Recommended Stay Time

4 days: 1 night in Athens, 1 night in Santorini and 2 nights in Ios.

Currency

Euros

Transport

To move around Greece you must first arrive in Athens. Many low cost airlines will get you there for a low price, and once you land, there are many trains that will get you to the city center or wherever you need to go.

It is very easy to travel around Greece in ferries, and they are not very expensive. For example, I took one from Athens to Ios for 9 euros. However, it was (very long and not very entertaining) 9 hours. They make many stops, so do consider paying some more for a more direct trip.

Ios is very small, and there are many buses available, and Athens has an easy to use metro system. But the beautiful post card picture of Santorini is in a very small area of the island, and there is literally nothing for miles. I had to wait in the scolding sun for almost 1 hr for a 40 min bus, so in hindsight, I would have rented a car or a buggy, available throughout the island.

Hotel

Athens is quite a chaotic city, and because I wouldn’t stay for longer than a night, I recommend staying near the city center. I chose Zorba’s Hostel, and even though it was right next to a metro station, it was old and not well equipped for a hostel. In general, Greece has cheap accommodations (aside from Santorini or Mykonos), varying from 25 to as little as 10 euros a night.

In Ios you must stay in the Far Out Hostel. It has rooms for literally all budgets. My friends and I stayed in a small cabin (it looked more like a tent) that didn’t even have a power outlet (hey, it was only 6 euros), but there are cozy wood cabins and huge bungalows with private terraces as well. The party is right outside the restaurant, with a DJ and organized events. More importantly, the beach is right across the road. It was also the only island with sand instead of pebbles.

Like I said before, there is not much around Santorini, and my hotel was a 40 minute bus ride away. The cabins where really nice and clean, and came with a kitchen and a small terrace. It was also close to the beach, so I do recommend it. You should rent a car, buggy or motorcycle to move around the island.

Activities

In Athens, the Parthenon cannot be missed. The entrance fee is around 20 euros for students, and includes other monuments near by. There is also a very interesting (and new) museum on Greek history, with an enormous display of statues and other artifacts.

Santorini is filled with cute restaurants, shops that stay open until 1am and endless picture perfect spots. You should also find a beach nearby, and even though they are made out of pebbles, the water is perfectly clear.

Ios however, was my favourite island of all. The party hostel had delicious breakfasts and lunch, homemade pizzas and cheap drinks. The beach, made out of yellow sand has comfy chairs and umbrellas that you can rent for the day.

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Food Tips

Greek food is famous worldwide, and depending where you have it, not very expensive. There are endless options that I cannot pronounce, but always ask locals for recommendations. Gyros are a personal favourite.

Packing

Greece is very hot in the summer. Pack comfortable shoes, light clothes, a hat, sunglasses and lots of sunscreen.

Friendly warning: My wallet got stolen while waiting for a bus in Santorini. They took it from my bag while I was wearing it. Greece can be unsafe sometimes, so always (ALWAYS) have an eye on your stuff. Pick pocketing is very common, so use a lock on all your luggage.

Written by Sofia Bedoya-Lira