Planning first trip to Greece, can you share highlights of your visits?
 

We have lots of reading and planning to do, but I'd love to hear what captivated you and which experiences were highlights of your trip to Greece. Was there a special hotel, restaurant or tour that made your trip particularly satisfying? Any unique experience that you would care to share? I have almost a year to plan for a trip in May/June 2012.
Thanks so much! Saige

Hi Saige,

Only having been to Greece once, May 2008 for our 25th wedding anniversary, I have to say we really enjoyed the two islands we visited. Santorini is the epitome of touristy Greece but we really did love it. We had a beautiful room with a huge private terrace at Andronis Suites in Oia and the view was just amazing. We had fun zipping around the island in our rental car and heading over to volcano for a walk. On our 25th anniversary day we took the caldera walk along the island and came across a young couple getting married at a church along the path. It was just so spectacular that I couldn't imagine visiting Greece and not going there. You will see Santorini images all the rest of you life and sigh and remember the beauty.

And for something completely different we spent a few days on Chios and loved that too! So not touristy in May but it had very interesting sights such as the mastic villages and the black pebble beach. Very relaxing and quiet island once you get past the port. We had come from Turkey as there was a ferry between Cesme and Chios that easily transitioned us between the two countries.

Have fun with your planning!

BTW, am I remembering a post where you said you spent your 50th birthday at the Alhambra?? I am planning the same 50th birthday in a couple of months :)

Those questions have already been answered, and can be found tagged as "Trip Reports". :-)

Hi Saige,

We very much liked the Hotel Adrian in Athens. Nice view of the Acropolis from the rooftop breakfast room (love that Greek yogurt).

http://www.douros-hotels.com/view_hotels.asp?hotel_id=2

Have fun planning

((I))

Happy Birthday, Happy! You'll love the Alhambra. Have a wonderful time. And thank you for painting such a vivid picture of your anniversary trip to Greece. I'm excited and looking forward to planning ours.

Heimdall, I think Trip Reports are great! But not everyone who travels and has something to share writes them.

ira, Thanks!!!

Are you visiting the mainland, the Peloponnese and/or the islands? That information would be helpful.

I did not visit any islands yet, but highlights for me were:

Meteora, Ancient Delphi, Ancient Olympia, Nafplion, sites on the Peloponnese (including Mycenae, Epidaurus, & Ancient Corinth)

In Athens, highlights included:

The Acropolis, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Forum, the National Archaeological Museum, Anafiotika, the Plaka...

I stayed at the Grande Bretagne in Athens. It was quite opulent, and the view of the Acropolis from the rooftop restaurant and bar was fantastic.

Delaine, We're planning to fly into Athens and do the islands first, probably spending three days each for Santorini, Crete and Rhodes then return to Athens and beyond for another 11 days. Thanks for posting! I'm reading and learning a little more each day.

Try to go to Petra Nova in Athes. It has the most unique jewelery that is not too expensive and they incorporate semi precious stones into their pieces that makes the pieces shine. I got several different pieces there and treasure them to this day. You won't find a better value or more heavenly pieces to wear everyday.

Also have a drink at the
Athens Hilton rooftop bar to watch the sunset. Get there early enough becuase it fills up.

Enjoy

Thanks, KeppieAngel! I have many nice pieces that we have bought in place of typical souvenirs. It's always good to have some ideas in advance.

I loved everything we did in Greece, but would say that Monemvasia is very special and should be on the list.

We didn't stay at either of these places, but when we go back we will!

Monopati Apartments - http://www.byzantine-escapade.com/
or
Kinsterna - http://www.kinsternahotel.gr/

The monasteries at Meteora and the Pelion area which was very beautiful.

Bookmarking, Saige, as I, too, am in the early stages of planning our first trip to Greece spring 2012. :-)

AnnMarie_C, do you plan to combine Greece and Turkey?

txtree, those sites look amazing! Thanks!

Odin, I'm really looking forward to Meteora.

Our favorite places on our trip to Greece were Napflion ( and surrounding antiquities),Naoussa on Paros, and Chania,Crete. Least favorite Santorini, touristy, cruise ships etc, not the Greek experience we enjoyed in the rest of the country..although a beautiful view from our hotel in Oia. Mykonos was better than we expected.

We've learned to avoid the cruise ship ports on busy cruise days! Thanks for sharing your experiences. Saige

Our favorite restaurant in Santorini in 2006 was a little open-air restaurant on the beach, located behind the airport, called Mario's. We drove there 3 times from the other side of the island, in the space of a week.

We stayed in the Gazi dristrict of Athens. awesome nightlife. bars and restaurants. incredible food. very much like the meatpacking district/west village of new york city. yet still close proximity to the acropolis. we will definitely stay in this area again when we return to athens.

Hi Saige,

We were quite happy with our stay at the Adrian in Athens.
http://www.douros-hotels.com/view_hotels.asp?hotel_id=2

I think that the highlight of our 3 days in Athens was yogurt. :)

((I))

Climbing up to the Palamidi castle in Nafplion. What a view.