Greetings from Oia!
Greece 🇬🇷
From Homer to Mamma Mia!, Greece has mesmerized millions of visitors for eons.
Since my Greece trip was originally planned for 2020, I ended up booking, canceling, and rebooking this vacation with my family! But when we finally departed, we started by exploring the historic streets of Athens, including the legendary Parthenon, the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Acropolis Museum, and even made some time for shopping at the Monastiraki Flea Market.
We then flew to the island of Rhodes, where Crusader castles in Old Town meet the pristine beaches of Anthony Quinn Bay. Here, we discovered the medieval charm at sites like the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Street of the Knights, and the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes.
Our last Greek island hop was to soak in the breathtaking sunsets of Santorini, with its iconic whitewashed village of Oia, the archeological site of Akrotiri, the black-sand beach of Perissa, and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera.
Whether you’re planning a solo or family vacation, these Greece travel blogs will help you plan a magnificent, budget-friendly trip to these Greek destinations.
What are the best places to visit in Greece for first-timers?
The best way to see Greece is to island-hop for about a week, pairing 2–3 islands with time in Athens for historical depth—trying to cover both the mainland and the islands in one short trip usually means rushing everywhere. Santorini offers caldera views and ancient Akrotiri, while visiting Rhodes brings a UNESCO-listed Medieval Old Town and the Palace of the Grand Master. I personally spent 11 days island-hopping, which was enough to slow down at each stop rather than treat it as a checklist—ideal for first-time visitors who want depth over a whirlwind tour.
Fun Facts About Greece
- 🏛️ The Acropolis has stood for 2,500+ years—and My Life in Ruins was the first American film ever granted permission to shoot there!
- 🏺 Akrotiri is a 3,600-year-old city that was buried by a volcanic eruption so massive it may have inspired the legend of Atlantis—and unlike Pompeii, the residents apparently got a warning and escaped, because archaeologists have found almost no human remains! The frescoes are so well-preserved that you can still see the original colors painted thousands of years ago.
- 🏰 The medieval walls surrounding Rhodes Old Town are so thick (40 feet in some places!) that they successfully withstood a six-month siege by 100,000 Ottoman troops in 1522—and today, you can actually walk along sections of them for epic views over the city!
- 🎬 Over 350,000 Mamma Mia! fans visit Skopelos and Skiathos annually—but here’s the plot twist: the sequel wasn’t even filmed in Greece; they shot it in Croatia instead!
- 🌯 Gyros and souvlaki are NOT the same thing! Gyros is the spinning cone of meat (usually pork or chicken) shaved off and stuffed in pita, while souvlaki is grilled meat on skewers. Both are delicious and budget-friendly when you’re tired of paying €€€ for taverna meals. The best ones come from hole-in-the-wall spots where locals are queuing up at 2 AM, not the touristy places with photos on the menu!
- 🎭 Greece has more archaeological museums per capita than any country in the world, and Athens’ National Archaeological Museum (one of the top attractions in Athens) houses the famous golden Mask of Agamemnon, which probably isn’t actually Agamemnon’s!
The Best Time to Visit Greece
Why I prefer shoulder season:
- Temperatures are perfect for exploring ruins without melting
- Tourist crowds are manageable, especially at must-sees like the Acropolis and Santorini’s sunset spots
- Accommodation prices drop 30-50% compared to peak summer madness
- Ferry schedules are still running strong, unlike winter when routes get cut
- The Aegean Sea is warm enough for swimming in September (still heated from summer!)
My experience: My family and I visited in September, and the weather was perfect. The ocean was warm, and although we saw plenty of people at popular spots like Anthony Quinn Bay, it felt more like locals enjoying their island than an overwhelming tourist crowd. We never had trouble finding beach space or getting restaurant reservations.
Things to Know Before You Go
Greece uses the Euro (€)
You can exchange money before a trip, but I find it best to withdraw cash at a local ATM on an as-needed basis.
They speak Greek
Practice basic phrases (Γεια σας (Ya sas), Αντίο (Antío), Ευχαριστώ (Efharisto), Παρακαλώ (Parakalo), but in most tourist areas, people also speak English.
A visa isn’t needed
For short tourist visits (90 days max), no visa is needed. However, you will soon need to apply for ETIAS before entering. Additionally, EES requires non-EU travelers to provide fingerprints and facial images to enter Greece.
Download the Omio and Maps.me App
Use the Omio app for long train, ferry, and bus journeys. Get the Maps.me app for offline maps. We rented a car for Rhodes since it’s so expensive, but used taxis and the bus in Santorini and Athens.
Greece Travel Tools
Below are the exact tools I used to plan my Greek adventure! Greece is incredibly rewarding but requires more advanced planning than you’d think.
To avoid any mistakes and secure spots at sold-out attractions, here are my essential planning tips:
- 💸 Skip the combo pass unless you’re a completist: The price of the Athens Archaeological Pass jumped to three times the price it was when I visited. They’ve also changed the offering. Just buy tickets for the attractions you plan to visit, as it’ll likely be cheaper
- ✈️ Flights beat ferries for island hopping: Athens to Rhodes is 1 hour flying (€100-150) vs. 15-18 hours by ferry (€50). My family flew, and I’d do it again because flying versus taking the ferry saved us a boatload of time. If you book early enough, it can also save you money!
- 🚗 Get the rental car insurance (seriously): The Rhodes car rental place tried claiming I damaged their car until they remembered I had THEIR insurance
- 🎟️ These sell out and will turn you away: Acropolis time slots and restaurants in Oia with sunset views (find my recommendations in my travel guide for Santorini). Book ahead or risk missing out
- 👗 Wear white in Santorini at your own risk: Red Beach is stunning with its volcanic cliffs, but that red volcanic ash will absolutely stain your white linen dress, white sneakers, bathing suit, and anything else light-colored you’re wearing, so make sure to pack accordingly for Greece
