We’re entering the high season of Euro summer, what some people (myself included) would call the best time of the year. I was lucky enough to get an early taste when last month I spent a perfect long weekend in Greece. The second that I stepped onto my hotel balcony and saw the stunning view I had of the Acropolis, I knew I was in love with Athens. This city is home to incredible ancient history, and the juxtaposition of old and new is evident on every street corner. I only had a full three days in Greece, two days in Athens and one in Santorini, but my itinerary was packed, so I left feeling like I had experienced all that the country has to offer.
Here, the itinerary:
How To Get There
I’m a nervous flyer, so I typically don’t sleep or relax on long haul flights, but the
Emirates Premium Economy experience (which was just launched on the Newark to Athens route in February) was the most comfortable I’ve ever felt at 40,000 feet. As you sit down, you’re handed a welcome drink and a warm towel from the cabin crew. Then, following take off, they serve a delicious three-course meal on Royal Doulton china, and after dinner you can relax (and maybe even sleep) in your extra wide chair. My favorite part of the flight was that Premium Economy is a smaller section of the plane with only 24 seats, so it almost feels like you’re on a private plane traveling with 23 of your closest friends. Emirates has one flight a day on this route; you depart around midnight and wake up the following afternoon in Athens. If you’re flying 9 hours for a quick trip, you might as well be comfortable and enjoy the experience!
Day One Itinerary
My favorite way to acquaint myself with a new city is to spend the day walking around and getting a lost, but a city like Athens requires a guided tour; there’s just too much to see. We start by walking past the Old Royal Palace towards Athens National Gardens, a gorgeous park. As we stroll toward Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, a long pedestrian street at the foot of the Acropolis, we pass by the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. Right across the street is
Lukumades dessert shop, a very tempting treat to have before heading into the Acropolis museum.
Whether you’re a history buff or not, the
Acropolis Museum is an important stop to make. It’s a beautiful museum that you could wander for hours, and offers incredible views (and photo-ops) of the Acropolis.
Pro tip: spend a few hours here before you go to the actual Acropolis so that you can have a more well rounded understanding of the ancient structures.
A short walk from the museum is a taste of the Greek Islands, the neighborhood Anafiotika. This is the perfect spot to stop if you don’t have plans to island hop after touring Athens. Our walking tour continued from Anafiotika into Plaka for some shopping. Make sure to grab some Pistachio gelato from Lartecono Davinci Gelato and stop by
Forget Me Not for souvenirs that don’t feel too tourist-y.
It’s not Euro summer without an aperol spritz while overlooking a stunning view. A sunset dinner reservation at
Orizontes is the perfect way to end day one in Athens.
Day Two Itinerary
I always like to break up big sight-seeing activities between days, so we did the Acropolis first thing in the morning on day two. Some insider advice from our tour guide: despite most tips saying to book your tickets for early morning, the best time to come is the latest ticket time slot to avoid the crowds and the high heat.
The best way to unwind after two days of walking over 15,000 steps? A glass of rose and lunch at
Taverna 37. The Four Seasons Astir Palace is a quick drive from Athens city center, and it is the most luxurious escape. They offer day passes for access to their pools that overlook the most stunning sea views.
Day Three Itinerary
Some people opt for the ferry ride from Athens to Santorini, but it’s much easier to hop on a quick 45 minute flight. Emirates and Aegean airlines have recently enhanced their partnership, so if you book your trip together you can enjoy seamless connectivity when flying home from Santorini to Athens to Newark.
This was my first time in Santorini, which is home to a
T&C favorite: the
Perivolas Hotel. And it’s beloved for very good reason. Built into the cliffs of Santorini, Perivolas offers a majestic escape with the most immaculate views of the island. Every detail of this hotel is tailored to give guests an incredibly special and intimate experience. After checking in, I took an early morning swim in my villa’s pool before heading into Oia for some shopping.
For lunch I made my way to
Anydro farm where Anna and Petros gave my group a private tour of the farm. We cooked a tomato based lunch and sat under a beautiful tree that Petros himself planted. The food was delicious (we ate at least six variations of tomatoes in one lunch) and the conversation was even better.
The sunset in Santorini quite literally made me cry. I took a walk into Oia right before sunset, and it was the perfect time to go. The crowds had dissipated as everyone tried to make their dinner reservations, so it was just me and the cats of Santorini (and a few other tourists) on the pathway enjoying the beautiful view.
After an incredible 72 full hours in Greece, I was hardly ready to pack up and go home. Luckily, I was flying Emirates so I knew I would be more than comfortable for my 10 hour journey back to Newark. The most bittersweet way to end this trip? Watching Mamma Mia at 40,000 feet.
Tess Donlevie is a Designer at Town & Country, working on both the print magazine and the website. Before working at T&C, she designed for Women’s Wear Daily, Beauty INC, and Footwear News.
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