Surprising facts and tips learned while traveling in Santorini, Mykonos and Athens.
- Santorini is not just for couples. Read about my time solo here!
- It gets chilly at night even in the summers, so sweaters and jackets are a must.
- Greeks love coffee and leisurely long lunches. Dinner is eaten late, often after 10pm.
- Learn to be on “Greek time.” You might not have a choice – Greeks do not like to rush.
- There are 2,000 Greek islands, and more than a hundred that are populated.
- High season is June-August and Fira and Oia in Santorini can become very crowded as it’s also on the cruise ship circuit. You can usually find solace in the other parts of the island.
- Santorini and Mykonos can be a maze of “streets,” sometimes without street names. Plan on time to explore and likely get lost.
- Many of the instagram worthy photos are taken at private homes or “off limit” roofs. Some people ignore the signs and trespass to get these pictures.
- The private infinity pools that are all over Santorini photos are beautiful but historically freezing cold.
- Mykonos is a party island and they take it very seriously- many places don’t “open” until 1am. However, you can find beaches that are more low key and family friendly.
- Athens gets a bad rep, but if you have any interest in art history or ancient civilizations, it is a fascinating place.
- Many of the older Athens buildings are in limbo, given that uncovering any historical ruins could result in loss of property or a complete archaeological undertaking. A catch 22.
- Greeks invented everything from the Olympic Games, mathematics, astronomy, plumbing.. speaking of which:
- Most islands require people to throw the toilet paper in a wastebasket instead of the toilet. There are also pedals instead of handles for flushing.
- Strikes are popular in Greece. Be prepared with a backup plan if your transportation method is thrown off.
- The rules of the road are nill here. There’s seemingly no speed limit and drivers can get angry real fast.
- Stray cats and dogs are all over Greece. Even though they are cute, you shouldn’t touch them.
- Cash is king in Greece. Hotels, nicer restaurants and main attractions will take credit cards, but everywhere else its best to have cash on you.
- Smoking is still very prevalent in Greece. Though its now illegal to smoke at indoor establishments, sometimes this is overlooked.
- Ferries are a convenient and easy way to get around the islands. However the boarding and deboarding process is complete chaos and queue etiquette is often forgotten.
- Soccer/”football” is the most popular sport. For big games, tvs will be brought outside of bars and restaurants so everyone can watch.
For a full week itinerary, click here!
