Greece Travel Diary Part 1 – Athens & Mykonos

Well, it’s finally here! 

I am so excited to share our Greece Travel Diary series with you guys today.  I was hoping to have this post up a while ago, but I kept holding it off, mainly, due to the fact, that I simply didn’t know how to start writing about our trip.  I am sure many of you will think I am crazy but for me personally, I would have to say Greece was not what I hoped it would be.  People rave about Greece, just scroll through Instagram or any travel blog and as such, I had expected to be dazzled.  I had expected to fall in love, but it didn’t really catch my attention the way I thought it would.  I should clarify that just because I am saying that I did not fall in love, doesn’t mean that Greece is any less beautiful or that I did not like it and enjoy my time there.  All I am trying to convey is, it just didn’t live up to the hype.  I’ll talk about this topic in a separate post.  For now, let’s stay on track with our trip! 

That said, Greece has been on our list for quite some time to visit.  That dream became a reality when we packed our bags and headed to Europe last year.  If you missed the first part of our little European getaway – make sure to check out my Portugal Travel Diary Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3, first.  

Now, without further delay, let’s dive into our vacation in Greece.  

ATHENS

We began our Greek holiday in Athens, and it was a quick one.  We were there for less than 36 hours, but we made the most of our time.  

We arrived Athens via Iberia Air at around 7:00 pm and from the airport, we had another 30 minutes taxi drive to our apartment.  We stayed at The Olympus Residence and this place is a gem! It was clean, modern and spacious – we felt right at home.  The apartment is based on concept of Greek gods and our room was named after the Greek God, Apollo.  The location was also perfect, in that, it was walking distance to most of the key attractions around Athens.  

So, after dropping our luggage off, we went straight to dinner at Magemenos Avlos to enjoy some Greek food.  It was the absolute best way to end a long day of travel.  

On our second day, we woke up early and ready to explore Athens! 

After filling up on yogurt and cookies at a local pastry shop nearby, we started our trek to the Acropolis.  It was about a 30-minute walk and on our way there, we saw the Panathenaic Stadium, but didn’t go inside.  Even though it wasn’t even summer yet, it was already hot, and we wanted to get to the Acropolis before it becomes a scorcher.  Of course, we didn’t buy tickets in advance and by the time we reached the entrance to the Acropolis, there was a queue.  

My son at the entrance of the Acropolis in Athens

Once inside the Acropolis, we saw the Herod Atticus Odeon, which is an old theatre and it’s still used today for concerts.  Then we climbed upon several marble stairs to the Propylaea.  Unfortunately, with the amount of people coming and going, it made it impossible for us to have a better look at this ancient structure.  Beyond the Propylaea, stood the iconic Parthenon.  Everyone says this is a must-see spot and I will admit, it was even more beautiful in person than I could have imagined.  Even though, it’s under reconstruction, it’s still a breath-taking experience.  There’s nothing I can add to what’s already been said about this spectacular monument.  

At the top, there’s also remnants of other temples, such as The Erechtheion, Old Temple of Athena and The Temple of Athena Nike as well as spectacular views of Athens.  

My son and I in Athens visiting The Parthenon

After we finished exploring and admiring ancient ruins, we were dying of thirst! We made our way to the Plaka district and this area had the cutest little shops and restaurants.  We stopped at the Taverna Acropoli to cool off and refuel.  We sat in their outdoor patio soaking up the atmosphere before heading back to our apartment. 

On our way back, we walked through the National Gardens which was a nice respite from the heat.  We then spent the remainder of the afternoon taking a siesta and putting our feet up before dinner time.  We ate at Kreatofageion around the corner and it was just what we needed. 

The next morning, we were up before sunrise and back on the road, headed to Athens main port, Piraeus.  We had chosen to travel by ferry through Hellenic Seaways to the island of Mykonos.  I was a bit hesitant about taking a boat ride as I get seasick, but it’s a lot cheaper than flying.  I am happy to report, I fared off okay without having to take any motion sickness medication or worse, throwing up. 

MYKONOS

After a 5-hour ferry ride, we arrived in Mykonos.  

Admittedly, with the party island reputation, I wasn’t expecting too much, but Mykonos took me by surprise.  It is one of the highlights of our trip to Greece and I wish we could have stayed here longer.  From the white-washed buildings with their blue awnings to the restaurants over-looking the sea, the beauty of Mykonos speaks for itself.  It has a way of sweeping you under its spell and of the Greek Islands we visited, Mykonos was my favorite.  

Little Venice in Mykonos

During our trip, we stayed at With-Inn Mykonos.  It is a small, family run hotel and our home for the next 24 hours.  The owners are welcoming, kind and made us feel at home.  Our room was basic but comfortable and our balcony had a view to the sea in the distance.  The breakfast was exceptional, and the hotel was just outside of Mykonos Town, where it took about 15-20 minutes to walk down.  

Once at the hotel, we enjoyed some time settling in before getting ready and going into town to explore.  Even though our hotel was also well located to a bus, we decided to walk into town instead which I must admit, was a bit scary.  Mykonos has no pavements or walkways, so you end up walking on the roads with the cars.  

With-Inn Hotel Photo with my son and I in Mykonos

Mykonos Town is just absolutely stunning not to mention the streets are crazy! Every corner was so picturesque.  It is full of windy, narrow streets and feel like a never-ending maze.  Even when you think you know where you are going, you end up lost.  You end up discovering places you didn’t even know you were looking for like the famous Windmills of Mykonos! 

Mykonos Windmills located on the hill of Chora

I honestly loved the continuous shops and restaurants around every corner.  I couldn’t ever figure out where we were and coming from someone who is directionally challenged, this was heaven. Finally, a place where it’s totally acceptable to get lost! We spent close to seven hours just taking it all in before having dinner at Niko’s Taverna.  If you ask me, it was a day well spent. 

Floral Dress Outfit in Mykonos Town with Blue Window Trim

Dress | Mules | Clutch | Sunglasses | Lip gloss

The next morning, we had a late start to the day.  We weren’t due back at the port to catch our next ferry heading to Santorini for several hours and since we forgot to pick up our ferry tickets the previous night, we took this as an opportunity to head back to Mykonos Town and soak it in one last time.  

Next Up – Santorini.  

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out my travel page for more tips and vacation ideas!

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.  If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you).  

51 COMMENTS

  1. John Mulindi | 6th Jul 22

    Wow! what a beautiful place to visit. This definitely will go to my travel list.

  2. Bria snyder | 12th Apr 20

    I am book marking this blog!!! Greece is our next vacation spot we’re planning once things go back to normal.

  3. Dorche | 12th Apr 20

    I would love to visit Greece! It looks so beautiful and the food looks delicious !!

  4. Erin | 12th Apr 20

    Greece is on my bucket list! I loved this post and your pictures!

  5. Molly | 11th Apr 20

    As I sit on my couch in quarantine mode…this is such a breath of fresh air!! I can’t wait to visit Greece and now I’m wanting to go more than ever. Thank you for your very entertaining and helpful post.

  6. Clari Noel | 11th Apr 20

    Wow! What an amazing trip!

  7. jess jannenga | 11th Apr 20

    Hi Michelle!
    Look at you and your little guy! Such pretty and sharp looks! I love the floral dress on you! I have never been to Greece, so this was wonderful to see . I love the photos of the architecture and the white buildings in Mykonos. After this is all over, I hope in 2021 hubby and I will be traveling to Europe. I love the sound of your hotel, small and family run, that is something my hubby and I would go for too.
    take care, and thanks for linking!
    jess xx
    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

  8. Sherry Joy | 9th Apr 20

    This looks like an amazing place to visit! And the FOOD! Yum!!
    https://justlivejoy.com/stay-at-home-work-from-home/

  9. Ashlee Stuart | 9th Apr 20

    I am dying to go to Mykonos! The photos look amazing, hopefully I will get to go soon!

    Ashlee | https://www.maybeafterbrunch.com

  10. Amber | 8th Apr 20

    Mykonos is indeed beautiful – I’m so glad you enjoyed your visit to this island although it sounds like it was too short! =)

    I hope you have a fabulous week!

    Amber

    Visit AvecAmber.com

    Follow Avec Amber on Bloglovin

  11. Nora Minassian | 8th Apr 20

    I am sorry you didn’t enjoy Greece so much. We were there years ago, but we visited Crete and Santorini which was very beautiful. We were actually planning to go back this summer, but with everything going on with Covid 19 it looks like we may have to wait till next summer. Your pics are beautiful.

  12. Heather | 7th Apr 20

    What beautiful photos, such a nice escape right now!

  13. Cristina - Memories of the Pacific | 7th Apr 20

    Greece is such a beautiful country! Your beautiful photos bring back a lot of memories, Maureen. Athens and Mykonos were not part of our itinerary when we visited the islands but they surely were on our bucket list. Hopefully next time…

  14. Bojana Krienke | 4th Apr 20

    I really want to go to Greece too but I understand what you mean about the hype, that’s how I felt about Paris honestly. Now I remember it more fondly but I do remember being a little taken back by the culture. Anyway, I would love to see Mykanos. A good friend of ours and husband are Greek and one day I would love to go with them and explore. I’ve said this before, but your little guy is such a trooper!

  15. Tina | 3rd Apr 20

    I have always wanted to go to Greece! Your photos are beautiful.

  16. Kate | 2nd Apr 20

    Absolutely incredible! Thank you for your honesty that it wasn’t exactly what you dreamed it up to be, but still gorgeous and an amazing experience <3

    Green Fashionista

  17. Kathrine Eldridge | 2nd Apr 20

    Greece is on my bucket list! What amazing pics. Perfect images to look at and daydream of traveling soon!

    https://www.kathrineeldridge.com

  18. Shea | 31st Mar 20

    That’s a bummer that it wasn’t all you hoped it would be, but it does look pretty gorgeous there! You got some great photos too–it’s fun to look at right now and dream about times when travel will be able to happen!

  19. Mel Hwang | 30th Mar 20

    Gosh! This is making me miss Europe so much. Can’t wait to be back in the skies soon!

    xx, mel
    http://melinspired.com/compression-socks/

  20. Angelica | 30th Mar 20

    Great photos!!! Glad you enjoyed your time in Mykonos.
    I have spent so much time in both Athens and Mykonos but there are also TONS of low key, less hyped spots that are completely amazing 😉

    XX Angelica
    https://eraenvogue.com

  21. Kaitlyn | 30th Mar 20

    I can’t wait to visit Greece. It’s at the top of my list! So beautiful.

  22. Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom | 29th Mar 20

    Oh how beautiful! This is on my bucket list, too! It is weird sometimes when you’ll go abroad and not LOVE a location as much as another. But, it is still fun to travel somewhere new and experience it. I get terrible seasickness, too… usually on smaller/mid sized boats, not on cruises. I’m glad you did ok! So nice to travel with the kids, my husband and I are still afraid to travel abroad with the kids, but would like to do a big 2 week European trip someday in the future (obv not now!).

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

  23. Rach | 29th Mar 20

    I love Greece! We were planning to go back this year, but obviously, the situation has changed! These photos give me something to look forward to!

    http://www.rdsobsessions.com

  24. Lindsay | 28th Mar 20

    I appreciate your honesty about your feelings. If people only share sanitized, glowing accounts of the places they visit – no one will ever have realistic expectations. It’s similar to what I experienced in Italy last summer. Beautiful place, but it was struggling economically even before COVID-19. I studied abroad in Greece in college and have been curious how the country fared post-recession. I was enamored by it, but we also had many advantages because we traveled with a Greek guide, who had ample inside knowledge and helped us bypass the line queues, etc.

  25. Lee | 28th Mar 20

    Such beautiful photos and sounds like you had a great time. I’ve been to Athens and Mykonos before and absolutely loved both cities!
    Lee | LegalLee Blonde

  26. Adrian | AdriansCrazyLife.com | 28th Mar 20

    I’ve always wanted to go to Greece. It looks sooooo pretty and I would love all that history. Unfortunately, I probably wouldn’t like the heat one bit. So I think I’ll just enjoy it through your series.

  27. Nori and Norlis | 26th Mar 20

    Good catches, we have Greece as a pending destination, with everything that happens I do not know when we can organize our trip to Greece, we hope you have enjoyed it 💖

  28. Gentry Adams | 26th Mar 20

    This is such an interesting post! Greece has always been on my list, but I know what you mean about places not living up to the hype we imagined! The pictures still look beautiful though 🙂

  29. stylefrontier | 25th Mar 20

    Mykonos looks very lovely
    Hope you stay healthy and safe
    xoxo
    style frontier

  30. Jill | 24th Mar 20

    I’ve always wanted to travel to Greece! It looks like a wonderful trip! Your photos are beautiful!

    Jill – Doused in Pink

  31. Ashley | 24th Mar 20

    I adored Mykonos, too! It was so beautiful. And I think you spent just the right amount of time in Athens- and you saw all the best spots. The Acropolis is UNREAL.

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

  32. Jessica | 24th Mar 20

    Such a charming place indeed. So many IG worthy spots and sceneries.

    Jessica | notjessfashion.com

  33. Amy Ann Arnold | 23rd Mar 20

    These photos are so amazing! What a dream trip.

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

  34. Ellis James Designs | 23rd Mar 20

    Looks like it had been an amazing trip!

  35. Mica | 23rd Mar 20

    Looks like such a nice trip even if you weren’t as charmed by Greece as you expected to be! So strange seeing a travel post now with everything going on in the world and all the borders closing!

    Hope that you had a good weekend. We celebrated my son’s birthday at home, with no guests, instead of the big party we had planned in the park, but he still had a good day 🙂

    Thanks so much for joining the #WeekdayWearLinkup! A new link up is live on my blog now, I’d love you to join again.

  36. Allie Mackin | 21st Mar 20

    Well I must say either way you trip looked amazing, how lucky to get to travel here. I think it would be great to travel to Greece just for the history alone, and your photos are excellent. I hear this often about Paris too. Honestly I think people go to Paris and expect it to be Disneyland with a French accent. It is big city with real big city problems and pros and cons. I think this is related to FOMO and first world millennials’ unrealistic expectations. Life is not what it looks like on social media and I think this were the idea of being dazzled comes from. And we all are not living larger then life movie set lives ( though some may be IE: The K Klan lol). And the real world is not a movie. It is just that, the real world.

    But now is a bit of wakeup call. Hopefully everyone will be a bit more appreciative of what they have in life and the world around them.

    Allie of
    http://www.allienyc.com

  37. Celyn | 21st Mar 20

    beautiful photos! I went to Greece in my teens and I would love to go back someday!

    Life is a Shoe

  38. Melissa Kacar | 20th Mar 20

    I loved reading this post! I’ve always wanted to visit Greece, it looks so beautiful! Thanks for sharing your experience! Beautiful photos, too! 🙂

    melissakacar.blogspot.com

  39. Shelbee on the Edge | 20th Mar 20

    Maureen, what amazing photos! This trip looks just so fabulous. I am glad that you were able to create such fantastic memories. And your hair in braids!!!!! So stinking cute!

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

  40. Carrie | 19th Mar 20

    Oh my gosh! A trip of a lifetime! Beautiful memories.

  41. Sahra | 18th Mar 20

    This looks like a fabulous time! I’ve always wanted to visit Greece!

    XO Sahra
    Que Sera Sahra

  42. Makeup Muddle | 18th Mar 20

    Oh wow it sounds like you had a lovely time! I’ve been to Athens, but never Mykonos – I would love to visit Mykonos it looks simply beautful xo

    Makeup Muddle

  43. Laura Bambrick | 17th Mar 20

    I would LOVE to go to Greece one day! Your photos are all so beautiful, especially of Mykonos. It’s like a scene from a movie! I can’t wait to see your next travel post and why you didn’t fall in ‘love’ with Greece. I’d have to say that about our trip to Spain. It was lovely, but it isn’t a place I will probably visit again. And that’s fine! So many other places to see! Hope you are staying healthy!

  44. jodie filogomo | 17th Mar 20

    OMG what a dream come true Maureen. I just loved these photos.
    XOOX
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

  45. Joanne | 17th Mar 20

    Sorry Greece didn’t really live up to the hype but it does look like you had fun. That island really is quite beautiful.

  46. Anya Dryagina | 16th Mar 20

    Such a beautiful place and your photos are amazing. Thank you for sharing!
    http://www.recklessdiary.ru

  47. Shauna | 16th Mar 20

    How lucky! This has been on my bucket list forever! And from your pictures I can tell it looks just as beautiful as it does in pictures. You probably can’t even capture it! Thank you for sharing your pics with us!

    Shauna

    http://www.lipglossandlace.net

  48. FASHION TALES | 16th Mar 20

    What a lovely travel diary. Thanks for sharing. The photos are great! <3
    FASHION TALES

  49. Nancy | 16th Mar 20

    I only been once in Greece and s a I loved it there. The food the traditions the people. Isn’t it a great holiday country!

  50. mireille | 16th Mar 20

    I think that finding smaller islands and towns would be the best way to enjoy Greece. I have seen beautiful pictures but it really hasn’t been on the top of my list of places to visit.
    http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

  51. Jennifer | 16th Mar 20

    This looks like an amazing time!

    Jennifer
    Effortlessly Sophisticated

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