Travel Destination – Mykonos and Santorini
There are a ton of reasons to visit Greece: explore world famous archaeological sites, enjoy a honeymoon, healthy and tasty cuisine, walking on sunshine, admire breathtaking landscape, the high level of hospitality, the safety and much more. Before traveling, identify the main purpose of your trip to make sure to do the most while you’re there.
Greece offers several options for exploration and enjoyment. As true lovers of food, wine and azure blue water, let us introduce two major islands of Cyclades region: Mykonos and Santorini (Thira).
1. MYKONOS
The adjective that would describe the life in Mykonos is hedonism. That being said, there is a bit more to do in Mykonos than chasing pleasure. While there, you can visit the Church of Panagia Paraportiani, the Lena’s House which is a typical Greek home, and the Folkore Museum. Most of those activities are free!
There are several beaches where you can spend your day in Mykonos. Ornos Beach, located in the southwest of Mykonos, is ideal for groups of friends, family or solo. We did some of our favorite activities, which consisted of enjoying local wine, scuba diving for our daily intake of vitamin “sea”, and taking sun bath for vitamin D!
During our stay, we went to Bakalo which is one of the best restaurant in town. Yanis, the owner, welcomed us with delicious food and made us discover Kanenas wines. It was love at first sight!
Mykonos has a CRAZY nightlife and we enjoyed every bit of it. Whatever the kind of parties you are looking for, you will find it in Mykonos. If you don’t enjoy packed nightclubs, avoid the Skandinavian Bar and head to Argo Bar for a more intimated but still crazy party time.
As for Venice in Italy, it was quite challenging to find an hotel in Mykonos. If you want to have a large choice, make sure to book as early as possible. We chose Rhenia Hotel and Bungalows based on their very good ratings and also because it was located close to the New Port which is practical when you have to take a ferry to go to another island.
We highly recommend this place for the comfy Greek bungalows, the pool and the incredible ocean view. Greek hospitality is not a myth, we were welcomed by the couple owner who took good care of us. No wonder why their guests come back to see them every year.
2. Santorini
Oia, the symbol of Santorini, is the most photographed place on the island due to the breathtaking views over the Caldera. Even if the path is not marked, you can reach Oia by hiking from Fira, the capital of Santorini, just by following the edge of the Caldera (allow 2 to 3 hours).
We went to Oia in early morning to appreciate its oasis of peace, explore its pathways and visit its charming little churches. We came back at night just in time for watching the sunset while enjoying homemade ice creams from Lolita Gelato.
Wine tasting is a popular activity in Santorini, if you don’t know where to go you can follow the wine roads, visit the Koutsoyannopoulos Wine Museum or book a private tour with an operator.
As suggested by Lonely Planet guidebook, we decided to try Domaine Sigalas for its refined atmosphere. We had an amazing guided private tasting with experienced sommeliers and were introduced to 15 different styles of wines. If you are looking for a memorable experience, this is the place to try!
We had notable culinary moments at Pelican Kipos and Skala restaurants. According to our taste buds, Pelican Kipos is the best restaurant in Fira offering a fine Greek cuisine. The terrace is a beautiful Mediterranean garden and there is also a vineyard for wine tasting workshops.
In Oia, we were delighted by Skala restaurant which has a terrace and an amazing view over the Aegean Sea. They serve generous portions of food, the service is attentive and the house white wine is lovely. We ordered most of the vegetarian and vegan dishes, everything was delicious.
If you plan to go the beach in Santorini, make sure to bring a pair of water shoes to protect your feet from the black sand, your snorkeling kit to admire fishes, and around 7 euros (10 $CAD) to rent a beach umbrella and a seat.
We went to the famous Red Beach situated in the historical village of Akrotiri but didn’t get the chance to go the White Beach. We also enjoyed Kamari Beach located in southeast of the island and the quieted Exo Gialos Beach at 3 km from Fira.
Depending on the experience you are seeking, there are several sort of accommodations in Santorini: luxury boutique hotels, resorts, villas, hostels, etc. We had a wonderful stay at Evgenia Villas & Suites, loved the warm welcome from the hotel staff and amenities (pool, bar and panoramic view). Moreover, the hotel is well located in Fira, less than 10 minutes walk from the city center.
To be able to visit at your own rhythm, we highly suggest to rent a quad (35 euros/50 $CAD per day) or a car (65 euros/95 $CAD per day) even if bus is the cheapest option (2 euros/3 $CAD per ticket). Taxis could be very expensive if you don’t know how to negotiate. This is why we opted for a Smart ForTwo and were extremely happy to appreciate AC when it feels 35C outside. Think smart and enjoy your stay 🙂
