Those “Mamma Mia Summer” TikToks caused some major daydreaming which lead us to planning our girl’s vacation to Greece. This was my first trip I planned and funded myself with two friends. It was a very exciting time for us. We had total control over where we wanted to go and which activities to partake in.
Athens was a must. We didn’t want to miss seeing The Acropolis and other ancient sights around the city. It was quite hot the day we toured and water is essential. It was worth it despite the heat. The Acropolis is just as astonishing at night as it is during the day. The Parthenon’s iconic exterior looks so well-established that it’s nearly inconceivable that the structure is over 2,000 years old. It was a humbling experience stepping around this ancient sight. We also got to view it from a roof top bar that evening which I highly recommend. It provides a whole other perspective of this ancient city.
I loved exploring the Panathenaic Stadium. Inside the stadium, you can view the torches of past games from around the world. It was especially exciting to explore since Paris 2024 was just around the corner. My friends and I loved checking it out since we are a group of former & current athletes ourselves.
We spent a day visiting the Archaeological Site of Delphi & having lunch in Arachova. This site has the most beautiful mountain views that pair extremely well with the ancient ruins. We also ran into the most adorable kittens who like to spend time outside of the museum. Everyone was excited to see them. We had a joke about what was the most exciting part of the visit, the cats or the ruins. All of the climbing also caused a thought in our heads, no wonder The Olympics originated in Greece, they have a long history of staying fit. Arachova treated us to a lovely lunch, and a peaceful spot to wind down while exploring its charming shops.
We moved onto Crete to let the “Mamma Mia” portion of the summer vacation begin. We stayed just outside of Heraklion. We arrived in the afternoon so we kept it lowkey by spending time at a local beach near our AirBnb and had dinner at a nearby restaurant. It had a “tapas” theme so we all got to enjoy a little of everything, and we were treated to dessert on the house. Of course, we jumped on the TikTok trend and filmed one.
You can’t visit a Greek island without doing a trip on a boat, or two. We chose two boating outings, one right at the beginning of our time in Crete and one the day before we left so we could go out on a bang. Our sailboat day trip was a blast. We visited two islands, swam, snorkeled, and had a lovely lunch on the boat. The water is so salty it keeps you afloat which makes swimming a lot less tiring. It was the perfect temperature, and we were warned not to step on any sea urchins. I couldn’t believe how large they were, some were no bigger than a baseball and some nearly the size of a soccerball. I was thankful that the water was so easy to float in.
Our sunset cruise involved a lot of swimming and jumping off the top of the catamaran. We also found a perfect spot to enjoy the sunset after the activities. Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” was played over the loudspeakers which caused us to fake “sing” along and giggle. It was the perfect way to end the day. Since we spent more time swimming instead of enjoying some appetizers, we were hungry enough for a late dinner. We ended up meeting two people from Suriname. There was a whole guessing game involved, and we all tried to guess where everyone was from. It was more difficult than anticipated. I’ve never met anyone from that part of the world before so it was a cool experience.
Exploring Heraklion at sunset post day boat tour.
I’d love to have this view everyday as I grab coffee and gas in the morning.
We drove out to Fallasarna Beach before dropping off my friend’s sister at Chania Airport. We got to experience how beautiful the mountains of Crete were and most of the roads were lined with flower bushes. The water at Fallasarna Beach was so clear and Mamma Mia blue. We loved taking a swim and exploring the rock formations. Turns out, we didn’t have to go very far to find pink sand which was a thrill. Chania is absolutely gorgeous with an old-town feel. We did not have a ton of time to explore, but it still charmed us greatly.
We did a little research and decided to check out a wine tasting not too far from where we were staying. Lyrarakis Winery gave us a lovely afternoon with refreshing wine and an assortment of cheeses & bread. The staff was knowledgeable and welcoming. We were right at home enjoying the outstanding view of the vineyard. We received a tour after we finished enjoying the wine which was insightful and fascinating. This place felt like “a slice of heaven” with its beauty. I highly recommend visiting them. You can learn more about the winery here.
If you’re looking for a vacation that includes outdoorsy activities, history, exploring, or relaxation with incredible food, Greece is the place to do it. The locals were welcoming and kind to us. The guides were enthusiastic and happy to answer any questions we had. I adore Greece and look forward to exploring it again soon, maybe some island hopping.
Greece TikToks:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8FgLrbY/
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