Griechenland

The vague memories I had of Greece are of stray dogs & a desolate Olympic park.  Marls & I totally redeemed my perception of Greece with our fantastic August 2016 adventure to Mykonos and Santorini.

Cyclades

Where whitewashed houses dot the hillsides of scattered islands in the Aegean Sea.

Mykonos

Hotel Tagoo was perfect for us.  Not to be confused with the overly chic Cavo Tagoo hotel nearby, although I was happy to hitch a ride with their airport shuttle.

Santorini

Our hotel was fine for a few nights and had a nice pool, but I feel like if you're going all the way to Santorini you're gonna wanna view of the crater, volcano island to the west and west means sunset. 😍

Thera is the biggest town on the island so the best base point for going out to eat and drink.  Oia and Finikia are smaller, quieter, and filled with honeymooners.

Logistics

Potential itinerary: MUC to JMK, ferry JMK to Naxos, ferry Naxos to Paros, ferry Paros to Santorini, JTR to MUC.

Ionian Islands

Ferry companies with connections between Italy and Greece:

  • Anek Lines:  Venice / Ancona / Bari ↔ Corfu / Igoumenitsa / Patras
  • Grimaldi Lines:  Brindisi ↔ Corfu / Igoumenitsa / Patras
  • Minoan Lines (part of Grimaldi Lines and may have combo deals):  Venice / Ancona ↔ Corfu / Igoumenitsa / Patras

Island-hopping itinerary Sept. 2020:

  • 2.9.:  EC Munich to Bologna, 1 night in Bologna, sleeping at Hotel Atlantic.
  • 3.9.:  Train Bologna to Ancona (~2h), overnight ferry from Ancona to Patras with Anek's Olympic Champion ship departing at 16:30 and arriving at noon in Patras on the 4th.  Buses from Patras to Zante at 13:00, 17:00, 20:00.  KTEL Bus Station, 48 Othonos Amalias street - downtown by the Stathmos train/bus station.
  • Island hopping in the Ionian Sea from south to north:  official tourism site
    • Zákynthos aka Zante
      • The above bus company has numerous local routes around the island.
      • 🍽 Taverna Varkarola with live music serenades every evening; veggie-heavy, organic, local joint Avli-Yard of Taste; and Base Cafe Rooftop Bar are all in downtown Zakynthos. Solomos Winery is just outside of town.
      • Hike from Zákynthos to Oenolpi Winery (4km), onto Grampsas Winery (9,6km), Eleftherotria Women's Monastery, eating at Garden of Heaven restaurant (+302695092892, check opening times, might only be open ab 18h, 11,2km).  If we still have energy & time, it's 8km down to the bay and Ponte per Agios Sostis (19,2km).  Bus or boat back to town.
      • Hike the east coast from Zákynthos to Agios Nicolaos, ~30km.
      • Boat trip along northern coast:  blue caves, shipwreck beach, Porto Vromi
      • From the NE tip of the island at Agios Nicolaos is a ferry to Pessada, Kefalonia sailing daily at 9:45 and 19:45. 
    • Kefalonia
      • Kefalonia info website, KTEL Kefalonia bus site
      • Hike from Pessada via Mt. Ainos to Sami
        • Mt Ainos: 1,628m and in the only national park on a Greek island covered with the black needles of the Kefalonian fir tree; catch a glimpse of the wild horses on the S-SE slope!
        • Valerianos bus stop is along both Argostoli-Skala & Argostoli-Poros routes and our start point for the hike. M&L Studios (~€44/night) seems to be only accommodation in Valerianos; plenty of very cheap options in Lourdata.
      • The west part of the island seems tranquil, for example Petani bay & Petani Hotel.
      • 🍷 Most vineyards in the south and island is known for its Robola wine.  Divino Wines is 1,4km inland from Pessada Harbor, Stella Vineyard is at southern end of Lourdata beach and has rooms for €55/night, Menousis & Orealios vineyards are in/near Valsamata, Sarris & Gentilini vineyards are S & N of airport, respectively. 🍺 Kefalonia Beer in Karavomylos, 2,5km NW of Sami, is near the Melissani caves and has a tasting room - brewed by local Greeks, not an imported Bayern 😉
      • 👀 Melissani cave lake near Sami, Myrtos beach in north
    • Ithaki
    • Lefkada
  • Ferry Igoumenitsa to Venice, 2 nights in Venice.
  • Night train or EC Venice to Munich