Greece

Continuing this week’s romantic getaways, Santorini, Greece is the perfect place for leisure!

Get swept away by breath-taking views, as the whitewashed buildings with bright blue rooftops sit softly on the island’s cliffs. The island itself is actually the rim of a volcano!

Known for its many vineyards, a trip to a winery is a must! The most famous winery, the Boutari Winery, offers a tour of the grounds, as well as a taste of its renown white wine!

Don’t forget to bring your camera as you explore the beach and take in magnificent sunsets. Beautiful beaches of white, black, and red sand create an unreal atmosphere, as this island is unlike any other. If you are feeling adventurous you can explore the cities by bicycle or even rent mopeds or ATV’s to take you around. Visit the most popular cities of Fira and Ia, both of which are known for their spectacular views.

RealTraveler Aaron&Katy detail their adventures in Santorini:

“Not far from Perissa’s black sand beaches are the red sand and white sand beaches of the island. The interesting colors of the beaches come from chemical makeup of the underlying volcanic rock. The beaches don’t see big waves so the erosion of the rocks is minimal and the “sands” are small pebbles rather than fine grains. Another interesting thing we found out: the black and red sand beaches heat up so much in the sun that there is straw on the beach to make it safe to walk on – very strange!

An hour’s drive away we reached the town of Oia famed for beautiful sunsets, and stunning views of classic Greek homes. The town is set on the very peak of a hill with a switchback walkway that leads down to a nearby harbor. It was beautiful to explore and take photographs of, but unfortunately was also packed with touristy shops and expensive restaurants. A favorite spot for artists, we saw many painters and beautiful galleries filled with their interpretations. The area is breathtaking and inspires with ease. Mesmerized by the beauty of the area, we found a balcony with a view and toasted with Santorini Wine as we watched the sun go down.” (more…)

To plan your trip to Santorini, visit:

Santorini Attractions
Santorini Hotels

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As far as cities go, you cannot get a more historically based one than Athens, Greece. The city itself has a history spanning 3,000 years. The myth surrounding the city is that the gods Poseidon and Athena competed to be the patrons of the city and have it be named after them. Poseidon created a spring by striking the ground with his trident, which symbolized naval power. Athena alternately, created the olive tree symbolizing peace and prosperity. The Athenians chose the olive tree and named the city after Athena.

When visiting the city, there are many ancient ruins to see, but the Acropolis is by far one of the main places to visit. Literally translated as “high city,” these ruins are a bit of a walk uphill to get to, but the views of the modern cityscape and the ancient ruins are well worth it. The Parthenon, built between 47 and 438 BC, is one of the lasting symbols of this ancient Greek culture. Also in the acropolis are the temple of Athena Nike, the Propylea, The Erechtheum on the North Side of the Acropolis, as well as many other ruins and the Centre for the Acropolis Studies, which is the museum filled with artifacts associated with the ruins.

For a break from ruins, shop in the Monastiraki, located below the Acropolis. Famous for its flea market, the Monastiraki is filled with shops, cafes and stands to enjoy. For a quick lunch, grab a gyro to go from one of the many vendors. At nighttime, you cannot beat the view of the Acropolis lit up against the sky from a café eating traditional souvlaka or taking a shot of ouzo, Greece’s famous alcohol made from pressed grapes, herbs and berries that tastes like black licorice.

Other major ruins that are a must see are the Temple of Zeus and the Ancient Agora. The Ancient Agora, located to the Northwest of the Acropolis is home to multiple standing temples and ruins to see. For a guided tour through history, visit the National Archeological Museum, which is considered the foremost museum in Greece and one of the best on Greek artifacts in the world.

For a more modern take on history, you can visit the stadiums erected for the return of the Olympic Games to Athens in 2004. You can walk to the modern stadiums that are now like ruins themselves after the games finished. Another modern place to visit that mixes the past with the present is the Parliament building. There you can see the changing of the guards, complete with traditional outfits of tassels, and see the heart of Modern Greek democracy.

Athens is a city with layers of history with every step you take. Throughout the city, there are always pieces of ruins excavated along the way, so that even just walking through Athens is like taking a trip to the “birthplace of democracy” and home to famous greats like Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle.

Click the link below for some great recommendations from other RealTravelers:
Athens Blogs

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