Stopping in Santorini and Mykonos on a cruise this June. Santorini is tendered from 2pm-10pm ( late start I know), and Mykonos is docked 7am-6pm

Looking for ideas of things to do , must sees, etc. In each location. guide or no guide?

Anywhere to go horseback riding where they let you take the horses well into the water (I.e. horse wading)? always wanted to do that.

Hi geeper

You will probably be brought into the new port at Mykonos which is a little out of town. It is here these days most of the large cruise ships dock. If the ship has organised a bus to town, take it. If not there will be taxis and also a local bus, but it tends to run only hourly (cost, 1 euro). Of course, if the ship’s own small tenders bring you into the old port you are already in Mykonos town!

If I can recommend anything it is to start your morning with a stroll around the town itself. Heimdall, surely one of our best Greek experts on this board, once described the town as one of the prettiest in the Cyclades. Having travelled there for now more than 40 years I endorse that 100%

The town is wonderful and easy to explore. You’ll will find it a gentle easy walk to the windmills, Panagia Paraportiani church, the harbour-front and Little Venice. Take some time to sit, have coffee and people watch, then get lost in the very narrow maze of streets. These will be all decked in bougainvillea with small cube shaped homes that have prettily painted windows and doors, mostly blue, red and green. June is an especially nice time to visit the town (and island) as the mad summer rush hasn’t started. Also, Mykonos town has some superb little shops and stores most of which aren’t cheap but can be a delight to check out. Allow yourself at least 3 hours in the town itself.

I can suggest two choices for the next few hours.

If you want to spend some time at a beach then you could catch one of the small buses from the Fabrika bus station to Agios Ioannis. The journey time is about 10 minutes, the cost 1 euro 20 and the service hourly (in June). Stay on the bus until the final stop which is down at the minature harbour at Agios Ioannis. Here you will find the tiny domed church built in the late 1600’s by a local pirate. Walk up the narrow road and find a small cafe to take some (more) coffee and be astonished at the colours of the sea. I’ve been to all of the beaches on the island in the years I have visited but none have the magnificent sea colours you’ll find here. The beach, which is a few minutes stroll down a narrow road from the cafe, is long, narrow and quiet. There are two taverna’s here where you could enjoy some lunch. This is a very special part of the island with views to Delos that are amazing.

An alternative for the afternoon is to take another of those small buses (this time from the bust stop at Remezo, next to the harbour) to the island’s second town of Ano Mera. Here you will find not only some of the best traditional island tavernas but also the monastery of Panagia Tourliani (founded in the mid 16th century). You’ll be amazed at the icons on display. A short walk from town is the monastery of Paleokastro and next to it are the ruins of Castle Gizi, founded in the 13th century. Buses to Ano Mera are less frequent (every 3 hours daytime) so it may be worth taking a taxi if this excursion interests you.

Lastly, horse riding is available and details and advance contact information is available here:

http://www.horseland.gr/

Bill

bookmarking

Thanks Bill!

Since you have all day on Mykonos, suggest you spend the morning at the archaeological site on Delos. Excursion boats leave the old harbour at 9, 10, and 11 am. You can take any boat back, so are able to spend as little or as long as you like on the island. If you get on the early boat you have plenty of time to tour the site and get back to Mykonos for lunch, then do the walk suggested by Bill.

The late time for Santorini is most likely to enable you to observe the famous sunset. I'm no expert but you could check out the site of Akrotiri, a winery tour, beach at Kamari, Ammoudi Bay. For dining Selene gets high marks.

On Santorini, do be aware that almost all the cruise ships do not come into the "regular" port, from which cars and busses can take you up a steep road to the top, where all the dwellings area. Instead, the cruise ships must anchor offshore, near the Old Port. Therefore, all passengers must be relayed on tenders to the dock, and then either take the cable car up the face of the cliff, or ride donkey up the 500+ steps, or WALK up the steps behind the donkeys.

As you can imagine, it takes awhile to shuttle all those passengers (3,000+ on a ship???) via tender to the Old Port Dock. And then there's the line for the cable car! Th cruise ships (annoyingly) favor the people who sign up for their pricey excursions.... and put them at the head of the line to board the tenders. Therefore, it can take non-signers well over an hour to just get up to the top of the cliff! The excursion group is taken in charter busses up to the town of Oia -- the non-excursion type either take public busses or 4 of them get together & go by taxi. All this takes time... so be prepared.

Getting back can be the same hassle for the "non-signers" but you can be prepared ... if one's in Oia for the sunset, there is a large crowd, standin room only, along the parapet rim. Personally I would find it more relaxing to be in Fira Town, at a cafe with a good sunset view, sitting down with a glass of wine. Then one is closer to the cable car, and can "beat the crowd." Some Fira cafes with a good view include Volcano, and (near the cathedral) Palia Kameni or Ampelos WIne Bar.

They say that the AKrotiri Excavation (after 6 years closed) may be open in June but do not count on it. For a really good view of the famous Eruption, in FIra Town check the good little Prehistoric Archeological Museum ... also Nomikos Conference Center... which has a huge hallway photo-montage of the discovery of Akrotiri, and also a display of the remarkable murals (copies, but amazing) from 1500 BC. Check closing time for museum ... sometimes it closes at 3 pm.. Nomikos does not.

Is there any where to ride horses on either island? And if so, are they the kind of places that let you take the horses into the water?

Sorry. Missed the post on Horseland

Geeper, a horse on Santorini would break a leg in the first half-hour. Donkeys are it, and please don't ride them up the steps... they are cruelly exploited and tourists just exacerbate the situation.

http://www.santorini-island.biz/sant...rse-riding.htm

ummm, you got me there, heimdall. I guess I was just thinking only caldera-side of Island since this person is on one of those cruelly short "drive-by" cruise-ship stops. By the time he/she gets up to the top, it will be after 3, then there's the bus/taxi to Oia & back etc., and will have to be in line at the cable car by 9 pm... so really 6 hours -- a hassle to get way over to the east beaches and back, just for a Horsey Ride.

Thanks all. Mykonos seems more horse friendly

What is the best way to get to the beach on the other side of the island? taxi, bus? rent a car is that possible when you are on a cruise?