Things to Do in Naxos: Hike Up to the Portara

Things to Do in Naxos Island, Greece

While I was in Koufonisia, I was devastated to hear that Anthony Bourdain had passed away. I mean, I don’t even know the guy and I shed more than a few tears that day. (And the next.) And oddly, one of the reasons why I was in the Cyclades was because of Bourdain’s Naxos episode, where I think he asks at one point “Is Naxos the most chill Greek island?”

I was surprised to learn that Naxos is actually bigger than Mykonos. Once you’re on Naxos, you’ll notice that it’s a real working island — a little industrial almost. But then there are some great restaurants and beaches. So while I didn’t find Naxos as chill as Paros or certainly Koufonisia, it has a certain charm and is worth a visit if you are in the area. Here’s what I got up to while I was in town:

Where to Stay in Naxos: Hotel Xenia

Where to Stay in Naxos

While I was in Naxos, I stayed at the very centrally located Hotel Xenia in the old town, or chora. This was my first hotel that was really smack-dab in the middle of everything and I was reminded once again how much I love a central location. Don’t get me wrong, I liked my other hotels in Greece too, but there’s something to be said for wandering out the front door of your hotel and having all the shops and restaurants you could ever want right there in front of you. This is a small hotel with small rooms, but whoever designed them really knew what they were doing. Everything was perfectly laid out, with plenty of storage and good lighting. Also, the shower had the water pressure I had had in all of Greece. The only downside was the internet router on my hotel room’s ceiling — it blinked all night. They had tried to cover it up with cardboard, but you could still see the lights flashing off and on. (I just did a quick Google of “how to turn off lights on router” and found lots of instructions. So Hotel Xenia, LMGTFY.) All this being said, this was a reminder for me that a nice, clean hotel doesn’t have to cost a fortune.  Book the Hotel Xenia.

Where to Eat in Naxos: Strofili on the waterfront

Where to Eat in Naxos

I swear I am not normally such a creature of habit but in the Cyclades, I kept finding these restaurants that were so good, I couldn’t possibly go elsewhere and risk finding myself at a restaurant that wasn’t as good. In Naxos, my go-to spot was Strofili, on the edge of the old town in the direction of St. George’s beach. (Agios Giorgios.) At one point, I ordered the fish of the day which was grilled. I expected it to be like every other fish I had had in Greece by then — there would be some bones that I would have to pluck out. Not a lot but enough that I would have to be careful. But no!!! No bones!! i commented on this to my server and he explained that the kitchen staff uses tweezers to make sure every last bone is gone. Honestly, great food, great service, and amazing sunsets.

Where to Drink (and Watch the Sunset) on Naxos: The Ocean Club

Where to Drink in Naxos

The Ocean Club: My first evening in Naxos, I asked my server where to catch the best sunset. He laughed and said, “Right here! If you want a cocktail, go to our cocktail bar next door.” So for two of my three nights, I dropped by The Ocean Club around 8 pm and had cocktail and wait for the sun to set. Amazing.

Where to Drink in Naxos: Check out the sunset from the roof bar at 520.

520: On my second night in Naxos, I figured I should do something different so I wandered through the streets of the chora. Although the guy at my hotel told me I wouldn’t get lost, I totally did and found myself way on the other side of the port when I finally found my way out of the chora. I backtracked to 520, an upscale-looking bar and restaurant I had passed. The food menu didn’t excite me — not enough Greek stuff — but the view over the marina of the sunset in Naxos was ace.  Definitely worth a stop for a drink. (Although they are a bit on the pricier side and more in line with Mykonos pricing.) I also really liked the overall design and aesthetic — tres “industrial sailor.”

Hanging out at Agios Georgios.

Beaches on Naxos

While I was on Naxos, I checked out two beaches: Agios Georgios and Agios Prokopios.

Agios Georgios: If you are looking for things to do in Naxos, this is a great beach if you are lazy (like me) because it is quite close to the old town. It was about a 10 minute walk from my hotel. It’s also a great beach for kids because the water is quite shallow. You have to walk out quite a ways to get the water up to your waist. This is a serviced beach so I rented a sun lounger and ordered drinks from one of the beach bars. This also seems to be a beach popular with walkers….I saw a number of the same people each day walking up and down the beach. This is quite a busy beach and even when I was there in the shoulder season, sun loungers filled up quickly. So definitely get there early (or late) and not at peak time.

View from under my palapa at Agios Prokopios.

Agios Prokopios: The guy at the front desk of my hotel suggested I check out Agios Prokopios, about a 20 minute bus ride from the port. Of course, I chose to do this during the windiest, grayest day of my trip. But first, getting there. You have to go to the bus office by the port and buy a ticket and man, do they not care about tourists. I could not get anyone to help me. Then finally, once I bought my ticket, I said, “And now what?” And the woman shouted a number at me and waved in no particular direction. I stepped back out into the bus parking lot and there were about 8 buses in the lot. I picked out the most touristy looking people I could find — an older German couple — and asked them which bus went to Prokopios. “This one! Hurry, get on or he will leave.” And seriously, we all got on this bus and the guy BOOKED out of the lot. It was pretty uneventful after this. The German couple let me know where to get off for Prokopios, and then I rented myself another lounger. I read my book and did some swimming — I liked the waves here much better than at Georgios. It was pretty windy though all in all so I went back into town a few hours later. To be honest, after my bus experience, I think I would try to take a taxi next time!!

The Old Town in Naxos

Exploring the chora or old town is one of the most fun things to do in Naxos. Especially if you have money! There are a ton of cute shops with nice things. I wanted to buy everything! But I’m on a budget so no shopping for me. I recommend hitting the chora in the evening when it’s not as hot.

Cooking Class in Naxos

I really believe that there’s no better way to get to know a location than through its food. That’s why this blog is called Passport Delicious after all! So in my opinion, one of the best things to do in Naxos that is really local and helps you meet local people, is this cooking class. Try one of these culinary experiences in Naxos! You’ll get a chance to cook and eat a typical Naxian menu with local wine together with local Greeks.

Check out The Kite Surfers and Windsurfers on Naxos

On the day I took the bus from the chora in Naxos to Agios Prokopios, I was surprised to see us pass this shallow beachy area full of windsurfers and kitesurfers. So if this is something you are into, definitely check out one of the kitesurfing and windsurfing schools on the island because as it turns out, Naxos is quite known for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Flisvos Kite Center is one of the more popular schools but there are definitely a few worth checking out if you are looking for sporty things to do in Naxos.

What to Bring with You to Naxos

I have three main recommendations:

1. A nice hat. The sun is super intense.
2. A Turkish towel. These are super lightweight and easy to carry around the island with you. Your hotel should hopefully have beach towels but you can use one of these as a beach blanket or subsitute beach towel.
3. A waterproof phone case on a lanyard so you can keep your phone and money safe and also protect everything from water damage.

Summary of Things to Do in Naxos

There are so many things to do in Naxos and it’s really the type of place you could visit for an entire week. The beaches alone could probably keep you busy for a while. Definitely worth a return visit!

Planning a Trip to Greece? You Might Enjoy These Other Posts

• How to Have an Amazing 2 Days in Athens
• My Tips for Island Hopping in the Cyclades
• The Best Things to Do in Paros
• Why You Shouldn’t Visit Koufonisia

Looking for More Things to Do in Naxos? Take a Tour!

Pin Things to Do in Naxos for Later!

The post Things to Do in Naxos, Greece first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

The beaches in Koufonisia are terrible.

Things Not to Do in Koufonisia, Greece

Guys, I almost don’t want to tell you about Koufonisia, No one should go there. It’s a terrible place. Terrible. Awful. Noisy, crowded, dirty. Stay on Mykonos. It’s much better. Much.

Crowded beach on Koufonisia

But if you have to go to Koufonisia, I guess you could go to the beach. Careful though. They are very busy. And very crowded. Very crowded.

There is only one taxi on Koufonisia so bicycle will be your main mode of transportation.

Don’t Rent a Bicycle on Koufonisia

There’s only one taxi on Koufonisia so bicycle is your only option for getting around. Definitely don’t rent a bicycle from the bike shop at the port. Because when you only have 50 euros to pay for the bike that cost 7 euros to rent, the store proprietor will just give you the bike and tell you to come back when you have smaller bills. And when you say, “Wow, you really trust me?” He will look at you and laugh and say “This is a small island. It will not be hard to find you if you don’t pay.”

Don’t Eat at Neo Remezzo

Don’t go to dinner at the local fish place, Neo Remezzo.  When they try to sell you on the fish of the day listed at the ominous “MP,” balk but then let them take you back to the kitchen and put the fish practically in your hands and then weigh it for you and tell you “10 euros. With chips. And tomatoes. Do not worry.” Later, don’t let them bring you complimentary mastiha, the sappy-tasting after-dinner digestif in the Cyclades.

Don’t eat at Mikres Cyclades

Don’t Eat at Mikres Cyclades

Another night, after doing a loop of the Chora and its two cash machines that only spit out 50s that no one on the island can change, don’t go to the new restaurant in town, Mikres Cyclades, and have the lamb shank that falls off the bone. And certainly don’t tell them how delicious everything is because they will practically beg you to share your review on TripAdvisor, And when you do, watch when they respond IMMEDIATELY and thank you profusely for your kind words.

Don’t Drink at Koufochorio

After dinner, don’t go to the local cocktail bar, Koufochorio. Your cocktail will be three times the size of a cocktail in London and the same price.

Don’t Hike to the Beaches

Once you give up on the bicycle (you are not as fit as you imagined you were), don’t walk to the beaches and hike over sand dunes. You’ll encounter a naturist in hiking boots on a rock and then you’ll swim in the warmest and clearest water you’ve ever experienced outside the Bahamas.

You’ll have so little to do in Koufonisia that you will finish not one but three books. In three days. I mean, who likes reading books?

Don’t Stay at The Koufonisia Hotel

If you’re looking for a place to stay, don’t stay at the Koufonisia  Hotel, a short walk from the port, where when you are tired of the terrible beaches, you can relax poolside. The pool is terrible. Awful. Boring. Thank goodness for those books you brought.

Also, don’t ask the omelet guy to make you an omelet at breakfast. It will be the softest and fluffiest omelet you’ve ever had in your entirely life.

Don’t Go to Koufonisa

And then it will be time to leave. And you will be very very sad. Because Koufonisia is a terrible terrible place. Awful. No one should ever go there. Ever. 🙂

How to Get to Koufonisia

If you really, really have to go to Koufonisia, you can take the ferry from Paros to Koufonisia. It takes about an hour. Buy your tickets here.

When to Visit Koufonisia

Again if you really really must go to Koufonisia, I can heartily recommend an early June visit if you want the entire island to yourself. I imagine July and August are a bit more crowded and given that there is not a lot of accommodation on this small island, there may not be many places to stay.

What to Bring with You to Koufonisia

I have three main recommendations:

1. A nice hat. The sun is super intense.
2. A Turkish towel. These are super lightweight and easy to carry around the island with you. Your hotel should hopefully have beach towels but you can use one of these as a beach blanket or subsitute beach towel.
3. A waterproof phone case on a lanyard so you can keep your phone and money safe and also protect everything from water damage.

You Might Enjoy My Other Posts

• My Tips for Island Hopping in the Cyclades
• What to Do in Paros, Greece
• How to Spend 2 Days in Athens
• What to Do in Naxos, Greece

The post Why You Should Never Visit Koufonisia, Greece first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

What to Do in Paros, Greece: Explore Naoussa

Let me start by saying I am already plotting my return to the lovely Paros, Greece. I fell in love with this small island in the Cyclades, within easy reach of Mykonos by ferry. It’s just a very chill place with great restaurants and great beaches; there are lots of things to do in Paros, Greece. It’s a lot calmer than Mykonos and Santorini and in early June, I had many restaurants and bars and beaches and shops entirely to myself. I almost don’t want to blog about Paros island, I am so in love with it. Just go to Mykonos! Mykonos is fine!! 😉

But if you must go to Paros…

Fine…

Here are my top tips for Paros island, Greece including the best things to do in Paros.

At Mykonos Port: The Ferry from Mykonos to Paros

Getting There: Taking the Ferry from Mykonos to Paros

I **think** most people will travel to Paros from Mykonos. If so, the ferry from Mykonos to Paros is super easy. You can book your tickets through FerriesinGreece.com. The hardest part for me was just waiting for the ferry, which was running a little bit late. If you read my tips on Greek island hopping in the Cyclades, you’ll know that you can use MarineTraffic.com to check your ferry’s status. (There’s free wifi in the Mykonos port and it clocked in at 10 Mbps which was great!!) I was traveling from Mykonos to Paros with Champion Jet and had to check both Champion Jet 1 and 2 because apparently they frequently swap them, no matter what your ticket says. The Mykonos port is quite long and large and the signage isn’t great, but the ferries are huge too so it’s hard to miss your ferry!  Ferries arrive and depart very quickly so when you see your ship coming in, just start queuing up with everyone. Once on board, I could take a deep breath and about an hour later, we were in Paros.

Given how many people got on in Mykonos, I was surprised by how few people got off in Paros. But hey, more Paros for me.

Decide on Parikia or Naoussa (or Aliki)

When considering what to do in Paros island, I told my travel agent at Greeka that I wanted a hotel close to the beach and that a pool would be nice too. I also noted that I liked to be close to restaurants and bars. He asked me if I was interested in Parikia or Naoussa and honestly I had no idea because I knew nothing about Paros. As a result, he suggested Naoussa and now having seen both parts of Paros island, I am so so glad because Naoussa is so beautiful!! Parikia is a small port town and it feels like a port, although certainly it has its charms and scenic white-walled Greek moments. Naoussa on the other hand feels very village-y and upscale. It”s practically wall to wall restaurants and shops, but it doesn’t have that over-touristy feel that Mykonos has.

I honestly loved Naoussa. So for me, if you are trying to choose between Parikia or Naoussa, I recommend Nauoussa. Note that I also liked the look of Aliki. It felt very chilled and laid back.

Things to Do in Paros: Stay at Contaratos Beach Hotel

Stay in a Paros Hotel Close to The Beach

In Noussa, I stayed at the Contaratos Beach Hotel, one of Paros’ hotels on the beach! (Technically, across the road from the beach but still.) This was a great tourist-class hotel with VERY friendly and sweet staff. I missed breakfast one morning because I went into Parikia to get a SIM card and when I returned later in the day, they were all like “Where have you been?? We were worried about you!” Although the pool looked inviting, the beach right across the road was even more inviting so I spent most of my time there. It was great because the sun was only setting at 8:30 pm so some nights I’d come back to the hotel around 7 pm and think, “Evening swim? Yes. Evening swim.” (“Evening swim” should go to the top of your “Things to do in Paros” list.)

I really liked the location of this hotel and the food and the service. Honestly, super friendly place. Even the locals told me later that everyone likes the people who run Contaratos Beach  Hotel. If you are looking through all of the Paros hotels on the beach, this is a great choice. My only caution would be that to get into town, it’s about a 10 minute walk uphill and then to come back to the hotel, you have to hoof it up a flight of (gently sloping) stairs. So it’s a little bit of a workout. But hey, more baklava, right?

If your budget is smaller or bigger than mine, here are two other highly rated hotels to consider in Naoussa.

• Madaky Hotel (Budget): This is a cute, clean and centrally located Naoussa hotel that you can normally book for a steal if you plan far enough in advance.
• Saint Andrea Resort Hotel (Luxury): Life doesn’t get much better than this beautifully decorated and serene hotel overlooking Kolympithres Beach and Naoussa Bay.

Things to Do in Paros, Greece

OK, now that you know how to get there and where to stay, here are my top tips for things to do in Paros…

Things to Do in Paros: Eat at Taverna Glafkos in Naoussa

Eat at Taverna Glafkos in Naoussa

There are a bunch of restaurants in Naoussa but I liked my first meal at Taverna Glafkos so much, it’s the only place I ate in Naoussa proper. Glafkos is a VERY small restaurant with only a few outdoor tables. You are RIGHT on the water, which is lovely. Lots of seafood and Greek specialties and friendly service to boot. Also, the ever-present Greek cats. I really liked it here but recommend that you make a reservation as I saw them turn away quite a few parties each evening. Very much recommended. Even if you don’t stay in Naoussa, if you’re wondering what to do in Paros, you should eat at Taverna Glafkos!

Moraitis Winery

Visit Moraitis Winery

Super close to the Contaratos Beach Hotel, you’ll find Moraitis Winery. This very friendly winery has a lovely atmosphere. You can tour the cellars before doing a tasting — you can choose between tasting six or nine wines and snacks are also available. This, in my opinion, is one of the best things to do in Paros! You should visit and arrange a tasting. But definitely let them know in advance that you are coming and bear in mind that they are probably most fully staffed during tourist season.

Go Shopping in Naoussa

One of the best things to do in Paros island is go shopping. The shopping in Naoussa is fantastic and upscale and interesting. I bought a beautiful Turkish towel here for the beach that I am quite in love with. Definitely make time for browsing from one shop to the next. Note most shops are open in the morning and evening — they are closed in the afternoon. Shopping is also easy in Naoussa because the chora (old town) is so compact.

What to Do in Paros: Check Out the Sunset from the Old Port in Naoussa

Watch the Sunset in Naoussa

Once I figured out where the sun would set, I walked west and found the more touristy strip of restaurants and outdoor cafes in the old port of Naoussa. I arrived around 7:45 pm for the 8:30 pm sunset and got a table very easily at Axinos on the waterfront. I asked for the house white and it was really perfect. I need more Greek wine in my life! Axinos appeared to be very popular with locals and tourists alike so if you are with a large party, make sure you book in advance. Great place for the sunset, for sure. I don’t think Noussa gets enough credit for its sunsets!! Sitting there with a glass of wine, people-watching and waiting for the sunset is surely one of the nicest things to do in Paros.

Take a Boat Trip

There are a number of boat trips that leave from Parikia each day. Long-term readers will know that I am a sucker for a boat cruise so in my mind, this is one of the best things to do in Paros island. During the high season, Regaki Boat Trips is a great option with good prices. You can do a day cruise which visits the blue lagoon, sea caves, Despotiko island and Faneromeni beach. Food and snorkeling equipment is included. You can also do a shorter evening sunset cruise with drinks and finger food.

Explore the Parikia Old Town

I had to go into town one morning to buy my SIM card and had some time to kill before my bus back to Naoussa. So while I was waiting, I got lost in Parikia’s little old town. It is not very big but don’t underestimate your ability to get lost because I totally did! There are small cafes and shops dotted in and around the Parikia chora and it’s a lovely way to spend a morning or evening. I also had a lovely quick snack of stuffed grapeleaves on the waterfront while waiting for my bus to Antiparos. (Super close to the area where the buses depart from.) If you are interested in staying in Parikia, here are two great hotels to consider:

• Pension Rena (Budget): This cute little pension is located a short walk from the old town in Parikia. Located in a quieter part of town.
• Paros Palace (Luxury): Beautiful hotel a little outside of town. Great pool and restaurant.

Visit Aliki

As I mention below, during my Antiparos adventure, my bus stopped in Aliki. It looked great! Super chill and beachy. More local and less touristy. I want to go back and spend more time here!! So put Aliki on your “things to do in Paros island” list. If you’re interested in staying in Aliki, here are two highly rated hotels to consider:

• Angeliki Hotel (Budget): This small hotel boasts lovely views of the water from the front rooms. Clean, neat, and centrally located.
• Parosland Hotel (Luxury): This four-star hotel is a little outside of town but makes up for it with a great restaurant, excellent breakfast, and beautiful decor.

Check out The Valley of The Butterflies

OK, I put this here carefully because you have to go at the right time in June/July/August. Otherwise, there will be no butterflies! Also, there’s only one type of butterfly which some people find disappointing but hey, when is the last time you saw hundreds of butterflies?? Never. So I still think this place is cool. If you have 30 minutes to spare and if you have a car and the Valley of Butterflies is easy to get to why not? Go, have a coffee, and wander around.

Island Hop from Naoussa to Antiparos

When I was reading up on things do in Paros, I had read about how Tom Hanks likes to hang out in Antiparos, so I thought I would check this smaller cousin of Paros out. I took the bus from Naoussa to Parikia and then from Parikia to the Antiparos ferry. Super easy…just ask for directions to the Naoussa bus stop and then buy tickets from the ticket agent or the machine. BUT! While I could totally be wrong about this, I think some buses from Parikia go more directly to Antiparos than my bus, which went to Aliki first and then Antiparos. So ask about the bus schedule and times.

The Antiparos ferry is a hoot because it seriously only takes like 8 minutes to cross the water. I loved it. (While I was there in June, the ferry ran every 15 minutes during the day but I believe this changes depending on the time of year.) Note that if you do not want to take the bus on your return to Paros, have your restaurant in Antiparos call ahead for a taxi for you so when you get off the ferry on the Paros side, someone is waiting for you.

Hang Out in the Chora in Antiparos

In hindsight, I really wish I had spent more time in Antiparos. I really liked the local vibe here. There were lots of young kids in the streets and it just felt very safe and friendly and local. The main drag is a pretty little shopping street dotted with restaurants and bars. I had some some research beforehand on where to eat in Antiparos and had discovered Pavlos’ Place, a very friendly taverna with a large covered patio. (It’s also a hotel.) I had an early dinner here of fish and salad and white wine and had a nice chat with Pavlos himself. This was a very good value meal and a really friendly, nice, no-airs-and-graces place. They were also extremely helpful in organizing a taxi to pick me up on the Paros side and take me back to Naoussa. In short, Antiparos felt very friendly to me and I never made it out of the chora (old town)! Make this a stop during your visit! And explore the beaches! Try to find Tom Hanks!

Should You Use a Travel Agent for Paros?

I used Greeka and had a positive experience with them. Because this was an unfamiliar part of the world for me, it made sense to use a travel agent. I’m sure you could organize this on your own (especially now that you’ve read my post) but as you’ve seen here, Greeka.com was effective in steering me towards Naoussa. I’m not sure I would have chosen Naoussa on my own.  Also, it was great to have all my ferry tickets and transfers organized in advance.

What to Bring with You to Paros

I have three main recommendations:

1. A nice hat. The sun is super intense.
2. A Turkish towel. These are super lightweight and easy to carry around the island with you. Your hotel should hopefully have beach towels but you can use one of these as a beach blanket or subsitute beach towel.
3. A waterproof phone case on a lanyard so you can keep your phone and money safe and also protect everything from water damage.

Things to Do in Paros Island Summary

I hope my blog post has helped you determine what to do in Paros, Greece. It is my new favorite island! It might become yours too. But shhhhh. Don’t tell anyone else.

You Might Enjoy My Other Posts

• What to Do in Athens in Two Days
• Tips for Island Hopping in the Cyclades
• Why You Should Not Go to Koufonisia 😉
• Things to Do in Naxos

Pin It for Later!

Need Other Things to Do in Paros? Check Out These Tours…

The post Paros Travel Guide: 10 Fun Things to Do in Paros, Greece first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

See the famous windmills of Mykonos while Cyclades island hopping.

My Advice for Cyclades Island Hopping

I’ve just returned from a 10 days of Greek island hopping in The Cyclades and it’s a part of the world I’d love to spend more time in. One, I’m a sucker for boats. Two, I love a good swim.  Three, I’m a huge fan of the Mediterranean diet and want to eat all the seafood and Greek yogurt and Greek cheese. Honestly, I really didn’t want to ever leave Greece and I’m already plotting my return. You won’t want to leave either. Here are my tips and advice for island hopping in the Cyclades…

My Original 10 Night Cyclades Island Hopping Itinerary

I flew into and out of Mykonos which is well-serviced by ferries. Now that I know more about the ferries, you could probably also fly into and out of Athens but I’ve already been to Athens twice so I skipped that. Mykonos airport is super small and easy to get in and out of. You’ll be in central Mykonos is about 10 minutes! I spent a night in Mykonos on both ends because I had read horror stories: I didn’t want to book a ferry out of Mykonos on my arrival day, just to find that my flight was delayed, and I definitely didn’t want to miss my flight home either! Here’s my Greek Island Hopping Itinerary:

• 1 night Mykonos
• 3 nights in Paros (Naousa) with a day tip to Antiparos, a small island with a compact old town that I loved.
• 2 nights in Koufonisia
• 3 nights in Naxos Old Town
• 1 night in Mykonos

In hindsight, for my Cyclades island hopping, I would have shifted one of my Naxos nights to Antiparos. Naxos is a pretty big island — bigger than Mykonos — and really requires a car or motorbike unless you want to stay close to town or take a lot of buses or taxis. Also, I would have done a day trip to Kato Koufonisia from Koufonisia which is supposed to be quite chill.

My Revised 10 Night Greek Island Hopping Itinerary

So knowing what I know now, if I were to do it all over again, here’s my suggested Greek island hopping itinerary with a lot more hopping!  This is a great itinerary for someone who wants to see a lot of the Cyclades. However, this itinerary assumes that you are just traveling with a carry on bag as I think if I had a huge suitcase with me while island hopping in the Cyclades, I would not want to move around as much.

• 1 night Mykonos
• 2 nights in Paros (Naousa)
• 2 nights in Antiparos
• 2 nights in Koufnisia
• 2 nights in Naxos Old Town
• 1 night in Mykonos (Time your ferry to give you either a long last day in Naxos — late ferry — or a long last day in Mykonos — an early ferry.

Tips for Cyclades Island Hopping: Ferries

There are plenty of ferries to help you out with Cyclades island hopping.

1. Use a travel agent to book all your Greek island hopping ferry tickets and transfers in advance. In my case, I booked everything through Greeka and my airport transfer guy brought my ferry tickets to the airport. I never had to worry about buying ferry tickets or arranging a transfer *while* I was traveling, which let me really enjoy my holiday. All I had to do was wait in my hotel reception area at the pre-arranged time for my ferry transfers. I had a very positive experience with Greeka and would recommend them if  are arranging a Cyclades island hopping holiday and you need help with ferry tickets, transfers, and hotels.

2. If you want to book your own Greek island hopping ferry tickets, I recommend  FerriesinGreece.com. They are very well respected and are affiliated with Greeka.

3. Note that there are high speed ferries and regular ferries. I preferred the high speed ferries for, well, speed. But the slower ferries have more outdoor space and really let you enjoy the ride. All of my ferry rides while island hopping in the Cyclades were of manageable length…about an hour or so. (Sometimes I felt like I spent more time waiting for the ferry than actually on it. One thing I’ve since learned is that you don’t need to arrive too early for your ferry.) Bathrooms on ferries were clean and snacks were available too! Sometimes even wifi!

Cyclades Island Hopping: Watching the ferry arrive in Koufnisia from Paros

4. Use marinetraffic.com to track your ferries and see if they are on-time. There is no CityMapper Greece for ferries, unfortunately. Marinetraffic.com is the closest you are going to get. Know your ferry names so you can easily look them up. (However, read point #5.)

5. Ferry communication is not the greatest. Chances are your ferry will be late and you’ll think you’re waiting for Champion Jet 1 but instead you’re on Champion Jet 2. (This apparently is very common.) Always check your ferry before you leave your hotel. For my Mykonos to Paros ferry, it turned out it was running an hour late. There was no reason to get to the port that early, so my transfer came later. (There is not enough shady seating at Mykonos Port so this was a blessing.) At the port, you’ll have to rely on the kindness of other travelers as the port employees really only communicate when it’s time to board the ferry. Signage, in my opinion, is terrible.

6. When you get on most ferries, you are asked to leave your luggage on a rack. Some ferries have racks by destination. Others are more of a free for all. Don’t be too eager to be the first person to get on your ferry…being the first person on might mean you’re the last person to get your luggage because it’s behind or under everything else. I learned to hang back a bit when I boarded my ferries. Definitely bring luggage locks for your bags!

7. If you have a carry on suitcase, you can bring it upstairs  on the ferry with you. I did this on my first ferry but then noticed that they block access to the luggage areas during the ferry ride, so I didn’t mind leaving it in the luggage area. Plus, I had nothing of real value to steal. (Of course, per above, use luggage locks and make sure your bags are very clearly labeled and/or use a distinctive luggage tag to set your bag apart. There are a lot of black carry on bags!!)

8. Do not delay in getting on your ferry!!! They turn these boats around quickly. Once they are almost ready to board the ferry, they will start herding you together and then they’ll start yelling, “Hurry, hurry!”

9. Do you need a Greek island hopping ferry pass for island hopping in the Cyclades? No. Each island is serviced by different ferry companies. Also, in peak months in July and August, you really need to pre-book your ferries. You can’t just show up and expect to board. Contact Greeka about your itinerary and see what they suggest or just use  FerriesinGreece.com directly. For example, Greeka immediately told me how I’d have to go to Paros first and then Koufnisia because the ferry schedule worked best that way.  From what I’ve seen, the “Greek Island hopping ferry passes” sold online are just packaged holidays in the Cyclades so you might as well tell a travel agent what you want and have them just design the itinerary for you.

Tips for Cyclades Island Hopping: What to Bring

10. Bring your own beach towel BUT perhaps wait til you get to Greece to buy one because I don’t think you need something huge and heavy. I recommend purchasing Turkish towels because they are light, they dry easily, and they are easy to roll and pack. You will find them sold everywhere, of varying quality. I got a really nice one handmade in Greece for 25 euros.

Island Hopping in the Cyclades: I had the Beaches in Koufnisia to Myself.

11. Bring a lightweight backpack for the beach. In Koufonisia, I had to traverse sand dunes to get to different beaches. In hindsight, I would have preferred to schlep everything on my back instead of a tote bag. In Paros and Naxos, I took the bus to a few beaches and again would have preferred a backpack.

12. Bring a hat. These are very commonly sold on the islands but it’s good to bring your own. Of course a good hat is great for the beach, but it will also come in handy when you are waiting for the ferry.

13. Consider buying a compact beach umbrella for unserviced beaches if you’re island hopping in the Cyclades in places like Paros and Koufnisia. (In Naxos, the beaches I visited were serviced and you could rent chairs and umbrellas for 6 to 8 euros.) In Koufonisia, I saw a lot of people walking around with backpacks and beach umbrellas and I was jealous.

14. Buy a waterproof case for your mobile phone in case you don’t want to leave it on the beach while you are swimming. On the serviced beaches, you’ll find that there are people selling stuff on the beach so there’s more people walking past your stuff. This made me a little nervous, leaving my belongings unattended.

15. Bring some sort of beach cover up. The Cyclades are windy so you may find yourself bracing against a cool wind some days. Also, if you are relying on the bus, you will have to walk to and from bus stops.

16. Keep a travel journal! Keep all your ferry tickets and other bits and bobs that you collect and tuck them into a travel journal along with notes from your trip. This is especially helpful if you plan on returning next year to do some more Greek island hopping like I plan to do! Good to have the memories fresh and know what you did last time. Here are my favorite travel journals.

Tips for Cyclades Island Hopping: Buses and Taxis

The lovely beach outside of Naousa, Paros, across from the Contaratos Beach Hotel

17. If you are taking the bus while you are island hopping in the Cyclades, go to the beaches early and leave early. (Or go late and leave late.) The afternoon buses going back into town get pretty packed and the last thing you want when you’re hot and tired is to watch multiple full buses go past you. This happened to me a few times and it was pretty annoying.

18. On that note, in Paros and Naxos, take the bus! It’s fun to see different parts of the islands and check out different beaches. I liked the look of Aliki on Paros and am already plotting my return.

19. I found bus station staff to be supremely unhelpful for anything except buying tickets in Naxos. They really did not want to tell me anything else. Rely on your fellow passengers for help. I wouldn’t have even known what bus to get on in Naxos had it not been for an older German couple who had been visiting the island for 40 years. (Paros buses were easier because it’s a smaller island more reliant on tourism)

20. Don’t rely on taxis. Apparently, there are only 33 taxis on Mykonos and 27 on Paros. There is ONE taxi on Koufonisia. I also found that I got charged one rate while locals were charged another so be prepared for that. Also, because there are so few taxis in the Cyclades, don’t be surprised if you are asked to share a taxi at times. This happened to me when I got off the Antiparos ferry in Paros and took a taxi back to my hotel.

Exploring Antiparos while Cyclades Island Hopping

21. If you are planning on taking day trips, arrange all your transport in advance. For example, if you go to Antiparos for the day during your Cyclades island hopping, ask your restaurant to call you a taxi to meet you on the Paros side when you take the ferry back over to Paros. (Do this well in advance.) Alternatively, you may find yourself waiting for the bus for 30 minutes in the dark by yourself. It was great to get off the (very short) Antiparos ferry and have a taxi there waiting for me.

Tips for Island Hopping in the Cyclades: Money

22. Tipping is uncommon in restaurants but it is common to round up a bill to a convenient round number. So 18.50 euros to 20, for example.

23. Bring small bills. I had trouble on Paros and in Koufnisia with my 50 euro notes. Not even my hotels could make change sometimes! Unless you are going out for gourmet dinners every night in Mykonos, most meals will cost you about 10 euros.

Tips for Cyclades Island Hopping: WATER

Walking around Koufnisia while island hopping in the Cyclades

24. Don’t drink the tap water. Bottled water is pretty cheap and you’ll find it everywhere. This seems to be a particular concern on Mykonos for some reason. All my drivers and hotel staff constantly reminded me to buy bottled water.

25. Conserve water. There is a water shortage in the Cyclades so take military showers and reuse your towels.

26. Throw your toilet paper in the rubbish bin. Greek pipes are old school narrow pipes. Use the bin!! Everywhere! On land or at sea!

Tips for Cyclades Island Hopping: Random Stuff

27. Getting a SIM card takes a while. They don’t have the infrastructure in place for tourist SIM cards. You have to go to a real mobile phone store (I used Vodafone) and bring your passport and register for a SIM card. My process took about 25 minutes and I was the only person in the shop. (Note I tried Cosmote first which is supposed to have better coverage in the Cyclades but there were like 10 people in front of me so I skipped that.) Your home data package might cover Greece already at a day rate or within your European minutes, but I always need a back up plan for work which is why I made sure I got a local number. Also, the local SIM got me 4G whereas my UK O2 SIM only gave me 3G. In general, if you just need the internet to check email and social media, I don’t think you need a SIM card when island hopping in the Cyclades. BUT if you, like me, need to work from the road and do regular Skype calls, a local SIM is a good idea.

28. Be ready for the naturalists. One afternoon, while hiking over some sand dunes on Koufnisia, I encountered a naked man in hiking boots.

29. Lastly and most importantly, when Cyclades island hopping, visit the smaller islands in Greece! Most people don’t get away from Santorini or Mykonos but Paros, Naxos, and Koufonisia are super easy to get to and unique and interesting in their own rights. (And cheaper.) I was glad I made it to Antiparos as a day trip, but I’m also sad I missed Kato Koufonisia as a day trip. That I suppose is the good news…there are still so many islands left to explore! I can’t wait to do some more Cyclades island hopping! Who is with me???

When to Go Cyclades Island Hopping

I traveled for 10 days in early June. Mykonos felt really crowded to me then, so I worry about what July and August are like! I had Paros and Koufnisia mostly to myself — apparently their seasons start the first weekend in June. Naxos was pretty busy in town, but the beaches were fairly quiet. In short, I thought early June was a great time to be in the Cyclades, but if you like more of a scene, July and August is where it’s at.

What are Your Tips for Island Hopping in the Cyclades?

If you have any advice based on your own experience, please let me know. I’m considering a return to the islands next summer!

You Might Enjoy My Other Posts about Greece and Island Hopping in the Cyclades

• How to Spend a Weekend in Athens
• What to do in Paros
• Why You Should Not Go to Koufonisia 😉
• What to do in Naxos

Tours from Mykonos

Tours from Paros

Tours from Naxos

Pin It for Later!

The post 29 Tips for Greek Island Hopping in the Cyclades first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.

Temple to Zeus: One Stop during my 2 Days in Athens Itinerary

My 2 Days in Athens Itinerary

Adventures in (relatively) value-priced travel continue! Relocating from Chicago to the UK was not cheap. So I have been on a travel moratorium. Cash flow has improved  though, enough that I was able to get away to Helsinki last month. With a long weekend in April looming, I thought long and hard. Where did I want to go and where could I go for a good value?

I really wanted to go to Athens. I am having a Greek Renaissance! All things Greek appeal to me. Greek wine, tzatziki, olive oil, feta cheese, all things white and blue, marble…all things Greek. The last time I was in Athens was 21 years ago! 21 years! So I did it. My new favorite page on the Internet is the BA Holidays page. All the packaged holidays! After a bit of playing around, I settled on a flight and a 3 night stay at the Crowne Plaza Athens City Centre which would give me 2 days in Athens. Done. (The hotel was fine but not as centrally located as I would have liked so I think you can find something better.)

The things we do to save money. The cheapest flight meant landing at 3 am. My taxi driver drove 100 miles an hour into town, which turned me green at the time but in hindsight, got me into bed by 3:30 am. Five hours later, I was up and at ’em. Here’s what I did and where I ate and drank during my 2 days in Athens.

Day 1: Athens Walking Tour

The Parthenon: A Must See during Your 2 Days in Athens

Athens City Walking Tour: To kick off my 2 days in Athens, I booked this perfect 3.5 tour through Viator, which took in all the key sights in Athens: Syntagma Square, the Parliament Building and the the tomb of the unknown soldier, the temple to Zeus and of course, the Acropolis. Our tour guide, Aristotle (not kidding) was awesome. This was a great way to see Athens. I particularly enjoyed seeing all the archaeological finds in the metro.

Day 1 Lunch

Kafeneio Restaurant, Athens

Kafeneio. I’ve written this before…the more I travel, the less I want to see things. I had the option of doing the Acropolis Museum after my Athens tour but I needed a break. I needed sustenance. I triangulated TripAdvisor and Foursquare and selected Kafenio for lunch and boy did I get lucky. I got a cozy table in the corner and as soon as I sat down, the gruff Greek proprietor approached me and said — definitively, like I like them to do — “I have cod today. It is very good.”

How many GREEK SALADS can you eat in 2 Days in Athens??

So I had the  the cod and the wine that he recommended and enough Greek salad for four people. I liked it here. Popular with the tourist crowd but I don’t care. Note I’ve learned when I travel that I prefer to have a big lunch and a light dinner so this was my main meal of the day.

Day 1: Acropolis Museum

After lunch at Kafeneio, I headed back to the Acropolis Museum for a wander. I did this on my own but in hindsight, it would have been nice to have a guide so that I knew more about the history. However, a lot of the tours spend hours in the museum and I’ve learned that I am a 90 minute person so when constructing your 2 days in Athens, think about what type of person you are, how much time you want to spend here, and if it makes sense to have a guide or not.

Day 1 Cocktail Time

Winepoint, Athens

Winepoint. Salvation in wine! After the Acropolis Musuem, I headed towards Winepoint, and it was the best decision I made during my entire 2 days in Athens itinerary. The lovely Amalie set up a little Greek wine tasting for me, each glass accompanied by delicious, delicious meats and cheeses and breads. Heaven! And there were electric outlets under the bar! And free wifi! I almost didn’t leave. But after two hours there by myself, I thought it best to go back to my hotel and relax for the rest of the evening.

Day 2: Athens Food Tour

Ouzo during my Athens food tour

Athens Food Tour: For Day 2 of my 2 Days in Athens itinerary, I decided to have a bit less history and a bit more delicious Greek food. Also through Viator, I signed up for this lovely and compact little food tour of Athens. It was a great way to see the city. Highlights included a shop dedicated to products from Lesvos and a walk through the crazy busy meat and the fish markets. I had a good time on this tour, although I had skipped breakfast and was starving three hours in. No fear though, the tour dropped us at Aischylos where we ended with pork GYROS. I love gyros. The Greeks have a way with the pita. This was a very hearty portion and served as my main meal of the day. I even stayed on here a bit after the tour ended just to relax and use the wifi.

Day 2 Cocktail Hour

Heteroclito, a Great Stop during Your 2 Days in Athens

Heteroclito. After my food tour, I took a wander around town. Multiple newspapers had suggested a stop at Heteroclito so I dropped in for an early afternoon glass of white or two. Heteroclito is very tiny and very sweet. My server brought me little chunks of dry garlicky bread and was lovely in her recommendations. I understand that Heteroclito is heaving in the evenings, but for a Saturday afternoon, it’s a lovely spot.

Day 2 Shopping in Athens

After my wine, I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering through the shopping areas of Plaka and Monastiraki before heading back to my hotel to pack up.

So there you go. That’s all I did during my 2 days in Athens. In hindsight, I wish I had organized this trip for three days. Lots more to see and do and eat.

You Might Enjoy These Other Posts

• My Tips for Island Hopping in the Cyclades
• Things to do in Paros, Greece
• Why You Should Not Go to Koufonisia 😉
• Things to do in Naxos, Greece

Need More to Do during Your 2 Days in Athens?

The post How to Have an Amazing 2 Days in Athens, Greece first appeared on Passport Delicious | Solo Travel Blog | Solo Female Travel.