Travel Guide to Greece

Greece is one of my favorite countries on the European continent. I have had the opportunity to visit it on more than 8 occasions and I never get tired of it, as it combines a world of mythology and history with first-class gastronomy, spectacular nightlife and a conglomeration of islands that will take your breath away. Below are some of my recommendations based on my tastes and experiences.

Athens
2-3 nights here is enough. I didn't visit all the ruins or museums, as I'm not a big fan of these things or very meticulous about the specific details of history. I prefer to see the main attractions and not load my schedule with too many things that would drain me. I also like to do things at my own pace, not under the pressure of guides.

I visited the Acropolis (go early to avoid the draining crowds), the Temple of Zeus (currently under construction), walked the streets of Plaka, Anafiotica (which recreates the architecture of the Islands) and Monasteraki Square. At night, the nightlife was in the Technopolis area, where a number of bars and clubs are concentrated in an abnormal environment, with lights decorating the sky, an illuminated gas pipeline in the center of the area, and the Acropolis, which is visible from most of the rooftop bars. My favorite rooftop is at the A for Athens hotel. I recommend making a reservation in advance and requesting one of the tables that is right next to the edge. You can find contact information here: https://aforathens.com/bar-restaurant/

I have had the experience of dining at “Dinner in the Sky Athens” twice and I love it. Here you dine on a platform 160 feet high, with unlimited wine, music and lights, while enjoying the wonderful views of the Acropolis and the city of Athens. This is active during the summer and nearby months, as it is totally dependent on having good weather to be able to take place. During sunset is the best time to do it as it allows you to see the landscape both day and night. You must book in advance as spaces are limited. You can see details and book at https://dinnerinthesky.gr/en/

To get around the city, I mostly use the Metro, as it is much cheaper and faster in times of heavy traffic. The best areas to stay are near Zyntagma, Plaka or Monasteraki Square, although generally nearby areas are good. Try to stay near Metro stations.

For money exchange, I usually get the best exchange rate from national bank ATMs. Always withdraw the maximum amount and when asked if you want to continue with or without conversion, choose without conversion. If you are asked if you want to be charged for the transaction in dollars or euros, choose euros. If you are going to bring cash to exchange, I have found the best exchange rate at the exchange office right outside the metro station in Monasteraki Square. In Greece, the more money you exchange, the better the exchange rate they give you, so if you are in a group, exchange everything at once, this way you will get a better rate. For example, for every $100 dollars they gave me 78 euros, if I exchanged $1,000 dollars they gave me 800 euros (2 euros more for every 100). In most places you will have no problem paying with a credit card (when you are asked if you want to be charged in euros or dollars, always choose euros), but cash is always necessary for shopping on the street, for transportation, etc.

Meteora
This place is one of those that seems to be from another planet. It consists of a group of monasteries built on the top of mountains, with surreal landscapes.

There are several ways to visit Meteora:

You can rent a car and do everything on your own (4 hours drive from Athens).
Take a day tour from Athens either by bus or train (the tour lasts about 12 to 14 hours).
Staying one night in Kalambaka (either self-drive or on a tour. This, for me, is the best option)

If you want a company to help you book this experience, you can go to www.meteora.com for coordination and they will book transportation, excursion and hotel for you.

Mykonos
Although it is a beautiful island with a crazy nightlife, I have to admit that it is not one of my favorite places. From Athens, the ideal way is to arrive by plane or fast ferry. The best area to stay is in the center. It should be noted that the entire center is pedestrian, so depending on where the hotel is, you will have to walk a lot and its streets are somewhat complex to understand since it is like a labyrinth. The Little Venice area is the most famous in general, especially at sunset. To tour the island and its beaches, the ideal thing is to rent a “four-track” or a car. (To rent any motor vehicle in Greece and practically all of Europe, an international permit is required ( aaa.com )

Santorini
One of the most beautiful and romantic places in the world, without a doubt. The experience here can be elevated much more, depending on where you stay and how you travel around the Island. Now, it is important to understand that it is one of the most famous islands in the world, so be prepared to be among a lot of people, especially at the famous sunset spot.

If you are coming here from another island, the ideal way to do it is by ferry. If you are coming from Athens, the ideal way is by air. To get around the island, I recommend “Four Tracks”. Using this type of vehicle to travel around the island was one of the elements that elevated my experience, since the landscapes while driving are spectacular. For accommodation, I recommend the area of Oia (this is the most popular area) and also Fira (Thira), since it has many options for gastronomy, nightlife and beautiful views.

Some activities you can do on this Island are:

Visit “The Family Pizeria and Gelateria” in the center of Fira, near the McDonalds. Here you will find our Puerto Rican sign. This is where we were treated the best in the entire country. Several people have gone to take photos with the flag and have told us about the wonderful experience of the treatment they receive once they know that they are Puerto Rican.
Beaches – There are many, but not as beautiful as the Caribbean beaches. The water is cold and the sand is mostly rock. My favorite is Red Beach because of the scenery.
Catamaran Tour – You see the island from another perspective, visit several swimming spots and if you do it in the afternoon, watch the sunset from the boat. If you have more than 2 nights in Santorini, this is something I highly recommend doing.
Wineries – Santorini produces wine and there are several places where you can go to taste wine and eat in places with spectacular landscapes.
Walk the streets of Oia – this is where you will take the photos that brought you to this place. Go before 5pm when all the sunset tours start arriving. Get lost in the little streets because you never know where you will find that spectacular spot.
Walking around Fira – It is somewhat similar to Oia but a little more commercial and less pretty.
Visit the brewery and taste the beers brewed there. For more information go to https://www.santorinibrewingcompany.gr/

Milos
A spectacular island, a little quieter but beautiful. This one, like the other islands, if you come from Athens, the ideal way to get there is by plane and if you come from another island, then by ferry.

The best area to stay is near the ferry port. To get around I recommend renting four-wheel drives as well, but this island is a bit more complex to drive because its roads are less developed, so I suggest you have a working GPS on your cell phone.

The top places on this Island are:

Sarakiniko Beach – this is the most famous beach on the Island and the truth is that the landscape is surreal.

Mandrakia – is a place for a quick photo stop, as the landscape is very nice.

Plaka – with its typical island architecture, is where the shops, restaurants and spots to watch the sunset are concentrated.
Fishermen's Village – a place for a quick photo stop.
Aragosta Cocktail Bar – This has been one of the best places we have been treated. There you will find the flag of our #dondeestapuertorico initiative. The nightlife here is great. (You must check if they are still open, because nothing has been updated on their social networks for 2 years)

Beaches – If you open map applications such as “google maps” you will find the beaches of the Island marked. Get on the “four track” and go “Beach hopping”
Villa Trypiti – this small village is famous for its catacombs and Roman theatre.
Firopotamos – Fishing village with colorful structures.
Taking a “Full Day” Boat Tour is a must here. You can talk to the place where you are staying or look up companies on Google and ask for information.

Crete (Chania)
I had the opportunity to visit this area in May (2021) and I must confess that I LOVED the Chania area in Crete. This is the largest island and has two areas to get to, Heraklion and Chania (I recommend this one). Stay in the “Old Town”. I stayed at the Elia Palatino hotel, in the rooms overlooking the bay and it was amazing! To see the attractions in this area you must rent a car. Here are some of the main spots:

Seitan Limania Beach – (cold) beach near the airport but it is beautiful!! It requires a descent down a mountain of stones, so the option of going down with a cooler or heavy things is ruled out. Wear closed and comfortable shoes for the descent.
Balos Beach – This is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. You can go by car and take a 30-40 minute walk or take a boat tour. I rented a car and went on the walk, the views on the way down are beautiful.
Elafonisi Beach – Pink sand lagoon beach. You can combine this one when visiting Balos, as it is located in the area.

General Tips

The best time to visit Grecias is from May to September. July and August are peak tourist months, so everything will be more expensive and more crowded.
From November to March is the worst time to go, as you will find many things closed on the Islands and the weather is very unfavourable.
Don't limit yourself to researching only what I recommend here, there are many more beautiful islands that I have not had the opportunity to visit. To do your research, use Google, ask questions, just as if you were asking someone. For example: How to get to Santorini from Athens, Where to see the best sunset in Milos, etc.
Greece is quite expensive and if you eat out, you can save a lot, plus it's delicious. Try the "gyros" on the street that you can get for 2 euros (if you order it to go) and you'll be more than satisfied and good for your wallet. You can also find many places to go for pizza at very affordable prices.
If you are going to rent motor vehicles (including motorcycles and four-wheelers), most places require you to have an international driving permit. This can be obtained at the offices of the American Automobile Association (AAA – www.aaa.com ) located on Avenida Muñoz Rivera in Hato Rey and costs $20.00. The cost of fuel in Europe is almost triple the cost in Puerto Rico or the United States.
To book ferries you can go to ferries.gr or directferries.com and see the price options and companies. Then you can look for the company's direct website and buy there or on the platforms themselves. It is important to check the process well, because in most cases, you have to go to an office to physically pick up your tickets, it is not like plane tickets where you can show your code online.

SondeWorld Traveling

Travel Guide to Greece

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