A Long Weekend in Greece: 4 day Itinerary
Day 1
Start you long weekend in Athens!
Today we will explore the historic centre of this magnificent Greecian captial. Athens has one of the longest histories in Europe, with evidence it has been occupied before 3,000BC.
For a detailed walking tour, see my Athens Walking Tour guide - this will give you information on each of the sights you will be walking to today!
Athens Walking Tour:
1. Hadrian's Library;
2. The Acropolis;
3. The Parthenon;
4. Odeon of Herodes Atticus;
5. The Temple of Olympian Zeus;
6. The Plaka;
7. Mount Lycabettus;
9. Museum of Cycladic Art;
Psiri is the best spot in Athens for nightlife. After dinner in The Plaka, enjoy the rest of the evening drinking and dancing in one of Athen’s most lively neighbourhoods. For the best places, check in with the hostel staff on what they would recommend for the nights you are visiting.
Athens Accommodation:
Day 2
Hope you aren’t feeling those drinks from last night, because the ferries to Santorini wait for no one. No seriously, they all leave around 7am. You will need to make your way to Piraeus Port either by train or taxi. I would recommend that you leave with plenty of extra time because traffic can get crazy around the port area, and each dock is spread out making the port a very long sprint if you are rushing to get your ferry!
Most ferries take around 5 hours to get to Santorini, and cost between 60 - 80 Euro. You will arrive at Santorini Port at around midday. Many accommodations will help to organise your transport from the port to them, so reach out prior to your journey to determine if this can be organised. Alternatively, there are many shuttle buses that will take you from the port to the hostel, but be sure to price the buses from each vendor before picking one as they can be expensive.
Check in to your accommodation - see my hostel recommendation below. Talk to the staff about any recommendations, and ask about booking a volcano hot springs tour. Then book a table tonight at Santo Wines for dinner at sunset. Spend the rest of the afternoon settling in after your long ferry ride, or venturing into Fira to get lunch.
It’s time for a night out on the town. Head into Fira and enjoy the cliffside bars and clubs. A bar that is worth the visit, especially for any Aussies in your group, is Tropical Bar. Unmistakable due to the VB sign hanging from its door, this bar has a small outdoor area that offers amazing views over the water. Two of the more popular clubs are Koo Club and 2 Brothers, but as always, check with your accommodation staff on any recommendations they may have. They might also have a bar crawl that you can join in on!
Santorini Accommodation:
Day 3
Today, you can sleep in and enjoy a relaxing morning in your accommodation, or explore more of Fira. Then later in the morning, catch a bus to Perissa Beach. The local bus normally departs at 11 am, from Fria Town located on Mitropoleos Street, thought it would be wise to check with accommodation staff for an updated schedule and find out the latest return bus time. It is a 20 minute bus ride and only costs around 2-4 Euro each way. Ensure you check the signs on the front of the bus to make sure you are getting on the correct one.
Perissa Beach is also known as Black Sand Beach, which gets its colour from lava sediment. You can purchase time on a lounge chair, with service of food and drinks from the bars on the street behind the beach. Alternatively, you can bring a towel and find an empty area to set yourself up.
The beach is known for it’s watersports, which you can partake in, or just enjoy the sun and sea. There are plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants on the surrounding streets if you start to feel peckish or parched. After a rejuvenating day at Perissa Beach, catch a bus back to Fira. Buses usually run every 30 minutes from Perissa back to Fira.
Once back in Fira, head to your accommodation and get ready for a sunset dinner in Fira. The Athenian House is considered to be one of the best at offering a magnificent view of the Santorini sunset! It is set inside an original cave house with dishes inspired by the Greek cuisine. This is one that you may need to book in advance, so ensure that you check availability prior to your trip, especially if you are travelling during the busy summer period. I would also recommend getting a taxi there, as it is just over a 30 minute walk from Fira.
Day 4
This morning, get up and head to Fira Old Port, located at the bottom of the cliffs of Fira, for your Volcano Hot Springs Tour. The tour normally lasts for 3 hours and costs approximately 20 Euro, plus a 2.5 Euro entry fee at the volcano, but this can vary depending on the tour chosen. To get down to the port, you can choose to walk, take a donkey or hop on the cable car, with the latter two being chargeable.
The tour begins at Nea Kameni, which is a volcanic island that emerged after centuries of eruptions caused it’s formation. The last eruption was recorded in 1950. Once at the island you can walk around the volcano, and for a 2.5 Euro fee, you can be guided through with a local who will enlighten you on the history of the volcano.
The tour then takes you to Nea Kameni’s sister island, Palea Kameni. This is the oldest of the volcanoes. The tour generally stops offshore, so requires adequate swimming abilities if you want to enjoy the thermal waters. These waters contain sulfur, iron and other metal elements from the volcanoes which are said to be extremely beneficial for your skin and some ailments. The tour will then return you to Fira Old Port.
Once back in Fira, head to the bus stop and catch a bus through to Oia. This is one of the most famous towns in Santorini. Have you ever seen those beautiful photos of blinding white walls contrasted with deep blue domes? They are taken in Oia. You can spend hours exploring this stunning town.
One place I would recommend you visit is Atlantis Books. It is packed with books in every language, but the real drawcard is the rooftop, offering amazing views of the Aegean Sea and cobbled streets below.
A small stroll down almost 300 steps brings you to a quaint little fishing village in the shadows of Oia called Ammoudi Bay. The village boasts many fresh seafood restaurants from local fishermen, and what better way to enjoy your food then by watching the very boast that caught it bobbing in the water in front of your table. If you follow the cliffs around to the south, you will come across a small bay where you can slip off the rocks and into the deep blue water below.
Sunset is absolutely stunning in Oia, but it tends to get very crowded, especially during the peak Summer months. My recommendation is to find a nice bar with a westerly view an hour or so before sunset and sit to enjoy your drinks watching the sun bring an end to your time on this magnificent island.
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