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Mykonos: Top 7 tips by an (almost) local
I have to admit that I had always thought Mykonos as little more than a party island destination and a celebrity-magnet. However, the first time I set foot on this Cycladic island, Hora, the capital and main settlement, simply took me by surprise. I remember wandering around the narrow, labyrinthine alleyways, taking pictures of cats napping, or of the blushing bougainvillaeas climbing up the walls of the whitewashed houses, churches and chapels. Even though I am not religious, I was mesmerized by the Church of Panagia Paraportiani and the Life Giving Spring Orthodox Metropolitan Church. Tip 1: Stroll around Hora Start your day with a coffee at Passo…
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Amorgos: Top 9 tips by an (almost) local
If you asked me which my favorite Greek island is, I would struggle to come up with an answer. Yet, Amorgos would be among the first to spring to my mind. The easternmost of the Cyclades islands may not be as popular as its famous neighbor Santorini, but, cliché as it may sound, it is one of the most beautiful and charming Greek islands. In the last few years, however, it has been popular with the French, since it featured in Luc Besson’s film ‘Le Grand Bleu’ (‘The Big Blue’). It is a medium-sized island (for the Greek standards) with a population of 1,973; it is 18 miles long and…
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Santorini: Top 9 tips by an (almost) local
Santorini (or Thira, as it is also known as) is the southernmost island of the Cyclades. One of the most famous as well as the most visited Greek islands, it can become quite hectic in the summer. Yet, this is the best time to visit. Here are my top 9 tips to avoid falling into the tourist traps, and have the best experience. Tip 1: Do not avoid Oia (but avoid the hordes of tourists) Oia is one of the two main settlements on the west coast of the island (Fira is the other one). Built on a steep slope of the caldera, this charming hilltop village is worldwide…
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Island-hopping in the Cyclades in 2 weeks
Cyclades. Probably the most archetypal Greek islands. If you’ve never been to the Greek islands, this is where you should start. Santorini and Mykonos may be the most famous in this group of 24 inhabited islands (as well as the ones easiest to get to, at least from abroad), but it would be a shame to overlook the lesser known ones. Island-hopping is an easy and fun way to explore the Greek islands and this is exactly what I decided to do two years ago, when I first visited Cyclades (it is also what I have been doing every summer since then). The 13-day itinerary I describe here is…