A Taste of the Mediterranean

To get to Milos, Greece is a bit of an adventure in its own right, as you will have already caught at least a flight, a taxi, and a ferry by the time you have arrived, but each event is so special. Arriving in Athens and looking out the windows of the plane and seeing the rocky terrain. Driving through the chaotic traffic of the greater metropolitan area of Athens, seeing many businesses and pieces of everyday life along the way. Depending on your flight arrival time and your ferry departure time, you may have some time to explore Athens, if you wish. Then you head to the port, seeing many ferries and other ships. At last, your ferry arrives. The chaotic hustle and bustle of boarding the ferry comes to an end when you get to your seat, and you depart. Throughout the trip, you see the Greek Islands arrive and disappear as you drop other travelers off at their respective Greek island paradises, and you finally arrive at Milos.

As you arrive in the port, you will walk towards the town of Adamantas. Across the street from the port, you will pick up your rental vehicle, then you can head to your accommodations to get situated.

By the time you get situated, you probably will be hungry from your journey. Head to the port to eat to experience your first meal on the island, by the water.

These restaurants are a short walk away, also in Adamantas, so enjoy the shops around town, along with some sweets, or if you are tired, there is always time to live slow, and check it out tomorrow.

In the morning, head to a great bakery on the island. They have tons of different bakery items freshly made that day. They also have eggs and different breakfast items. We recommend the yogurt bowl, but it is big enough for ATLEAST two people easy! It wouldn’t be a bad choice to go here for breakfast every day, due to their vast array of items, but there are some other great spots as well. They also make sandwiches and other items, so it is more of a bakery with a deli.

After breakfast, head to Adamantas Beach which is located on the bay. This area has some hot spring activity so you with feel different currents of warm and cooler water at times. If you are looking for a heaver lunch, head to a restaurant on the bay, close to Adamantas Beach. If you are looking for something lighter, you can get a gyro in town, or you can head to the bakery to get a sweet!

Return to the beach if you are looking to soak up the sun, or head to Milos’ Mining Museum to learn more history about the island.

Check out some of the shops in town, as well as a few interesting bars with great views.

Eat at a local favorite restaurant on the island, located in the bay. Note that you may have to wait a bit as they do not have reservations, and they are very popular, but rightfully so!

In the morning, head to our favorite bakery, or pick from our other list of recommended breakfast restaurants.

Head out to explore Plaka. The town is characterized by its narrow winding streets, traditional white-washed buildings, and charming squares.

Many restaurants exist in Plaka, but we have a favorite local one that provides a great deal of local fresh favorites.

Close to Plaka are the Milos Catacombs. It is a short tour, but it definitely is an interesting look into the history of the island.

Next to the catacombs, sits an ancient theater, that can be enjoyed from outside. Lucky guests may visit during a performance, but it is rare.

Below these sights, sits the beautiful town of Klima, known for the many-colored boat garages. You may visit here now, but you should also return for sunset, as it provides a beautiful view, as the sun descends below the horizon. Nearby is also

For dinner, you will head to the town of Triovasalos. This local filled town hosts a restaurant with many small plates and Greek favorites. The sun-dried octopus is fantastic.

In the morning, head to our favorite bakery, or pick from our other list of recommended breakfast restaurants. There is also a great bakery in Pollonia if you choose there.

Head to Pollonia to explore the small town and relax at the beach. Pollonia has a few restaurants, a cave wine bar, a beach, and some beautiful views. (For an incredible sunrise view, head to Pollonia beach before the sun comes up.)

Eat lunch in Pollonia on the water, taking in a view of the beautiful bay, full of small boats.

Head to Plathiena for a relaxing organized beach experience.

For dinner, eat in Mandrakia at a great restaurant on the water. During the day, you can see them drying some octopus in the sun. This makes the octopus a bit more chewy.

In the morning, head to our favorite bakery, or pick from our other list of recommended breakfast restaurants.

Head to Adamantas to catch your boat.

On this tour you will head to Sikia at the West of the island, working your way East to Kleftiko. Swim and relax in the beautiful blue waters. Lunch is included with the trip.

After your boat day, head to Trypiti for a great dinner, in a really nice open environment. They cook many dishes in a traditional wood fired oven. The dish they call chicken in paper is fantastic, with vegetables and a mustard sauce, cooked in the wood fire.

In the morning, head to our favorite bakery, or pick from our other list of recommended breakfast restaurants.

Today is a full day at southern beaches including our favorite, Fryiplaka. It has become a bit more built up recently, but the colored pebbled, cliffs, and rock structures are just so interesting.

For lunch, you will head to a great local place near Golden Beach.

After lunch, switch beaches to another southern beach, as many have different colored rock formations, and different ones offer different amenities. Be sure to check our included beach guide for more info!

Drive back to the room to shower and relax a bit.

Head to dinner again in Triovasalos. This place is just so warm and local, you will definitely want to return.

In the morning, head to our favorite bakery, or pick from our other list of recommended breakfast restaurants.

Return your car in the port.

You will be catching your ferry before arriving at the port in Piraeus. This trip will take about 3 hr and 30 min.

Your taxi driver will be waiting at the port to take you to your accommodations.

After settling in, you are sure to be hungry, take a short walk to a cute little cafe to eat something fresh.

If you arrive later in the day, it would be best to save any ruins until the next day, and relax in the peaceful neighborhoods, enjoying the Acropolis.

Relax at a rooftop bar overlooking Monastiraki Square, taking in the acropolis and the square. One of a few incredible viewpoints.

Enjoy a bustling restaurant for dinner just a few blocks from Monastiraki. Hopefully you are hungry because some of their portions can be huge, but too much Greek food isn’t an issue!

Head to a local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a traditional meal, enjoy local breads, fruits, pastries, and yogurts. We also like getting eggs with fresh feta!

The Acropolis is the first thing on our list on the first full day, and rightfully so! The admission actually covers a really large area just absolutely full of ruins leading up to the Acropolis, and back down the other side.

For more things to see, explore the area West/Southwest of the Acropolis, which has things like Socrates’ Prison, other ruins, and panoramic lookouts.

The Acropolis Museum will provide more insight to the things you have just seen, so make sure to check out this after you go through the Acropolis, or after grabbing lunch.

Eat lunch at a beautiful small bistro, just south of the Museum, whether you go before or after, it is in a convenient place to easily return to the Acropolis area.

Explore the Plaka neighborhood at the foot of the Acropolis, with small winding streets, family tavernas, interesting shops, and a random mix of ruins.

Enjoy dinner in Plaka in a great little taverna just off the beaten path.

Head to a local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a traditional meal, enjoy local breads, fruits, pastries, and yogurts.

Start the explorations for the day at the Ancient Agora. This complex of ruins holds many things to see and read about, but the main attraction being the Temple of Hephaestus, which is still incredibly preserved.

For lunch, there is a beautiful place in the middle of the hustle and bustle, serving homemade food.

Many shops and cafes exist in this area, leaving much to explore and great places to relax.

For dinner, head to a local restaurant, that is also a specialized deli. We love the charcuterie board, with many different specialty meats. (See gallery for picture)

After dinner, take a 10-15 minute walk through beautiful old streets to the rooftop theatre performance, with a view over some ruins and the Acropolis behind the stage.

Head to a local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a traditional meal, enjoy local breads, fruits, pastries, and yogurts.

Start the day with the Temple of Olympian Zeus, which also has the Temple of Apollo Delphinius, Temple of Kronos and Rhea, and Hadrian’s Gate very close by.

Get lunch in Koukaki, a 15 walk from the ruins. Koukaki is a beautiful little neighborhood with tons of restaurants, bars, cafes, etc. Geor. Olimpiou is a beautiful street lined with trees and many places to eat, with some different themed bars.

Spend the day relaxing in this charming area at our recommended places, or others, as there are many to choose from.

For dinner, head to a traditional taverna located just down the road from the main strip in Koukaki.

Head to a local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a traditional meal, enjoy local breads, fruits, pastries, and yogurts.

Start the day by heading to the neighborhood of Kolonaki, but specifically the funicular, to take you up Mount Lycabettus. This will provide you with a beautiful view of the city to the sea.

Get lunch after exploring the neighborhood. There are many great options in this area including some great bars to relax at as well.

Catch a taxi from Kolonaki to the National Archaeological Museum, exploring the great history of Greece.

Just North of the museum is a beautiful park to explore and relax in, with greenery and statues to enjoy.

For dinner, head to a great restaurant just a few blocks East of the museum.

Get a taxi to your accommodation area and head to a bar to finish off the night.

Head to a local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a traditional meal, enjoy local breads, fruits, pastries, and yogurts.

First off is Syntagma Square to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the changing of the guard. There are also many shops, cafes, etc around here.

Stop at Archaeological Site of the Lyceum of Aristotle. This set of ruins is not very populated and offers a more tranquil experience than some others.

A bit south of the Aristotle’s Lyceum is the Panathenaic Stadium, the stadium made of marble.

For lunch, you will have to walk a bit or get a taxi, as you will be in the middle of an area with more tourist restaurants.

Next, relax the National Gardens. This area spans 15.5 hectares and features lush vegetation, shaded pathways, ponds, and ancient ruins. The gardens are a great place to wind down on your last day.

For dinner, return to your accommodation area to have a delicious last dinner in Athens.

If you don’t want to say good night to Athens, head to Monastiraki for another rooftop bar experience.

Head to a local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. Wake up early to savor these last hours in Athens.

A car will pick you up at your accommodations to take you to the airport. The flight usually takes around 2 hr 20 min.

Arrive in Venice via Venice Marco Polo Airport, landing in the evening or late afternoon.

Walk from the terminal to the water transport area. You will wait for a short time for the Alilaguna, which takes you to Venice.

After settling in at your accommodations, you will head out to experience Venice in all of its glory, exploring the local canals.

Your accommodations will be in a quieter part of Venice, allowing you to choose when to engage with crowds, or when to stick to parks and less traveled areas.

A great local restaurant sits around the corner. Indulge in Italian classics including pizza and pasta.

No day in Venice is complete without gelato, closing out the day.

Get some sleep, you have an incredible day ahead.

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc.

Start your first full day in Venice seeing the Rialto Bridge and the Grand Canal. This area will be much more populated than where you are staying, but it is worth seeing the many small bridges and alleyways in this area.

Head to Fondaco Terrace, giving a panoramic view of the Grand Canal.

Check out Piazza San Marco, the main square of Venice, seeing the campanile, St Mark’s Basilica, and the outside of Doge’s Palace.

Surrounding these sights are many shops and places to eat for lunch. You can get arancini and other street foods or have a great sit-down meal in this area.

Self-guided tour through Doge’s Palace, which at one point also housed the government of Venice. This museum has a well-marked route with great information supplied throughout the many ballrooms, government chambers, and even the prison. Pass over the Bridge of Last Breaths for an alternative view of the famous bridge. Want to relax more? Save Doge’s palace for day 6.

Eat dinner at a fantastic local restaurant, known for seafood. For a more relaxed option, try an incredible take-out pizza place, eating back at your accommodations. Try a traditional margherita or mix it up with one of their unique creations!

Head home, grabbing a gelato on the way, to prepare for a Murano and Burano day trip tomorrow.

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc.

Head on a self-guided day trip to Murano and Burano. If interested, visit Torcello as well, as it is very close to Burano. Torcello is a beautiful little island with a few restaurants, a small museum, and a small basilica.
– Our favorite glass shops and furnaces on Murano to visit will be included in our full itinerary.

Before leaving Murano for Burano, make sure to stop at our recommended lunch spot and gelato shop.

Head to Burano for beautiful multi-colored buildings, the lace museum, and stop at a bakery in town to get famous local cookies. Towards the end of the day, the streets start to empty as day trip tourists return to their ships or travel accommodations.

Eat a set meal at a beautiful local restaurant, consisting of 7 courses.

Return to your accommodation, but not before grabbing a gelato on the way back!

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc.

Explore Lido, iconic for the film festival, in a quieter Venetian setting. Relax at the beach or by the pool.

Head down the road from the beach to a unique lunch experience. Eat a fresh crafted sandwich on a double decker bus!

Catch some more sun at the beach. (Rather catch some art than soaking up the sun? After exploring Lido, return to mainland Venice and head to Ca’ Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art to experience art from the 19th and 20th centuries.)

Return to the main part of Venice to have dinner at a local favorite.

No day is complete without gelato. I recommend the stracciatella, which is vanilla with chocolate throughout.

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc.

Explore the beautiful Peggy Guggenheim Museum, a collection of art in her Venice home.

Around this area, are some shops and galleries to explore, catering to artistic tastes. A very short walk east is also Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, boasting stunning architecture and also providing a beautiful view of Venice.

Lunch at a delicious restaurant towards the Accademia Bridge.

Head back towards Piazza San Marco via the Accademia bridge. If you are interested in local art, there are many artists set up willing to paint/draw/create custom art pieces, along with their other works for sale.

Stop at a cafe or a bar for a drink, relaxing in the streets at a table.

View Venice how it was meant to be seen, from a gondola! For a different option, save this for after dinner for a nighttime experience.

Enjoy a dinner at a local small restaurant, in an intimate setting.

No night is complete without gelato. For an interesting combo, see if they have an affogato, which is espresso poured on your choice of gelato.

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc.

Stroll through Venice’s green areas, enjoying the quieter parts of the city. Giardini della Biennale, located in the eastern part of Venice, houses some sculptures and architecture.

Get a takeout pizza from a delicious local place, eating back at your accommodation.

Stop at a local bar in the park, with tall glass windows, giving the feeling of being in a conservatory.

Return to favorite locations from your trip, to savor your last day in Venice.

Eat dinner at a fantastic local favorite, showcasing fine regional favorites with quality ingredients.

Get some sleep to prepare to fly out in the morning or early afternoon, but not before one last gelato.

Eat like a local for your last Venetian breakfast and head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc.

Depart Venice on the Alilaguna, heading to the Venice Marco Polo Airport to catch your flight home.

Return to Venice one day, feeling confident and comfortable in one of the most unique cities in the world.

Arrive at airport where a private car waits to take you to your accommodations. We recommend staying in the neighborhood of Trastevere for a relaxing experience, allowing you to choose when to interact with the crowds.

Check in to hotel or bed and breakfast and get comfortable before heading out to explore.

Many great restaurants exist around your hotel or bed and breakfast on your way to the first sight that we recommend, the Colosseum. Eat a great first meal at a small local restaurant.

Seeing the Colosseum first gives a great perspective point of the city, allowing you to compare other landmarks. Directly by the Colosseum also sits the Forum and other ruins. We will save the touring of inside of the Colosseum and other structures for our first full day, as to not be rushed. For a different perspective, also visit some of these places at night, as they can be less busy. While you can’t go inside them, it gives a more peaceful environment to appreciate the environment surrounding you, full of ancient structures once bustling with life.

After exploring the ancient center for a while, you will have worked up an appetite for a Roman dinner. Head to one of our recommended local spots for a relaxing environment.

No day in Italy is complete without a gelato, unless you had a tiramisu with dinner, then we can let it slide.

Grab a coffee and pastries from a local bakery. We can always snack on street food, so we don’t want to start with too heavy of a meal!

The best things to start off with are the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Palatine Hill Area. They are all located near each other, making it easy to take a break, before heading to your next activity. Also close by is the monument to Victor Emmanuel II, who was the first King of a unified Italy. This is a massive structure built between 1885 and 1935, so while it doesn’t fit into the ancient theme, there are many ruins between the Colosseum and this monument. After a tour of the Colosseum, you will probably be hungry for lunch.

Eat lunch in a local spot, a few blocks west of the monument. We have street food or cozy restaurant recommendations, so depending on how much time you want to take away from the ruins, we got your back!

Return to the area for more tours of the ruins, this time heading to Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus, and the Roman Forum.

Eat Dinner at a local restaurant, a few blocks northeast of the Roman Forum.

No day in Italy is complete without a gelato.

Grab a coffee and pastries from a local bakery. We can always snack on street food, so we don’t want to start with too heavy of a meal!

First head to the Trevi Fountain. One thing to keep in mind is that if it is too busy for you, you can always visit at night when it is much less crowded. Note: Right in front of the fountain is a great gelato place. After the fountain, check out the Pantheon. This beautiful structure is not large, but it is fascinating, and it is also filled with art.

Head to Piazza Navona, which is essentially an outdoor museum, with the three art piece fountains, along with tourists and locals alike relaxing in the square.

After Piazza Navona, cross the river to visit Castel Sant’Angelo. This museum was originally a masoleum for Hadrian, along with other things throughout time. If pressed for time or you want to head to the park, you can save this for day 6.

After working up a bit of an appetite, head to a local restaurant for lunch. If you don’t want to slow down much, head to our recommended Pizza Al Taglio place, where you order by the weight, or dollar amount.

Take a 35-minute train ride out to the suburbs of Rome to see the ancient aqueducts, strolling around Aqueduct Park while also getting to see what outside suburbs are like. They are culture rich with many small places to eat or drink, along with people living their everyday lives. Tourists here are few and far between compared to center city Rome.

Enjoy dinner in small restaurant a few blocks from the park. Surrounded by locals, you know that you are eating some of the best food that you can get!

Return to Trastevere via train, stopping on your way back to the room to get to gelato.

Grab a coffee and pastries from a local bakery. We can always snack on street food, so we don’t want to start with too heavy of a meal!

Explore Vatican City, seat of the Catholic church.
– St. Peter’s Basilica
– Vatican Museums
– Vatican Gardens
– Sistine Chapel
– Head to lunch in Prati, a beautiful neighborhood just east of the Vatican
– Dinner will als4o be located in the Prati area, due to the abundance of great options

– OR –

Take a day trip to the mountainside town of Tivoli. Explore a renaissance palace, ancient ruins of emperor Hadrian’s palace, lush gardens/parks, and stunning waterfalls in this charming hillside town.
– Villa d’Este: Beautiful gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage Site
– Hadrian’s Villa: An ancient Roman archaeological complex
– Parco Villa Gregoriana: A picturesque natural park featuring lush vegetation, dramatic cliffs, and stunning waterfalls
– Grande Cascata di Tivoli (waterfalls)
– Eat lunch in Tivoli at a beautiful small restaurant in a relaxing environment
– Return to Rome and have a relaxing dinner in Trastevere

No day in Italy is complete without a gelato, no matter what you did today.

Grab a coffee and pastries from a local bakery. You may want a bit heaver of a meal here due to traveling a bit to get to your destination even after arriving in Naples, or you can grab a snack when arriving in Naples.

Head to Termini Station to catch a highspeed train to Naples, taking about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

After arriving in Naples, catch the Circumvesuviana train to the Ercolano (Herculaneum) stop. Here you will be able to catch the bus up to Vesuvius, so you can hike the last little bit to the top. For an alternative to the Vesuvius hike, you could explore the Naples Bay, the area around Castel del Ovo, the historic center, or explore Pompeii in addition to Herculaneum.

After hiking Vesuvius, you are the in perfect town already to explore the ruins of Herculaneum. These ruins are similar to Pompeii, but seem to be better preserved, and less known!

Return to Naples center for a pizza to experience it in the city in which it was invented, or opt for seafood, as it will be incredible as well with Naples being on the bay.

Explore the port area or Naples’ Old City, which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban areas in the world.

Catch the train back to Rome.

Relax with dinner in a local spot, not too far from your accommodations.

No day in Italy is complete without a gelato.

Grab a coffee and pastries from a local bakery. We can always snack on street food, so we don’t want to start with too heavy of a meal!

Spend the day in Villa Borghese, a green sprawling park with manicured gardens, verdant groves, and serene lakes. Enjoy walking trails, encounter exotic animals at the quaint zoo, or marvel at a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Inside the park is Galleria Borghese, which houses many art pieces.

Enjoy lunch in the park or just outside, at our recommended place west of the park.

Relax with a beautiful dinner at a local restaurant just Northeast of the park. Often offering a tasting menu, let the chef craft the perfect meal for your last dinner in the Eternal City.

No day in Italy is complete without a gelato.

Grab a coffee and pastries from a local bakery. This is the one time we recommend a larger meal in the morning as you don’t want to rely on any airport food!

Head to Fiumicino Airport via private car, leaving the Eternal City until next time.