Local’s Guide: short trip to Athens
Quick Tips
I recommend taking the subway or train to get around, bus service is usually delayed and takes a long time
Taxis are quite affordable, but make sure the driver is using a taximeter to avoid being overcharged
The city is so easy to navigate for downtown activities and sightseeing, but for beaches and seaside views, you will need to take the subway and taxi
Shopping in Athens is much more affordable than on the islands, and you can find everything you need in the center of Athens
Kolonaki area offers more high end shopping experiences with big brand names
Make sure to go to bakeries and try local pastries
Late at night, you should go to rooftop bars, as they are not like nightclubs, but rather very chill with an amazing ambiance and view of the Acropolis
Activities
Marina Floisvos in Paleo Faliro
https://www.greeka.com/attica/athens/sightseeing/flisvos-marina/
There are many great restaurants, bars, hookah lounges, and scenic walks in the area. I recommend going early evening so you can see the sunset and avoid the heat of the day.
Vouliagmeni
https://www.thisisathens.org/neighbourhoods/vouliagmeni-guide
The area around here is by far my favorite in Athens, the views are magnificent, it is quieter and more laidback than other areas, but at the same time it is also quite upscale.
Spend a full day there, get some breakfast at a bakery and then head to Vouliagmeni Plaz, where you will have to pay for entrance to the organized beach, but you will receive sunbeds and umbrellas for free.
There are also water sports available in that area if you are interested.
If you have a choice of restaurants, you should go to Sardelaki, which is about five to ten minutes walk from the Plaz, has amazing food and a great view. You can also go for gelato or ice cream waffles near the restaurant.
In addition, Vouliagmeni has a number of very nice bars for the evening, located all within a short walking distance.
Cine Thissio
Check out what movies and times are scheduled at this outdoor open movie theater near the Acropolis. Even if you don't like the movie, you should still go just for the ambience. There is a concessionaire that sells wine, food, and snacks. The walk around the Acropolis and the ruins is so picturesque.
Acropolis museum
https://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en
I strongly recommend you visit the museum since it is relatively new, modern, and a remarkable experience. Spend a few hours in the museum and have breakfast there as well. If you can choose between hike the Parthenon or visit the museum, consider the weather and the amount of time you have.
Sounion and Temple of Poseidon
https://whyathens.com/temple-of-poseidon/
Those are the best beaches and waters in Athens. Vouliagmeni's waters are fine, but Sounio is like being on an island.
Taxis are available, or you may take the subway until Elliniko station and then take a taxi from there. It is quite a distance from downtown but well worth the trip.
You can spend the day on the beach, it is usually a mix of families and tourists, and you can get lunch at one of the restaurants that are located right on the beach.
After that, head to the Temple of Poseidon, which you can view from the beach as well, but since you are there, you should take the time to step up close to see it in person. At this site, you can also see beautiful sunsets.
Anafiotika Athens
https://www.highheelsandabackpack.com/anafiotika-athens/
It is an absolute must to eat dinner here when you are staying in downtown.
The name Anafiotika is derived from the island Anafi, which some call it the “small Santorini”. It gives the impression of being on a Greek island while being in the heart of Athens!
Take a stroll around and select a coffee shop, restaurant, or bar. I recommend having a late dinner at one of the taverns up the steps (you can see it as you walk around). Many evenings they have traditional live Greek music to enjoy.
In downtown, there would usually be live music in the restaurants in the evenings, which is something you should definitely experience.
Day trip to Angkistri island
In our search for an easy, quick, and cheap getaway from Athens, we found Angkistri island. Only one hour by boat from the city, the island is home to crystal clear waters, sealife, and a sweet escape from sedentary life. My parents dropped my friend Carolyn and me off at the subway station so we could proceed to Piraeus port. Our tickets had been booked online a few days before, and once we arrived at the port, we picked them up on the boat line's deck. Since this was Carolyn's first time visiting Greece and getting on a boat to explore a Greek island, I took the classic tourist picture of her in front of the boat that we were about to board.
The top level of the ship was all open, so we sat on it and enjoyed the sun and the sea waves as we sailed towards Angkistri island. While riding the boat for about an hour, we discussed our future business plans and enjoyed the view, the sea smell, the salt in the air, and the sun on our skin as we headed to our next adventure. After passing Aegina island, we reached Angkistri shortly afterwards. As soon as we saw the crystal clear water, we were blown away by it, which was a mixture of green, blue, and turquoise depending on how the water reflected, as well as the color of the rocks in the water. Our taxi ride was inevitable, as we realized. On the drive there, we saw people riding the bikes, and though it looked fun, a couple's bike ran out of battery and the other person had to return to the store to get a portable charger because they would have been stuck.
Angkistri is connected to Aponisos by a small man-made bridge that takes about 20 minutes to get there. Aponisos is the perfect little getaway that every person needs in their lives. It felt amazing being on this floating piece of land surrounded by the clearest waters. Since we went at the end of May, there were not many tourists. A lot of the sunbeds and umbrellas were not occupied, so it made us feel like we had uncovered a treasure. The first thing we did was explore. What made us the happiest was seeing peacocks wandering everywhere. Peacocks are my favorite animals after dolphins, and it was a wonderful experience for me. My mother and aunt had always told me that no matter where I go, no matter what I see and experience, Greece has it all. After seeing peacocks in Oahu, Hawaii two months ago, I was mesmerized by how such a beautiful animal is casually wandering among us. As I encountered this creature on the island in the country where I grew up, it made me understand and feel what my mom and aunt had always told me: Greece has everything I need.
Luckily for us, there were not many people around when we went swimming, so our photos and videos came out perfect. We decided to create some content for Astra Aesthete first. We asked some German tourists to take some polaroids of both of us and we enjoyed shooting our content while exploring the island. Getting super close to peacocks that roamed around was the highlight of the experience.
In search of a spot where we could leave our belongings, we walked all around the island. Since it was all rocks everywhere and there were some man-made access points at certain spots, we sat where the most people were, and it seemed the easiest access to the water. Having put our stuff on the sunbeds, we headed to the access point, where there was a woman who seemed reluctant to dive in. A woman told us that there were jellyfish everywhere. They migrate towards the Greek seas every few years. We noticed that no one had been swimming in those beautiful waters since we arrived. When I was very young, that had happened and my family and I were in the village where my mom comes from, and the beach shore was covered in jellyfish that people pulled out of the water so that they could swim freely. We were actually advised by my mom and aunt before we went swimming that day to take precautions and to remove any poison if we were stung. At the time, we did not think much of it, but after we got there, we were quite upset that we had to be extra cautious.
As we enjoyed the sun, we had wine and snacks. Before leaving, we took a shower at a barrel (see the photo), where we had to pay 50 cents for 30 seconds of water. It was the sweetest little day escape we could have hoped for. A local called us a taxi to the port. We had a quick dinner at a restaurant by the sea, and then watched the sunset on the boat back to Athens.
Quick Tips
Bring sport shoes to walk around, especially if you are interested in taking a hike
Ask for a map at the port so you can locate where the beaches you want to go to are
Talk to the locals for any help or directions, GPS is not reliable or phone service
In any restaurant you go, ask the waiters for the fish of day
Ask for a sea urchin salad
You need a drivers license as well as a motorcycle license to rent an ATV or motorcycle to move around the island. American driver’s licenses are usually not accepted
If you decide to get a taxi, keep in mind that there is a limited amount of drivers on the island. Ask a local shop or hotel once you arrive for taxi driver’s number and make sure to arrange with them exact times you will need them
It is much easier, cheaper and quicker to take subway in Athens to Piraeus port than taking a taxi, or driving and having to find parking
3 days in Santorini
We arrived at Athens airport around 8am for our 45 minute flight to Santorini. We bought some turopites (cheese pies) and juice from the bakery, then walked to our gate. Surprisingly enough, most of the people waiting to get on that flight were Greek, and the workers spoke Greek first rather than English (which is quite rare).
Our trip was planned by Chiara, my best friend. The summer of 2020 was a hot one for Greece. Chiara from Milan and me from Chicago both returned to Greece to quarantine and stay with our families. As soon as domestic tourism was opened back up in Greece, Santorini was the first destination we wanted to visit together. It had been nearly two years since we had seen each other or vacationed together. In our chatting, we realized we hadn't been to Santorini since we were young. Given the low prices of travel and accommodations on the island during that time because all islands were in great need for tourists, it was a great time to book the trip and visit the island.
Our excitement increased as soon as we landed on Santorini. Our taxi took us from the airport to Oia, leaving us right at the village entrance. From there, we had to walk to our airbnb in the caldera. Cars cannot move in the village. Our Airbnb host found us near the entrance and helped us carry our luggage. The roads and alleys are made of rocks and are mostly uphills and downhills.
As we got deeper into the village of Oia, we felt an adrenaline rush of intense happiness and excitement coursing through our bodies. It was so beautiful that we started screaming and just being in awe of it. Santorini was so spectacular that we could not believe what we saw. Often, places look good in pictures, but after seeing them in person, your expectations aren't met. Santorini does not have that problem. I felt like I was in a painting, as if I had just entered a perfect world of what most people imagine heaven would look and feel like. Our airbnb was right on the caldera with a stunning view that is unimaginable. Chiara heard of it from a friend. After opening our balcony door, we sat on the balcony for hours, taking it all in. We got some snacks, drinks and wine from a local store and sat there listening to Chiara’s Greek playlists until it was time to start getting ready to go watch the sunset.
During the sunset, the sun disappeared into the sea and a large crowd clapped as if it was the end of a spectacular theater performance. Everyone would dress up to go watch the sunset, the main attraction of each day. My mom and aunt would tell me how crowded the alleys would be when they were younger. Being there with so few people around was impressive. The world seemed to be ours, all ready for us to explore and enjoy. The sunset was like the main event of the day. After that, most of the people went out for dinner in local restaurants or bars, or at one of the big hotels. Being around people who were grateful and appreciative of nature's gifts was such a wholesome moment.
We stayed at Chiara's friend hotel in Thira on the second day. In spite of not being directly on the caldera, the view across the street was breathtaking. The most common image of Santorini in social media is that of the island's one side. We were at a place with white buildings and views, that blended beautifully with the deep blue ocean and sky where we were.
The day before, we met some American friends who were also staying at Thira. Having studied abroad in Spain and got trapped in Europe during the pandemic, they visited Greece for a few days. They picked us up with their ATVs to take a drink and explore the village. On the way there, the streets were empty and it was the most enjoyable ride of our lives. Upon arriving, we did not know where to park so we just left the ATVs in a vacant space on the side of the road that did not appear to be a parking space. Greece has a reputation for being lenient and chill when it comes to small rules and regulations. As long as you park in a way that doesn't disturb anyone or get in everyone's way, you're good to go.
As we walked through the alleys, we checked out the stores and talked to the locals. I was amused by how they spoke to all of us in English instead of Greek. As such a popular international destination and as such a pricey place, the island is mostly visited by foreign tourists. We would speak back to them in Greek, and their faces would lighten. “You don’t look Greek,” they would say. We would then talk with them, where they would ask us about where we are from, who our American friends were, and give us recommendations on restaurants to go to and places to see in the island. We were also offered discounts on their products because we were Greeks. After that, we visited a few bars where we could really feel the foreign influence. The Irish pub looked exactly like the one on the University of Illinois campus. But each bar, club, restaurant was different and varied. There was something for everyone, from traditional Greek music to Reggaeton to hip-hop and jazz. We had a few drinks and then got some crepes and went back to our hotel.
Our last day on the island, we took the bus to the black sand beach. Buses are a convenient and cheap way of getting around the island. As a result of the volcanoes, there are both red and black beaches on the island. Both sand and sea were boiling hot on the black beach. We sat on the beach bar's sun beds and enjoyed some cocktails.
As the evening approached, we went to the Santo Winery for a wine tasting. I had made reservations several days in advance in order to get a table right at sunset. I have done a few wine tastings in Greece and the US, but that one was my favorite. We had mostly white wines, and of course the red one spilled on my dress. In spite of that, the atmosphere was still magical. In the evening, as the sky turned orange, we enjoyed how eager our server was to take our picture of the sunset. When we returned to our hotel, just a 10 minute walk, we danced and sang in the street, taking in the gorgeous view and this amazing trip we just had.
Quick Tips
Do not wear heels, you will be walking around a lot and it is all rocks and slippery.
Santorini is not about the beaches, is about the view. Beaches are not that easily accessible since the main areas are on the cliff.
Remember it is on a cliff/ caldera, the access to the water is hard, you need to either walk it down or take a donkey. On the top steps before you go down towards Ammoudi, locals with their donkeys would offer you a ride for a small price.
Chiara and I did the walk down the rocky steps and it felt like a whole workout, a workout that we were not prepared for. We were in slides, our swimsuits, and our beach purses. The weather was an approximate high of 38 degrees Celsius with fully clear skies and no winds. I ended up getting sick the next day because of that. Make sure to be hydrated and dress appropriately.
Oia is what you usually see in social media, the caldera is magnificent, gives feel of you being in a live painting. Soak it all in, sit to a cafe with the view, walk around the small roads. No cars get in Oia, your taxi will drop you off right before it and then it is all walk.
Oia is very laid back, there are only restaurants and cafes and shopping stores.
When shopping , try to buy stuff from locals and made in the area. This is always the best quality.
Thira is the other area, very beautiful and there is more going on than Oia (like bars, clubs etc and it also is bigger).
Hotels, and airbnbs may be providing transportation included in the price you pay for the apartment, make sure to ask because taxis are quite pricey. When you do get in the taxi, make sure you get the contact information of the driver to call him or her next time you need a cab. Calling the drivers personally and not through a intermediary company could help save you some money.
If you check the schedule, you should be able to find buses or KTELs to move around the island. This is the best way to get to the beaches to save some money on the taxis