DAY 1 – Friday 12.06 

( Night at: Athens Commercial ) 

We woke up at 4:30 am, got ready, and walked up to the viewpoint just behind our hotel, the Sunset and Sunrise Balloon Viewpoint (Gün Batımı ve Doğumu / Balon Seyir Noktası). Our original plan was to watch the balloons from the hotel terrace, but we quickly realized the view was much better from the hill, where you can see them rising in the distance across the valley. We took a few photos and enjoyed the quiet morning atmosphere.

Afterwards, we decided to go for a walk toward the Göreme Open Air Museum. It was a bit of a walk, but enjoyable, especially since a small dog joined us along the way and accompanied us for part of the route. We arrived around 7 am, but the museum was still closed, so we decided not to wait and simply explored the area from the outside, taking few pictures before walking back.

We returned to the hotel for breakfast around 8:30 am and then rested with a three-hour nap. Later, we checked out around noon and took the bus to the airport at 1 pm. Fortunately, the transfer ended up being free, even though it was supposed to cost around €15 per person each way. Our flight was at 3:50 pm to Istanbul, landing at 17:25 with Turkish Airlines. From there, we took our connection flight at 20:55 to Athens, arriving around 22:25.

Once in Athens, we took metro Line 3 at 11:34 pm, made our way to the center, completed a self check-in, and finally went to sleep around 1 am after a very long travel day.

DAY 2 – Saturday 13.06 

( Night at: Athens Commercial ) 

( Holy Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary, Athens ) 

We woke up around 8:00 am and headed out for breakfast at a small bakery in Psirri called Koulouri of Psirri. It was simple, inexpensive, and a nice way to start the day. At 9:45 am, we joined a free walking tour of Athens. We wandered through the charming streets of Plaka before passing the Roman Agora, the Arch of Hadrian, and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, all viewed from the outside. The tour then continued to Zappeion, the Panathenaic Stadium, and through the peaceful National Garden. We also stopped at the Holy Metropolitan Church and, from a distance, caught a view of the Temple of Hephaestus overlooking the Ancient Agora.

After the tour, we visited the Varvakios Central Market, which had a lively, authentic atmosphere and felt like a place where locals still do their shopping. For lunch, we stopped at Oinomageireio Epirus, a traditional restaurant that has been serving customers since 1898, where we tried moussaka. Before heading back to the hotel, we also picked up a souvlaki from Volvi Souvlaki to enjoy later in the bedroom in the air conditioned.  And we returned to the hotel and relaxed until around 5:00 pm. Later, we went back out and treated ourselves to ice cream from Le Greche before strolling through Monastiraki Square. The area was especially lively because Athens Pride was taking place, creating a fun atmosphere with music and crowds. We continued toward Syntagma Square, stopped to take a few photos, and watched part of the parade as it passed by and following it as well.  Around 8:30 pm, we returned to the hotel, had a shower, and called it a night after another full day of exploring Athens.

DAY 3 – Sunday 14.06 

( Night at: Athens Commercial ) 

( Acropolis, Athens ) 

We woke up at 6:00 am and had breakfast at Koulouri of Psirri again, just like the day before.

Afterwards, we headed to the Acropolis. Our entry time was 8:00 am, but we arrived around 7:00 am so we could be among the first people inside and take photos before the crowds arrived. It ended up being a great decision, as we were able to enjoy the Acropolis in a much quieter atmosphere. On the way back, we bought some cherries and apricots from a fruit stand and slowly walked back toward the hotel to pick up the tripod which we let it there because we were unsure if we could take it inside the ancient site. 

Later in the morning, we stopped at Gregory’s, where Carmel tried a freddo coffee while I had a granita. We then wandered through Anafiotika, one of the prettiest neighborhoods in Athens, with its colorful houses, narrow streets, and small corners that felt almost like a Greek island. We spent some time taking photos and exploring the area. For lunch, we went to Bairaktaris near Syntagma Square to have a proper Greek meal. 

In the afternoon, we returned to the hotel for a nap. We woke up feeling quite tired after the early start, and although we had a small travel-day moment, we eventually got ready and headed out again for sunset. We took an Uber to the Lycabettus Theatre (Θέατρο Λυκαβηττού) as recommended by the tour guide which was supposed to be a beautiful sunset viewpoint. Unfortunately, it was much busier than we expected and crowded with people, so instead of staying at the main viewpoint, we found a quiet bench nearby and watched the sunset through the trees. In the end, it turned out to be a surprisingly peaceful moment while we were chatting and thinking about future decisions. 

After dark, we walked back down the hill. The area felt very safe, with plenty of people around and a noticeable police presence. Once we got back to the hotel, we went straight to sleep after another long day in Athens.

DAY 4 – Monday 15.06 

( Night at: Athens Commercial ) 

( Vouliagmeni Beach, Athens ) 

We woke up at 7:30 a.m. and walked to Hadrian’s Arch to take some photos. We were both very tired after arguing the night before. Afterwards, we had breakfast at the same place as the previous day before heading off for the beach.

Around 10:00 a.m., we took the metro and then a bus to Vouliagmeni Beach, arriving around midday. The buses were packed with kids because of the school holidays, making the journey quite busy. Unfortunately, we arrived too late to rent a sunbed, and by then it didn’t really seem worth it for the few hours we had left. Carmel and I were still arguing, so it was impossible to enjoy the day together. I had been looking forward to spending a relaxing afternoon on a sunbed, enjoying the European summer atmosphere and finally swimming together, especially because I rarely swim in Australia as the water is usually too cold.

Instead, we spent most of the day apart. I walked around the beach on my own, but I couldn’t even go for a swim because someone had to stay with our backpack. Even though the scenery was beautiful, I felt quite sad. It made me realize how much I miss Europe and how much I wish I could live here one day. Around 4:00 p.m., I took the bus back to the hotel by myself. After having a shower, I went out to get a frozen yogurt from Yogu Lab – Greek Frozen Yogurt. It was nice, but nothing particularly memorable, and I thought it was a little overpriced for how simple it was. That evening, we tried to get to bed early because we had an early morning flight the following day.

DAY 5 – Tuesday 16.06

( Night at: O Fotis, Naxos ) 

( Temple of Apollo, Naxos )

We woke up at 4:30 a.m., walked to the bus stop, and caught the X95 bus to Athens Airport. The bus felt very safe and was full of other tourists heading to the airport.

We had breakfast at Everest inside the airport before getting ready to board our flight. We departed at 7:45 a.m. and landed in Naxos at 8:35 a.m. Once we arrived, we planned to take the local bus to our hotel, but we couldn’t really understand the timetable or how the system worked. We waited for a while, but no bus arrived, so we decided to take a taxi instead, which cost €20 to reach our accommodation.

After checking in, we immediately noticed how simple the hotel was, but the owners were incredibly warm and welcoming, making us feel at home from the very beginning. We then headed to Agios Prokopios Beach, where we spent some time relaxing, taking photos, and enjoying the crystal-clear water. Afterwards, we walked along the coast to Agia Anna, enjoying the beautiful scenery and the peaceful atmosphere.

Later in the afternoon, we took the bus into Chora, the main town of Naxos. We arrived around 4:30 p.m., and it was still incredibly hot. We wandered through the charming whitewashed streets, explored the little shops, and took plenty of photos.

In the evening, we watched the sunset from the Temple of Apollo (Portara). Seeing the sun slowly disappear behind the famous marble gateway was a beautiful way to end our first day on the island. Afterwards, we caught the bus back to our hotel and went to bed, excited to explore more of Naxos the following day and enjoying the time there. 

DAY 6 – Wednesday 17.06 

( Night at: O Fotis, Naxos )

( Agios Prokopios Beach Παραλία Άγιος Προκόπιος ) 

We woke up early, around 7:00 a.m., and headed to Prokopios Beach, right in front of our hotel, to take some photos while the beach was still quiet and the morning light was beautiful. Once we had finished, we left the camera back at the hotel so we could simply relax and enjoy the rest of the morning without worrying about our belongings. We spent the morning swimming in the crystal-clear water before walking along the coast to Agia Anna Beach. Along the way, we took a few more photos, including around the small white church by the sea. We continued walking until we reached the nearby nudist beach before turning around and making our way back. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at a supermarket to buy a few things for lunch. After eating, we went back to our room for a relaxing afternoon nap.

In the evening, we headed back to the beach to watch the sunset. We enjoyed a small aperitif by the water, and the owner of the beach restaurant kindly offered us a beer, which was a lovely gesture. We sat by the sea, watched the sun slowly disappear below the horizon, and simply enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere.

Today was a slow and relaxing day, dedicated to swimming, enjoying the beach, and taking photos—exactly the kind of day we needed.

DAY 7 – Thursday 18.06

( Night at: O Fotis, Naxos )

( Ano Kufonisi, Greece ) 

Tour: https://gyg.me/DFTV7cRe

Woke up at 8 am, had a quick breakfast and then walked to Agia Anna to get on the boat tour we had booked. Boarding started at 9:15 am and we departed at 10 am.

It was a very windy day but actually a really nice one. We started with a stop at Rina Cave (Ρίνα), where we swam inside the cave. It was a great experience, and afterwards we had lunch on board. After that, we stopped at Ano Koufonisi, where we spent some time at Ammos Beach (Παραλία Άμμος). The beach was absolutely amazing, with crystal-clear water and beautiful soft sand.

Later in the afternoon, the boat took us back to Agia Anna. We walked back to the hotel, took a shower, and went to sleep after a long but beautiful day.

DAY 8 – Friday 19.06 

( Night at: Oceanis Resort, Paros ) 

( Chapel of Saint Nicholas, Naxos ) 

Woke up at 7 am, got ready, and took the bus from the Prokopios Beach bus stop around 8 am. Once we arrived at the port, we went into a few offices to collect our ferry tickets. While we were waiting, Carmel grabbed a coffee and I had an orange juice. We then boarded the ferry to Paros at 9:20 am and relaxed during the journey before arriving at 10:20 am. We waited at the hotel until check-in time and used the opportunity to plan the rest of the day. Since we wanted to rent a car, after checking in we walked to Best Paros Rentals to organise everything. Afterwards, we wandered back through the charming little streets of Parikia, picked up some fresh fruit, and returned to the hotel to have lunch on the balcony.

After lunch, we had a short nap before heading out for another walk around the village, exploring more of the picturesque streets and stopping to take photos in some really cute spots. Later, we went to pick up our rental car and drove to the Church of Agios Fokas (Ναός Αγίου Φωκά). We only admired it from the outside, but it was a lovely little church.

From there, we continued to Agios Fokas Lighthouse, where we waited for the sunset. It was a peaceful spot and the perfect way to end the day. Afterwards, we drove back to Parikia, parked the car in a quiet area just outside the centre, and walked back to the hotel, where we went straight to bed after a busy day.

DAY 9 – Saturday 20.06 

( ( Night at: Hostel Central & Basic, Barcelona ) 

( Naousa Νάουσα, Paros ) 

We woke up at 7 am, packed everything, and had breakfast at the hotel before checking out. Then we walked to the car, and luckily it was still there. We started driving around the island, although it was incredibly windy all day. Our first stop was Kolymbithres Beach, followed by Monastiri Beach and the Monastery of St. John’s of Deti (Μοναστήρι Αγίου Ιωάννη του Δέτη). Unfortunately, the wind was so strong that it was almost impossible to enjoy either place, so we didn’t stay long. We then continued to Naousa, where we stopped to take a few photos around the iconic spots before getting back on the road.

Our next stop was Lefkes, which turned out to be one of our favourite villages on the island. We loved wandering through its quiet streets and visiting the Church of the Holy Trinity (Ιερός Ναός Αγίας Τριάδος Λεύκων), which was absolutely beautiful.

Afterwards, we drove towards Marpissa, but by then we were starving and exhausted from the heat. Instead of exploring the village, we stopped at a supermarket to buy some ice creams and Pepsi before continuing towards the beaches. Our first beach was Golden Beach, but it was so windy that we barely got out of the car, only stopping long enough to take a few photos.

We then drove to Faragas Beach Bar & Barbarossa Restaurant. It was much more sheltered from the wind, but it was quite busy and we didn’t feel like eating there or stay there, so we decided to continue.

Our final beach stop was Piso Aliki Beach (Παραλία Πίσω Αλυκή). We relaxed in the car for a while, Carmel had a short nap, and afterwards we walked along the beach and took a few more photos. Before heading to the airport, we stopped to refill the car with petrol.

We then drove to Paros Airport, returned the rental car, and waited for our flight. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 8:10 pm but was slightly delayed. We landed in Athens at around 8:50 pm before boarding our connecting flight to Barcelona at 10:50 pm. We arrived just after 1 am, took an Uber to our hostel, completed the self check-in, and went straight to sleep after another long travel day.