Santorini Sunsets & Seaside Splendor: A Greek Anniversary Escape
What a dream come true for Justin and I to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in such a dazzlingly beautiful place! When we began planning I wanted to do some typical places, but also enjoy some lesser explored areas.
Our first 2 days we enjoyed the brand new Dolli Hotel in Athens. Athens is so safe, walkable and felt very welcoming. We did a private walking tour of the Acropolis and the museum of the acropolis. We were blown away at the incredible art, architecture and political structure the Greeks formed so many thousands of years ago. Their love of philosophy and beauty still capture the imagination millennia after their inception. The Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion have withstood peace, war, tyranny and invasions.
Justin and I enjoyed the many cafes and incredible restaurants Athens. Ovio Italian restaurant served up some of the best pasta I've ever had (including Italy!) and the Grand Britannia rooftop restaurant with views of the Acropolis served up amazing food and views.
Our next stop was lesser known Milos. A small island in the Aegean sea that seems to be growing in popularity, we found Milos to be wildly beautiful, unspoiled and not as overbuilt and very easy to traverse in a rental car (if you drive stick and know how to squeeze onto tiny streets! HA!). The island only takes about 15 minutes to traverse from end to end. There are so many lovely towns to explore and the natural wonders are truly breathtaking. Sarakkinniko beach is a volcanic caldera that feels otherworldly. Travel tip: the winds are INSANE. We weren't totally prepared and were a bit (a lot) cold as I packed a light sweater only thinking it would be hot. Our hotel room overlooked the Sea and I had many beautiful runs along the beach. Our second day we thoroughly enjoyed a private tour on a luxury rib boat. It looks like a giant inflated "raft" type boat and allowed us to tour the coastline and reach many beaches that cannot be reached by car or on foot. I got into the freezing cold water and swam and did some paddle boarding around the most breathtaking volcanic beaches and volcanic rock formations. After our tour, we enjoyed walking around Klima a famous fishing village known for her colorful doors and fishing boats. We hiked Plaka's cobblestone streets and had the most surreal views from the gorgeous churches like the Panagia Korfiatissa and from the castle of Plaka. (See photo of white church and sapphire/turquoise waters. UNREAL!) Our last night we enjoyed sunset from our restaurant on the water in the port city of Adamas.
The final leg of our trip, we enjoyed 3 full days in Santorini with luxury accomodations at the Canaves Epitome which overlooked the Aegean sea. We did a private walking tour learning about each town with our knowledgeable and friendly guide Panos. We loved Megalochori and all of the churches and cafes and enjoyed some time in Fira, as well. Raki restaurant was a stand out as a fantastic place to eat and enjoy tapas style Greek small plates (not small at all!).
The next day we spent doing some hiking and walked the 288 stairs from Amoudi Bay to Oia - the crowds are pretty crazy as the cruise ships dump many tourists off with limited time to see Oia, so that was not our favorite. We also enjoyed a private catamaran sunset tour with the most incredible views of the beaches, I froze my butt off in the chilly ("refreshing" as the Greeks call it) waters and enjoyed scrumptious food made on the catamaran by the crew. Sunset over Amoudi Bay was captivating and a memory I will treasure forever. In between tours, we hike Skaros rock and walked small towns taking in the lovely blue domes and jewel toned waters. We are so thankful for my long time friend Emily Webber who helped us plan all of this.
I highly recommend visiting Greece and the Greek Isles. It was a dream come true with surreal scenery and the hospitable people we encountered in Greece.
