My Greece Holiday in 2023 !
My Greece Holiday was super fun!
It was a sunny July morning when I arrived at the bustling Athens airport, brimming with excitement for my upcoming Greek island holiday. I had dreamed of visiting the beautiful Cycladic islands for years and could hardly believe this trip was finally happening. After navigating the busy airport and picking up my luggage, I headed outside to hail a taxi to the port.
The taxi ride took me through the winding streets of Athens, past ancient ruins and modern buildings alive with cafes and shops. About 30 minutes later, we arrived at the port, where an enormous ferry was docked and loading passengers. I made my way through the crowds to check in, handed over my ticket, and walked up the loading ramp onto the ferry’s main deck.
Finding a spot near the railing, I took in the ocean views as the ship pulled away from the dock. I watched the sun-drenched buildings of Athens fade into the distance as we sailed farther out to sea. Over the loudspeaker, the captain announced our first stop would be Mykonos in about 2 hours. Ready to soak up the sun and explore the beautiful whitewashed alleys of Mykonos town, I found a sunny spot on the upper deck to wait as the ferry cut through the impossibly blue Aegean sea.
I spent the next couple of hours enjoying the sea breezes and chatting with fellow travelers as white-washed villages and barren cliffs passed by our ferry. I saw dolphins jumping playfully in the ferry’s wake at one point. After a smooth ride, the ferry finally docked at the picturesque port of Mykonos, with its iconic windmills overlooking the water.
Eager to start exploring, I disembarked with my backpack and consulted the hand-drawn map provided by my hotel. After getting oriented, I wound my way through narrow cobblestone streets past rows of whitewashed buildings and blue-domed churches. The lively maze of alleyways was full of quaint shops, tavernas, and Islanders zooming by on motorbikes.
After wandering for about 30 minutes, I finally found my boutique hotel tucked away on a sleepy side street. I checked in at the rustic front desk and made my way up to my cozy room with its private balcony overlooking the town. I quickly changed into my swimsuit and headed right back out into the sunshine, ready to find an idyllic beach.
I strolled through Mykonos Town towards Little Venice, encountering stray cats dozing in the alleyways and locals chatting in cafes under bougainvillea-draped trellises. I wandered out onto the edge of town, where the whitewashed buildings were perched right over the sea. I snapped some photos of the iconic windmills framed against the perfectly blue water.
Continuing my walk along the coast, I soon reached Paradise Beach, which lived up to its name with soft white sand and calm, translucent waters. After finding a spot with some tamarisk trees for shade, I spent the entire afternoon swimming, reading, and basking in the sunshine.
As the afternoon sun mellowed into a golden hour glow, I dried off and put my clothes back on over my swimsuit. I made my way back to Mykonos Town to find the perfect spot for a sunset dinner. In the main square, I selected a table at a cozy taverna and ordered grilled fish with lemon and olive oil, Greek salad, and chilled retsina wine. I soaked in the atmosphere as locals and tourists alike filled the surrounding restaurants and cafes. The mouth-watering food and stunning sunset over the harbor ended my day on a heavenly note.
The next morning, I woke up early excited for a full day of adventuring across the island. After a light breakfast on my balcony, I walked to a quad bike rental shop down the street from my hotel. For the day, I rented a bright red quad bike so I could explore Mykonos’ hidden beaches and villages at my own pace. After adjusting the seat and getting a quick tutorial, I hopped on the bike and headed north.
I drove past iconic windmills and weaved through tiny villages consisting of whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches. Curious cats lounged in the early morning sunlight and local fishermen untangled their nets down by the water. Eventually I turned off the main road onto a narrow lane that zig-zagged down towards the sea.
This rocky track led me to a tiny cove with sparkling turquoise waters and soft beige sand – Agios Sostis beach. I had the whole cove to myself this early in the day. Excited to take advantage, I parked the bike and eagerly changed into my swimsuit. I left my things under a little tree and walked into the aquamarine waters, which were blissfully cool.
I spent a couple of hours swimming and floating on my back, watching the clouds pass overhead. It was so peaceful hearing nothing but the sound of waves gently lapping the shore. When I got too warm, I spread out my beach towel in the sand and cracked open my book. The only other visitors to the cove that morning were a few curious seagulls circling overhead.
Around noon, the morning’s peace and quiet faded as a few small boats and other tourists began arriving at the beach. Feeling recharged from my relaxing solo time by the sea, I changed back into my clothes and consulted my map to find my next stop.
I had read about a well-preserved ancient temple located on a hillside overlooking the sea on the south end of the island. Eager for some history, I hopped back on my quad bike and headed inland, winding through the countryside. The harvest was in full swing in this rural part of Mykonos, and I passed farmers baling hay in golden fields.
After about 20 minutes, I spotted a tiny sign for “Dilos farm” which was marked on my map. I turned onto the narrow lane which ascended gradually. At the crest of the hill, the Dilos temple suddenly came into view, just as majestic as promised. I parked my bike in the gravel lot and approached on foot.
The ancient columns and weathered carvings were incredible to see up close. I wandered slowly around the perimeter of the ruins, taking photos of the panoramic sea views from the clifftop site. It was fascinating to imagine what life must have been like for those who gathered at this temple centuries ago.
After exploring the historic site to my heart’s content, I checked my watch and realized the afternoon was slipping away. Not ready to end my quad bike adventure yet, I consulted my map for the closest beach. I still had plenty of island left to explore in Mykonos’ northwest region.
Following a series of arrow signs, I was led to Agios Ioannis beach, surrounded by dramatic rock formations jutting up from the sand. After parking my bike, I walked through the shallow waters and then lay sideways across a smooth, flat rock to relax in the sunshine, dipping my toes in the sea.
By early evening, I was finally growing a little sore and tired from a full day zipping around the island on my quad bike. I returned my rental and then cleaned up a bit at the hotel before heading out for a delicious seafood dinner as another extraordinary Mykonos sunset filled the sky with color.
On my third and final full day on the island, I decided to slow down and spend the day wandering the shops and cafes of Mykonos town. After breakfast at my hotel, I took my time strolling the labyrinth of winding alleyways, stopping to check out jewelry shops and art galleries showing off works by local artists.
I lingered over a Greek coffee at an outdoor cafe, eavesdropping on conversations in a mix of languages. In the afternoon, I visited the excellent Archeological Museum of Mykonos and saw artifacts found across the Cyclades islands dating back over 4,500 years. I ended up chatting with a lovely older woman selling hand-woven textiles in her shop – she reminded me so much of my Yiayia.
For my last Mykonos sunset, I found the perfect tableau at Little Venice, where vibrant neoclassical houses were built precariously over the sea. I lingered on the edge as long as I could, soaking in the pastel reflections shimmering on the surface of the harbor. Rumor has it this is where the name Mykonos – meaning “mouse island” – originated, from the pelicans that looked like mice scurrying around these waterfront buildings.
After one final delicious dinner at a rustic taverna, I returned to my hotel and packed up my belongings. In the morning, I checked out early and rolled my suitcase through the quiet streets down to the harbor. At the dock, I turned for one last look at the iconic row of windmills before boarding the ferry that would take me onward to explore more of the magical Cycladic islands. Though it was hard to leave, I knew I would definitely be back to discover more of beautiful Mykonos.
