It’s finally here! A blog post with everything you need to know about planning a trip to Greece. Whether it’s your honeymoon, a romantic getaway or a trip with friends, this blog has everything you need to make the perfect Greece itinerary. From where we stayed, what we ate and how we traveled, I’m giving you the inside scoop on everything there is to know about planning a vacation to Greece without the help of a travel agent. This was the trip of a lifetime for us and I’m so glad I can share all of the deets with you here. I should also mention that I love planning and I’m super type A, so planning this myself was something I enjoyed doing, but even if you use a travel agent, this post may still give you ideas on those little extras you may decide you want to do!

Where We Stayed

Athens

new oniro.jpeg — oniro city

This boutique hotel was literally a dream. When deciding on where to stay in Athens, I was between a larger scale hotel (Grand Bretagne) known for it’s Acropolis view and regal rooms and a new, smaller boutique hotel that saved us some $$ (Oniro City). We ultimately decided on Oniro City and I was SO happy with our choice. It was tucked away in an adorable charming neighborhood full of vibrant shopping and cafes, but was also walking distance to all of the Athens must-see spots like the Acropolis and the Plaka (Athens main shopping strip). The rooms were spacious and clean- perfect for when you’re jet lagged and may spend more time in your room catching some z’s. Plus, the concierge and room service were incredible. I’m huge on first impressions and Oniro City kicked off our honeymoon so positively that we didn't want to leave. We spent 2 nights here, which I think is the perfect amount of time to stay in Athens (keep reading for all the activities we did while there).

Mykonos

cavo tagoo.jpeg — cavo tagoo

When we arrived in Mykonos we stayed at Cavo Tagoo for 3 nights and it was the perfect spot to get an authentic Mykonos experience. The pool was absolutely stunning (pictured here) and it was a short drive from the best shopping and restaurants. While the room was definitely a little “lived in,” which was expected since Cavo Tagoo is known for quite the party scene in Mykonos (especially during peak season), the ambience and pool experience were unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. While I may stay somewhere else if we were to return, I still definitely recommend Cavo Tagoo especially if lounging by the pool is on your to-do list.

Santorini

Katikies

Katikies was by far the most incredible place I’ve ever stayed at. My only complaint is that we didn’t get to spend more time here. The views and service completely exceeded our expectation, the food was INCREDIBLE and the overall feel of serenity and calmness was magical. Since this stay was at the tail end of our trip, we spent so much time relaxing and catching up on rest we didn’t leave our resort until the 2nd night of our trip- mainly because it’s just that beautiful. We stayed in their honeymoon suite, which was not as private as we thought it would be, however we loved its proximity to the pool and breakfast (Santorini is filled with tons of stairs and it can be quite a trip to get from point A to point B of your hotel).

Where We Ate

Everywhere we ate in Greece was a 10/10 experience, mainly because we’re foodies and I spent countless hours searching Instagram and blogs to find the go-to hot spots that offered views and atmosphere coupled with an amazing dining experience. We pivoted on a few reservations after talking to locals, something I highly recommend doing when you get there. When in Mykonos expect dining and menus more similar to the states (think NYC or Miami top restaurants) and when in Santorini, expect authentic cuisine that is very fresh. If you’re open to trying new things, I highly recommend doing so in Santorini. It’s impossible to pick just one restaurant that was our favorite go-to spot but my top two were by far Grand Bretagne and Scorpios- I’m huge on vibes and both of these places delivered. Keep reading for links to everywhere we ate on our trip!

Athens

Mykonos

Santorini

How we got there

Getting to each place seems to be the most confusing and daunting aspect for someone planning a trip to Greece, so I wanted to include a little section of how we traveled! I truly thought staying in each place for only a few nights would be exhausting with all the travel, but it was so much easier than I expected.

United flight from Newark—> Athens

Agean Air flight from Athens—> Mykonos

Sea Jet Ferry from Mykonos—> Santorini (take the fast speed ferry and some dramamine before, thank me later)

Aegean Air flight from Santorini —> Athens (2 hour layover)

United flight from Athens—> Newark

What we did

1. Tour in Athens

This Athens tour was absolutely perfect for us. It wasn’t too long (I only lost interest about half way through haha) and it uniquely tied Greek Mythology and Athens history together. My true main focus during the tour was getting the perfect insta (I’m always honest on here) but Brian (the history buff that he is) loved this tour so much it was definitely a highlight for him. The Acropolis wasn’t too crowded when we went and the weather was perfect. If you have the luxury of traveling in September I think it’s the perfect month to travel to Greece to get great weather while avoiding crowds.

2. Show at the Odeon Theater Athens

This was a last minute decision for us and I’m so glad we did this. While the show definitely wasn’t music we were interested in, sitting in an ancient outdoor theater this grand was so magical. Definitely check their schedule before heading to Athens, as lots of popular artists pass through here and play shows open to the public.

3. Private Yacht Charter in Santorini

This was definitely the biggest splurge of our trip but 1000% worth the money. We booked it through our hotel so I don’t have a company to give you but I highly recommend seeing views of the Caldera in Santorini from the water even if you book a group boat day.

4. Photographer in Santorini

I really wanted to hire a photographer to capture us on our honeymoon but logistically this can be hard and there’s lots of things to keep in mind. Since we traveled to Santorini towards the end of peak season, many photo hot spots were empty (something incredibly rare). If you’re traveling to Greece during peak season, expect to shoot super early in the morning or wait in very long lines to get the shot. We seriously lucked out and our photographer was AMAZING, taking us to some of the most breath taking spots on the island. Another thing to consider is that a photography session can take all day, so you have to be willing to give up some of your free time. For us, this was more than just a photography session as we traveled to some of the most beautiful spots that had the most breathtaking views. Prepare to do a lot of walking (on stairs) which can be hot during season so pack some waters. Click here for more about Kostis our photographer and if you book him, let him know Bella and Brian sent you!

5. Shopping

We had no idea how amazing the shopping was going to be in Mykonos and since the weather ended up being a little chilly while we were there, we ended up spending most of our days exploring the town, eating gyros and shopping. We found so much great stuff on sale since it was the end of season and I definitely recommend a night shopping session since most stores stay open until 1-2am. Some of our favorite stores included:

Vlatadoros, Phenomenon, Jorjy and many many more that we unfortunately forgot to jot down!