Greece is a bucket list destination for so many people. With the rich history in Athens and the beautiful views and beaches on the islands, it is understandable why so many people want to visit this amazing location. This past summer I travelled to Greece with my bestie, and we visited a few Greek hot spots. While the trip was incredible, a few places stood out amongst the rest. There are so many incredible places to visit in Greece and it is almost impossible to see them all in one visit. So, to help you plan out which places/islands you are going to visit, I have put together a list of the places I have been to along with the rating I would give them.
Athens 10/10
When travelling to Greece, a lot of people will skip Athens and go right to the islands. However, this is a big mistake. The city of Athens is always bustling, the architecture is like no other in the world, and the history of the city is truly magnificent. In Athens, you will find the Acropolis, which is the citadel of the city where some of the most famous temples of Ancient Greece still stand. In this city, you will learn so much in a short amount of time. Athens is also very cheap. You will find restaurants with affordable and delicious menus as well as inexpensive hostels and hotels. It is the perfect place to start or finish your first Greek vacation.
Mykonos 7/10
Don’t get me wrong, Mykonos is beautiful, it just was not my favourite place. It was busy and more expensive than some of the other destinations we visited. Also warning, it’s super windy there. For some reason, the Aegean wind hits different in Mykonos. The views were gorgeous though and the sunset was incredible. To be completely fair, we did not get time to see the beaches or the island of Delos so I do not think I can give Mykonos a fair rating.
Paros 10/10
I would recommend the island of Paros to everyone. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. The food and drinks were on point everywhere we went. Paros is known as the place where Greek people go on vacation. So, most people there were from Greece and not just tourists which adds to the authentic experience. Paros is a quieter island so you can fit in the relaxing time you need, but there is also so much to do so you can fill your visit with adventure as well. You can take a quick ferry to Anti Paros for the day or a water taxi to one of the popular beaches. You can also check out the picturesque villages of Parikia and Naousa.
Ios 100/10
Ios is my new favourite place on earth. Ios is a hub for students and solo travellers, so it is the perfect place to meet people and make friends. Everyone was so nice and friendly I could not believe it. Ios has the best beaches out of all the places we visited. There are some amazing public beaches but also some gorgeous private beaches that you can only get to by boat. The caves are a must-see in Ios as well. The party scene is unreal in Ios. The clubs are so fun and unique, and for the most part cover and drinks are pretty reasonable. We spent three days in Ios and had the best time ever. I would go back in a heartbeat.
Santorini 6/10
Again, do not get me wrong, Santorini is so beautiful. It is just so busy and expensive. The streets are packed with people. In the town of Oia, the streets start getting flooded at around 3 pm in anticipation of the sunset, which is not until about 8:30 pm. It gets extremely hard to walk around and take pictures. We had to wait about a half hour at 2 pm to take a photo in front of the famous blue-roof churches. I can only imagine how long you would have to wait at sunset. And like I said, expensive. Everything was almost double the price of Ios and Paros and sometimes more than that. But again, it is such a gorgeous place, so I understand why everyone chooses to go here. The sunset was incredible. There are just so many amazing islands (with plenty of blue roofs) so next time I would plan to see those and just skip Santorini.
Overall, I give Greece a 10/10. This country is truly incredible, and I understand why it is on everyone’s bucket list. I had the best time exploring this place and I know my bestie did too. There are so many other amazing places to visit in Greece and this trip just scratched the surface. The Ionian Islands and Olympus are calling my name and I cannot wait to go back someday and take in all Greece has to offer.
