Spending a week on the Greek Islands is like stepping into a dream of sparkling seas, whitewashed buildings, and unforgettable adventures. My husband and I decided to make the most of summer by cashing in some travel miles for a journey to Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete. Each island has a unique personality: Mykonos for party vibes, Santorini for romantic escapes, and Crete for a mix of relaxation and history. Here’s a glimpse into how we spent an unforgettable week exploring the Greek islands, along with tips and insights to help you plan your own perfect itinerary.
Mykonos: Party Island with a Relaxing Twist
Discover Old Town
By day, Old Town is a picturesque maze of white buildings and cobblestone streets. At night, it comes alive with bars and restaurants for every budget. We loved grabbing drinks and hookah at Loya before wandering through the lively streets.
Stroll Little Venice & Visit the Windmills
Little Venice is a charming stretch of bars and restaurants built right on the water’s edge. From here, you can admire the iconic windmills as you enjoy dinner overlooking the Aegean Sea.
Visit Paraportiani Greek Orthodox Church
This gleaming white, organic-shaped church is a highlight of Old Town. It began construction in 1425, and is still sitting gracefully by the ocean today.
Dine at Scorpios
Scorpios Mykonos is a destination in itself—an upscale, bohemian-chic spot that perfectly blends luxury with laid-back island vibes. We indulged in fresh, flavorful seafood and sipped wine as the sun dipped below the horizon, all set to a mesmerizing soundtrack of chill beats. The ambiance is unmatched, with breathtaking views of the Aegean and a stylish crowd soaking it all in. While the experience is worth the splurge, it’s definitely on the pricey side.
Rent an ATV or scooter
For a more adventurous way to explore Mykonos, I highly recommend renting a scooter or ATV for the day. The island’s stunning views are best experienced with the wind in your hair as you cruise along the coast. You can easily stop at various beaches to take a dip in the crystal-clear waters or simply soak in the breathtaking scenery. With minimal traffic along the coast, it’s a peaceful and enjoyable way to see the island at your own pace.
Visit Agios Sostis Beach
Agios Sostis Beach is a serene, more local escape with no beach clubs, restaurants, or lounge chairs—just natural beauty. It’s the perfect spot to unwind, with crystal-clear waters and a peaceful, laid-back vibe. Be sure to bring your own towels, as there are no facilities here, and since there’s no shade, don’t forget to pack plenty of sunscreen.
Explore the Beach clubs
Mykonos is a party island. There are beach clubs everywhere and world class DJ’s that come and play at them. Do your research before you get there if you want to see them. We missed Sneaky Sound System by a day, and were there when DJ Snake played at Cava Paradiso (2019), but had wasted our energy the night before. Fail. Here is what I learned about the Mykonos Beach Club Scene.
Paradise Beach: Paradise Beach Club, Tropicana, Cava Paradiso
This is where there are cheaper drinks and a younger party crowd. The DJ and sound were not great, but it’s a beautiful beach and more affordable cocktails. We snagged a few lounge chairs and went swimming around sunset but the day crowd was winding down so it wasn’t too poppin’.
Paraga Beach: Kalua, SantAnna, Scorpios
This is your more upscale, Vegas-like beach club with amazing atmosphere. Better sound systems, better DJs, gorgeous ambiance, and drink prices to match. I prefer this over the cheesy Paradise Beach scene, but it’s a pretty penny. SantAnna would be my recommendation for a club day. It has several pools, DJ, lounge chairs, and a bohemian vibe. We stumbled upon this place thinking it was Scorpios and sadly didn’t get the chance to go back and experience it fully.
Narayan’s Beach
If you’re in the mood to relax on the beach with a cocktail in hand you can rent a lounge chair and umbrella at Narayan’s Beach. It’s a gorgeous beach lined with restaurants and bars. The water is crystal clear with a sandy bottom, you can come here to layout, swim and read in the sun.
Santorini: Romantic Getaways and Stunning Sunsets
Hike to from Fira to Oia
This hike is a great way to view the gorgeous coastline of Santorini. Some sections are lined with restaurants overlooking the ocean, and some are more quiet with views of the caldera. We hiked most of the way before losing all sunlight, then found a cute little euro stand for some quick eats. If you time it right you could end the hike in Oia and have a nice dinner while the sun is going down.
Go on a Wine tasting tour
We did a wine tasting tour with Santorini Wine Tours, and it was wonderful! We visited 3 wineries, all the while learning all about how wine is made on Santorini, which is quite unique. There is also Oia Highlights Tour with Wine Tasting & Sunset in Oia, which is a full exploration of the city of Oia, which is what you see in all the Greece postcards.
The first winery we went to, Venetsanos, had amazing views of the Aegean Sea. We had some delicious appetizers to pair with our wines, that we learned are mostly made from Assyrtiko grapes. The vines are grown in “baskets” instead of on the vine, to help keep them cool and shield them from the wind.
Our second stop was Avantis, a quaint wine room with the most delicious rose. We sipped while pairing these wines with cheese, and the majority of us bought bottles here.
Our last stop was Gaia, where the winemaker is very experimental with his winemaking. He’s even tossed a batch into the ocean to see how it will age under the sea.
Explore Oia at sunset
Oia is a photographers paradise. It’s what everyone thinks of when they imagine Greece with the blue capped Greek Orthodox white churches on cliff’s edges overlooking the great blue ocean. Add some sunset glow and bam! It’s the perfect setting for a romantic stroll or a dinner with a view. There are countless restaurants in Oia that have a fantastic view of the Aegean Sea.
Additionally, here are some fun tours you can take from Santorini.
Book the sunset cruise
The sunset cruise is the best trip you can take on the island. It includes swimming at the therapeutic waters of the hot springs on the volcanic islands, sunset views of the island, snorkeling, and a delicious Greek buffet with wine. My husband and I had been to Santorini back in 2010, and it’s still my favorite activity I’ve done in Greece to date.
Santorini: Rent a quad
It’s cheap to rent scooters on Santorini. What better way to see the island than with the warm breeze against your back?
Visit the red beach
There are some unique beaches in Santorini, the most notable being the Red Beach. It’s crowded, but stunning. Just look at those red cliffs below.
Crete: Relaxation Meets History
I want to tell you all about Crete, but the reality is Adam and mostly just relaxed at our hotel, and it’s a massive island! Here’s what I can tell you about my experience…
Stay at the Blue Palace
We used points to stay at the luxurious Blue Palace Hotel. The rooms were incredibly spacious with beds that felt like sleeping on clouds. We spent many hours relaxing at the multiple pools and lounge chairs overlooking the island of Spinalongha. We also visited the spa several times to enjoy the indoor pool, steam rooms, and jacuzzis.
Take a trip to Spinalongha
The island of Spinalonga was originally part of the island of Crete. During Venetian occupation the island was carved out of the coast for defence purposes and a massive fort was built there. At one point, the island was used as a leper colony. This island is a short boat ride from the coast of Crete so we went to browse the historic ruins. We stayed for about an hour and a half but I could’ve stayed longer, there are a lot of buildings to explore.
Here are some more ideas for Crete tours you can take below.
Do you have some great tips on what to do on the Greek Islands? Please leave them in the comments below.
One Response
I was absolutely captivated by your Greek Islands adventure! Your blog brilliantly transports readers to the enchanting beauty of each destination. For those seeking more Greek magic, I stumbled upon a blog related to this at https://mykonossound.com/the-ultimate-mykonos-itinerary-top-things-to-do-and-see/. It’s a perfect companion for exploring the hidden gems of the Greek Islands. Happy travels, and keep those incredible stories flowing!