Written by Tyler Braun

Greece is a place that can stir your heart to life. Here, the food is fresh and simple, the people are welcoming, and the sea is a shade of such deep blue that it seduces your all senses. If you let it, Greece can ignite in you a lifelong passion for travel. It embodies the essence of living well, and it rewards the well prepared traveler with views and experiences unlike anywhere else in the world.

My family recently returned from a Disney cruise that included three stops in Greece - Mykonos, Santorini, and Crete. Each island is quintessentially Greek, but each is also very different from each other. If I could, I would like to go back and spend a few days on each island. They each offer so many experiences that it would be impossible to explore them all in just a day. And these three islands barely scratch the surface of Greece’s 227 inhabited islands, to say nothing of Athens and the mainland.

Yes, it can be crowded, (especially on these three islands), and yes, it can be hot (especially if the wind decides not to blow like it did when we were there), and yes, it can feel rushed (especially if you have some of the tour guides we had). But if you let it, Greece can capture your mind, and before you know it, you find yourself daydreaming of wandering down tiny, uneven streets, flanked by white buildings, cool air conditioning beckoning you in to the nearest taverna. It only takes a glance out to sea, a quiet moment in a hidden pocket, or a boat ride past the houses precariously perched on mountainsides and you’re hooked. Falling in love with Greece is easy. Staying away is the hard part.

Picture yourself on boat, sailing slowly towards the white buildings of Mykonos. Or at a seaside taverna, sipping a glass of local white wine, looking out over the shimmering Aegean Sea. Or on a volcanic black sand beach, enjoying the shade of your own personal cabana while a warm breeze slowly ruffles the pages of your book. Or in a mountainous ravine, eyes wide as you watch the wild mountain goats climb like nimble gymnasts, ascending ever higher over the rugged, rocky cliffs. All of these experiences await the curious traveler in Greece. One could live an entire lifetime in Greece and not see it all. But one shouldn’t live a lifetime and never see or experience at least some of these wonders.

Each island offers its own distinct charm, and each has a kaleidoscope of experiences. Mykonos had the charm and ambiance I picture most when I think of Greece. We wandered through narrow streets, barely wide enough for people to pass side by side. We walked up and down, left & right, past white buildings filled with stores and restaurants, fleeting glimpses of the Aegean in the distance between alleyways. We walked to the famous windmills of Mykonos. Though no longer operational, they still harken back to a simpler time in the island’s history.

In Santorini, we visited a volcanic black sand beach. Our itinerary was full in both Mykonos and Crete, but sandwiched right in the middle was the perfect day of relaxation on what is easily the most stunning beach I’ve ever been to in my life. From now on, when I close my eyes and escape reality for a bit of time, this is the idyllic landscape I will return to. Our trip was a multi-generational trip. Everyone loved it here - from Nana all the way down to the 2 year old.

In Crete, we explored the city in the early morning sunlight, by foot. Crete’s main harbor area is more modern than the first two islands. We wound our way past coffee shops and local stores, with their proprietors slowly starting another day. We then made our way to the harbor itself, a near full circle of shops and restaurants set around a crystal clear harbor, complete with lighthouse. From there we made our way up into the mountains for lunch and to see some traditional Greek dancers, and we ended our time in Crete in awe of the rugged mountains and their accompanying gravity defying goats.

The islands are very different in the evenings than they are during the days. During the day, multiple cruise ships will dock and the towns can be overrun with tourists. It is still an amazing experience, and I consider it the perfect introduction to the Greek Islands. The evenings on the islands, however, are very different. Slower, and with a few thousand less people.

One of best parts of cruising is also one of its biggest drawbacks - you’re going to see so much in a very short amount of time. That’s wonderful in the sense that you’re going to have the opportunity to visit so many incredible places, but it also makes it hard, because you fall in love with each destination and then, you’re off to your next port. For my family, cruising is the perfect travel method at this point in our lives. With young kids, we can see so many amazing places, while only unpacking once. Each evening we go back to our room, and there’s our crib, and all the accouterments required by young children. Anyone that travels with young kids can attest - kids do not travel lightly. The tradeoff is less time in each place. But, as I always say, assume you’ll be back. So whether you decide to visit Greece on a land-based trip or on a cruise, you are guaranteed to have the experience of a lifetime.

From the narrow, labyrinthine streets of Mykonos, to the idyllic black stand beaches of Santorini, to the alluring waterfront harbor promenade of Crete, Greece offers something for everyone.

See much more of this trip on Tyler’s YouTube Channel (once Tyler edits these videos…it’s gonna be a while.)

Why a Cruise to Greece Should Be on Your Bucket List!

People Mover Travel