorini
My friend Erin convinced me to try a fish pedicure as it was something she had always wanted to do. Not to mention the Kardashians went to this exact location on an episode of their show, so we thought it must be good! I was definitely nervous and a little squeemish (not sure if that’s a real word, but I felt it), thinking of little tiny fish having a feast on my feet. They require you to wash your feet first, and start by sticking your heels in the water. Immediately, the fish swarm your feet, as you dip the rest of your feet in the water. We went for about 20 minutes, and it was definitely ticklish, but does not hurt at all! I do have to say, my feet felt so soft after, and this is something I would recommend for those that are adventurous enough!
6. Shop the Amazing Boutiques
The worst thing that happened to me on the trip was that the airline lost my luggage for 24 hrs when we first arrived to Santorini. However, my anger at British Airways quickly diminished when I discovered how AMAZING the shopping is in Santorini. There is no shortage of gorgeous boutiques with hand-made Greek clothing, jewelry, and my absolute favorite, Greek Sandals. Needless to say, I ended up leaving the island with an entire new Greek wardrobe!
7. Taste the Local Cuisine
I have always loved Greek food, so was unbelievably excited to try true Greek food, in actual Greece. We went of our way to try all the local cuisines, including Gyros, grape leaves, souvlaki, seafood, gelato, and more. The gelato we got in Oia was one of the most amazing I have ever tasted! I also know for fact I will never have another Gyro that tastes as good as Lucky Gyro in Fira. Be sure to feast away, as the food is absolutely amazing!
8. Eat at Blue Volcano and Try the Octopus
Our favorite restaurant that we tried in Santorini was the Blue Volcano in Fira. We went at night, but it does have a waterfront view which I am sure would be gorgeous in the daytime. The souvlaki and the octopus were absolutely delicious, and I will still have food dreams about eating here. Octopus in particular is something I have tried before and did not like, but Blue Volcano quickly changed my mind. They cooked it in a vinegar sauce for a good flavor, and it wasn’t too chewy either. Definitely don’t miss this place!
9. Pet the Local Donkeys (But Don’t Ride Them)
Santorini is famous for their cute, fuzzy locals in the form of Donkeys. We made the bad decision of riding them up the Santorini cliffs, and I have to say it was terrifying! I saw my life flash before my eyes as my donkey proceeded to go as close as humanly possible to the edge of every cliff as we snaked our way up the mountain in Fira. They also did not have anyone leading the donkeys up, they kind of pluck you on one and send you on your way, which led to a cluster of donkeys bumping into each other as we made the trek up. Definitely not something I would recommend, however, make sure you do get a chance to see the donkeys while you are out there – they are super cute and friendly 🙂
I hope this blog gave you all some ideas if you are headed to magical Santorini anytime soon! Stay tuned for my next blog about Mykonos. 🙂