Summer in Greece...

Last summer, we travelled to Greece twice, once island hopping and once staying on beautiful Samos. Every Greek island has its charm, think of the amazing white villages that sparkle in the sun on the Greek Cyclades islands, endless beaches and small bays with crystal clear water, nice restaurants and much more. This summer we visited Naxos, Syros, Tinos, Mykonos and we ended the summer on the green and authentic Samos. In this blog, I will take you on a tour of the most beautiful islands, the trendiest accommodations, and the best hotspots that made this trip unforgettable for us.

Naxos - the relaxed start

We started our trip on Naxos, an island we had visited before. Naxos has extensive sandy beaches, which we love, so it was a wonderfully relaxing start to our holiday. We stayed at the new Sundunes Hotel, right on the beautiful beach of Plaka. A fantastic place: modern, comfortable and with plenty of cosy restaurants within walking distance. It was also an ideal base from which to explore the rest of the island.

Read all my tips about Naxos here.

Syros - stylish and cultural

Our next stop was Syros, the main island of the Cyclades. This island is much less touristy than many of the other Cyclades, but definitely worth a visit. We were immediately impressed by the stylish Ermoupoli, with its neoclassical buildings, marble streets and lively squares.

During our stay, we slept in the beautiful Syros Soul Suites, right on the town's main square, directly opposite the Town Hall and just behind the harbour. A unique place to stay in the heart of Ermoupoli. Syros felt completely different from the other islands we visited, and that's what made it so special and surprisingly enjoyable. Read all my tips about Syros here.

Tinos - authentic and surprising

The third stop on our trip was Tinos, a small and still relatively unknown island in the Cyclades. That's exactly what made it so special for us. We stayed at the brand new Odera Tinos, a real gem with magical views over a private bay. The hotel was close to Chora and also proved to be a perfect base from which to explore the rest of the island.

Tinos is highly recommended for those who want to avoid mass tourism: a beautiful island with charming villages, cosy and good restaurants and a few beautiful beaches to relax on. During our stay on Tinos, we also discovered the impressive Panagia Evangelistria church, the largest and most important pilgrimage site in Greece. An impressive place that is definitely worth a visit.

Read all my tips about beautiful Tinos here.

Mykonos - vibrant and trendy

After Tinos, we continued our journey to Mykonos, perhaps the most famous island in the Cyclades, where we had been before. Mykonos is known for its lively nightlife and glamorous beach clubs, but this time we mainly enjoyed the quiet and authentic side of the island. The iconic windmills and narrow white streets of Chora are definitely worth a visit, despite the tourists, and fortunately it is a lot quieter in the early or late season.

During our stay, we slept at the Roccabella Hotel, within walking distance of the quiet beach of Agios Stefanos and only a 10-minute drive from Chora. An ideal place to both relax on the beach and explore the island. Read all my tips about the relaxed side of Mykonos here.

Samos - green and pleasant

At the end of August, we went to relax at Casa Cook on Samos for the third time. Samos is a beautiful, green and peaceful island. Ideal for relaxing. There are several lovely beaches, a number of charming villages, of which we like Pythagorion best, and there are also plenty of good restaurants, ranging from modern to typical Greek.

Read my blog about Samos and discover the best spots.