This will be a report of my May 2026 trip to Greece. My itinerary was as follows:
Athens – 5 nights (Pan Hotel)
Meteora – 2 nights (Doupiani House Hotel)
Delphi – 2 nights (Kastalia Boutique Hotel)
Nafplio – 5 nights (Pension Dafni)
Naxos – 5 nights (Kymata Hotel)
Athens – 1 night (Garment District Suites)
I used trip reports from KarenWoo progol kja virginiafish tripplanner001 to help create my itinerary.
A few notes about the trip: This was my first time visiting Greece. I traveled solo and always felt safe. Language wasnt an issue at all, as almost everyone accustomed to dealing with tourists speaks English well. I rented a car and did a fair amount of driving – more on that later. I used my credit card for virtually everything, including tolls while driving. The biggest culture shock were the toilets – you cant flush used paper, you have to put it in a trash can. Through a combination of credit card points, perks, and rewards, I was able to significantly cut down the out-of-pocket costs of the trip.
Friday-Sunday May 1-3: Travel and Arrival in Athens
I started the trip with a redeye flight from Salt Lake City to Boston on Delta. I was hoping to spend my long layover in Boston out in the city, but the places Id bookmarked for luggage storage ended up being closed. Instead, I was able to make use of my Priority Pass and convince the attendant at the Air France lounge to let me in outside of the 3-hours-to-boarding window. Its a small lounge practically hidden in the basement at the end of Terminal E – nothing to write home about, but Ill never complain about free snacks and a comfortable chair.
About 3 hours before boarding, I made my way to the Chase Sapphire lounge in terminal B. Its beautiful! I was so excited by the QR code that allows you to order food and drinks directly to your seat that I didnt do a sweep of the entire lounge before sitting down. If I had, I would have discovered that the buffet area had small plates with food much more interesting than the burger I ordered. The massage chair was booked during the entirety of my stay, but I was able to make use of the shower facilities.
My flight from Boston to Athens left in the late afternoon, and, full from lounge food, I skipped the plane meal and tried to get to sleep right away. I slept a decent amount in my economy seat and arrived, feeling relatively well-rested and comfortable, to a drizzly Athens. It took me about 20 minutes to get through passport control, which included having my passport reviewed by an officer, a photo, and a fingerprint scan. I saw automatic machines set up in the area, but they werent in use. Once through passport control, I took a few minutes to set up my eSim and then easily found the X95 airport bus. I didnt bother with a paper ticket and just tapped my credit card to the machine on board to pay my fare. It took about an hour to get from the airport to Syntagma Square.
I wasnt expecting it, but I was able to check in to my room at Pan Hotel right away. This is a small hotel, maybe a bit on the older side, but in a fantastically convenient location – just a couple of blocks from Syntagma Square and a short walk to both Plaka and Monastiraki Square. After taking a few minutes to get settled, I headed out to grab some breakfast. I bought an almond croissant and hot chocolate at Overoll, which were just okay. After eating, I wandered the area between Monastiraki Square and Plaka for a few hours. I wasnt sure how much energy Id have coming off of two overnight flights, so I didnt have any plans or expectations for the day. I hadnt even brought my big camera out with me, so I just leisurely explored the area and made friends with a few cats before heading back to the hotel, where I showered, napped, and read the afternoon away.
My last couple of trips have veered into overplanned territory, so for this trip I deliberately didnt do too much research into restaurants. For dinner, I wandered my way to Taverna Saita in Plaka. The skies had cleared by this point, so I was able to sit outdoors. I ordered a Greek salad, which was good. Interesting that most American versions of Greek salad are lettuce-based, while the real thing doesnt include lettuce at all. I was both entertained and horrified by the British women at the table next to me who were literally throwing themselves at the server. I wish I could have understood the chatter amongst the staff after they left!
My after-dinner wandering took me to the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, where I found a group of cats. I knew that Greece has lots of community cats, and I came prepared with a bag of treats. One of the reasons I knew this had to be a solo trip is because I dont know too many people who would be willing to spend as much time petting cats as I did. One of the cats settled itself on my lap, so I took out my Kindle and read for a bit while I let it enjoy a brief nap. As it was starting to get dark, I headed back to my hotel, grabbing some baklava from Baklavas along the way.
First views of the Acropolis! I didn’t take my DSLR out will me today, so just a few shots from my iPhone. 
Cats will appear frequently in this trip report
Very old and new-ish
Entrance to the Roman Agora
Beautiful Plaka
Making some new friends
Dinner!
