Picking which Greek Island to visit when planning a holiday in Greece can be overwhelming. There are so many beautiful islands to choose from, where would you even start? Should you pick the well-known Greek islands or the more secluded, less touristy islands? Well, why not try sailing the greek islands so you can hit them all!?

This summer I had the opportunity to sail for a week with Yacht Getaways and explore six beautiful islands. For me, this was the best way to see Greece and get a taste of each island.  If you’re looking for a way to see Greece in all its beauty, I cannot recommend taking a sailing trip with Yacht Getaways enough.

Interested in seeing what each island has to offer? Here is a snapshot of what it’s like spending a week on the Adriatic Sea roaming through picturesque Grecian towns:

Sailing the Greek Islands

Naousa

Naousa was one of my favorite towns we visited and set the bar high for the rest of sailing trip with Yacht Getaways.

This fisherman’s village by the sea is more magical than pictures could ever show.  Beautiful streets that one could get lost in, live music, restaurants over looking the water.  Naousa is also filled with lots of cute boutiques where you can find handmade jewelry, leather shoes, and Greek inspired clothing. 

If you’re looking for a place to relax by the water with delicious, fresh seafood, then Naousa would be the perfect spot.

Mykonos

Mykonos Island was one of the most charming islands we visited during our seven days of island hopping in Greece.  From beautiful alleys to restaurants over looking the ocean and the iconic mills, this island was so stunning.

We arrived on a popular spot, Ornos Beach, where our catamaran dropped us off to explore the rest of the island.  Ornos Beach was full of beautiful lounge chairs, water activities, cozy Greek restaurants, and of course crystal clear water. We enjoyed a bit of time there before exploring the rest of Mykonos, but we could have certainly enjoyed relaxing at Ornos Bech for a full day.

The Old Town of Mykonos was my favorite. The white washed walls and great shopping might have helped. Although a very touristy island, it still had an authentic feel about it and was well worth the visit.

You can see more photos from our time in Mykonos here.

Naxos

The largest of the islands visited, Naxos had some of the prettiest water with rocky cliffs.  It felt like the least touristy of the islands.  We enjoyed seeing some of the main sites like the temple on top of mountain, the harbor at sunset and trying authentic delicious Greek food.

Naxos is also famous for it’s wine and untouched, secluded beach.  It was the perfect island to rent a scooter and get lost in!  Definitely an island worth visiting if you’re looking for a more authentic and calm vacation in Greece.

Little Cyclades

By far the clearest water I have ever seen and the prettiest white sand beaches were in the Little Cyclades.  This island was such a dream and it was the most relaxing day of the whole trip with Yacht Getaways.

We docked in a small harbor where there was an abundance of delicious restaurants overlooking the ocean and beach bars that were practically floating on the water. We started our day off with the beach and stayed there for hours mesmerized by the clear, blue water.

The city center of Koufinisia in the Little Cyclades is small, but quaint and cute.  The town was filled with local Grecians and it felt like a true cultural experience. We tried the towns local ice-cream “κανέλα”, which means cinnamon in Greek, and it was divine.

The Little Cyclades was different than the other islands in its landscape, speed of pace, and overall atmosphere.  It felt more like living with the locals and having a quiet getaway.

Ios

Ios completely took me off guard.  I had heard that Mykonos was considered the “party island” and had not heard many people say much about Ios.  In my opinion, Ios is where all the young people go for great music, parties on the beach, and a week of fun with friends.

Granted, we were only there for a day and an evening, but the energy of the island was at whole different level than the other islands.  The landscape was also extremely different.  Upon arrival we docked at the harbor and took a 15 minute bus ride up the mountain and down to the other side. There were beautiful beaches with water activities, bars filled with people, and DJs rocking their music at 2 p.m. in the afternoon.

I think if you’re staying on Ios island there is no time for sleep, it’s just a “go, go, go” island.  From the time we arrived to leaving, we saw so much of the island.  Known for it’s delicious cocktails and sunset views, we enjoyed dinner with the most spectacular views.

The hilltop church of Panagia Gremiotissa, is also well known for tourist to watch the sunset.  The church hovers over the rest of the town and gives you a gorgeous 360 view of the island. Definitely one of my favorite parts of Ios was all the great views.

Paros

Both Paros & Antiparos had an inviting warmness and charm about them. Just one nautical mile apart from one another and connected by a local ferry.

Paros was the island we spent the most time on because it’s where you begin and end your trip with Yacht Getaways.  It provided a lovely first impression of Greece with its Cycladic architecture and flat roofs, whitewash walls, and blue-painted doors.

We enjoyed our first and best Gyro in Paros at Yiannoulis Taverna where we made a rookie mistake by taking it to go (it’s too big to walk and eat!).  Also on our first day I picked up a beautiful handmade Turkish towel that came in handy during the rest of the trip.  There are so many boutiques selling them, but Paros had the best price and quality.

If you plan to take a trip with Yacht Getaways in the Greek Islands, staying the night in Paros the day before is a must.  Otherwise, it would be too stressful trying to board the yacht on time.  We stayed at the beautiful Paros Palace just a 10 minute walk from the harbor.  It was an absolutely beautiful resort with a delicious restaurant and gorgeous views.

Antiparos

Antiparos, although much smaller than Paros, still had so much charm about it.  There we met many local shop owners that live in Antiparos during the summer to sell their goods and go back to Athens in the cooler months.  Because of that, the shopping was exceptional and there were so many lovely pieces to choose from. Still wishing I would have brought an extra suitcase to take a few goodies home with me!

The island is quite small and cozy feeling.  The main shopping area is about one street long and their is a beach just a 5 minute walk away.  We took advantage of the local shops and spent most of our time browsing and talking with the owners.  We also had an incredible meal on the water at Kalokeri and had one of our best meals from the whole week.

My week sailing with Yacht Getaways was an unforgettable week.  It was so relaxing simply waking up each morning and having our skipper sail us to the next island.  We were always given such great recommendations by the Skipper & Host on what to see and do.

One of the other passengers on board kept saying how she thought this was the perfect way to get a “taste of Greece”, and I could not agree more.  Yacht Getaways provided a beautiful way to see Greece and so much of it.

Thank you, Yacht Getaways, for hosting us and for a week of a lifetime!

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The Greek Islands have always topped my list on places to see. Finally, this year I checked them off my bucket list.

Sailing with Yacht Getaways was such an incredible and convenient way to travel through the Greek Islands without the stress of booking multiple ferries and hotels. If you’re looking for a way to see the islands in a relaxing and easy way, I can definitely recommend a sailing trip with Yacht Getaways.

Here are my top reasons to take a sailing trip to the Greek Islands with Yacht Getaways!

Gourmet Breakfast & Lunch Served Daily

One of my favorite things about sailing with Yacht Getaways was waking up to my coffee freshly brewed and breakfast beautifully set on the table.  I mean, can it get much better than that?

The skipper & host do a fantastic job of creating delicious meals each day that I never got tired of. Yacht Getaways also makes sure that any food allergies are known of before arriving on the catamaran, so the host knows how to prepare each meal.

Lunch was one of my favorite parts of the day because the Skipper always took us to a remote spot near a secluded beach or island.  We had prime parking and beautiful lunch views.  Plus, we were able to burn off some of the delicious Greek food with some water activities afterwards.

The Boats are Spacious & Modern                          

The Yacht Getaway cabins are not huge compared to a 5-star hotel. However, they are definitely spacious compared to most catamarans and more updated.  All rooms on Yacht Getaways catamaran have their own closet, bathroom, storage under and beside the bed, and windows.

The catamaran also has a nice outside seating area deck where lunch and breakfast are served. The seating area is great place to get some shade, relax, and read.  My favorite part of the boat was the front area. There it is comfortable to layout and get the great views in while sailing to your next Greek Island.

Your Skipper & Host Do All the Thinking for You

When arriving to a new island, which you’ll do each day some time after lunch, your skipper and host will walk you through all the best things to see and do on the island.  I found this extremely helpful and beneficial.  Part of the luxury of taking a yacht trip is not having to plan out each part of your day, but rather leave it up to the experts.  The skipper and host have a lot of experience and time on each islands, so they’ve already done all the guess work and know which spots are worth seeing!

You Get to See So Much More

Having a skipper sail you to a new island each day is pure luxury and bliss.  Waking up with a coffee in your hand as you make your way to one of Greece’s most beautiful beaches really isn’t a bad way to vacation. Right?

There are so many beautiful islands to choose from and narrowing them down is so hard! Thankfully Yacht Getaways does that for you.  When sailing you get to visit 7 different islands.  There were some islands that I could have spent more time on and others less. Now, when I go back to Greece (fingers crossed!) I will have a better idea of which places I want to spend the most time.

Water Activities & Secluded Beaches

The perks of sailing with your own yacht is endless. However, one of my favorite perks was having access to the secluded islands.  Being able to jump off the boat (literally) and hop on a paddle-board to explore old caves is one of the coolest parts of the trip.  Each catamaran with Yacht Getaways comes with a paddle-board, kayak, and snorkeling gear.  You can also bring your own gear on board like floats and such.  We spent each day burning off our lunch by paddle-boarding and exploring deserted islands.

So, if you’re looking for a way to explore the Greek Islands in a convenient, economical, and fun way, then definitely consider a sailing trip with Yacht Getaways.

Thank you to the Yacht Getaways team for hosting us and making for a memorable week on board!

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When people picture Greece it’s usually the islands or Athens. About 8 years ago, I went to Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, and Athens myself and it was amazing. But some people say that the islands are not like the real Greece and advise that you should see more! In this post, I’ll give you some tips for visiting Katerini and a couple other places in Greece we visited.

Ben’s dad and long-term girlfriend live in Vienna but she is Greek and from the town Katerini, near Thessaloniki (the second biggest city in Greece). Her family is still there and they have an apartment there; we’ve always wanted to go and visit. We had decided a long time ago to visit and also go to the “three fingers”, Halkidiki Penninsula, nearby which are really famous. As always we over-estimated time and decided it would be better to explore closer to Katerini.

So, we ended up spending a few nights in Katerini, a few nights in Litochoro (Mt. Olympus, home of Zeus), and the last few days in Plaka on the beach. It was the first real vacation I’ve taken in a while where I didn’t worry about blogging so it was nice to relax. Prior to that, we had even more vacation time at Ben’s dad’s in Vienna. So, it was basically two weeks of vacation and no blogging! I love to blog, but it’s nice to be abroad and not always thinking about what I’ll write about.

I am not writing about our time in Austria as I have already on previous visits. Since I wasn’t really focusing on blogging, I’m combining all three of these cities we visited in Greece into one blog post!

Getting to Katerini

The easiest way to get to any of the places we visited is by flying to Thessaloniki. It’s a small airport and about 15 minutes outside of the city center. I came from India, so flew Turkish Airlines which is one of online two airlines that do easy routes from India to Greece. I had to go to Alanya for work anyway, so it worked out perfectly. I’ve actually flown TA the last three big international flights I’ve done, and love them.

We stayed at an airport hotel the night we arrived and the night before we left. We stayed at the Ambassador both times. It ranges between $60-$100. Good hotel, amazing pool.

We got a rental car with Sixt at the airport, booking ahead of time. Reason being the other rental car options are really far from the lot and you even have to take a taxi to them instead of a shuttle. I can’t remember the rental car price, but it was cheap! It was supposed to have an option to buy GPS but they didn’t have the devices. So, Ben bought a Vodafone SIM card. It was necessary but still didn’t offer good service.

From Thessaloniki, you can drive about an hour South to Katerini and from there the rest is all close by. Thessaloniki is cool but I didn’t stay long, so won’t write about it on this post.

Tips on Visiting Katerini

Katerini is called the heart of Macedonia. It’s a cute town on its own but also a good base to explore from. From here you can visit:

• Dion. where there are a lot of ancient ruins at archeological sites
• Platamanos Castle. looked amazing from below but didn’t go inside. It actually looked closed when we tried to!
• Olympus. Many people stay here to trek Mt Olympus.

The town center in Katerini isn’t huge and you can easily walk everywhere. Ben new his way around in two days but I’m directionally challenged so would advise GPS here if you are like me!

We spent a lot of time here eating, go figure. We met with Ben’s family in Katerini and they were so nice! They took us to the best place to eat and I ordered just about everything. I got a business card so I could share the name and when I just looked at it- it’s in GREEK! lol I can’t even try to tell you the name.

We also drove to a nearby beach and had a mediocre meal, below – so I won’t bother sharing about the name of the restaurant!

The last night there we ate at another yummy place, that unfortunately, I’m useless and don’t know the name. Like I said, I wasn’t thinking about blogging on this trip. Sorry! But, I had all good food here except one meal, which was still “okay” so I think you’ll be fine just popping in anywhere. It seems all Greeks know how to cook!

Below is the castle that I mentioned above, which was closed when we went to it. 

Mt. Olympus / Litochoro Tips

This is really a place to come is you want to trek and hike. Other than that, it’s a cozy town with great views. It is good because you get the views of the sea and the mountains. Our hotel, Hotel Olympus Mediterranean, offered both and I highly recommend it. Click here for rates and reviews.

It had amazing views! You can’t really see through the clouds, but you can see the sea and to the left are the mountains. The room was really old-fashioned looking which I liked. It was the coziest little room! It was a five minute walk to the town center.

When you arrive here, you can park outside the hotel but be warned it is really tiny alleys here so rent a compact car!

We drove to the Mountain because we weren’t all that prepared to hikini (nor were we interested in it). The views were great on the drive up and down and roads were safe. We went to Zeus’s waterfall, which turns out you can’t hike to but have to look at from afar.

The town square had cafes around it and was typically full of local men or tourists in trekking outfits. There were some sport shops, fruit stalls, and random little shops but nothing to buy, really. I liked it more getting lost in the alleys! 

Of course, there was a lot of food and we went to Erato Wine restaurant. It was the cutest one from the outside and when I googled ‘best food in town’, it came up first. Easy choice! It was SO tasty, huge portions, and really affordable. I got a bottle of wine for $9. What! Crazy, I know.

Seriously, look at the size of this steak!

Plaka & Nearby Beaches

We really didn’t plan this trip so when we went to the Plaka area, it was because we wanted to see this part of the coast and because we wanted to stay at Cavo Olympo. It was a great boutique hotel (you can see rates and reviews here). We used the hotel as our base and drove to random beaches nearby. Plaka was the best and the others were about the same, some more touristy than others. Olympus Beach was pretty crowded but good if you’re getting bored and want something to do.

This restaurant, Taverna Agorastos, was our favorite place we tried. I fed all my prawn heads to the cats and they went crazy for them! The whole area is really dead; we only saw one other group of tourists on this whole beach while we were there. It was late May, so not a crazy time of year, but I guess still too cold for tourists to want to come.

So, overall, that’s what we got up to! Nothing crazy, but a great holiday in a really quiet beautiful place. If you are looking for loads of culture and a popping nightlife, you might want something more like Athens, but if you just want to relax you can get a wide range of things to do here from archeological visits, to mountain treks, or just chill at one of the many beaches.

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Ben and I heard about Cavo Olympo from his brother who had stayed there a year prior but when I searched best boutique hotels in this area of Greece, it was actually the only good option that came up! It’s definitely ahead of the game here. In this Cavo Olympo review, I’ll share photos of the property and deets about the spa, pools, and food.

Cavo Olympo Review: the best (and only) luxury boutique hotel in Plaka, Greece

The rooms are spacious and have a lot of light coming in. The bathroom is also really large with a bathtub/jacuzzi. Amenities like toiletries and robes are all there. There is a mini-fridge and everything is chargeable inside, including bottled water.

My room was a junior suite and had a balcony. You can see the suite below has a private pool. The views from the rooms are spectacular. We got a sea-facing room and I’m not sure what the price difference is, but it’s worth getting one!

Check room rates and availibility here.

My dress & leather jacket are from Sancerre, in Bali (but sold online)

There are multiple pools and bars in Cavo Olympo, including one massive infinity pool. You’ll want to get out there early if you want a seat at one of the prime sunbeds set out on the infinity pool lounge (or do what I did and come later, like 4 pm when people start to go to their rooms).

Gym, Spa, and Food

There is a full gym and spa in the hotel. The spa has an indoor pool, steam room, sauna, massage rooms, and nail salon. I got my nails done while I was here and it was reasonably priced at $25 euro. I normally don’t splurge on that (since it’s so affordable in India) but I hate chipped nails when I travel.

You can book “half-board” and get breakfast and dinner buffets included in the rate. While I’m normally not down for even 5-star buffets, Greek buffets are SO good. I recommend trying the dinner buffet at least one night because then you can try so many different Greek dishes and see what you like best- that way you aren’t always ordering gyros when you go to restaurants!

Dinner had salads, casseroles and stews, a grilled meat section, and appetizer section and desserts. All the classic Greek stuff you would want is there. Wine was pretty cheap; I think I paid about 6 euro a glass.

I chose to have breakfast in bed rather than go down to the buffet (mainly to get this picture lol) and because breakfast in bed is the best! The breakfast is insane and this is a little bit of everything that is offered at the buffet. The granola has chocolate chips in it!

We went to the local beaches a lot here, but had dinner at the hotel every night and spent a lot of time by the pool. I was reading I Am Pilgrim here which is the best book I’ve read all year. FYI the water is FREEZING in May; we swam anyway!

The coverup is also from Sancerre!

When you order drinks by the pool, they’ll give you olives and chips to go with it. Something salty so you can keep drinking, lol.

There is a beach below which you could see from the rooms but there is not a “beach” perse, it’s rocky below. It’s nice to walk down to it and see, but you can’t swim or lay out down here. 

Luckily Plaka beach is two minutes away along with beautiful beach restaurants and bars. I loved this area and this is by far the best hotel around!

The hotel is beautiful and I’m definitely going to end up staying here again! You can click here to see room rates and availabilities. Enjoy your stay!

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Santorini is one of the most iconic and easily recognized islands in all of Greece. The white cliffside buildings and brilliant blue domes overlooking the Aegean create a picture-perfect paradise.  The island is so photogenic that I barely managed to put my camera down during my week-long visit!

While it is difficult to find a “bad” photo spot in Santorini, there are some locations that stand above the rest. Discover my top 5 photo locations in Santorini, and don’t forget to add them to your list of things to do in Santorini! 

Best Photo Locations in Santorini

1. Oia’s Iconic Architecture

If you visit Santorini and don’t come home with a photo of the whitewashed buildings of Oia, did you even visit Santorini at all? If you love taking photos, you will definitely want to plan (lots) of time to snap away in Oia. This town is one of the most popular for watching the sunset. In fact, crowds gather to watch it nearly every evening! Watching the sun slip into the Aegean from behind the town’s signature windmills is simply unforgettable. Be sure to grab a photo of the windmills as well as a photo looking back on the crescent-shaped island from the old Byzantine Castle ruins. 

2. The Blue Domes of Imerovigli

Can’t get enough of the stunning blue domes on Santorini? Then you will definitely want to stop by Imerovigli. Here you will find the Imerovigli Anastasi Church, the perfect place to capture the blue domes and get a few great pictures of yourself against a gorgeous backdrop. My favorite thing about this photo location is that it isn’t as crowded as Oia, so you will probably have an easier time getting a great shot! You may even have the chance to see a wedding (or at least a wedding photography shoot!). 

3. Akrotiri, Santorini’s Red Sand Beach

Part of what makes Santorini so unique is that it has red sand, black sand, and white sand beaches. I’ve seen white sand beaches in the Carribean, black sand beaches in Hawaii and Positano, Italy, but before Santorini, I had never seen a red sand beach! Akrotiri is home to Santorini’s famous red-sand beach. The contrast of the blue water with the reddish-brown sand and cliffside truly is stunning. While you are in the area, you can catch a boat to the island’s white sand beach, or check out the Pompeii-like ruins of Akrotiri. For more of my favorite things to do in Santorini, be sure to check out this post!

4. Santorini’s Volcano & Caldera

Santorini is a caldera, and the island gets its unique crescent shape because it was formed by the collapse of a volcano. If you are visiting Santorini, I highly recommend taking a volcano and hot springs day trip to go see the volcano for yourself and take a dip in the springs. If you don’t have the time to actually visit the volcano, you can get a great shot of it in Fira, one of the main towns in Santorini that all of the buses pass through. Fira is another excellent place to watch the sunset, after all, it isn’t every day you can watch the sun set from behind a volcano!

5. Ammoudi Bay

Ammoudi Bay not only has a gorgeous view of Santorini, but it is also the perfect spot to do some cliff jumping, which is definitely a must-do Santorini adventure! If you can, swim out to the jumping rock with a waterproof camera/gopro, or (for those with larger budgets) dock a boat here for a pretty amazing view of Oia above and the cliffs below. You might even recognize this spot from the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants! 

For more great photo locations, explore the island!

While these 5 spots will definitely get you some stunning photos, the best way to find awesome photo spots in Santorini is simply by exploring the island! No matter where you turn, you are sure to find a gorgeous viewpoint, perfect beach, or beautiful backdrop nearby. I highly recommend renting an ATV so you can hop on/off easily while exploring the island. Santorini truly is a dream island, whether you love taking photographs, or a hoping for a relaxing vacation!

For more great Santorini and Greece tips, check out my Ultimate Budget Guide to Santorini, or get inspired by these 20 Places In Greece Travel Bloggers Love! 

Have you been to Santorini? What are some of your favorite photo spots? 

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After my first time to Europe and visiting only the popular cities in the West, I was dreaming of Eastern Europe the whole next year in University waiting for summer to come around. It took ages to plan my sample Eastern Europe itinerary – and I’m going to detail it all here for you now that it’s said and done.

I’ve written about all these cities before so there will be links throughout with proper guides. As I mentioned in my sample western Europe itinerary, I didn’t have the funds at the time to go to Ireland and Spain as they would have required flying with my time constraints. Therefore, I made sure to hit those up first before heading East.

I mentioned Ireland and Spain in my Western Europe itinerary and as I said you could do Ireland first, then the Western Itinerary I wrote about, ending in Spain, then flying to Greece so start this “Eastern Europe” itinerary. So, I will start with Greece now!

Sample Eastern Europe Itinerary for Backpackers

1. Athens, Greece. Flying into Athens was exciting, but nerve-wrecking as my backpack didn’t make it and I didn’t have anything but almonds and my journal in my carry-on. First thing to know about Athens, is in July and hot months no one is there. They are on vacation because it’s so hot! The city was a little dirty and desolate to be honest, but interesting and of course seeing the ancient ruins at Acropolis was very cool. Tips for travel to Athens.

2. Mykonos, Greece. Mykonos is a party island. From Athens, you need to take a ferry to the closest port and you’ll want to find a travel agent in town to book your ferry tickets. They’re a little pricey if you’re comparing to Thailand islands. Mykonos was gorgeous, expensive, had delicious food, and there are quiet areas if you know where to look; we found a cute apartment in a secluded area. Read more: The Best of Mykonos Greece

3. Santorini, Greece. In terms or partying and gorgeousness, Santorini takes the cake. There’s no question as to why this is the most tourist island. It’s stunning. You have the famous sunsets and that white on blue rounded architecture everywhere you look. Food was a little pricey but scrumptious and the shops were full of the cutest stuff. I couchsurfed here mainly to save money and also because we hadn’t experienced Greece like a local. We stayed with a model/scuba instructor and had a blast club hopping the whole time and exploring the island on bikes. Read on for tips: What I love about Santorini Greece: Scuba and the Gods

4. Corfu, Greece. Corfu is the “green” island. The water is so clear, but with lush green forests in the background. Actually, it looks a lot like Thailand. We stayed at popular party hostel the Pink Palace, which is retrospect was a mistake as they trap you a bit from seeing the local parts of the island.

5. Tirana, Albania. So Albania was a bit of an accident. We pretty much were stuck in Santorini and told we had to go to Italy in order to get to our next city (Dubrovnik). The only other option was taking a ferry to the southern bit of Albania and going via taxi north, as local buses are hit and miss. We did take local buses / hitchhike through Albania through Montenegro to Croatia. We started via local bus to Tirana and met a cool chick, Bena, who shared all the secret local hotspots of Albania with us, from beaches and bars to UNESCO sites.

6. Dubrovnik, Croatia. After a couple of days of unplanned travel, we made it to Dubrovnik and I was overwhelmed with how much I loved this city. If there was one place I wanted to go back to and take Ben, it would be this town. I know it’s become more touristy partially with help from Game of Thrones filming on the castle. It’s a medieval wonderful town. Fabulous food and so gorgeous overlooking the sea that I didn’t mind the small crowds. We stayed at a Sobe in the Old Town which I 100% recommend. They will find you at the bus station.

7. Sarajevo, Bosnia. Sarajevo was a bit of a culture shock after being in beach party towns, not to say we didn’t party in Sarajevo (I was only 20 after all). A place not so long ago destroyed by war, you can still see the destruction today and learning about the history of that war is very important. This was the first place I’d been that had a call to prayer, but was interesting in that there were also Christian churches and Synagogues in the same intersection. Also, the food was incredible as well as the coffee! Definitely buy a coffee set here.

8. Belgrade, Serbia. Not only interesting, but affordable. It’s a cool town to see but I was there only a short time. There was a beer festival in Belgrade happening so you can only imagine what I was up to. We found a hotel online and it was 3 bucks a night with breakfast. How is that possible!?

9. Budapest, Hungary. The first thing I learned about Budapest is that one side of the river is Buda and one side is called pest. I recommend doing a walking tour of the city to learn, and I also couchsurfed here. Mostly, we learned about what happened there during world war 2, which has always interested me. Make sure to visit the famous Szechyeni baths, which is a highlight of a trip to Budapest.

10. Krakow, Poland. Although I liked the walking tour and learned a lot, I found the city a bit boring. Perhaps the weather had something to do with it. I did enjoy the town fair and markets. I’m sure it was a fluke that I didn’t have a blast, but I would go back. Read more tips for visiting Krakow.

11. Prague, Czech Republic. Prague is incredible! Spend as much time here as you can. Affordable, great food, amazing history and architecture, and a fun nightlife. I couchsurfed here and loved seeing the city from a locals view. Read for some tips on Prague.

12. Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic. This place is about 4 hours from Prague by a cheap bus that offers hot chocolate and a movie! The town is the “last bohemian town” with a castle uniquely hand-painted to look like it’s more fancy architecture than it really is. There is a moat with beers, lots of little homey bars, and your hostel will possibly offer you a joint fix on arrival.

So, there you have it, my sample Eastern Europe itinerary based on my own trip. All in all I started the trip flying into Irelend, then flying to Spain, then onward via flight to Greece. The rest is as you read, then after Cesky, we took a bus back to Prague to fly to Ireland to catch the roundtrip flight home.

I had more fun on my trip to Eastern Europe than Western Europe, and although some people think it’s not as easy to travel, I found that wasn’t true except lack of buses in Northern Albania and Montenegro. It was very affordable and I learned a lot.

I hope you found this Eastern European backpacking itinerary helpful! Remember to find a cheap flight using my tips and get some travel insurance that covers adventure sports. If you’re planning a trip, check out my tips on how to plan a trip from scratch.

Pin this sample Eastern Europe itinerary for later:

The post Sample Backpacking Eastern Europe Itinerary appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Let’s say you’re rolling in the dough… you have so much money that you could pick random places to travel and not worry about budget. Usually I wouldn’t even consider this, but thanks to a reader’s e-mail, it’s been brought to my attention people like this exist!

They don’t want to know which places are convenient or easy to get to- they want to know what are the BEST and coolest places in the world. They may have all the money in the world but only a couple weeks to fly from place to place. I can’t say which are for sure the best, but I can give you my opinion!

So here we go, my 5 favorite cities in the World

except one is and island & one is a state, but hey, SEO ;)

1. Dubrovnik, Croatia.

It’s been getting this reputation of being too crowded and too touristy but it’s a stunning town. Here you’ll get to see the prettiest town I went to in Eastern Europe complete with a fairy-tale castle (the one from Game of Thrones), winding alleys like a small town in Italy, delicious pizzas and local food, and some of the greatest ocean views I’ve ever seen. On top of all that, it’s got a serious cultural bonus: you get to stay at a Sobe and have a local woman treat you one of their own kids. If you want to visit here, consider a full Croatia road trip!

2. Ko Lanta, Thailand.

Ko Lanta might not stay this way for long, but as of late it’s been known as the most beautiful sunset in the world… with not nearly enough people there to see it. Just the way I like it! Of course you have everything the other islands have: good food, great nightlife, and even better 5 star hotels, but having a whole stretch of beach to yourself in Thialand? Nothing better.

3. Goa, India.

There’s no greater adrenaline rush than coming to India, but if you’re short on time you won’t get to really take it all in. In a rush, just come to Goa and enjoy a mixture: get a massage for under a buck on the Arabic sea, indulge in coconut curries, wash a few elephants, take a spice plantation tour, and maybe even partake in one of the impressive Psy trance parties on Anjuna beach. Maybe I’m bias since this has been my home as of late, but Goa holds such a special place in my heart.

4. Corfu, Greece.

It’s said to be the most beautiful island in Greece. Other than the typical bright blue sea views, you get all that Greece is known for (seafood, white and blue houses, parties) and on top of that you have way fewer tourists than it’s counterparts Santorini and Mykonos. The island has a historic Old Town, a castle, forts, and plenty of outdoor activities. The island is “greener” than others and quite possible the most beautiful place in the Mediterranean.

5. Paris, France.

Paris, France photo source

Paris isn’t only for hopeless romantics; it’s for shopaholics and those who keep their noses buried in history books. Get dressed up in your favorite black outfit and pretend to be Parisian in one of the street side cafes. Wonder the Louvre and sip wine under the Eiffel Tower. Take the time to see Notre-Dame and peak through second-hand novels at the Shakespeare and Company book store. After all your site-seeing make sure you aren’t too tired to sip cognac and take on the luxurious nightlife.

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“Dear Lord get me out of Athens” 

After the airline lost my bag, and we spent our days exploring the hot, empty streets, I was really wishing I had done some research on when NOT to visit Athens (FYI: July/August). Where were all the people? They were on vacation in the islands because Athens is too damn hot in the city! Duh.

You could go somewhere less touristy and get your private relaxation in, but I went to the most touristy of all: Mykonos and Santorini. There was a small stop in Corfu, which is a little less full of backpackers, but I never made it out of the Pink Palace.

Some will tell you to skip these islands because they are overly packed. Although the crowds may be true, it’s the same story at the Vatican, Interlaken, or Koh Phi Phi, so make sure you go with realistic expectations to avoid disappointment. Regardless of reputation, I hope you experience these places if you have the chance. Just because everyone else is too doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. You don’t have to go against the grain all the time. Give in and be a part of the photo-snapping, fanny pack wearing crowds! It is worth it.

Almost everywhere that is “just too touristy” has a place where you can get away from it. I should know-living in busy Anjuna, Goa- the hippie backpackers dream location. There are ways to “get away from Goa” and similarly, we found ways to get away in Mykonos.

Mykonos Backpacking Tips

Getting to Mykonos Island

After getting ripped off by a mean taxi driver (only because we missed our bus… could anything go right in Athens?) on our way to the Piraeus port in Athens, we took our ferry at 9:30 to Mykonos. The ticket was purchased from an Athens tour agent for 70 euros. On the ferry we played cards and drank mass amounts with Greek guys being shipped off for their year of Army. One particular hottie fed us his grandma’s spinach feta wraps. Not bad!

We got in at 3 in the morning. Now, I think you may have noticed I am extremely responsible traveler…  So of course we didn’t book a hotel. We did what anyone would do: Find a club and stay up all night. The bars are open to at least 6 AM here. The plan wasn’t half bad except the bouncer didn’t want to keep our backpacks (although he did offer to leave right then and take us home and to Paradise Club). Some nice English backpackers saved the day, offering us an extra bed at their place so we crashed there and got to our hotel the next day.

a small empty cove on the walk to Paraside Beach

Platys Gialos Beach

We stayed at Esmerides Apartments for 40 euro/night. The place was huge, private, and there were no other guests while we were there. We cooked pasta one night in the apartment, which always helps the budget. Just a few minutes walk down to Platys Gialos Beach, it was also conveniently located.

We also took the long walk (1 hr if you walk slow-ish and don’t stop) to the most crowded beach of all: Paradise Beach.  You can also choose to take a boat for around 5 Euro.

Our guesthouse for the duration of our stay.

For me, the walk to Paradise Beach was better than the destination. You’ll pass 3 smaller beaches, each one inviting you to stay a little longer to swim in it’s turquoise water. By the time we got to paradise beach we were tired from our hike, and headed back.

Hike to Paradise Beach Photos

Mykonos City Center

In the evening, we took the local bus into the city center. There are only 10,000 locals on the island. The city center is perfect by night, and a little less so during the day. Maybe it was just the heat getting me down.

Everyone eats dinner so late here (I don’t think I”ll ever get used to European dinner times, I am hungry by 5!), that the parties don’t start until well after midnight. That gave us plenty of time to ride four-wheelers with someone I’ll call Kostas- it’s common enough, right?- and hitchhike around the island on a speedboat.

 Travel Tips

Make sure you pack your bikini, towel, a breezy maxi dress, sunglasses, and a sarong.

For the nightlife, any club dress will do! The local girls were dressed pretty scandalous. Or you can party on the beach in your sarong.

I got extra sunburned here, so make sure you have on sunblock.

There were quiet beaches, so take a book with you to the beach; it’s not all parties! You can check out some things to do in Mykonos as well.

It really is a cute little town, but the shopping is actually overpriced cheap clothes OR way, WAY overpriced gorgeous clothes. I did find a handmade necklace for 30 euro that I love. The whole island is incredibly expensive and it will destroy your budget if you’re not careful.

The club entries are over 30 euro and booze isn’t any cheaper. For that reason, we skipped the clubs and hit up local bars. Luckily, we got to make up for that in Santorini. All the restaurants have a great view and they charge what that’s worth. A lot. I would wait to go to Mykonos when you have a little room to wiggle, but it is definitely doable on a backpacker’s budget!

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Don’t stop reading this because you think Santorini, Greece is a crappy place tourists go!!! I’m going to tell you what I love about Santorini Greece… and you’ll love it too, promise.

It is a stunning, magical place that made me beyond happy. Like all Greek islands, there are tourists for good reason! The food, the sunsets, the over-priced uniquely priced shops, and gorgeous people all are worth it. Yes, it’s expensive. There’s a sunset that “will change your life” that doesn’t. But there is so much more! I think the photos alone in this post will induce your wanderlust with Santorini (Fira), but just in case I’ll add a little story.

Couchsurfing in Santorini was one of my luckier ones. We stayed with a Greek God who has been on the cover of magazines for being the “Island Boytoy”. He wasn’t around much, and at first I wandered why he even bothered hosting couchsurfers- but, I think it’s because he was hoping they’d pay for his Scuba classes. I was so naive back then!

Why I Loved Santorini

• Scuba with Greek Hotties for like 50 bucks… I mean that’s pretty cheap, and considering where we were!? We had no training in a pool before like many places in Thailand tried to enforce. We tipped over backwards straight into the ocean and started a whole day of my first time scuba diving. I can’t wait to go again and plan to in India soon. I almost got the bends when water got in my goggles and I panicked. My guide/Greek warrior saved my life. No big deal. There are many shipwrecks which is the main draw since visibility isn’t that good.

• Couchsurfing. Just in general here. It not only introduced us to amazing people, but after the budget bummer in regards to clubs in Mykonos, it was so lucky that we stayed with these guys. We got to scuba and go to an old family friends’ bakery to try all the yummy Greek desserts. (PS: I have couchsurfing safety tips).
• Clubs galore! They had free access to all the clubs being locals and we got to take advantage of that. We got back on budget, and had a baller (did I just say baller?) time at the coolest clubs in town. We went to a birthday party of a stunning Greek woman at a rented out bar before our biggest night out. The Greeks know how to party. Yamas!

• Driving through the town on a Greeks motorcycle. Getting to see all the best sights from a local’s point of view. The best thing about couchsurfing is that you are with a local who can show you which guidebook advice is bullshit and which is worthwhile. They know better restaurants, or teach you how to cook something at their home.

• A reminder on a trip that had some bumps and bruises like getting the airline losing my backpack and getting pickpocketed that I was lucky to be on the road. Travel is my life and I was feeling pretty down at that point.. the universe had NOT been rewarding me. It was nice to sit back and enjoy what the world was offering.

• Nea Kameni the volcano on the island, which has one active crater. I bought an awesome candle that has a covering made from the lava. It’s gorgeous. I bought one for my mom too, how fun to carry too hunks of hard lava in my backpack…
• The “life changing sunset” at Oia is not so life-changing as it is shoulder bumping on the edge of the island to see the sun go out of sight like it does every. single. day. Regardless, here’s a photo and a blog post from someone who explored Oia Santorini better than me, lol.

• The Greek Gods. I’m not talking mythology. I’m talking greased up tanned guys with blonde highlights in their beautiful hair. Yes, Greeks can be blonde! They have great accents, love to drink, and are quite funny. Because we stayed with a Greek hottie, we got to meet his friends. I love couchsurfing. Their friend Anna was pretty cool to meet too and I still talk to her often!

• The white on blue. The white buildings with the blue sea backdrop, or the white buildings with blue doors or window frames. They even paint white in between the cobblestones.
• Donkeys are so cute. I didn’t ride one because is it just me or do they seem too small to carry people? Maybe like children, but me and a big bag? Yes, I’m aware this has been going on for ages, but I just couldn’t.
• There are so many things to do in Santorini for tourists that I didn’t even scratch the surface!

• Rounded corners on all the buildings. Why does this make such a big difference? Something about it just makes the whole town look soft and inviting. It’s like some of the Portuguese houses here in Goa that I fawn over.

• Pink and Red flowers on top of the white and blue. It’s just enough color pop. I won’t overload here but I could.. I really could.

• Long lunches at the beach hold a spot in my heart. The food is amazing and the Greeks love to feed. I had the most amazing shrimp in my life in Santorini. I eat Greek at the numero uno restaurant in Goa sometimes once a week, sometimes twice a day. I can’t get enough Greek food.

• There was one thing I didn’t love. Leaving. It was a sad day… even though I was off to another island, I had a sinking feeling that Santorini was the most beautiful place I’d ever see. ever. and to this day, I think it still is!

Have you been to Santorini? What did you think- perfect island or tourist trap? 

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After 24 hours of travel and sleeping on lawn chairs, we got off the ferry in Corfu.

The van from our chosen hostel, the Pink Palace, awaited us. “Have a shot of ouzo! You must!” said the way-too-cheerful-for-6AM Greek man. Drinking was the LAST thing I wanted to do, but Greeks have a way of making it impossible to say no to alcohol. That was the start of me remembering hardly anything about the beautiful island of Corfu. The windy road up to the hostel was the last I would see outside “the palace”.

People actually argued over who got to sleep on lawn chairs

View from our balcony; I almost always handwash my clothes

The Pink Palace

The staff at the Pink Palace makes sure there is absolutely no reason to leave. The Hotel California of Greece. Usually, one of the first things I do when I arrive somewhere I’ll only be staying a short time is plan how I’ll be leaving & to where.

The goal was Croatia. Should have planned a little better, because we found out that it would cost us 100 euro and a layover in Bari, Italy… wasting a day of our trip. It was looking like our only option until someone mentioned a “weekly” ferry to Albania. (I don’t believe that a ferry only goes once a week, but this was what everyone kept telling us.) We chose the cheaper option of ferry to Albania, the only place people wrongly warned us not go, and planned to hitchhike to Croatia. Once plans were settled, the party started.

 Horrible little ferry “the dolphin” we booked out (caused some serious sea-sickness) 

The 20 euros a night was a steal considering all that was available. The hostel is located on a peaceful strip of the Ionian Sea. Along with some Swedish friends, we tried to swim to an island in the distance, which turned out to be just a rock, duh, hoping to find a hippie commune like on “The Beach”. Unfortunately, we had to turn back, gasping for air on the rocky beach.

All day was happy hour. Drinks were free… so were t-shirts. I don’t know if it’s because we were girls, or if boys got free drinks too. When dinnertime rolled around I could barely stand up. A deliciously free dinner each night in a reception hall, followed by prom… or it might as well have been. Lots of Grease and ABBA. The place cleared out as couples went home together until only Megan and I were left on the dance floor (champs). Before I knew it, I was seasick and drunk on a tiny little ferry to Albania, wondering where the time went.

dance party working off the all-you-can-eat calories

Everyone I’ve met that went to Corfu has been to the Pink Palace; it’s ranked all over the Internet as one the best party hostels in Europe. And it didn’t disappoint. The problem was, everything was so accessible and free that we never wanted to leave. I never saw the town in Corfu or tried any local restaurants. When Greeks ask if I’ve been to Corfu, I might as well say no, as I never left my hostel. My advice if you visit is stay at the Pink Palace and party your ass off, then check out and stay at a hotel in town to get the local experience.

click to book a room at the Pink Palace Corfu

asking ourselves what just happened…

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“I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.” -Maya Angelou

Well, shit.

I think it must tell you I’m a horrible person because I LOST my mind when they lost my backpack. Rewind three days to when I was pickpocketed in Barcelona, recovered with partying, and now here I am flying into Athens and half the passenger’s bags are not there. My best friends bag was there. I, who checked in right behind her, was without a bag. At 1 AM, apparently there was no one on staff that could speak English and man were the Greeks mad. It was a mini-riot at baggage claim and I was clueless as to what was being said. It was time to just stand back and watch the madness.

“We don’t know where it is” “We don’t know care when it’ll be here” “Here’s a stupid t-shirt” might as well have been what they said. I didn’t want the t-shirt and said no out of annoyance. I soon sauntered back to get it realizing I had no clothes. Because what did I take as carry on when you travel with only one backpack and your flight is only a few hours? Almost nothing.

Nuts, birth control, my journal, and a sleeping bag because even short rides I get in like a dork because I sleep better all balled up.

Our budget was small and we just couldn’t afford to take transportation to and from the airport each day to check. I had no cell to give the airline and no address because we never knew were we were staying. I had the number of the desk, so I decided just to call when I knew my address and then call each day to check up on it. The rest of the night we curled in our sleeping bags on a nice stretch of grass- we couldn’t see paying for a hotel for only a couple hours. (looking back on this is cracking me up, I would never do that now!) We were shooed away when the sun rose, as it was someone’s front yard we realized a bit too late. (If you have no cell and address, you can take the number of the airline they’ll give you with a reference number and call them once you gain residency, no problem.)

Can’t let lost luggage spoil seeing all of this

Luckily, I had a friend’s backpack to help me get through the tough times but for some reason I wore my plane clothes around that first day. It’s a shame because I had packed the perfect outfit for my tourist photo on the Acropolis, ha ha. I was apparently too angry to shower as well; I make weird decisions when I’m mad.

The hotel let us pay at check out so money wasn’t a problem, and once I had an address the airport sent my bag within 3 days so it wasn’t in the end that tragic. *Since then, I have had luggage lost, like here in Goa- it always only takes 1 day for them to get the luggage out to me, so 3 days was a little slow. Others, have never gotten their bags there whole trip and it gets sent home. All you information is on the baggage tag so they can mail it to your permanent address. If you don’t want it mailed there you should let them know which address they should send it to. Sometime, luggage is never to be seen again :(

All you information is on the baggage tag so they can mail it to your permanent address. If you don’t want it mailed there you should let them know which address they should send it to. Sometime, luggage is never to be seen again :(

 instead of looking like a grecian goddess, megan stayed in her plane clothes so we could look like we’d just left the gym

Now, I always take more in my carry-on in case of lost luggage and I recommend the same to my friends. Glasses, contacts, toothbrush, camera, iPod, if I’m wearing tennies I bring flip-flops in my bag, a scarf, and anything else you deem important.

finally got my backpack, but megan is making a sad face because we really didn’t enjoy athens all that much – don’t go in summer.

Travel teaches you patience, if nothing else.

I see so many frustrated tourists, especially in India. Everyone has that “breakdown” moment when they’re on the road. To everyone else, it may seem over something too small, but it’s because they don’t know all that you’ve already dealt with, like the time I went berserk in Delhi. In this instance, lost luggage was just a topper to food sickness and pickpocketing.

I try very hard not to be impatient when things go off course. In that moment, I was pissed. And, I can’t really say anything great came out of my bag being lost… but so many other fuck-ups resulted in really cool things happening. This is what I keep in mind. Living in India has increased my patience ten fold. Now when my luggage gets lost I act super cool and say “no problem, I’d love a t-shirt, do you have a toothbrush too?”

So, Athens was a bit of a bust for us and we went to the islands pretty quickly. You can click over here to find some places to stay in Athens.

Have you had you bag lost abroad? Have you ever had a meltdown because it seemed like too many bad things were happening in a row? Vent in the comments! 

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