Call me snobby, but I have never loved the idea of a European summer. The crowds are enormous, the AC is scarce, and I have always been too impatient to wait in a really long line to see an old ruin no matter how cool it may be. But my recent trip to Greece flipped the script for me and allowed me to fully embrace and love Europe during the summer. I learned that you can beat the heat and still have an unforgettable summer vacation.
Now you’re probably wondering – Bea, if you don’t like going to Europe in the summer, why did you go to Greece in the beginning of June? Well, the answer is one that many people in their 20s may give you – I was invited to a destination wedding. I’d heard the rumors and jokes that once you hit your mid to late 20s your summer social calendar becomes controlled by weddings, and that rumor is in fact true. I was invited to 7 weddings this year, and my cousin’s was one of them. So while my summer trip destination was chosen for me, I was determined to make the most of it. Here’s my greek itinerary and how I spent 7 unforgettable days in Greece.
Days 1 & 2: Settling in and Wedding Festivities
The wedding was on the coast of mainland Greece, so we booked an Airbnb near the venue in a town called Lagonisi. It was in the perfect location to explore Athens and also sun tan on the beach. I can take no credit for finding this Airbnb, so shoutout to my mom for finding the most amazing Greek villa. (Mom, if you’re reading this: you really crushed it).
Lagonisi was the perfect mix of living like a local and vacation vibes. And like any trip, my first stop on the itinerary is always the same – the local grocery.
Now I am a strong believer that the best way to experience a place is to go to the grocery store. You get to see what’s popular in the store and can unapologetically buy all the snacks and drinks that you want to try without spending a fortune. The one thing I recommend you get the next time you visit a Greek grocery store: Oregano flavored lays. Just trust me. They are a life changing snack.
My cousin and his now wife, Katherine got married in a town called Vari at the Island Art and Taste Athens. To say this place was beautiful would be an understatement, and if they are looking for filming locations for Mamma Mia 3, the producers should check this place out.
The venue was located right on the water overlooking the Mediterranean, the sun was shining, and it was a perfect summer day. Now if you are going to a Greek wedding, the most important thing you need to know is that they start late and go late. This wedding started at 7pm and lasted until about 4 in the morning. The Greeks love to party, so wear comfortable shoes and mix in water between your shots of ouzo.
Day 3: The Temple of Poseidon
No trip to Greece is complete without visiting some ancient ruins, and our first stop was the Temple of Poseidon. Now I am not a history buff, but the Percy Jackson fan in me was definitely freaking out when we arrived at the grandiose temple overlooking the ocean. The temple is located in Cape Sounion, which was about a 30 to 45 minute drive away. We booked a driver through P.G.T Tour Group who made the whole tour easy and educational.
WanderBea Tip: Drivers cannot go with you into the site of the temple, so if you want to have someone with you while you explore the temple, make sure to book a specific guide who can. There are plenty of signs if, like me, you choose the self guided experience.
The temple of Poseidon drastically exceeded my expectations, and I ended up spending way more time there than I anticipated. Give yourself at least 90 minutes to wander the grounds and soak it all in. There’s far more to see than you initially think when you pull up. And whatever you do, don’t forget your camera. The temple silhouette against the blue of the Aegean sea is absolutely breathtaking.
After the temple, our drive took us to a local restaurant in Lagonisi, Τα Καλάμια, for lunch. The minute we walked in we were greeted by the manager who took us to the kitchen to see what fish was fresh for the day. I was told this was a very common thing to happen, but I still felt very special. We chose a local dorado and a snapper and of course ordered some octopus and a salad for some vegetables. I love Mediterranean food, so the second we sat down, I was in absolute heaven.
Speaking of meals, we ended day 3 with my sister’s birthday celebration at the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens. To say this place was swanky was an understatement.
WanderBea Tip: Want a 5 star experience without shelling out the 5 star price? Book dinner and drinks at a luxury resort. It’s much cheaper than staying overnight.
We sipped cocktails at the bar, and then dined outside during what I can only describe as a magical sunset. Obviously everything at the Four Seasons was beautiful – an ocean view overlooking yachts, one of which we soon found out was owned by the CEO of WalMart, but the food was also delicious as well. My menu recommendation: the lamb ragu.
Day 4: A Day Trip to Athens
The fourth day of the trip was also my boyfriend’s last day, and so I was determined to make the most out of our last greek summer day together. We ditched the car and took the subway from the Athens airport into the city center to embark on another WanderBea trip staple: the food tour.
You cannot experience the true nature of a place without tasting it. That’s a travel hill that I’ll die on. Lucky for me, my mom found this gem of a food tour on AirBnB, and so I was able to live our my greek culinary dreams for real.
Food Tour on AirBnB: Taste Hidden Athenian flavors on culinary romp
An unknown hack that I learned on this food tour was that if you go on a really hot day in the summer, everyone will cancel, and your food tour is now a private tour. Shout out to the heat wave! Rachel, our guide, was absolutely phenomenal. We tried everything from souvlaki, to sardines, and my personal favorite Bougasta: a cream custard pie. I’m still thinking about how good this pie was to this day, so if anyone has a recipe, please send it to me!
In addition to eating pretty much anything our hearts desired, I felt like a celebrity while on this food tour. Everyone knew Rachel, and it made the whole experience feel more local and friendly. We were no longer tourists, but instead a part of the neighborhood.
I have to give Rachel one more shout out in this blog post because she was really a savior, especially at the end of the tour. My boyfriend and I had purchased olive oil (because Greek olive oil is magical and we had to have some), and were going to the Acropolis after the food tour. Rachel took us to her friend’s restaurant and they held onto our olive oil while we climbed to the top of the Acropolis. Thank you again Rachel for being absolutely amazing!
I’ll share more about visiting the Acropolis in another post, but here is the one tip that I can give you: do not go early. The Acropolis is going to be busy no matter when you go, but if you go later in the day, you are more likely to beat the cruise ship crowds and the sticky summer heat. We went at 6:30pm and it was perfect!
WanderBea Tip: The best time to visit the Acropolis is at the end of the day. It’s not as hot and while there are still crowds it is not as crazy. The less cruise ship tourists the better.
Day 5: Scuba Diving
One thing to know about me: if I am near an ocean, I am scuba diving. So of course, I had to dive whilst in Greece. I always book a 5-star PADI dive shop, and we found one at the Grand Lagonisi Resort, and they were amazing. They even let my dad and I do a quick refresher dive before we went out to the main event. Got to make sure our certification stays up to date.
Now I’ve done around 25+ dives in my scuba career, and a dive shop always gets brownie points from me if they set up my gear. Maybe it’s because I’m my family’s gear girl, and so not having to set up my own tank is always a win in my book.
WanderBea Scuba Tip: Always check your own dive gear even if the professionals set it up for you!
Diving in the med was COLD! I had a 5mm wetsuit on, and I still had to put another layer on for the second dive because I was still cold. Despite the water being freezing, the wildlife and coral structures were incredible. I even saw an eel hiding in a rock, which I have no pictures of, but I promise it happened. Speaking of pictures, Vasili, our dive master, took photos all along the way, and helped get some fun shots of us under the water. They are some of the best dive pictures that I have to date!
Day 6&7: Final Relaxation and Departure
What started as a pre-determined trip for someone else’s wedding turned into a week of unforgettable moments that really opened up my eyes to how amazing Greece is. From diving in the Mediterranean, eating my weight in Bougatsa, dancing til 4am, and standing in awe beneath ancient ruins, I realized that no matter where you are traveling to, the right mindset (and a few helpful WanderBea tips) can turn any trip into something memorable.
It reminded me that sometimes the best adventures while traveling are the ones you didn’t plan for. They are the ones you stumbled into because your cousin wanted to get married in Greece. So if you’re on the fence about a summer trip to Europe, let this be your sign to go. Just don’t forget to stop at the grocery story when you first arrive.
As always,
Happy Travels
~Bea