Moon Greek Islands & Athens: Timeless Villages, Scenic Hikes, Local Flavors

by Sarah Souli

Overview

​Soak up the sun, dance till dawn, hike through wild forests, or explore Greek history: Escape to the Mediterranean with Moon Greek Islands & Athens.

• Choose the right islands for you, with strategic itineraries for different timelines, budgets, and activities, whether you want to lounge on the best beaches, linger in ancient villages, explore the outdoors, or island-hop for a little taste of everything
• Focused coverage of Athens and 18 Greek islands, including Santorini, Mykonos, Karpathos, Corfu, Lefkada, and more
• Unique experiences and must-see highlights: Marvel at Oia's picturesque blue and white architecture or take a boat to the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Soak in therapeutic hot springs, hike through lush forests to waterfalls in Samothrace, or hop aboard a boat and discover hidden coves and wild beaches. Learn about local folklore in Olympos, explore Athens' contemporary galleries and ancient ruins, and savor authentic Greek cuisine, from roasted lamb and olives to dakos and fiery shots of ouzo
• Insight from Athens local Sarah Souli on how to experience Greece like an insider, support local businesses, and avoid over-tourism
• Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout
• Background information on the landscape, history, and cultural customs of Greece and each individual island
• In-depth coverage of: Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Folegandros, Milos, Naxos, Anafi, Karpathos, Rhodes, Kalymnos, Samothrace, Ikaria, Lesvos, Alonnisos, Skyros, Corfu, Zakynthos, Lefkada, and Crete

With Moon's practical tips and local know-how, you can experience the best of Athens and the Greek islands.

Exploring more of Europe? Check out Moon Prague, Vienna & Budapest or Moon Southern Italy.

About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you.

For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640497030
Publisher:	Avalon Publishing
Publication date:	01/10/2023
Series:	Travel Guide
Edition description:	2nd Revised ed.
Pages:	560
Sales rank:	256,367
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Sarah Souli is an Athens-based journalist covering all things Greek for outlets like Vice, The Guardian, Condé Nast Traveler, Roads & Kingdoms, and more. She's been traveling to Greece for years, eventually settling in Athens several years ago with her Greek husband. Through her writing and travels, she's formed an intimate relationship with Greece's people, language, and customs, and loves seeking out the hidden gems of the Greek islands. She studied Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, speaks French, Spanish, Arabic, and Greek, and never tires of inspiring wanderlust and learning new things about her adopted home country.

Table of Contents

Discover Greek Islands & Athens 6

10 Top Experiences 10

Planning Your Trip 18

Greek Islands for Families 20

Choosing Your Island 22

Best of the Cycladics: Naxos, Mykonos, and Anafi 26

Greece's Best Beaches 27

Panigiria 28

Best of the Dodecanese: Rhodes and Karpathos 29

Best of the Northeast Aegean: Ikaria and Lesvos 30

Hiking Through the Islands 31

Greek Cuisine 32

Best of the Sporades: Skyros and Alonissos 34

Know Your History 35

Best of the Ionian Coast: Corfu and Lefkada 36

Athens 37

Orientation and Planning 39

Itinerary Ideas 43

Sights 46

Recreation 59

Nightlife and Entertainment 60

Festivals and Events 66

Shopping 67

Food 72

Accommodations 81

Transportation 84

Athens Ports 86

Santorini 91

Itinerary Ideas 96

Fira 98

Near Fira 101

Oia 105

Near Oia 109

Pyrgos 111

East of Pyrgos 113

Megalochori and Vicinity 115

Akrotiri and the Southwest Beaches 119

Mykonos 121

Itinerary Ideas 125

Hora Mykonos 128

Ano Mera 136

South Coast 137

North Coast 142

Delos Archaeological Site 144

Folegandros 146

Itinerary Ideas 149

Karavostasis 150

Hora 152

Ano Meria and the Northwest Coast 156

Agali and Galifos Beaches 158

Milos 161

Itinerary Ideas 166

Adamas 167

Plaka 170

Trypiti and Klima 174

Northern Coast: Plaka to Pollonia 177

Pollonia 179

South Milos Beaches 181

West Milos 183

Naxos 185

Itinerary Ideas 188

Naxos Hora 190

Southwest Coast 196

Northern Naxos 200

Inland Naxos 201

The Southeast Coast 207

Anafi 210

Itinerary Ideas 213

Sights 213

Beaches and Recreation 215

Nightlife and Entertainment 218

Shopping 219

Food 219

Accommodations 220

Karpathos 222

Itinerary Ideas 225

Pigadia 227

The Southeast Coast 230

Central and Southwestern Karpathos 232

North End 235

Rhodes 242

Itinerary Ideas 246

Rhodes Town 248

Lindos and Southern Rhodes 258

Western Rhodes and the Interior 262

Kalymnos 266

Itinerary Ideas 270

Pothia 272

Western Kalymnos 276

Vathy and Eastern Kalymnos 281

Samothrace 283

Itinerary Ideas 287

Hora Samothrace 289

Kamariotissa 292

Loutra 295

South Coast Beaches 297

Ikaria 299

Itinerary Ideas 302

Agios Kirykos and the South Coast 303

Evdilos and Around 311

Raches and the West End 314

Lesvos 321

Itinerary Ideas 326

Mytilini Town 327

Vicinity of Mytilini Town 331

The South Coast 332

Molyvos and the North Coast 337

The West Coast 342

Alonissos 346

Itinerary Ideas 350

Patitiri 350

National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades 356

Beaches North of Patitiri 357

Palia Alonissos 360

Western Alonissos 363

Steni Vala and the North End 363

Skyros 366

Itinerary Ideas 370

Hora 372

Magazia and Molos 375

Northeast Coast 377

Northwest Coast 378

Linaria and Vicinity 379

Bay of Tris Boukes and South Skyros 382

Corfu 384

Itinerary Ideas 389

Corfu Town 390

Mount Pantokrator and Northern Corfu 400

Southwest Corfu 404

Southeast Corfu 407

Zakynthos 409

Itinerary Ideas 413

Zakynthos Town 415

Vasilikos Peninsula 419

Keri and Laganas Bay 422

West Zakynthos 425

Northern Zakynthos: Agios Nikolaos to Shipwreck Bay 428

Lefkada 433

Itinerary Ideas 438

Lefkada Town 438

Agios Nikitas and the West Coast 442

Vaslliki 447

Nidri and East Lefkada 449

Egklouvi 453

Crete 455

Itinerary Ideas 460

Heraklio Town 462

Outside Heraklio Town 466

Rethymno Town 472

Outside Rethymno Town 477

Chania Town 483

Outside Chania Town 491

Agios Nikolaos and Lasithi 499

Background 506

The Landscape 506

Plants and Animals 509

History 510

People and Culture 515

Essentials 521

Getting There 521

Getting Around 525

Visas and Officialdom 526

Accommodations, Food, and Nightlife 527

Conduct and Customs 529

Health and 5afety 530

Practical Advice 532

Traveler Advice 534

Resources 536

Glossary 536

Greek Phrasebook 538

Suggested Reading and Films 541

Online Resources and Apps 543

Index 545

List of Maps 554

Editorial Reviews

"Moon handbooks are always a pleasure to read. The writing is crisp, the research impressive, and the recommendations practical and down to earth."—Chicago Tribune

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"Far from narrow minded, each Moon travel guide gives itinerary options for a variety of travelers’ budgets—from frugal to lavish. They make books catering to those who love the outdoors, those who have limited time, those staying exclusively in cities and those who’ve fully committed to living abroad. In all, they have hundreds of titles, ranging Bermuda to Budapest, that’ll teach you to embrace a new culture."—Gear Patrol, “The Best Travel Guidebooks for Every Journey”

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