The year was 2019. I was single, and not one to travel alone, but dying to go somewhere, anywhere. Luckily my dad has the travel bug like I do. He suggested a cruise to Greece. Who can say no to that?! He booked it for us and my uncle and cousin were excited to join us. It was one of the best trips of my life and I can’t wait to go back to Greece someday.

Planning a trip to Greece can be overwhelming with so much history and over a hundred inhabited islands. It can be hard to know where to start. This is a perfect itinernary for your first time to Greece.

We flew into the Rome–Fiumicino International Airport in Rome, Italy on July 7th. We then drove 50 minutes north along the coast to the Port of Civitavecchia in Civitavecchia, Italy where we boarded the Koningsdam, a Holland America Cruise Ship, and our home for the next 12 nights.

Our first stop was Katakolon, Greece where we visited Olympia. This is where the ancient Olympic games took place from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. It is UNESCO World Heritage site.

On day 2 we visited Piraeus, Greece which is the port city closest to Athens, the heart of Ancient Greece. We spent two nights there. We toured the Acropolis and the Parthenon, which date back to 5th-century BC. It gets very hot in Athens in the summer so I recommend visiting these sites earlier in the day if possible. When we were there it was 100 degrees. We took a break from the heat when we visited the National Archeological Museum. It contains the richest collection of Greek Antiquity artifacts in the world and should not be missed.

On our second day in Piraeus, we decided to take a 1 hour ferry ride to the island of Aegina. Aegina is a quaint fishing village with something for everyone. My dad and uncle decided to visit the ancient sites and the monastery on the island while my cousin and I walked around town and along the beach and stopped for beers and lunch.

Our next day was in Mykonos and the pictures don’t do it justice. It was absolutely stunning. We took a walking tour to learn about the history of Mykonos and to make sure we didn’t miss any of the must see spots. There are over 1200 churches on the island, which is about one church per family. We also learned why Mykonos is a maze of narrow streets. The layout of the streets was intended to confuse enemies coming from the sea. After our tour we had lunch and then did some exploring and shopping on our own.

The next stop on our cruise was Kusadasi, Turkey where we visited Ephesus. Ephesus was an ancient Greek port city and the second biggest city of the Roman Empire. It was built in the 10th Century BC. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ephesus also appears in the New Testament multiple times. In Ephesus you will see paved streets and squares, the Library of Celsus and a theatre that holds 24,000 spectators.

Our next stop was Rhodes, Greece. In Rhodes we toured the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the Medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes, which is a World Heritage Site. Another must see are the ruins of Lindos Acropolis, which is an ancient citadel on a steep cliff with sea views that can only be reached by foot or donkey. The views from the top are breathtaking.

Our next stop was Santorini, Greece. Santorini has something for everyone. You can take a volcano and hot springs tour, visit black sand beaches, go hiking, explore ancient archeological sites, visit museums, wineries and see a sunset view like no other.

One of my favorite stops was to Crete. We explored Old Town Chania including the Municipal Market of Chania. I love seeing what fresh foods are being sold by local vendors. We then took a bus to the Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete on the foothills of the White Mountains. They have nearly 50 acres of local flowers, fruit trees, herbs and medicinal plants from all over the world for you to explore along the mountainside. They did a cooking demonstration and then we had an incredible lunch on the balcony at their onsite restaurant using their fresh fruits and vegetables from the gardens.

Our final stop before returning to Civitavecchia, Italy, was Naples, Italy. From Naples we went 30 minutes up the road to the ancient city of Pompeii, which was buried in 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted, covering the entire city. Pompeii was lost and forgotten until it was rediscovered in 1748.

An hour from Pompeii is picturesque Sorrento. We explored the winding streets of Sorrento and took in the beautiful views. If time permits, you could continue on to Almafi, which is only one hour from Sorento by car.

Final Thoughts…

There are so many ways to get around in Greece. There is a train system on the mainland and ferries to every island, but for our first time, going by cruise was the best fit for us. It was the trip of a lifetime and however you plan to see Greece, you will not regret it.

Recap of our Itinerary…

Day 1 - Arrive in Rome (Civitavecchia, Italy)

Day 2 - Olympia (Katakolon, Greece)

Day 3 - Athens (Piraeus, Greece)

Day 4 - Aegina, Greece (via Piraeus)

Day 5 - Mykonos, Greece

Day 6 - Ephesus (Kusadasi, Turkey)

Day 7 - Rhodes, Greece

Day 8 - Santorini, Greece

Day 9 - Crete, Greece

Day 10 - Naples, Italy (Pompeii & Sorrento)

Day 11 - Rome (fly home)

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