Planning a vacation can be stressful. Where to stay? Where to eat? What to do? If you’re like me, you spend countless hours researching every possible option, only to conclude that the options are endless and eventually you have no choice but to turn down your laptop, close your eyes and hope for the best.

In addition to my GREECE TRAVEL GUIDE (PART 1) – BEST PLACES TO EAT IN GREECE, I’m excited to bring you the details on some of the hottest beaches in Mykonos & Santorini, as well as a list of the top 10 things you need to know when heading to the beautiful country of Greece.

 

TOP 3 BEACHES IN MYKONOS AND SANTORINI

For starters, the beaches in Greece are great, but you’ll need to manage your expectations ahead of time. While I wouldn’t travel to Greece for the sole purpose of visiting its beaches, Nitin and I had a fabulous time checking them out and exploring the areas. Of the beaches we visited, here is a list of my top three:

1. Psarou Beach, Mykonos – This fashionable beach is known for attracting celebrities from around the world, and is located within a sheltered cove just 4km from Mykonos Town. It is one of the most popular and famous beaches in Greece, boasting top notch beach service, cafes and restaurants, as well as 150m of white sand. As you make your way to the beach you will find the sea packed with the yachts of those coming to vacation for the week.

The perks of Psarou Beach don’t come without the hefty price tag however.  If you are looking to sunbathe and dine with the finest, be prepared to pay at least €60 for 2 beach chairs and an umbrella during high season, and around €10 for a coffee. If you walk a little further down this medium-sized beach, you will find more cost effective  rental options, running you closer to €12 for 2 chairs and an umbrella, but the food and service just doesn’t compare.

Psarou beach contains a mix of couples (honeymooners in particular) and families, with most of the 25+ crowd relaxing and dining near Nammos Restaurant.

 

2. Perissa & Perivolos Beaches, Santorini – Perissa and Perivolos beaches are basically one long stretch of black sand beach. Perivolos is located on the southern end of the island, and is an extension of Perissa beach, making the collective area the longest stretch of beach on the island. Perivolos is more of a party beach, with music playing in the background, a beach volleyball court, range of water activities, and cocktails galore.

With an array of hotels, taverns, restaurants, cafes and bars in the area, these black sand beaches are absolutely beautiful, and unlike anything I have ever seen before. The sand is fairly deep and extremely hot, as it contains volcanic minerals and lava fragments.  Even with good sandals I found my feet burning, so be prepared. The beaches are quite organized, offering beach chairs and umbrella’s for rent at the cost of around €6 –  €15 for 2 chairs and an umbrella.

To get to these beaches from the town of Fira, it is around a 30 minutes drive. I recommend staying in Oia or Fira, and making the drive to these beaches.

 

3. Platis Gialos Beach, Mykonos – I love this beach for the lively vibe and assortment of restaurants and shops in the area. Nitin and I stayed near this beach, and would spend our mornings here. Less than a 15 minute walk from Psarou beach and a 5km drive into Mykonos Town, Platis Gialos beach is filled with a perfect mix of couples, families and friends. I found this to be the most lively beach of the three, with many hotels within walking distance. Rentals were around €10 for 2 chairs and an umbrella, wifi included.

You will find many people walking the beach, selling selfie sticks, jewelry, and a wide variety knock-off designer bags. I cringed every time I saw someone purchase one of the fake Louis Vuitton totes, supporting a network of human trafficking and child labour. I know, way to take this post from fun to serious in about 2 seconds ..let’s leave this topic for another blog post, shall we ;).

When you walk along the organized beach of Platis Gialos, you will places to rent jet skis, sign up for wake board lessons, go tube riding or book a glass bottom cruise. The options are endless, and fun for all ages. This beach does get fairly crowded so I recommend heading there early to reserve prime beach front real estate.

 

 

TOP 10 THINGS TO KNOW WHEN TRAVELING TO GREECE

1. Wine is cheaper than pop (no joke). If you’re a wine lover like myself, you’ll be in heaven.

2. Do not wear heels in Mykonos town or Santorini. The unstable, and at times steep cobblestone paths make it nearly impossible to navigate through the town in heels (trust me, I was the dummy who didn’t know any better and spent my first evening in Mykonos town gripping onto Nitin’s arm for dear life).

3. Greek’s speak English. Before you head out to purchase a guide to the Greek language, remember that Mykonos and Santorini rely heavily on tourism so you won’t experience any language barriers.

4. There are gelato and souvlaki places on what seems like every corner. While there are more souvlaki places in Mykonos town than Santorini, both islands are packed with gelato and frozen yogurt joints, so be prepared to eat ..a lot! YOLO.

5. The best sunset in all of Greece is undoubtedly in Oia, Santorini. When I first experienced the Mykonos sunset I wondered how anything could top it, but once taking in the Oia sunset I was truly blown away. If you are going to Oia to catch the sunset, be prepared for jam packed streets, with thousands of tourists vying for prime seats. I recommend going early to get a good spot (the castle is popular, but super busy), and being prepared for a crowd.

6. Greece is known for its donkeys, but I strongly advise against riding them. You can get down to the old port in Santorini via cable cars, donkey rides or simply by walking. The donkey rides are not safe, and once you see the way these animals are treated I am sure you’ll quickly decide for yourself against it. If you choose to walk, keep in mind that you are walking on the same path the donkeys travel, heavily soiled with donkey manure. I highly recommend the quick and comfortable cable car ride, which is half the time.

7. There are many ways to get around the islands. In Mykonos, you can rent scooters for a day, or you can take the local bus (filled with tourists), which makes stops at all the major beaches, and also takes you into town. In Santorini scooters are not as common, as most people either rent cars or take the local bus. In Athens, you can take the local transit, walk or catch a cab.

8. Greece has the highest population of smokers in the EU, and while a law was imposed in 2010 to ban smoking in all bars and restaurants, many owners still allow it. Neither Nitin or I smoke, and we always found people to be quite friendly, asking before lighting up at any restaurant or cafe.

9. If you’re anything like me, the thought of traveling without your hair straightener and curling iron is absolutely preposterous. You will need a universal adapter (like this one) in order to use Canadian/ U.S. appliances. The voltage in Greece is 220-240 volts (Canada/U.S. are 110-120 volts).

10. Wifi is available at nearly every restaurant, and while it can be spotty it was always enough for me to send through a quick Instagram or check my WhatsApp.

Thanks for stopping by!

xo, Kiki