Greece: Summer Part III (Paros, Santorini)
- epenuen
- Oct 1, 2023
- 1 min read
Updated: Mar 18, 2024
If you haven't read either of the posts below, do so first!
FYI: Links below labeled "(map)" are included for places without websites.
Paros
Day 9: Ferry, Monastiri Beach, Naoussa Village
See the Greek Islands: Ferry Guide for specific tips.
Morning
Activities | Tips |
Breakfast: Artisi Prozymi (Trip Advisor) | Before leaving Mykonos, head halfway to town and stop at a local bakery for Greek delights and coffee. - Order a Freddo (iced) cappuccino with mele (honey). This is a local favorite. |
Travel to Mykonos Port. | Arrange a driver ahead of time with your hotel to fetch you from the hotel to the ferry port. This ensures safety, a fair price (set by hotel vs. the driver) and allows you to pay with a credit card vs. cash only. |
Afternoon
Activities | Tips |
Ferry: Mykonos to Paros | Duration: 40 min |
Arrive at Port of Parikia in Paros. | Paros Port is located in Parikia, on the west coast of the island. |
Car Rental: Aegan Paros Car Rental | Paros is a relatively larger island where a car is more necessary. Rent a car to drive to the hotel and the other sites throughout the duration of your stay. - Rent an Automatic Fiat 500c (convertible). It’s totally worth it and so fun to play music and drive with the top down to the beach! A Fiat is easy to zip around in and cute. - Reserve in advance. - Follow up and specify the model, so they hold it for you. |
Check in to Hotel. | See the TRIP 2 Hotel Review. |
Beach: Monastiri Beach Club | Fantastic tropical house music, clear water, delicious food, cabana service, and comfortable beach chairs. - Sit all day and lounge. - This beach is not as crowded as Santa Maria and not an over-the-top party. - If you don’t rent beach chairs, you can sit at chairs above beach for free and / or eat at the restaurant. - This place is hands down one of the best beach clubs to relax at in Paros; we went two days in a row! |
Lunch: Monastiri Beach Club | Food here is divine and you can order directly to your beach chair or dine at the restaurant above the beach bar. - Order: Hamburger, Ricotta Flatbread, Greek Salad. |
Evening
Activities | Tips |
Naoussa Village - Wander through the windy streets and boutiques. | Walk around Naoussa village before or after dining. There are many shops and places to eat. We shopped around as the sun was setting and it was a golden memory. |
Dinner: Stilvi - In Naoussa Village | Reserve 45 days in advance. - €20 no-show fee. - Party begins at 10:00 PM. Not too lively. Great food, bar, and drinks. |
Day 10: Paros, Antiparos
Morning
Activities | Tips |
Breakfast: Minois Hotel | Complimentary Breakfast and Coffee. - Options and service are tremendous. - Order: French Toast, Greek Omelet, Freddo Cappuccino. |
Ferry to Antiparos. | The ferry from Paros to Antiparos runs every 30 min until ~3am. - You can drive on with a car and pay for tickets on the boat. Tickets are €10 each way per car. - Ferry takes 15 min and there was no line. Overall, it's a quick and seamless process! |
Explore Antiparos Village. | Antiparos has great boutiques for shopping, art galleries, coffee shops, ruins, and restaurants. It’s a quiet but cute town. - Great nightlife. We didn't stay all day to partake in the festivities but try to plan one night of your trip around an evening here. |
Ferry back to Paros. - Early afternoon | Antiparos is significantly smaller than Paros and the shops can be combed through in a few hours. |
Afternoon & Evening
Activities | Tips |
Beach: Monastiri Beach Club | We loved Monastiri so much that we left Antiparos early to go back another day! - The DJ is outstanding and makes you want to dance as you lounge! - Paros can be quite windy but this beach is in a cove, protecting itself from the wind. - The water is clear and shallow, making it a great place to swim. |
Reserve ## days in advance. - Time the reservation with sunset. Romantic views; known for fresh seafood. |
Santorini
Day 11: Ferry, Oia Village
See the Greek Islands: Ferry Guide for specific tips.
Overall Tip: Taxis are very expensive and typically cash only. Either rent a car or choose accommodations that are close to restaurants.
Morning & Afternoon
Activities | Tips |
Ferry: Paros to Santorini | Duration: 1 hr 30 min |
Arrive at Port of Santorini. Drive to Hotel. | Arrange a driver ahead of time with your hotel to fetch you from the port (or airport) and drive you to the hotel. This ensures safety, a fair price (set by hotel vs. the driver) and allows you to pay with a credit card vs. cash only. In this port specifically, there are countless salesmen trying to upcharge you for rental cars and / or rides to resorts. If you don’t arrange a ride ahead of time, negotiate for a group van price. |
Check in to Hotel. | See the TRIP 2 Hotel Review. |
Evening
Activities | Tips |
Taxi to Oia Village. | Arrange a driver to drive from the resort to steep, village. The roads are very steep, and the drive takes about 15 min from Imerovigli. |
Explore Oia Village. Blue Dome (map) | Take scenic pictures at the Blue Dome, be mindful that there's a line all day. Enjoy the rest of the day roaming around the steep winding streets and exploring the boutiques. |
Dinner: Mia's Restaurant | Reserve a few weeks in advance. - Request outdoor seating. Pricey, but worth it for the breathtaking view of the sunset and cuisine. |
Day 12: Hike to Fira, Shop in Thira Village, Sunset Cocktails
Morning
Activities | Tips |
Breakfast: Hotel | |
Hike: Imerovigli to Fira (All Trails Details) - You can start on this path anywhere along the route. - This trail is breathtaking and follows along the cliffside with Aegean views the entire time. - Part of the trail is paved and winds through different little towns with shops, restaurants, and plazas. | Stop for snacks, drinks, and shopping along the way. We even had a couple of cocktails! Wear a swimsuit under loose clothing and you can catch a tan as you stroll. |
Coffee, Snacks: Volkan on the Rocks X ERGON House | Volkan did a collaboration with ERGON House; yes, the same ERGON House as the café in Athens! - Delicious lattes and freddo cappuccinos. This café is outdoors, and the patio overlooks the Aegean sea. - Beware, it can get a bit windy on the patio. |
Three Bells of Fira (map) | Underwhelming. Skip, unless you're walking by. |
Afternoon
Activities | Tips |
Explore, Shop: Thira Village | Crowded, since cruises dock in Thira. Several shops and a great area to pick out souvenirs. |
Lunch: Aktaion - This is a local favorite and has been in business at the same location since 1922 | 11/10 would recommend. Going here is an experience and not touristy at all. You can step back in time and look at pictures throughout history of others who have dined here. |
Relax at Hotel Private Pool. |
Evening
Activities | Tips |
Sunset Drinks: Grace Hotel 363 Bar | Grace Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel with breathtaking Caldera views. - Exquisite location to enjoy a cocktail and watch the sunset. |
Dinner: Fico Aperitivo - Executive Chef Fanis Maekantis curates an Italian and Mediterranean inspired menu consisting of locally curated ingredients for a delightful poolside dining experience. - Restaurant whisks you away to a backyard oasis for a memorable experience. | - Explore the art gallery next door as you wait for your table or meal to arrive. - Order: Cesar’s Salad, Pizza Margarita, Arancini, Carbonera - Sit near to the wall, if possible. The patio can get windy. |
Day 13: Boat Day, Sunset Cocktails
Morning
Activities | Tips |
Breakfast: Hotel |
|
Boat Day Morning Pickup: Hotel | Transfer port starts in Oia and collects passengers directly from their hotels. The pick up process took 1 hr until we reached the port. |
Afternoon
Activities | Tips |
Half Boat Day - Yacht Hop Sailing Experience - Stops: Vlychada, Red Beach, White Beach, Black Mountain, Palea Kameni, Thirasia, Ammoudi - Includes: Towels, Lunch, Fruit, Water, Beer, Wine, Snorkeling Equipment, No GoPro camera. - Full refund up to 72 hours before reservation. | We chose a half (vs. full) boat day in the Morning to swim at each stop. Morning boats run on time. Sunset boats are frequently late and the ability to see the sunset is dependent on the weather (September has heavy cloud coverage each night and is chilly on the water). Reserve your boat day for your first full day on any island, so you can reschedule for a later day in case of inclement weather. The group sets the tone (ex: music, interactions with each other). Look for reviews that match the age group and energy level you are looking for. Some companies allow many more people than others. Look for reviews with groups of 14 people or less. Bring a change of clothes for the boat ride back from the final stop. |
Workout |
Evening
Activities | Tips |
Cocktails, Sunset: Mavro Restaurant | Highly recommend. Breathtaking sunset views over the Caldera. Request a table in advance on the top deck or in a booth with a personal firepit. |
Dinner: Fico Aperitivo - The craft cocktails, ambiance, and Italian dishes were such a treat that we came back for the second night in a row! | See Tips Above (Day 12, Evening). |
Day 14: Breakfast, Airport
Morning & Afternoon
Activities | Tips |
Breakfast: Hotel | Enjoy the last breakfast in Greece on the outdoor patio overlooking the pool and ocean. |
Travel to the Santorini Airport. | Arrange a driver ahead of time with your hotel to take you to the airport. This ensures safety and a fair price (set by hotel vs. the driver). Most taxis in Santorini are cash-only. Have cash to pay the driver. The Santorini airport is very small. Have snacks ahead of time and do not eat the hot dogs at the airport! |
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