It’s you’re planning to a spend a weekend in Boston, I’ve got your Boston Itinerary right here! These are all the restaurants you’ll want to check out, neighborhoods to visit, guided tours, and places to stroll!

This was such a last minute trip! 

My husband had been to Boston, Massachusetts before for a quick conference and came back raving about it. So when we needed a northern destination to check off of our bucket list on the way up to Canada, we flew into Boston Logan International airport for a weekend trip. I’ll be honest, this was a last minute trip so I got several of the recommendations on this list from my good friend and my sister. Both of them had been before and knew what I’d love to see and do!

I had always heard that the best times of the year to visit Boston was between September and November and luckily, the timing worked out perfectly for us. Cool morning and sunny afternoons, we clocked in about 15,000 steps a day and ate our weight in cannoli’s, pizza, and more!

A 2-3 day Boston Itinerary

Tourist Attractions:

• Newbury Street: A shopping area lined with 19th century brownstones. They have tons of high end stores and boutiques. Even if you aren’t planning on buying anything it’s great to walk around and take in the sights!
• Boston Public Library: This is a beautiful work out art! For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to visit Bates Hall with its iconic green lamp room! Then walk across Boston’s Copley Square to the Trinity Church.
• Acorn Street: This is one of the most photographed streets in the city! This row of houses is considered highly prestigious and there are signs everywhere that say it’s a private lane. Visitors are asked to respect it and stay off of the street. But you can always stand at the corner and check it out!
• Charles River Esplanade: Gives you  a beautiful view of the Boston skyline!
• Beacon Hill: A great neighborhood to check out on the way to or from Acorn Street. The old corner bookstore (Beacon Hill Book Store) is beautiful and you could spend hours getting lost in there!
• Boston Commons: You can start walking the Freedom Trail here. The Freedom Trail start in the Boston Common, to the Old North Church in the North End and the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. This is rich in America’s history.
• Boston Public Garden: Make way for Ducklings are located here and they are the cutest! You should also check out the Lagoon Bridge.
• Harvard University: Absolutely stunning college campus located in Cambridge, MA. We weren’t really planning on adding this to our itinerary and since we skipped the Freedom Trails (a dream for a history buff, but we just aren’t) we decided to use the afternoon to Uber into Cambridge. Afterwards, head to the amazing Uyghur restaurant in the food reccs!
• Quincy Market: Historic market located right across from Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Downtown Boston. These are both great place to check out and grab a few souvenirs, clam chowder, and for crowd watching.
• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: tickets are $20 for general admission and they do offer a beautiful afternoon tea service at the cafe for an extra cost. Though it is a bit pricey, so definitely budge for this if it’s something you’d enjoy!
• Catch a Red Sox game: if you’re a baseball fan, this is not to be missed. The Boston Red Sox play at Fenway Park during the season.

Recommended Tours:

• Boston Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour: This boards off of 200 Atlantic Ave, right in front of the Marriott. This is steps from the Boston harbor. We had dinner at Regina’s Pizza, grabbed Mike’s then walked over for the tour. Keep in mind that though it is a trolley tour, there are several times you have to hop off and walk (sometimes up hill) to historic landmarks such as the Granary Burying Ground and King’s Chapel Burying Ground. We had a few people on the tour that hopped off and didn’t come back, because of mobility issues. The tour guide carries a little lantern as you walk to burying grounds and honestly, for an all-things-spooky fanatic, this was one of my favorite things to do in Boston! Buy tickets here.
• Boston Duck Tours: This is a great way to see the city if you are short on time on a guided tour without having to leave the duck mobile! The tour guides take your through sites such as the Theater District, Massachusetts State House, Fenway Stadium, and many others before giving you a water tour! We started the tour from New England Aquarium and returned there before walking around the harbor front for a bit.

Where to Eat in Boston:

• Regina’s Pizza: With locations all over the city, we opted for the first and most famous one in North Boston.
  • Located at 11½ Tatcher St. Boston, MA
• Mike’s Pastry: I have an un popular opinion! I didn’t care for Mike’s Pastry. There was so much hype surrounding this dessert shop and honestly, it was kind of meh. Overly sweet, not much flavor to the desserts. But you should still try it for yourself! A quick heads up, they only accept cash!
• Modern Pastry: We didn’t get a chance to try this shop, but I wouldn’t be doing my Boston itinerary justice if I didn’t mention it. Many people try both this and Mike’s and like to pick their favorite!
• Ogawa Coffee: They had the most amazing drip coffee. And my thing is, if you can do drip right, it’s worth checking out!
• Bruegger’s Bagels: For a quick, grab and go breakfast!
• Pressed Cafe: Located in Back Bay, this is a great little breakfast spot. 
  • Located at 105 Huntington Ave. Boston MA 20199.
• Yankee Lobster: A great place to catch some fish and chips, clam chowder, and lobster rolls! Boston is all about the seafood! 
  • Located at 300 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210.
• Silk Road Uyghur:A tiny hole-in-the-wall that packs a flavor punch. Serving up pan-fried noodles with spices, this is not to be missed. 
  • Located at 645 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141
• Tatte Bakery and Cafe: There are locations for this coffee shop all over the city. The shakshuka and the poached eggs on avocado toast along with the pistachio croissant were divine!
  • Located at 70 Charles Street Boston, MA 02114 (this is the Beacon Hill location but there are others in Back Bay, South Boston, Fenway, and several others)

Of course, these are just some of the many things to do in Boston, so if I missed your favorite, feel free to leave it in the comments below 🙂

If you like this, you might also like:

• Fall Things to do in Woodstock, VT
• Experiencing Fall in Stowe, Vermont
• Girls Trip to New York
• 19 Tips for Visiting the Wizarding World
• A Weekend in Chicago

Fall is the best time to visit Woodstock, Vermont! The leaves are changing colors, festivities are in full swing, the air is crisp, and the town looks like something out of a movie! Throw in a classic New England bed and breakfast, and you’re all set. Here’s my list of things to do in Woodstock Vermont!

It’s my favorite time of the year again – fall!

And there’s nothing like leaf-peeping in New England. The fall foliage in Stowe and Woodstock is unreal. It’s something out of a magazine. It’s something that I highly recommend for anyone who loves autumn as much as I do. Crisp yellows, burnt oranges, and if you’re lucky, a full-on fire engine red. 

Being from Texas means that we don’t get to experience a real autumn here. The leaves don’t really change colors. They’re usually bright green one day and brown the next. Pumpkins don’t show up on front porches until a week before Halloween because it’s honestly too hot and they would melt.

That’s not the only reason I love Vermont though! They have some of the highest quality fresh produce, maple syrup, and dairy, so you know everything you’re going to eat is going to be farm fresh and delicious. And all I’m really trying to say is that Woodstock is the perfect fall weekend trip to make with your beau. It’s laid back and oh, so perfect for the season. 

Here’s everything you need to do, when to go, and what to know for your fall Vermont trip!

What to do during Fall in Woodstock, VT.

• Ride the Green Mountain Railroad: located ~45 minutes outside of Woodstock, this is a great way to see all the fall foliage! Guests of the Green Mountain Railroad enjoy a 2-hour trip through Vermont’s scenic countryside during September and October. Overlook mountain, rivers, and wildlife from the windows of the rail cars. They also offer a 4-course dinner train.
• Middle Covered Bridge: When I think of Woodstock, this is the first image that comes to mind. The quintessential perfect covered bridge. Be prepared though, there’s almost always a crowd here.
• Visit Farmhouse Pottery: A lot of the props I purchase for the blog are from here, so I spent the better part of the afternoon in this store and couldn’t pass up the chance to add this to my list of things to do in Woodstock. I walked away with a few things, but the best part is that they offer to ship the items to your door – perfect if you’ve only brought a carry-on!
• Wander Around Pleasant Street: Lots of colorful attractions are located here. Take a peak inside a few shops. Grab a bite to eat; it’s the perfect way to spend a lazy Saturday morning. There’s a little park towards the end where the Woodstock Inn is located and there are often vendors set up in the park setting knick knacks and such.
  • TIP: come early and be prepared to walk around! If you get here early, you’re more likely to get a good parking spot – without having to drive around for a while. Plan to be on foot for the rest of your stay in downtown because the spots are almost always full.
• Check out the Woodstock Inn & Resort: During the holidays, this place is fully decked out with festive flowers and lots of pumpkins. Unfortunately, we made it the week before all the flowers were replaced with yellows and oranges. But nonetheless, this is a sight to see on your stroll.
• Sleepy Hollow Farm: The most beautiful farm! Keep in mind that the farm is private property, and though they don’t mind visitors stopping by, you don’t want to go past the barriers they have set up. They have cameras everywhere, and I would encourage everyone to respect the private property signs! 
  • TIP: A lot of the images you see online are a bit misleading as they’re taken much further down the driveway of the farm. I don’t recommend doing this unless you’ve obtained special permission to do so!
  • 3429 Cloudland Rd South, Woodstock, VT 05091
• Billings Farm & Museum: This place is on the way to the Sleepy Hollow Farm. It’s a classic creamery with tons of animals. It’s a great place to take the kids if you’ve got the little ones with you! They also have an ice cream shop on the premises.
• FH Gillingham & Sons: Located near the main street. This is a classic Vermont General Store in Woodstock’s downtown that sells a little bit of everything! From pottery to kitchen utensils, cider, pumpkin butter, and so much more.
• Jenne Road Farm: This farm is located a little outside of Woodstock, located in Reading. It’s a bit more difficult to find, but here you’ll see cows roaming the land and an iconic red barn with mills!
  • TIP: This farm is located at a higher elevation. Meaning that if it’s a particularly cloudy or foggy morning, you may want to get here later in the day. That way your pictures aren’t just a bunch of fog!
  • 1279-1163, Jenne Rd, Reading, VT 05062
• Taftsville Covered Bridge: just a place to stop for a quick picture; it’s a red covered bridge. Keep in mind there isn’t much parking here, so you’ll want to steer off the road or maybe opt to just drive under the bridge instead.
• Woodstock Farmers Market: Don’t be fooled by the name – this is not your typical farmers market lined with vendors! This is more of a grocery store. But it’s a lot of goods from local farmers in the area and locally sourced ingredients. This place is close by to Farmhouse Pottery and has prepared snacks, hot cider, and everything else. Visitors often make a pit stop in here to grab a warm drink, a sandwich, or souvenirs!
• Sugarbush Farm: A cute little family-owned farm with acres and acres of land. Taste Vermont cheddar, maple syrup, and so much more. The employees are all so nice here, and they even have a maple syrup museum. It gave me Stars Hollow museum vibes (if you know, you know) but it was still cute! Make sure you stop by the gift shop to pick up maple syrup. We loved the flavor of their dark amber maple syrup.
• Quechee Gorge Trail: a 2.7-mile (that’s roundtrip) hike with beautiful views. This is located inside Quechee Start Park and is a great way to see the fall foliage in the early morning hours! Stop by the Skinny Pancake afterward for a nice, hearty breakfast!
  • TIP: Even if you decide not to hike the trail, I do suggest stopping at the viewing point at the top to take a picture. The gorge looks stunning with all the fall foliage and definitely a must-do on my list of things to do in Woodstock.
• Take the scenic route to Stowe: Depending on how much the leaves have changed color, you might want to consider taking the scenic route to Stowe (if you’re headed there.) This does add ~40 minutes to the drive time than if you were to take the highway, but depending on the time of year, it might be worth it! Otherwise, hop on the I-89N and make your way into Stowe.

Where to eat in Woodstock, VT

• Mon Vert Cafe: We loved this place; there was just so much on the menu to enjoy! They offer bakery items, breakfast, lunch, and a wide assortment of hot and cold drinks. Try the fall foliage latte – it’s sweetened with real maple syrup, and it’s so warm and cozy!
  • 28 Central St, Woodstock, VT 05091
• Worthy Kitchen: Make sure to make reservations; this place is always packed. They’ve got burgers, mac and cheese, and farm-fresh eats on the menu.
  • 442 Woodstock Rd, Woodstock, VT 05091
• The Skinny Pancake: Located not far from the Quechee Start Park, this is a great place to stop by and grab breakfast on your way into Woodstock.
  • 7161 Woodstock Rd, Quechee, VT 05001

I hope this gets you in the mood for fall.

I’m ready for pumpkin spice lattes, cozy sweaters, and spooky season!

If you like this post, you may also want to check out:

• Fall in Stowe, VT
• Girls Trip to NY
• Road Trip: Seattle to LA
• A Weekend in Chicago
• Tips for Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

My Istanbul Guide covers everything you need to see, do, and eat while you’re in Istanbul, Turkey! We’ve got the Galata Tower, Sultanahmet Square, a cruise on the Bosphorus, the Spice Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, and so much more! Plus all the roasted corn, simit, and chocolate-covered cheesecake that your heart desires!

It took me way longer to get this Istanbul travel guide up than I’d hoped.

But I’ve got a full list of everything you need to do, see, and eat while you’re there. Whether you’re traveling through Turkey with a stopover in Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, and beyond or just making a quick trip to Istanbul on the way to or back from Santorini, Mykonos, Rome, or the Amalfi Coast. Let this be your guide to Istanbul! Istanbul is a destination everyone needs to add to their bucket list. It’s beautiful, relatively affordable, and rich in history.

And I’ll be the first one to tell you that I had horrible anxiety thinking about planning transportation for this trip. It ended up being almost effortless, and I want to share everything you need to know in this Istanbul guide.

Turkish words to know:

It wouldn’t be an Istanbul guide without a few words to help you communicate. While most Turks did speak enough English for basic communication, it was helpful to have Google Translate on our phones. Ordering food at a restaurant isn’t a problem because you can always point to the item and get the point across. However, asking for directions is a whole other story!

Merhaba (Mar-habbah) – Hello

Teşekkürler (teh-shuk-relar) – Thank you

Güle güle (Guley Guley) – Bye bye

What is the best time of the year to visit Istanbul?

• Peak Season: June through August is peak season for visitors. Hotel rates are much higher at this time, and the crowds are thicker too. Expect long lines outside the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace, and trams packed to the brim!
• Low Season (aka best time to go): Going between March-May and September-November proves to be the best time to go. I find somewhere in April or May to be the sweet spot. Where the weather is beautiful, and the crowds are thinner. That means less waiting and more doing!

Istanbul Guide | Important things to know:

• As an American, you need a visa! I was baffled when I read this! No one ever mentioned needing a visa for Istanbul. I assumed, for Americans, that a visa was granted on arrival like it is for a lot of countries, but that’s not the case. Luckily, you can obtain one in as little as 30 minutes online. And luckily, I saw this two weeks before our trip and didn’t even need to pay the rush fee on that. IVisa gives you a visa in 30 minutes to 24 hours.
• Airport Taxi prices are regulated. There’s a set price for how much a driver can charge you for a trip from Istanbul airport to, say, Sultanahmet (it was around 350TL when we went.) Now, there are grades of taxis represented by color – orange, turquoise, and black. The black taxi will cost you more than 1.5x the price of an orange taxi.
• Uber’s are illegal in Istanbul! But there is a loophole to getting a prescheduled transfer. Anees found a great company called Welcome Pickups. You can schedule your transfer to/from the airport or any other place. The price is slightly higher than an airport taxi. However, you can request a driver that speaks English fluently. Which ended up making things much, much more comfortable. The taxi ride is about an hour to get from the new airport to Sultanahmet, so you’ll want to be comfortable after a long day of travel!
• Get yourself an Istanbulkart! This is an all-around public transportation boarding pass used for the metro, trams, ferries, and buses. You can purchase one at the airport or at the tram station.  And you don’t need individual cards for each person. A family can easily share an Istanbulkart. And it is refillable, so add 50-100 TL to start. And recharge the card right at the tram station machines when you’ve run out. While you’re at it, familiarize yourself with the T1 line (Kabataş.) It’s the one you’ll take to Sultanahmet (Where the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are located), the Spice Market, and so many other places.
• If you think you’re going to travel by taxi and see the whole city peak season, you’re wrong. The traffic in Istanbul is the actual definition of insane. So though the taxi might not be expensive to get around, it’s actually not the smartest way to travel. The Istanbulkart allows you to take the trams, which get you from one side of the city to the other in no time!

Where to stay in Istanbul

I highly recommend staying in Sultanahmet. In all my research before the trip, this place made the most sense to me for our itinerary. Sultanahmet is where the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Square, Basilica Cistern, and so many other attractions are located. Not to mention, it’s a stop on the T1 line, so it makes getting to and from places almost effortless.

Hotel Recommendations:

• Soho House Istanbul: is located further from the Sultanahmet District but is a beautiful hotel.
• AJWA: Located 8 minutes from the Blue Mosque, 17 minutes from Hagia Sophia
• Seven Hills: Great view of Hagia Sophia; this place also has a killer traditional turkish breakfast served on the rooftop (more on that below.) The rooms are done up in traditional Turkish design.
• Bosphorus Four Seasons: Extremely pricy, as expected, but stunning! This hotel has an iconic door to the Bosphorus Strait, and it is worth checking out even if you wouldn’t stay here.
• Sura Design Hotel & Studio: Up-to-date rooms. There are actually two Sura hotels located directly across from each other in the same lane. The good thing about staying here is that you can enjoy the included breakfast buffet from either hotel, use the gym, and the hammam at either location as well. So it’s like getting a full set of amenities from two hotels instead of one! We stayed in the new Sura Design studio and wished we had opted for the old one. Though not as updated, it is definitely better in other aspects.
  • Divan Yolu Cad. Ticarethane Sok. No 43 Sultanahmet, Fatih, Istanbul, 34110, Turkey

Istanbul Guide | What to do:

• Galata Tower: One of my favorite tourist attractions! I could’ve stayed and stared at the tower for hours and looked at it from every angle! It’s stunning and feels like something out of a Disney movie. 11/10 recommend it.
  • Karaköy: A great area to check out with colorful umbrella-lined streets near the Galata Tower.
• Hagia Sophia: This used to be a church before it was a mosque. It’s located on the opposite side of the Hagia Sophia, with Sultanahmet Square in the middle. 
  • TIP:  go right after sunrise so that you can see the magnificence of this place without the crowds. We went right after Fajr prayers at sunrise, which was so peaceful.
• Blue Mosque: This is the only mosque in all of Istanbul with 6 minarets. It was built, from what I’ve read, sometime between 1609-1616 AD. The mosque is open to visitors at 8:30 AM and closes about 30 minutes before each prayer time (that’s 5 times a day.) Entrance is free, but donations are encouraged.
  • TIP: Women should cover their arms, legs, and hair when entering. They are very strict about this and will pull you out of the line and hand you garments. I even saw them pull a guy to the side and ask him to cover his legs because they considered his shorts too short.
• Basilica Cistern: We were looking forward to checking this out (my husband had just finished reading the Dan Brown book), but unfortunately, it was closed for renovations when we went.
• Bosphorus Cruise at Sunset: We loved taking a cruise and learned so much! The crew served delicious Turkish delicacies while we cruised on the Bosphorus. They pointed out notable places along both the Asian side of the city and the Europe side of Istanbul. Definitely an activity I recommend doing!
• Ortakoy Mosque: It will be bursting with crowds, but I highly recommend seeing it at sunset.
• Grand Bazaar: A place to browse, check out the lamp shops, handmade rugs and carpets, ceramics, leather goods, handmade jewelry, and so much more! Whatever you do, don’t forget to haggle – they expect it!
• Spice Bazaar: The Grand Bazaar is fun, but the Spice Bazaar is where the snacks are at! Although in all seriousness, don’t accept any snacks or teas unless you plan on making a purchase. I’ve seen store owners get a little upset with customers when the snacking is in session, but nothing has been bought!
• Umbrella Street: This is located close to the colorful houses on Kiremit Street, right next to the Rainbow Stairs at Incir Agaci Kahvesi in Hoca Tahsin. They had the doors closed to deter people from coming in, so keep your eyes peeled!
• Check out the colorful houses on Kiremit Street: That pretty much says it all! Once we ate lunch at Forno, we kept walking uphill towards Kiremit Street to check out the colorful houses along the street.
• Balat: This was originally a Jewish neighborhood that is now a hipster hangout with the best cafes and more! It’s the spot that‘s most popular with Instagrammers. While you’re there, check out Fener, it’s a college town and its cobblestone-lined old town perfection

Where and what to eat in Istanbul

• Grab breakfast on the rooftop of a restaurant near the Hagia Sophia The Seven Hills hotel has an amazing Turkish breakfast that will keep you full until dinner! You can munch on all sorts of delicious food, feed the gulls, and take all the pictures you can fit on your phone here.
• Donerci Sahin Usta Located in a little lane right outside the Grand Bazaar. This place had the most delicious Doner from our entire trip!
  • Mollafenari, Kılıçcılar Sk. No:5, 34120 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
• Mivan Restaurant This was definitely my favorite dinner spot from the trip. Located right next door to the Ajwa hotel, it had some of the best Mezze, grilled kabob dishes, and much more!
• Forno This place had the best Turkish Pide! It’s a little hole-in-the-wall place run by a family, I suspect. We enjoyed the beef pide and the lahmacun, which is a Turkish flatbread topped with ground lamb or beef, onions, tomatoes, and spices.
  • Vodina Caddesi, Fener Kireçhane Sk. No:13/A, 34087 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
• Hafiz Mustafa Saffron tres leches, baklava, Turkish delight, Turkish coffee, and Turkish tea! This is where you need to be if you need a quick pick-me-up.
  • There are a ton of these in the city. We went to the one in Sultanahmet and the one at the College stop on the T1.
• Hanzade Terrace Restaurant I had the best butter mushrooms here! They were loaded with garlic and cheese, and I honestly think that alone makes this a must-try. Throw in the sunset view overlooking the Bosphorus, and you’re set!
  • Emin Sinan, Piyer Loti Cd. No:35, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
• Sehzade Cag Kebap This place came up quite a few times while I was researching for our trip. I honestly didn’t think the kebap was amazing, but the lentil soup definitely was! Don’t be alarmed when you see 4 things on the menu – that’s honestly it!
  • Hoca Paşa, Hoca Paşa Sk. No:6 D:4, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
• Have a Simit it’s a cross between a bagel and a pretzel. It‘s sold on almost every street corner! You can have it on its own, with cream cheese, or with Nutella. And it is the perfect grab-and-go breakfast item.
• Fresh pomegranate and orange juice from street vendors There are a few right outside the Grand Bazaar and almost everywhere, to be honest. These are pasteurized juices, so if you’re pregnant or nursing, you may want to skip them. I asked for it to be made without ice; it was so refreshing on a warm afternoon!
• Tandoori Chai Istanbul Shout out to my sister’s friend, Meeta, for recommending this place (and a few others you see here on this list!) If you’re looking for a real cup of chai – not the stuff you get from Sbux, please and thank you. This is where you need to go! It was great to enjoy a cup after the pide we had.
  • Tandoori Chai, Balat, Vodina Cd. no: 94/A, 34087 Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
• Viyana Kehvesi Galata Located right across from the Galata Tower (seriously, it has the most killer view), this place is a must for any Istanbul guide! You’ll see locals and tourists coming in to grab a coffee but also for that delicious chocolate-covered slice of burnt basque cheesecake. I honestly wish hadn’t waited to go here till the end because I wanted another slice immediately afterward!

And that’s a wrap on the Istanbul guide. I’m hoping we can do a stopover in Antalya or Cappadocia the next time we’re in Europe.

As always, if you’ve been or have recommendations on where to eat, stay, and play in Istanbul, please share in the comments below; I’d love to know!

If you like this, you might also like:

• Exploring Cinque Terre
• Positano Travel Diary
• 3-Day Rome Itinerary
• What to do in Venice
• 10-Day West Coast Trip

This is the perfect 3 or 5 day Santorini Itinerary! With everything you need to see in Oia, Fira, Imerovigli and so much more! Hike, take a caldera cruise, head down to Ammoudi Bay, and eat some of the best Greek food! If you plan to visit Santorini, you’re going to want to read this itinerary!

Santorini, Greece!

I can’t even begin to tell you how long visiting the Greek islands has been on my bucket list. After Italy, Greece was the next European destination that my husband and I have always wanted to visit. We went right at the tail end of June. That definitely meant that tourist season was kicking off in full swing! 

I will say that every Greek island – Naxos, Paros, Milos, Santorini, Mykonos, etc. has a completely different feel. Though Mykonos was absolutely beautiful, it was also a lot more fast-paced with a LOT more partying. Santorini was way more my vibe than Mykonos. It has a much more laid back feel, and I definitely see why so many people choose this destination for their honeymoon!

Greek words to know:

Though we didn’t come across any local Greeks that didn’t speak enough English for basic communication, it’s always nice to be able to greet someone in their own language! So here are a few easy words to learn:

• Kalimera (Kaaali May-Rah) – Good Morning
• Kalispera (Kaali Spay-Rah) – Good Afternoon/Evening
• Efharisto (Ef-far-Eestho) – Thank you!

What is the best time to visit the Greek Islands?

If you’re looking to go island hopping or stay on one island for the entirety of your trip, here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re planning on what time of year you want to visit:

• Peak Season: Starting mid June, all of July till the end of August
• Low Season (aka best time to go): Beginning of September through October. Some people do suggest going in May and April. However, I would think the water would be significantly colder and the evenings would be on the chillier side, especially if you’re staying in Oia.

Getting to Santorini:

• By Ferry: There are ferries that run from between the greek islands so it’s a great way to go island hopping! Check with the hotel you are staying at to see if they offer free transfers to and from the ferry or the airport terminals.
• By Airplane: Santorini Airport is another way to get to Santorini. I planned our Santorini itinerary so that we’d take a ferry from Mykonos to Santorini. Then take a flight back to Athens.

Things to know when you’re planning a Santorini Itinerary:

• Where to stay Fira (aka Thera) is where most of the affordable accommodations are located. You’ll be able to find something in an array of budgets. Oia is at the tip of Santorini and has limited accommodations but it boasts spactacular caldera views. Limited spacing + beautiful views definitely equals a higher price tag. Limited accommodations also means that you’ll need to book your trip further in advance. Plus, a luxury hotel with a sunset view will undoubtedly be more sought after. We stayed at a moderately priced hotel (it definitely wasn’t the most expensive.) I booked out hotel 4½ months ahead of our trip. I checked back a month later and they they were completely sold out for our dates but then. Keep in mind a lot of these cliff view or caldera (volcano) view hotels only have 10-12 rooms to begin with, so in this case, the early bird definitely gets the worm.
• Just because you stay in Fira doesn’t mean you can’t venture out! Plenty of people add a day trip to Oia on their Santorini Itinerary, instead of spending the big bucks on hotels in Oia. The trip is easily doable within 60-90 minutes depending on how busy the roads are. You can rent a vehicle or take the bus. Peak season and peak hours (like if you’re heading to Oia for the sunset) will take you longer. My recommendations are to plan for that!
• Cruise ships dock in Fira, not Oia So unlike the issue we ran into in Mykonos where the cruise ships and ferries docked right there, Oia doesn’t have that problem. So that means that most of the morning hours in Oia are relatively calm. It’s usually around midday that the cruise ship crowds and the day adventurers from Thera descend on Oia. If you can budget to stay in Oia, I do believe it’s worth it to be able to have those hours to yourself before the crowds thicken.
• There is a bus that runs between the towns If renting a car isn’t your thing and you still want to day trip to other towns, the bus is a great way to get there. For roughly ~2 euros/trip you can easily go between towns. Anees stopped by a coffee shop early one morning to pick up cappuccinos for us and met a guy that took the first bus into Oia from Thera for the day. Keep in mind the the buses will be packed during the midday hours as most people will want to travel between towns around that time, so the guy was smart to get into Oia nice and early!

Things to Know about Oia

• How to pronounce Oia: Oia is pronounced EEE-YAH.
• There are no taxis in Oia! Wait, I take that back, there are no vehicles allowed in Oia! Visitors can take a taxi up to the post office and then you’re on foot from there. If you day trip from Fira, don’t worry, there are parking lots near the post office where you can park your car and explore Oia by foot.
• There are a LOT of stairs in Oia Cliffside I can’t tell you how many older couples I saw struggling to get to their hotels. There are a ton of steps down the cliffside of Oia. If your hotel is located on the cliffs, you’ll need to walk up and down the steps to get to and from Oia Town unless you plan on hunkering down and not leaving. Keep in mind that the steps are often slippery and uneven. Just something to consider if you do have relating mobility issues.
• Wander right after sunrise! It’s so peaceful in Oia right after sunrise. It’s quiet and sleepy and the views are waiting for you without any lines. If you’re looking to get that perfect picture with the domes in the background, this is the time to get it! Waking up before everyone else was one of my favorite highlights from this trip. You’ll definitely see a few brides in their wedding attire or couples taking pictures with professional photographers but the lines are no where near as long as they are around midday.
• Make dinner accommodations in advance Add making dinner reservations to the list of things to do when you start making your Santorini Itinerary for the trip. If it’s peak season, you’ll want to make your dinner reservations for any restaurants you really want to eat at well in advance. One thing I found a bit interesting is that the restaurants in Ammoudi actually charge a 10-20 Euro fee/per person for booking. This is of course reimbursed to you on your bill when you eat there, but it is something to keep in mind.
• The walkways are always crowded Once it’s 10 am the crowds are out and about! The walkways on Oia are quite thin and the crowds are wild during peak season. And remember, we’re all on foot. So if you’re trying to make it to a reservation, leave plenty of time to get there.

Beaches to add to your Santorini Itinerary:

• Red Beach: A very narrow strip of a beach that will undoubtedly be very crowded if it’s peak season when you visit. If you do head to this beach, don’t plan on spending the day there, it’s just not that kind of beach.
• White Beach: Whatever you do, don’t try to drive here. This is a beach that’s only accessible by a boat taxi. You can take the taxi right from Red Beach and it runs every 30 minutes so getting back and forth is easy.
• Black Sand Beach: There is more than one beach in Santorini that has black sand. Perissa Beach is the one I heard the most about when I talked with locals. It’s a beach covered in black sand and black pebbles.
• Ammoudi Bay: If you’re looking for a sandy beach, this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for a place to go put your feet in the water, there’s definitely a place to do that here. Add this to the days itinerary for when you plan on dining down in Ammoudi Bay!  This was one of my husbands favorite experiences to be able to go swim in the beautiful aqua and deep blue waters of the Aegean Sea. Highly recommend adding to your Santorini Itinerary!

Where we stayed:

We stayed at the Oia Mare Villas Hotel. The rooms have an amazing cave-like feel to them and many of them come with a private hot tub. Keep in mind that getting there does mean going down A LOT of steps. And the first day that we got there, I was shocked. The hotel does provide transfers to and from the port/airport, and a porter that will meet you at the top and carry your luggage down to the hotel for you. Breakfast was included and the staff was extremely friendly and very helpful. They definitely went above and beyond during our stay and especially when it came to booking a quad for a day trip we wanted to make to Fira. 

Things to do in Santorini:

• Check out the Blue Domes of Oia (Church of Agios Spyridonas) Come early if you can! During the day, there was always a lineup here. However in the morning there’s usually only a few people around. There are a lot of private homes located close by, so I do suggest being quiet!
• Castle of Oia: This is a renaissance-era castle that people flock to in the evenings to watch the sunset in Santorini. Keep in mind that you’ll need to plan ahead and arrive at leave 60 minutes before the sunset to grab a good spot. If you plan on passing this area around sunset, just don’t! People are blocking every side of the walkway and it’s near impossible to get by. Nonetheless, it is a must-do for your Santorini Itinerary!
• Kastro Oia Houses:The instagram famous iconic orange buildings in Santorini. 
  • PRO TIP: Come early! This place is packed during the day and the only time you’ll be able to snag a picture without someone photobombing is early in the morning.
• Ammoudi Bay: Is a small port tucked below Oia. They have 4-5 seafood restaurants along the water and you’ll definitely want to make a reservation for them if you plan on going during sunset. Though the sunset isn’t visible from any of these restaurants, diners flock to them to taste the delicious fresh catch from the sea including the iconic octopuses that hang out to dry along the water. 
  • Many boat tours of the volcano and the hot springs actually start down by the water. 
  • There are 300 steps that start at the Kastro Houses that you can take down to get here. 
  • Keep in mind it does get very hot midday, so I recommend going before or well past noon. Bring a big bottle of water with you!
  • You can also hitch a ride down from a donkey. However, this isn’t something we did. 
  • Wear good shoes! The donkey’s do create quite a mess up and down the stairs so close-toed shoes with a grip on the bottom are preferable.
  • PRO TIP: If you don’t want to walk the steps back up after dining at the restaurants in Ammoudi, ask your waiter to hail a taxi a few minutes before you plan to leave. We asked two separate restaurants on two different occasions to do this, and they both were happy to help. The taxi fair was ~20 Euros up to the top if I remember correctly, but it definitely beats going up 300 stairs after a big meal!
• Wander Nikolaou Nomikou: This is the main street in Oia. It’s very busy starting around 10 am but there are tons of cute shops and instagram-worthy photo spots everywhere!
• Take a catamaran cruise and visit the hot springs: there are options to take a private, semi-private, or a group catamaran cruise to visit the hot springs and view the volcano. Sunset cruises usually depart around 3 pm and end shortly after sunset.
• Hike from Oia to Fira: if you’re going during the summer months, I can’t stress enough that you need to start earlier in the day so that it doesn’t get too hot on the trail. This is a 6.2 mile hike that will take you anywhere from 2-5 hours to complete depending on your fitness level.
  • I suggest stopping in Imerovigli on the way there to check out Skaros Rock.
  • If hiking isn’t your thing, you can drive to the same stops you plan to make along the way to Fira.
• Check out Skaros Rock in Imerovigli: this is a fortress that was build in the 15th century. Great views of the Caldera.
• Visit the Three Bells of Fira: The only bells you’ll see in Fira! These are located along the cliffs on the western side of Santorini. Getting that iconic picture can be a little difficult though. The path is a bit hidden and you’ll need to look for a signs along the walking path that point up and to the left.  Don’t be surprised when the viewpoint my picture is across from a parking lot. 

Where to Eat in Santorini:

I’m going to split this up into two parts – Oia and Thera so that you can grab just what you need for your Santorini Itinerary.

Oia:

• Ammoudi Fish Tavern: Zucchini blossoms, shrimp appys, and freshly grilled fish. There’s no denying that Ammodi Fish Tavern is one of the nicest seafood joints in Ammoudi Bay! Make sure to ask a waiter to hail you a taxi if you want to skip taking the steps back up to the top of Oia.
  • Ammoudi Fish Tavern, Ammoudi Bay, Santorini, Oia, Ammoudi 847 02, Greece
• Sunset Ammoudi By Paraskevas: This was the second place we went to down in Ammoudi Bay and if I had to pick for next time, I’d skip this one. The prices are somewhat similar to the Ammoudi Fish Tavern, however, the customer service, and the food quality just isn’t as great, in my opinion.
  • Sunset Ammoudi by Paraskevas, Ammoudi Bay, Oía 847 00, Greece
• Skala Restaurant: This was one of those restaurants that didn’t live up to the hype for me. The interior was a bit meh but the food was decent. I really enjoyed the vegetarian moussaka here but I’d skip the spanakopita next time – not the best!
  • Skala Oia 847 02, Greece
• Lolita’s Gelato: When the temps are up, a gelato a day is a must! I tried the pistachio gelato here and countless other flavors.
  • Lolita’s Gelato, Oía 847 02, Greece
• Skiza Cafe:This place has takeaway coffee, dessert, and is a great little spot for breakfast.
  • Skiza Cafe, Οία, Thira 847 02, Greece
• Paradox: If you’re looking to take a break from Greek food, this is the place to check out. After being in Greece for 10 days, I needed to veer for just a second so I can appreciate all that Greece has to offer. This place has great Thai food and we especially enjoyed the shrimp satay stir fry!
  • Paradox Main Street, Oía 847 02, Greece
• Karma: A really unique restaurant situated close to the post office. This place has a really unique vibe. We tried the fava beans here, the tomato fritters, and a whole fish which was absolutely magnificent!
  • Nik. Nomikou 11, Oía 847 02, Greece
• ROKA: One of the best dinner’s we had on our whole trip! The fried gruyere cheese crusted with almonds served with pepper honey was really good, so was the chocolate hazelnut tart, and black truffle mushroom risotto!
  • Be sure to make reservations, this place is HOT! You’ll be allowed to a stay a maximum of 2 hours on a reservation.
  • Roka, m.Mpotsari 6, Oía 847 02, Greece
• Pitogyros: A simple place to grab a gyro! They have chicken, pork, and even a vegetarian option loaded with lots of French fries and a cabbage slaw.
  • Pitogryos Oia 847 02, Greece
• Piatsa Souvlaki Grill House: Another gyros and souvlaki place right by the bus stop to Fira. 
  • Vegetarian friends, this one has a vegetarian gyros made with meatless meat and it was delicious!
  •  Piatsa Souvlaki Grill House Oia, Bus Terminal, Oía 847 02, Greece

Fira:

These are the restaurants that came up the most during my research. I’ve only been to two of these! 

• Greek Bites
• Argo Restaurant
• Metaxi Mas: I hear this is a cheese lovers paradise!
• The Athenian House (Imerovigli)
• Falafeland: We stopped by for a quick wrap here and it was really good. But a fair warning, when they say spicy, they mean SPICY!
  • Δανεζη Μιχαηλ, Thira 847 00, Greece
• The Family Bakery: try the Trigona here. It’s a honey coated crispy shell filled with cream and crushed pistachios. Sadly, they were out when we went!
  • Επαρχ. Οδ. Φηρων – Ορμου Περισσης, Μεγαλοχωρι, Σαντορινη 847 00, Greece
• Svoranos Bakery: Try the cheese and spinach pie here

And that brings my Santorini Itinerary to a close! We had the best time on the Greek Islands this year! As always, if you’ve been and have recommendations, please feel free to leave them in the comments below!

The perfect 3-Day Mykonos Itinerary! If you’re headed to the Cyclades for a summer vacation, I have a full list of all the things you have to do, see, and EAT in Mykonos! Enjoy the crystal clear waters, the iconic windmills, the white painted paths of Mykonos Town, beautiful sunsets, and all the souvlaki you can eat!

Mykonos!

Greece in the summertime is a dream! If you think Little Venice is beautiful in the pictures you’ve seen of Mykonos, it’s definitely just as beautiful in person. With plenty to see and do, like enjoying the nightlife, all the delicious food, the sun, beach life, it’s no surprise that Greece is one of the hottest tourist destinations in the summer. 

I’m not kidding when I say there’s something to see EVERYWHERE. Turn around from the water to look at those iconic Windmills. Visiting the Greek islands has long been on my bucket list. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve sat and just stared at pictures of Greece on Pinterest. It was a vacation that we planned and canceled several times because of the pandemic. 

So was it worth the wait?

Absolutely! 

Mykonos is beautiful. However, there are a few things that I learned and I’m hoping if you’re looking to put together a Mykonos Itinerary for yourself, you’ll keep these things in mind!

Words to know:

Though we didn’t come across any local Greeks that didn’t speak enough English for basic communication, it’s always nice to be able to greet someone in their own language. Here are a few words you might find helpful.

• Kalimera (Kaaali May-Rah) – Good Morning
• Kalispera (Kaali Spay-Rah) – Good Afternoon/Evening
• Efharisto (Ef-far-Eestho) – Thank you!

Best time to go to the Greek Islands:

If you’re looking to plan an extremely relaxing, avoid heading to Mykonos, Santorini, Delos, Milos, and all the other Greek Islands during peak season! When making a Mykonos Itinerary, the most important thing to consider is the time of year to head there.

• Peak Season: Mid June, all of July till the end of August
• Low Season (aka best time to go): Beginning of September through October. Some people do suggest going in May and April as well however, I would think the water would be significantly cold and the evening would be downright chilly!

Things to Know and Best Tips for Making a Mykonos Itinerary:

• Avoid being in Mykonos on days when cruise ships dock! I can’t tell you how crazy it gets when cruise ships dock in Mykonos for day trips. Its a madhouse! There were mornings when we went into sleepy Mykonos Town and we would see the cruise ships pulling up with passengers disembarking for a guided tour. Honestly, I wish someone had warned us about this when I was putting together my Mykonos Itinerary. Swarms of people descent on the little paths. They don’t walk in a single file line, they don’t make way for others in fear of losing their group. They’ll happily block the sunset view at the restaurant you’ve booked months in advance. All this to say, look up cruise ship schedules and avoid days that they’ll be docking if possible.
• Mykonos is extremely WINDY! If you haven’t seen the millions of TikToks with people being blown away, consider this your official warning! We were there for 3 days and most of 2 of the 3 days have extreme winds – especially down by Little Venice.
• Book Hotels Early! There are only so many hotels on Mykonos, so if you want your pick of the lot, I highly suggest booking your hotels at least 5-6 months in advance. I know, that’s quite a bit in advance! 
• Wander right after sunrise! You’ll almost never see the iconic alley of Mykonos Town empty during peak season except early in the morning! Most of the pictures you see where they’re empty were taken around 7 am in the morning! There might be a few bags of trash sitting out, but you’ll never see it like this unless you go early!
• Make dinner and ferry reservations in advance too! Don’t wait until you get to the island to book for dinner. And don’t even think you’ll get seated during dinner hour peak season at a restaurant without reservations! Add making dinner reservations to the list of things to do when you start making your Mykonos Itinerary for the trip. You’ll also want to book ferry trips to other islands in advance. During peak season, you probably won’t be able to get one if you wait till the last minute. Make a roughly plan on what you want to do each day and purchase tickets for any trips to and from Athens, important archaeological sites, other islands, or ancient ruins well in advance.
• Taxis! There are only so many taxis on the island. So you’ll want to either stay close to Mykonos Town, take the bus to the beaches and surrounding areas, bring good walking shoes, rent a car through your hotel or a local agency, or be patient when waiting for a taxi. Our hotel staff told us there are about 10 taxis on the entire island! But if you rent a vehicle, be careful! People drive crazy there.
• Even if you rent a car, there’s a lot of walking! There are only a few parking lots in Mykonos so when you’re putting together your Mykonos Itinerary, make sure to plan ahead with good shoes!

Where we stayed:

We stayed at the Myconian Kyma Hotel. It was about a 12 minute walk from the center of Mykonos Town by foot and mostly downhill heading there. Breakfast was included in our hotel and the staff was extremely friendly! We loved it here and would definitely add them to our Mykonos Itinerary if we were to visit again.

Mykonos Beaches:

All of the beaches below are driving distance from Mykonos Town. You’ll need to rent a vehicle, take the bus, private transfer, or a taxi to most if not all of these beaches. But it’s worth adding at least one of these to your Mykonos Itinerary!

• Psarou Beach:11 minutes by car from Mykonos Towncenter
  • One of the trendiest beaches in Mykonos. Buses depart from the Fabrica bus station. You’ll get off at the Platis Gialos bus station and the beach is approximately a 10 minute walk from there.
  • Beach beds were 25 EUR/day when we went. The closer to the waters edge you are, the higher the price tag.
• Super Paradise Beach: 19 minutes by car from Mykonos Town center
• Ornos Beach: 9 minutes by car from Mykonos Town center
• Paraga Beach: 15 minutes by car from Mykonos Town center
• Elia Beach: 24 minutes by car from Mykonos Town center

What to do in Mykonos:

• Visit the many, many beaches/beach clubs.
• Wander Matoyianni Street: Most picturesque place in Mykonos. Streets are filled with white buildings in blue trim (visit early in the morning to beat the crowds.) Peruse the souvenir shops here. There’s so much to see!
• I Love Mykonos Stairs: Just a really cute set of stairs with “I love Mykonos’ written on them. They can be difficult to find so click the link below for the exact coordinates!
  • Cooridinates to the I LOVE Mykonos Stairs
• #Happiness Store: The cutest little store in Mykonos Town right in the center where the two paths split! It’s almost always crowded here so come early if you want to grab a picture!
• Take a Greek cooking class or go olive oil tasting!
• Watch the sunset at 180º Sunset Bar: Keep in mind the the price tag is steep for this one! There is a minimum spending limit per person here and it varies based on terrace/deck that you select! You’ll also want to book this in advance if you’re planning on coming here for peak season.
  • Book on their website here: 180º Sunset Bar
• Old Port of Mykonos: We came to the Old Port of Mykonos late afternoon for some people watching, gelato eating, and then strolled around for a bit before having an early dinner. There are tons of restaurants linedup on the Old Port for you to enjoy. We tried Captains Food for Sharing and loved it. Come early if you’d like a seat outside.
  • Mykonos Old Port, Unnamed Road, Mikonos 846 00, Greece
• Agios Nikolaos Church: located down by the Old Port of Mykonos, it’s one of the only blue domed places in Mykonos!
• Wander around Little Venice: walk down and just explore. Take pictures, grab ice cream from I Scream on the way, take a seat and people watch for a bit.
• Sunset at Windmills of Mykonos: I didn’t realize how close the windmills were when I was planning our trip. But they are right there across from Little Venice. During the evening the parking lot (located next to the Kato Mili windmills) is extremely full and you’ll see people lining up to take pictures at the windmills.
  • Flour Mills of Mykonos, Mikonos 846 00, Greece 

Where to eat in Mykonos:

• Nice n Easy Restaurant: Right on the water by Little Venice. This restaurant has some delicious things to try. I personally loved the vegan gyros! They were tasty and so filling. If you go during peak season and want to sit by the water, I highly recommend making reservations in advance. This place does have plenty of seating (though not by the water) so you may still be able to get a table if you didn’t book in advance.
  • nice n easy, Little Venice, Mikonos 846 00, Greece
• Kastros Restaurant: Okay! It can be VERY difficult to get reservations here, and even though I tried to book a month in advance, I was unsuccessful. Here’s what worked: dinner reservations start at 7:30 pm, so if you go in around 6:15, they will seat you if there’s space available. There were plenty of tables in the main restaurant near the water but the seaview window seats were already full. The hostess at the front gave us a table for dinner so long as we left by 7:30. However, before ordering, another gentlemen (the manager?) came by and let us know that we were welcome stay as long as we’d like. If you’re first you might even be able to snag a table seaview window seat. However, those are reserved starting at 7:30 and you’ll have to empty out before that because the waiters do start to hover.
  • We absolutely loved the salmon and the sea bass here!
  • Opens at 9 am, and if you’re wanting to sit outside in the iconic alleyway, you might have more luck with a frappe during breakfast than a dinner here.
  • Kastro’s Restaurant, Agion Anargyron 1, P.O.Box 69 Paraportiani Church, Little venice, Mikonos 846 00, Greece
• Lalala: A cute little bar, breakfast eatery, and coffee shop! We stopped in one hot afternoon for a cold pick me up and the cold Freddo cappuccino that the bartender made us did not disappoint. Note that a Freddo cappuccino does have quite a bit of caffeine so maybe don’t have one too late in the day if you’re sensitive to caffeine.
  • Panachrantou 15, Mikonos 846 00, Greece
• Pepper Souvlaki: You’re obviously going to want to try the chicken souvlaki or the vegetarian souvlaki here! If you’re like me and love planning out your meals in advance.
  •  check out the menu here
  • 18 Kouzi Georgouli, Mykonos Town, Greece, Mikonos 846 00, Greece
• Mamalouka Restaurant: We didn’t eat here as online reviews were mixed. However, the place is beautiful if you prefer the ambiance over the food.
  • Mamalouka – Eat Local, Κουζή Γεωργούλη 53, Mikonos 846 00, Greece
• Niko’s Taverna: Another one that was on our list and we simply couldn’t get to!
  • Niko’s Taverna, Porta, Mikonos 846 00, Greece
• Pasta Fresca Barkia: They make the pasta fresh in house so definitely worth checking out. We booked online for lunch right when they opened at 1pm and got a nice seat outside.
  • Κουζή 15, Georgouli, Mikonos 846 00, Greece
• Captain’s Food for Sharing: Located on the Old Port of Mykonos. It’s a great place for people watching and for grabbing lunch or dinner. I don’t know what it was but literally everywhere we ate, they had the best Greek Potatoes – and this place was no exception! The staff here is extremely family and I think it’s family-run. If I remember correctly, one of the owners is American. Keep in mind that this restaurant doesn’t take reservations, however, they assured me that you can almost always catch a table here with a quick 10-15 minute wait at most! 
  • Captain’s – Food for Sharing, Mykonos Waterfront, Mikonos 846 00, Greece
• I Scream: The mango sorbet and the yogurt strawberry ice cream were seriously top 10 best ice cream’s I’ve ever had! The yogurt strawberry ice cream seriously tasted like a strawberry cheesecake. I think I had ice cream from here every single day that we were in Mykonos.
  • 20 Street Fabrica Sq, Xenias, Mikonos 846 00, Greece
• D’Angelo Restaurant: This is one of the first restaurants you pass on the way to Little Venice if you’re coming from the Fabrika bus stop. It close to the ice cream shop above and has both indoor and outdoor seating. Keep in mind that this restaurant does get busy; I highly recommend making reservations.
  • D’Angelo’s also has a bar and a coffee shop right across the road from the restaurant as well.
  • Axioti, Mikonos 846 00, Greece

And that’s all I’ve got for Mykonos! I hope this helps you if you’re planning a trip or gives you something to daydream about and add to your bucket list!

As always, if you’ve been to Mykonos and have suggestions of where to eat, what to do, and how to have fun, feel free to leave them in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this, you might also like:

• Exploring Cinque Terre
• What to do in Venice and a Stopover in Florence
• Naples, Capri, and Positano Travel Diary
• 3-Day Rome Travel Itinerary
• Maui in a Heartbeat

October is one of the best months to visit Stowe, Vermont for leaf-peeping, drinking apple cider, and staying in a quintessential New England Bed and Breakfast! Here are all the fun things to do in Fall in Stowe!

Leaf peeking makes my heart so happy!

The fall foliage in Stowe, Vermont is just unreal. I’ve had this trip planned in my head for years now because Vermont is one of the most beautiful destinations in the fall. Unfortunately, we had to put our trip on hold last year with everything that was going on in the world. But this year we got the chance to experience a beautiful array of fun reds, oranges, and yellows painted in the sky. It’s a laidback adventure that’s perfect to do right before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season starts.

And I absolutely love it when there’s a chill in the air! A warm cider in hand and a cozy sweater and I’m all set for fall foliage!

When is peak foliage season in Stowe, Vermont? 

It can vary quite a bit! There are plenty of websites that have predictors if you’re planning a trip. It’s most helpful to look at last year’s peak foliage dates when booking a fall foliage trip to Stowe or Woodstock and using that to plan your trip. Here is a website that will give you an idea of what dates were best for leaf-peeping last year. I find that anywhere between October 5th-20th tends to get you decent colors!

How far in advance do you recommend booking a fall foliage trip?

We booked our trip 4 months in advance and it proved to be considered late! One of the hotels we were hoping to stay at was already booked solid for our dates. Stowe and Woodstock Vermont are the hottest fall destinations so if you’re serious about making the trip, ideally you should book 6 months in advance. Affordable accommodations seem to get snatched up very quickly! 

Where to stay in Stowe, Vermont:

• Edson Hill: We LOVED Edson Hill! This beautiful inn is situated a bit away from the Stowe Village but still close enough. They only have 22 rooms, some of which are in the Manor House (we booked last minute, so ours was in the Manor which is shared with two other guests.) But they had wonderul private bathrooms (with heated floors!) Breakfast is included and parking is also free. They always bring you baked goods before your meal, like fresh blueberry muffins or pumpkin bread! Edson Hill has a restaurant on-site that offers stunning views and amazing dining options! This place is on the pricier side for sure but we definitely enjoyed out fall in stowe experience here!
• Trapp Family Lodge: In the 1950s the von Trapp family (yes, from The Sound of Music) opened their doors to their lodge. This property is still owned and operated by the von Trapp family. Though this isn’t my cup of tea, it definitely would be great for someone who is a fan of the movie! You can also tour the lodge if you didn’t want to stay here!
• Field Guide Lodge: This is a beautifully decorated upscale hotel. They offer complimentary breakfast and parking. They also have a restaurant on site. We really wanted to say here for our trip, but unfortunately, when we went to make bookings, they were already sold out for the entire month of October! 

What to do during Fall in Stowe

• Ben & Jerry’s Factory: We stopped by the ice cream factory in Waterbury. Unfortunately, tours were on hold (due to Covid) but we still enjoyed stopping by for a cone of ice cream and checking out the B&J Flavor Graveyard! 
• Visit the Cold Hollow Cider Mill: A great place to take a stroll, grab a hot or cold apple cider, and don’t forget – warm apple cider donuts! We stopped by just before lunch and grabbed a salad and a wrap from the Luncheonette (on the property) before heading in for some maple-flavor goodies, donuts, and cider! I tried the maple vinaigrette on my salad and lunch and am sad I didn’t think to buy some for home! Don’t make the same mistake I did.
• Stowe Gondola Skyride: For around $32 take the gondola starts in Stowe and takes you up to the top of Mount Mansfield. Gondola rides operate from Mid July-Mid October. But it’s best to check the website to see if they’re operating that day. If it’s particularly bad weather, they do just down the Gondola for the day.
• Golden Brook Covered Bridge (Emily’s Bridge): Legend has it that this covered bridge is haunted. People have reported hearing footsteps and strange noises. I obviously had to go here!
• Stroll the Stowe Village: Plenty to see here! Make sure to stop by The Country Store if you’re into kitchen goods. Shaw’s General Stowe and Stowe Merchantile both of souvenirs and such! There are also a few antique stores and I highly suggest dropping by if you’re into that sort of thing.
• Stowe Community Church: This is a beautiful church situated in Stowe Village but it’s best to see it from a distance! To get the best views, route your GPS to Salon Salon.
  • 232 Mountain Rd, Stowe, VT 05672
• Stowe Recreation Path: Great outdoor 5.5 mile long trail for walking or biking. There are little parks all along Stowe where you can park and get on the path. We stopped by the Corn Maze and even got to feed a few goats when we were out on our stroll!
• Auto Toll Road: We didn’t end up doing the auto toll road as we heard mixed reviews, but it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t mention it. This is said to be one of Vermont’s more scenic drives! It’s just as it sounds – you zigzag through colored trees to the top of Mt. Mansfield. Last I checked, I believe it’s about $26 for the car + $9.50 per person. We opted for the Gondola but either option is great to enjoy fall foliage colors!
• Smugglers Notch State Park: Lots of places to hike here! You can also drive the narrow windy route and enjoy the scenery from your car. We opted to do the drive as we started quite late in the day and wouldn’t have the full two hours to hike. But Sterling Pond is a beautiful hike, if you’re interested!
  • 6443 Mountain Road Stowe, VT 05672
• Check out Grand View Farm! I can’t remember where I heard about this, but it’s a 100+ year old red barn with stunning fall foliage in the backdrop. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find it on Google Maps! We spent quite some time trying to locate it and it did not disappoint. I have since then submitted it as a location on Google so it’s easy for you to find! So here’s the location:
  • 3019 Stowe Hollow Rd, Stowe, VT 05672

Where to eat in Stowe, Vermont:

My number one tip when booking restaurants is to look at menus online and make reservations well in advance! It’s very unlikely you’ll get seated at most of these restaurants with less than an hour of wait time. If you can, call and book a table in advance!

• The Bench: This place was high on my list! But unfortunately, we were there during the days when they were closed. I highly, highly recommend this place based on the reviews. And I plan to go the next time we’re in Stowe!
• Idletyme Brewing Company: Tons of delicious food to try! We especially loved the Smoked Gouda soup and the Vermont Cheddar Fritters! We were also looking forward to trying the fish and chips/fishwich but unfortunately, they had sold out for the night!
• Plate: I called a month before leaving to make reservations, and reservations I did not get. I was on the waitlist but even then, I wasn’t able to get in. This place makes California-inspired cuisine and is located in Stowe Village. Call ahead of time to score reservations for sure!
• Piecasso: Delicious pizza! We loved our Margherita pizza here!
• The Matterhorn: They serve up burgers, pizza, and sushi so great if you can’t decide what you want to have! The food was delicious, but unfortunately, we had one of the worst experiences with our server, which kind of dampened the whole dinner experience here. They do have beautiful outdoor seating near the river so great for lunch or dinner.
• Butler’s Pantry: If you only get one thing, get the pancakes! They are absolutely amazing! I wish I could eat more than one portion because I would’ve gotten the cheddar and jalapeno ones too! They don’t take reservations but if you show up around 7:50 in the morning, you should get seated immediately! You can also join the waitlist on Yelp ahead of time.
• Black Cap Coffee & Beer: Located right next door to Butler’s Pantry, they have delicious coffee, pastries, and breakfast items. We found most people that weren’t able to get seated at Butler’s Pantry, went here for breakfast!
• Stowe Sandwich Company: A great place to grab breakfast or lunch. We bought sandwiches and soup and took it with us on the Gondola Skyride and enjoyed lunch on the top of Mt. Mansfield.
• Stowe Bee Bakery: a great place to grab a quick coffee, breakfast, or a pastry!

There is so much to eat, see, and do in Stowe, Vermont! I hope this inspires you to plan a trip to check out some of the best fall foliage Vermont has to offer!

Check out some of my other adventures!

• Fall in Woodstock, VT
• Girls Trip to NYC
• 19 Tips for Visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Exploring Cinque Terre (Italy)
• 10 Day West Coast Trip from Seattle to LA

We made a girl’s trip to New York in the summer, ate all the food and did all the things! Here’s a shortlist of all the things to eat, see, and do for a quick weekend getaway to NYC!

We had been planning this Girl’s trip to New York for what seemed like months beforehand. And since all three of us are big foodies, we ended up doing a food tour of NYC more than anything else!

I’ve added a few places on our list that we didn’t get to (ran out of stomach space!) They were on my shortlist and came up more than times in my research than I can count on one hand. I hope that the next time we go back, we cross the few that we couldn’t sample this time!

Where to stay

This can be highly subjective; I suggest staying somewhere central to where most of your activities are. We left the hotel up to our interior designer friend because we knew she’d find a swanky place with character – perfect for a girl’s trip to New York.

If you’re interested, we stayed at the Refinery Hotel. It ended up being very central for us. Refinery isn’t too far from Times Square, but it’s far enough to where we didn’t hear the crowds. Overall a great hotel, and the morning coffee was so good!

Where to Eat in New York

Breakfast and Pastries:

• Tompkins Bagels – Get the French toast bagel here with strawberry cream cheese, it’s sooo good!
  • 165 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
• Russ & Daughters – This is your typical Jewish breakfast spot. They have housemate latkes, babka, bagels, and challah. No place to sit, so a grab and go place!
  • 179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
• Dominque Ansel Bakery – The home of the cronut! They have a Monthly cronut flavor that I suggest you reserve online for pickup. We weren’t able to reserve them so we missed out; don’t make the same mistake we did!
  • 189 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
• Clinton St. Baking Co & Restaurant – A sitdown brunchy place. Located in the Lower East Side. I recommend making reservations. We got lucky, getting there right before they opened and were able to get a table but we were the last ones without a reservation to be seated. It filled up really quick! They also have a go-to place next door for breads and pastries.
  • 4 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002
• Supermoon Bakehouse – Croissants, donuts, and cruffins. Crowned NYC best bakery, so make sure to get there at least 30 minutes before it opens. The line was 1 ½ long when we went.
  • 120 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002
• Doughnut Plant –  We didn’t make it here but I saw this on multiple lists and definitely planning on going on my next visit.
  • 379 Grand St, New York, NY 10002
• Fabrique Bakery – Swedish bakery chain with the most delicious cardamom buns! I also got their sourdough bread to bring home and it was still fresh two days later; we absolutely loved it.
  • 348 W 14th St, New York, NY 10014

Coffee Shops to Visit:

• Laughing Man Coffee Company – Greenwich Village (coffee shop owned by Hugh Jackman.) Supports coffee farm communities.
  • 184 Duane St, New York, NY 10013
• Devocion – Colombian Coffee Shop that roasts the beans in store on display to view! Beautiful interior and the guava croissant at latte is to die for!
  • 69 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
• The Chai Spot – Cute spot to just chill and grab chai with traditional Pakistani style seating. Heads up; if you plan on sitting indoors, they require reservations (aug 2021.) Outdoor seating is first come first serve.
  • 156 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

Lunch and Dinner in NYC:

• Joe’s Pizza – They have these all over the city! We went to the one in Time Square as it’s closest to where we stayed.
  • 35 Broadway, New York, NY 10018
• Thai Villa – Amazing Pad Kra Prao and the Soft Shell Crab Mango Salad are both so delicious!
  • 5 E 19th St, New York, NY 10003
• Il Cortile – The perfect little Italian restaurant! I suggest making a reservation ahead of time so you don’t end up on the waitlist. We sat outside for an early dinner and it was the perfect end to our first day!
  • 125 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013
• The Smith –  Best Mac and cheese! The portions are on the larger side so it’s perfect to split with someone.
  • 1150 Broadway, New York, NY 10001
• Red Hook Lobster Pound – Lobster rolls on butter toasted buns made by Maine implants!
  • 284 Van Brunt St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Activities to do in New York

• Chelsea Market – lots of food options (food hall) with a cool local flea market with jewelry/soaps/art! Lots to eat here, so make sure you come hungry!
  • 75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011
• The High Line – Elevated greenway located right by the Chelsea Market (so you can pair these activities together.) There isn’t much shade, so I suggest going before noon or after 4 pm in the summertime because it gets HOT! 
  • TIP: Reserve a time online if you go during covid on a weekend. No reservations needed for weekdays!
• Top of the Rock – Observatory on top of Rockefeller Center, really nice views of the city, recommend if you’ve never done this before. There is a ticket for this.
  • 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
• Flatiron Building: Iconic, triangular 22-story, 285 ft tall. Landmark building.
  • 175 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010
  • TIP: If you plan to go here, try Thai Villa for dinner, it’s really close by and super yummy!
• Brooklyn Bridge – best views of the city. The whole walk will take you about 45 minutes if you stop and take pictures along the way. Avoid crowds by going early! Stick to your side when walking and keep your eyes peeled for bicycles – there are a TON!
  • Brooklyn Bridge, New York, NY 10038
• Visit Dumbo – the most photographed/famous street in NYC.
  • 39-21 Washington St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
• Museums – 
  • Museum of Modern Art (Free on Friday from 4-8pm)
    • 11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art- Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Open 10am-5pm on other days. 
    • 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028
• Central Park – Start at Plaza Hotel on 59th St.
  • Check out the Bethesda Fountain and the Belvedere Castle (both pictured.)
  • TIP: There are a few different picnic delivery services that deliver a premade basket for 2-4 people to a prearranged Central Park location or for pick up. This is something that would be a memorable experience for a girl’s trip to New York or with a significant other! Check out PerfectPicnicNYC if you’re interested.
• The Mysterious Bookshop – This might not be everyones cup of tea, but this is the place to be if you’re someone who enjoys mystery or thriller books. It’s the cutest little bookshop, one worth getting lost in!
  • 58 Warren St New York, New York 
• Friends Apartment – This is the location for the corner street of the friends apartment. Fun to check out if you happen to be in the area.
  • 90 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014
• Seinfeld Tom’s Restaurant –  If you’re a Seinfeld fan! Hubby and I went 9 years ago on our last trip so I didn’t go this time. Note: the inside of the restaurant doesn’t look the same, it’s more for a photo opp of the outside.
  • 2880 Broadway, New York ,NY, 10025

Tips for Riding the NYC Subway

• Chances are you’ll be doing a lot of hopping on and off the subway. I suggest buying the 7-day Unlimited Metrocard. If you ride the subway a total of 12 times or more, the card pays for itself! If you prefer to do single ride tickets, some subway stations now accept Apple Pay right where you’d swipe your metrocard, so you don’t have to stop by the card kiosk.
• Google Maps will be your best friend. I found Google Maps to be highly reliable and we only ended up getting lost once (our own fault!) Citymapper is another app that helps people navigate.
• Understanding Uptown, Midtown, and Downtown.
  • Uptown is north of 59th St.
  • Midtown is between 59th St. and 14th St.
  • Downtown is anything south of 14th St.

And that’s all I’ve got! It was a quick trip, but we still managed to fit in a bunch of things (and so so much food!)

Feel free to leave any suggestions for things to do or where to eat that you recommend! I’m sure we’re going to be making another girl’s trip to New York in the future, so I’d love to hear more suggestions for next time!

I am sharing my very best tips for when you’re visiting the magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter! 

It’s the last day of September and tomorrow is the first day of my favorite month of the year! And what better way to kick off October than to share my best tips for visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! What I love most about the Wizarding World of HP is that no matter how old you are, if you’re a witch or wizard, you’re guaranteed a great time. 

Every year from the time Anees and I got married I would tell him we needed to take a trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and we finally went this past November with my best friends birthday with her husband and son.

I’ll tell you this much; I honestly had the best time and would go again in a heartbeat.

I do recommend doing some preliminary research on when the parks aren’t as crowded if you want to go to the Wizarding World or Universal Studios in general. We used this website to check for crowds. We went during the first week of Novemeber when they were just starting to put up the holiday decor, and were fortunate enough to go at a time when there were hardly any crowds — if you can ride the Forbidden Journey ride three times in a row without a line, I’d say you’re pretty lucky!

So without further ado, let’s jump right into it!

• There are two parks. The Islands of Adventure is where the Hogwarts castle and the Forbidden Journey ride are located. Hogsmeade Village and the new Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (which, unfortunately, was still being built when we went) are also there. Universal Studios Florida is where Diagon Alley, the Knight Bus, and Knockturn Alley are as well as the Escape from Gringotts ride is located. 
• You must buy a park to park pass to be able to ride the Hogwarts Express! Unfortunately, there is no other way! 

• Ride the Hogwarts Express in both directions. It’s different! When you ride from Hogsmeade to Diagon Alley, the ride is a lot more cheerful. Young children may find the ride from Diagon Alley back to Hogsmeade a little scary. Our friends’ young son wasn’t very thrilled with the Dementors and all the whooshing noises associated with them!
• The entrance to Diagon Alley is hidden – just like in the book! The London section of the park has the Knight Bus parked right outside. If you look across where it says Leicester Square Station, you’ll find the entrance to Diagon Alley!

• Speaking of secrets, you can call the Ministry of Magic on the payphone right outside Leicester Square! The number you have to dial is 62442, or MAGIC. I won’t tell you what happens when they pick up. We’ll leave that as a mystery 😉
• Just past the entrance to Diagon Alley is 12 Grimmauld Place. If you look up and keep looking, chances are you’ll see Kreacher, the Black family’s house-elf, peaking out at the watchers below. Grimmauld place is located on the left, right before you see Krustyland ahead.
• Speaking of extraordinary creatures, make sure to take a bathroom break! Moaning Myrtle haunts ALL the bathrooms in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade!

• If you stay at the park, you get access to the park an hour ahead of everyone else. This is especially great if you’re visiting the parks during peak season! Even if you decide not to stay at the park, get there early so that you can get ahead of the crowd. We came right when the parks opened to the general public one morning and were able to ride the Forbidden Journey ride twice without a line. What I learned is, ride the rides first. When you get to the parks then hang out and check out the stores when the crowds hit!
• If you’ve got kids with you that are too young to ride, parents can do a parent swap. This allows one parent to wait in a room with the child while the other parent rides. Then, the parent that hasn’t ridden can ride without having to wait in the line again.
• Even if you decide that buying a wizards wand isn’t for you, right outside the wand shop is a secret little alley that takes you to the back of the store where you have a wand choosing ceremony. There is no purchase necessary! They choose one member of the audience who gets to come up and go through the ceremony with none other than Ollivander himself.

• If you do decide to purchase a wand, you might want to consider an interactive wand. These wands are magically hexed. Interactive wands come with a particular map that shows you locations throughout the park that you can wave your wand and make magic happen! But be warned, they do cost quite a few galleons! 
• You can tour the Hogwarts Castle, even if you decide not to ride the Forbidden Journey ride. The ride is known to make a few sick from all the twists and turns. Just let the attendant know that you’d like to walk the castle, and they’ll direct you where to go.

• Check the program for timings, Diagon Alley has a special Celestina Warbeck, and the Banshees show that allows you to take a load off for a bit!
• When you’re in Diagon Alley, check out Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes! There’s a rabbit that pops out of the twins’ hat when he lifts it now and then!

• Don’t miss the Dragon that sits at Gringotts; he breathes out real fire! I can’t tell you how much time we wasted waiting for that Dragon to breathe fire! But ultimately, we learned that he growls right before he lets out a belly full of fire. So keep your ears open, that’s your warning sign! Roughly, it’s about every 15 minutes or so.
• The fish and chips at The Broomsticks or the Leaky Cauldron are not to be missed. The lines can get long though. My suggestion would be to eat early like around 11 am or wait until 2:30 or later. The lines do die down quite a bit by then!
• Butterbeer is served in several forms – the regular, the frozen, the hot, or the ice cream! Depending on the season, warm butterbeer could really be a treat! We tried Butterbeer ice cream at Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor in Diagon Alley, and it was a nice way to cool down. Pumpkin juice is something I ordered on a whim on our last day, and it is just as delicious as I imagined it would be, it has a mulled spice flavor with a combination of (I think) apple and real pumpkin juice.

• Go down Knockturn Alley, even if you’re scared. Turn left where you see the sign and keep walking. You’ll see Borgin and Burkes and all sorts of dark, dark Wizarding shops. It’s dark, creepy and fun!

• Last but still important, bring an empty water bottle with you to avoid excess charges and don’t fall for $4 Gilleywater! Water at the park is not cheap, but there are water fountains located throughout the park where you can refill your bottle for free.

I hope you had as much fun reading my tips about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter as I had putting them together!

I solemnly swear that I’m up to no good ⚡️

If you’re interested in seeing other travel guides, check out this section here 🙂

What to eat and exploring Cinque Terre! The northwest region of Italy is stunning! And the pesto is not to be missed!

This is it.

This is the last post in my series of Italy posts! It’s been exactly a year since Anees and I visited Italy (I know because Facebook has generously been sending me reminders of when we were there.) 

I have to say, I kind of sort of saved the best for last! Cinque Terre is like nothing I’ve seen before. Definitely one of the most stunning places in Italy if not the entire world! 

Funny story, on our way into the main station in Cinque Terre, we missed our train from La Spezia to Riomaggiore and so had another couple from Tennessee (whom we met near the tracks in slight disbelief of said missed train.) The wife and I made small talk while the guys tried to figure out when the next train would arrive. Fast forward to a few days later, we hop on a train to Milan (heading to Venice), and as we’re settling into our seats, we realize that our assigned seats were right next to theirs! What’re the odds?

Such a treat to meet fellow Americans when you’re abroad ❤

So what does Cinque Terre actually mean? Cinque Terre (pronounced Cheenk-qwah Tehrey) means ‘five lands’ and consists of 5 fishing villages in northwest Italy. Cinque Terre is located in the Liguria region. The villages are:

• Monterosso al Mare
• Vernazza
• Corniglia
• Manarola
• Riomaggiore

The main activities include hiking, people watching, boating, swimming, lots of eating, and drinking and any outdoor activities!

What to Know before you go | Exploring Cinque Terre:

• Hotels and Airbnb’s have a mandatory city tax (usually in the ballpark of 3.5-7 euros depending on the city.) This is due in cash at the time of check-in (the cash thing might be for Airbnb, though, I don’t remember how we paid at the hotel, unfortunately!)
• Locals generally don’t tip. Gratuities are sometimes expected from tourists though. Try to avoid excess tipping, and you certainly do not have to calculate a percentage the way we do here in America. I suggest tipping ~1-4 Euros if you’re at a sit-down restaurant if you liked the service. Most sit down restaurants already have a built-in “dine-in” fee, so check your receipt. If they brought bread to your table, chances are they charged you for that too!
• For summer travel, I suggest booking train rides to other cities in Italy or beyond at least a month in advance. We routed our entire trip and even purchased train tickets before leaving the U.S. Trenitalia.com has an English site, and it makes it super easy to get tickets before you even leave.
• Italians don’t do coffee (or other beverages on the go) so expect a few looks if you ask for a latte or cappuccino in a takeaway cup… that’s if they have them! Most coffee shops don’t. 
• Also, upwards of 10,000 steps a day should be expected! And uphill climbs while you’re visiting Cinque Terre! 
• If you don’t plan on having data or a wifi hot spot (affiliate link) with you on the trip, consider downloading a map for the cities you’re going to on your Google Maps app that you can access even when you’re offline. Even though we took our hot spot with us, Anees downloaded the maps which came in handy when our hotspot was running out of juice or when we were out of range.

Words to know | Exploring Cinque Terre

My experience in Cinque Terre was that most people spoke decent enough English to communicate. But it’s always good to know a few words in case you run into a communication barrier and to thank someone in their native language is just so much more genuine!

• Ciao – Hello
• Buongiorno – Good morning
• Prego – You are welcome (sometimes they greet you this way.. as in go ahead)
• Lei Parla Inglese – Do you speak English?
• Grazie – Thank you
• Grazie Mille – Thank you so much
• Mi scusi – Excuse me
• Quanto costa – How much is this?
• Questo ha carne – Does this have meat? (super important if you’re vegetarian/pescatarian because a lot of stuff does)

TIP: If you have wifi or a hotspot (affiliate link), be sure to download the Google Translate app on your phone! It’s helpful when two people are trying to communicate in different languages!

Getting to Cinque Terre

There are several ways to get to Cinque Terre, but the easiest way to get there is by train. To get to Cinque Terre, you need to take a train from your start city (Rome, Venice, Pisa, Milan, Florence, etc.) to La Spezia. We booked a train from Florence to La Spezia, and then took the train to the village we were staying at from La Spezia. Once you get to La Spezia, you’ll notice the train that goes to the five fishing villages is very crowded, especially in the summer and fall months. The train makes a stop at all the villages, and an announcement is made at each stop.

• HEADS UP: 
  • If you’re traveling between villages, it’s important to know that the trains don’t run all night. Be sure to take a picture of the train schedule ahead of time, so you know when the last train heads out and you aren’t stuck in a neighboring village!
  • If you can, I suggest avoiding traveling on trains between 10 am – 4 pm during peak vacation season. Trains are super packed at these times!

While you can also get to Cinque Terre by car, not all villages allow cars to enter the village and to be honest, with the number of tourists all around; I image driving would be a super big hassle even if it was allowed.

Where to stay in Cinque Terre | Exploring Cinque Terre

The village that has the most hotels and general lodging available is Monterosso al Mare. Out of all the villages, I found that this one was the most ‘commercial’ as it had a lot of restaurant options, the fanciest (and only real) beach, and more lodging. 

But, if you have the opportunity (and if you book far enough in advance), you can snag a great place on Airbnb, VRBO, or Homeaway if you want to stay as the locals. We were there around this time last year and booked two months out in advance and were able to find a great Airbnb in Riomaggiore way high up. Keep in mind that staying in Riomaggiore or even Manarola has a price to pay! Dragging our suitcases up a winding staircase wasn’t all that fun, but I’d do it again for the view in a heartbeat! (See below for the view!)

Things to do and Know | Exploring Cinque Terre

You can take a ferry to the Cinque Terre villages as well! It’s a nice alternative to the train, and you get to see the villages from a completely different angle!

• Riomaggiore 
  • The Riomaggiore harbor is a great place to watch the sunset.
  • The coastal walking path from Riomaggiore to Manarola (know as Via dell’Amore) is currently closed (until 2021)
  • Go kayaking! Now looking back, I wish we had done this!
• Manarola
  • Take a pesto making class at Nessun Dorma, Manarola
  • Eat here! There are a great number of restaurants with good food.
• Vernazza
  • HIKE, HIKE, HIKE. This was one of my favorites places to be. If you hike about 20 minutes (to Monterosso al Mare) just when you think you’re going to give up, you’ll run smack into a postcard view on the village. We ended up turning around and heading back to Vernazza after the hike, if it wasn’t as hot as it was that day, we would’ve done the hike to Corniglia, I hear it’s stunning!
  • Go for a dip in the harbor! 
  • Grab a bite to eat or a drink in Piazza Marconi (this is located right off the Vernazza harbor.) If you look up, you’re sure to see the Church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia (and hear the tolling of the bells)
• Monterosso al Mare
  • This is the beach town! You’ll want to bring your flip flops and beach towel and grab a seat under the iconic teal and orange umbrellas! During peak season, get here early as the place fills up pretty early in the day!

Where to eat | Exploring Cinque Terre

Manarola

• Pizzeria & Focaccia la Cambusa
  • We really liked the onion focaccia (cipolla) here!
  • ADDRESS: Via Renato Birolli 114 Prima Del Mare A Destra, 19017 Manarola, Italy
• Trattoria dal Billy
  • ADDRESS: 
• Nessun Dorma Cinque Terre – Think of this place as somewhere you’d go for happy hour! They serve drinks, and snacky items, not entire meals (although the food is so good you could certainly make a meal out of the stuff!
  • HEADS UP: 
    • Getting here requires some serious uphill walking! It’s not for everyone, but it’s well worth it if you make it here! 
    • They do not take reservations; you must stand in line to get in. My suggestion would be to go at an off-time (past lunch but well before dinner.) We did that and were seated within 15 minutes! 
    • Also, this place is cash only!
  • ADDRESS: Localita Punta Bonfiglio, 19017 Manarola, Italy

Riomaggiore

• Panificio Rosi – We stayed in Riomaggiore, so this is where we grabbed breakfast one morning. They have focaccia and a few different pastries. Of course, we had more focaccia! There’s also a good cafe across the street that serves take out coffee if you need something warm to go with that bread!
  • ADDRESS: Via Cristoforo Colombo 188 188 | in Centro, Sotto la Farmacia, 19017 Riomaggiore, Italy
• Try the seafood in a cone! When you walk into the city center, you’ll see a few different storefronts that are dedicated to fried seafood in a cone!

Monterosso al Mare

• II Frantoio – If there’s only one place you get focaccia, let this one be it! I highly recommend the tomato, and pesto focaccia is was amazing! We eat got a slice, and then went back for more because it is to die for! This place is also super budget-friendly so it’s a great place to grab a snack or a quick lunch!
  • HEADS UP: They are known to sell out before the afternoon, so my suggestion would be to have an early lunch, or buy some and have it later when you’re hungry!
  • ADDRESS: Via Vincenzo Gioberti 1 | Monterosso al Mare, 19016

Vernazza

• Pirata delle Cinque Terre
  • ADDRESS: Pirata dell 5 Terre Via Gavino, 36/38 La Spezia –
  • This is a great place to grab a meal late night if you’re staying in Vernazza. They stay open till about 10:30 pm.
• Ristorante Belforte – the best way to go get here is to go where the boats are tied up (and where ferries/cruises depart) and look towards the left for a staircase! That staircase will take you up to the restaurant. 
  • HEADS UP: This place is considered a ‘treat’ as it is pretty fancy and comes with a price tag!
  • ADDRESS: Via Gerolamo Guidoni 42 | La Spezia, 19018 Vernazza, Italy
• Gelateria Vernazza
  • The fig and ricotta/ pistachio gelato here is very popular! Unfortunately, they were out when we went!
  • ADDRESS: Via Roma 13, 19018 Vernazza Italy

And that’s it!

I can’t believe that brings an end to my Italian adventure (for now.) Italy is definitely a stunning place to visit, whether it’s for a day or a week, or a month! I hope you found my Cinque Terre travel guide useful! Whether you’re here to browse and look at pictures or get ideas for your own trip, I hope you’ve enjoyed it and I hope it inspires you to plan a trip for yourself, whether now or in the future 🙂

Other travel guides:

Rome | Venice + Florence | Naples, Capri, Positano | Maui | Chicago

 What to do in Venice and a quick stopover in Florence! We had the best time in Venice, and here I share all the things to do, eat, and see!

We finally saw the new[ish] Spiderman movie yesterday now that things with our house have settled down. The Venice scenes gave me all the feels! It’s been almost exactly a year since we were there, but I have to say I still remember it all like it was yesterday.

The fact that the entire city functions seamlessly without busses, trucks, cars, or even motorcycles still baffles me. In Houston, it’s near impossible to get to many places without motor-powered vehicles unless you live in the cities center.

I hope you find this travel itinerary useful if you’ve got a trip to Venice planned for the future, or if you’ve already been and just want to take a walk down memory lane! Editing these pictures was so much fun; it made me feel like I was back there all over again!

So without further ado, here’s what to do in Venice and a little about our quick stopover in Florence!

Getting to Venice:

There are two main ways to arrive in Venice: 1.) by taking a flight 2.) by taking the train. If you are still in the planning phase of your trip, I highly recommend arriving by train if at all possible as it is much, much easier that way.

1. Arriving by plane: you would need to take a flight to Marco Polo airport. Then you’ll need to either take a bus or a water taxi/boat to make the rest of the journey into Venice. The trip time depends on the type of transportation you choose but will take anywhere from 30 minutes to just over an hour.
2. Arriving by train: The central station is the Santa Lucia station that is right on the Grand Canal. You can book your tickets on Trenitalia well in advance (they have an English website) as we did and it makes it super easy to get tickets before you even leave. Once you arrive:
   1. You can take one of two public water taxis (called the Vaporetto) to get to Rialto or San Marco or the other one which goes to Lido. Take 1 or 2 to get to Rialto, the difference between the two is one makes more stops than the other, so be sure you know your stop and whether that particular water taxi stops there! Line 1 takes roughly 35 minutes to get to Rialto; line 2 takes 2 5 minutes. The cost is approximately 7.5 euros/person.
   2. The other option is to take a private water taxi to get to your destination. The Vaporetto is the more economical option, but the drawback is that during the busy season (and if a ton of trains arrived around the same time yours did) you could be looking at a long wait to get on one.

Venice| What to know before you go:

• Depending on where you’re staying, and if you need to travel by Vaporetto often, you might want to invest in a travel card. They were roughly 20 euros a day or 60 euros a week when we were there; this may have changed though. If you don’t mind the walk, you can easily get around everywhere without the card. We didn’t bother getting one as we stayed off of an island (J.W. Marriott) close by that offered a complimentary water taxi to and from Venice center, and we decided that we needed to walk the rest of the way to burn off all the pasta and pizza we were having!
• Hotels and Airbnb’s have a mandatory city tax (usually in the ballpark of 3.5-7 euros depending on the city.) This is due in cash at the time of check-in (the cash thing might be for Airbnb, though, I don’t remember how we paid at the hotel, unfortunately!)
• Locals generally don’t tip. Gratuities are sometimes expected from tourists though. Try to avoid excess tipping, and you certainly do not have to calculate a percentage the way we do here in America. I suggest tipping ~1-4 Euros if you’re at a sit-down restaurant if you liked the service. Most sit down restaurants already have a built-in “dine-in” fee, so check your receipt. If they brought bread to your table, chances are they charged you for that too!
• Italians don’t do coffee (or other beverages on the go) so expect a few looks if you ask for a latte or cappuccino in a takeaway cup… that’s if they have them! Most coffee shops don’t. 
• Also, upwards of 10,000 steps a day should be expected! Especially in Venice! Even if you end up taking a water taxi a few times a day, you’ll still end up walking a ton to get to restaurants and such.
• If you don’t plan on having data or a wifi hot spot (affiliate link) with you on the trip, consider downloading a map for the cities you’re going to on your Google Maps app that you can access even when you’re offline. Even though we took our hot spot with us, Anees downloaded the maps which came in handy when our hotspot was running out of juice or when we were out of range.

Venice and Florence | Words to know:

Although in both Venice and Florence, my experience was that most people spoke decent enough English to communicate, it’s always good to know a few words and to thank someone in their native language!

• Ciao – Hello
• Buongiorno – Good morning
• Prego – You are welcome (sometimes they greet you this way.. as in go ahead)
• Lei Parla Inglese – Do you speak English?
• Grazie – Thank you
• Grazie Mille – Thank you so much
• Mi scusi – Excuse me
• Quanto costa – How much is this?
• Questo ha carne – Does this have meat? (super important if you’re vegetarian/pescatarian because a lot of stuff does)

TIP: If you have wifi or a hotspot, be sure to download the Google Translate app on your phone! It’s helpful when two people are trying to communicate in different languages!

What to do in Venice| Things to see and do:

• Wander in St. Marks Square:
  • It’s great for people watching and if you want to just hang out for a bit, take a load off and grab a latte or macchiato at Caffe Florian.
    • ADDRESS: 30100 Venezia VE, Italy
• Rialto Bridge:
  • Watch the sunset and check out the Mercato a the foot of the bridge! This is one of the best picture-perfect spots of all of Venice’s Grand Canal.
    • ADDRESS: 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
• Doge’s Palace:
  • Wander the grounds, around St. Marks square. The architecture is stunning when you’re done and check out the bridge of sighs, which is located just around the corner from Doge’s Palace.
    • Fact: people debate why it’s called the bridge of sigh, but one of the most common stories is that it was the last look that prisoners had of Venice before they were taken into prison, so it was a sigh of despair.
  • Doge’s Palace has a Secret Itineraries Tour which is really cool to take if you’re interested. It’s informative, and I wouldn’t call it boring in the least.
    • ADDRESS: Located at St. Marks square
• St. Marks Basilica:
  • Entry is free if you decide to wait in the line. However, it can sometimes be a very, very long line! During the busy season, the wait can get into the hours, and it’s no fun standing in the square with the sun beating down on you. Luckily, you do have an option to skip the line if you’d like, you can reserve tickets online for 6 euros/person and get in without having to wait at the time of your choosing!
  • ADDRESS: Located at St. Marks square
• Take a gondola ride:
  • The gondola rides usually start in the smaller canals and take you to the Grand Canal with at least a view of the Rialto bridge. Depending on your gondolier, they may share some interesting facts along the way! Lady Gaga was in town when we visited, and our gondolier showed us the hotel that most celebrates stay at when in town. Last summer, a gondola ride for roughly 30 minutes was around 80 euros for a day trip (2018) and a little more for an evening ride. If you want to experience a gondola ride but not pay the hefty price tag, you can always try and find another couple to split the cost.
• Visit Libreria Acqua Alta:
  • I have to say, this was one of the coolest things! Hidden in the back alley of an old bookstore, is a staircase made out of old books. The place is neat to check out, and it’s always such a fun photo opp too!
    • ADDRESS: Calle Longa Santa Maria Formosa | 5176 – Castello, 30122 Venice, Italy

What to do in Venice | Food:

• grab a slice of pizza from Antico Forno (1,241 reviews, 4.6 stars): the place doesn’t have much sitting room, you can stand and eat at the bar, or take it with you and find a nice spot on the canal (where they actually allow food and sitting) and enjoy it there! If you like lemonade or sparkling lemon water, might I recommend a lemon soda! They are available just about everywhere in Italy, and it’s kind of like carbonated lemonade. So good and it tastes great with pizza on the go!
  • ADDRESS: Calle de L’ogio de la Rugheta, 970/973 (Near Rialto Bridge)
• Get fresh pasta to go from Dal Moro’s (4,893 reviews, 4.5 stars): Again, this is another takeaway location, but we loved it so much that we came back twice in the few days that we were there! They make and serve fresh handmade pasta from scratch (you can see them doing it while you stand in line.) I tried a couple of different kinds – both the white sauce and the red were equally delicious! They also have tiramisu for dessert, which was yummy! It’s alcohol-free, so everyone can enjoy it!
  • ADDRESS: Calle Casseleria, 5324, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy
• Pizza Al Volo (710 reviews, 4.5 stars):
  • Pizza Al Volo is great for a late-night bite, or if you want to have a super casual dinner. They make the pizza right in front of you, dough stretching and all! Seating is minimal, but we preferred to take the pizza to go and enjoy it outside on a park bench. They are cash only if I remember correctly.
  • ADDRESS: Dorsoduro, 2944, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy
• Vizio Virtu:
  • A chocolate shop near Rialto Bridge. You can taste chocolate in all forms here and watch them make some on site.
  • ADDRESS: Calle del Forner, 5988, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy (10am-7pm)

Gelato:

• Suso Gelatoteca (1,991 reviews, 4.6 stars):
  • ADDRESS: Calle della Bissa, 5453, 30124 San Marco, Venezia VE, Italy
• La Mela Verde (Green Apple) (486 reviews, 4.3 stars): 
  • ADDRESS: Fondamenta del ‘Osmarin, 4977A, 30122 Venezia VE, IItaly

Stopover in Florence:

On the way to Cinque Terre, Anees and I made a quick stopover in Florence. Anees had recently finished reading Dan Brown’s Inferno and was excited to get a chance to see all the things they talked about in the book. Me? Though I love to read, I cheated and watched the movie 😂 So I wouldn’t call this much of a guide, it’s just a quick ‘what we did in Florence.’ Florence certainly disserves its own post and at the end of the day, both of us wished we could’ve spared a few extra days to stay and take in all of Florence’s beauty!

What do see:

• Duomo Di Firenze: The church had free entry, but if you’d like to climb the bell tower (it’s 400 steps) it costs 15 euros. Both of us really wanted to do this but unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time as we wanted to make it to the Statue of David before the museum closed.
  • ADDRESS: Piazza del Duomo, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
• Galleria dell’ Accademia (for the Statue of David):
  • The museum closes at 6:50 pm so be sure to give yourself plenty of time. There is an entrance fee, but we ended up getting lucky because on the first Sunday of every month, the entrance is free and we happened to be there then!
  • ADDRESS: Via Ricasoli, 58, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy

Where to eat:

• Bar Pasticceria Cucciolo (366 reviews, 4.6 stars):
  • If you’re looking for a yummy Italian pastry, this is the place to get it! They have delicious bomboloni (or Italian doughnuts) stuffed with Nutella and sweet cream. They also offer mini pizza’s and such, so it’s a great place to grab a snack or breakfast.
  • ADDRESS: Via del Corso, 25R, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
• Mercatos Centrale – Mercado di San Lorenzo
  • A cool market place resembling a food court. They offer snacks, spices, specialty food items, fresh meat, and veggies. They sell yummy prepared eats on the top floor and the lower floors are for fruits, veggies, and cheeses. If you’re a foodie, you would love this place! This place stays open till midnight so great for a late-night snack!
    • ADDRESS: Piazza del Mercato Centrale – Via dell’Ariento, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
• Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco (749 reviews, 4.5 stars):
  • Both Anees and I agree this has to be Florence’s best-kept secret! We would say this is one of the best restaurants we ate at on the whole trip! The food here was just outstanding! We ordered a pappa al Pomodoro (tomato and bread soup) and that I can still taste till this day, homemade pasta with pesto Genovese (one of the best pestos I’ve tasted,) and gnocchi with shrimp, zucchini, and tomato sauce. We both wish we had more space to try the truffle pasta, I’ve heard it’s simply amazing. The place also has a cool taverny vibe, something out of Harry Potter almost, complete with a Boars head on the wall!
  • Dinner is served from 6:30 – 1030pm.
  • ADDRESS: Borgo S. Jacopo, 43, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
• Gelateria La Carraia (3,620 reviews, 4.6 stars):
  • what to get: try the custard flavor and the chocolate mousse gelato. The chocolate mousse is a must for any chocolate lovers!
  • ADDRESS: Piazza Nazario Sauro, 25/r, 50124 Firenze FI, Italy

Leave it to me to share more places to eat than things to do in Florence! But I have to say, Florence is definitely on our list of cities to come to see again! I hope you enjoyed this and found it helpful if you’re looking for what to do in Venice or Florence! If you have any recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Until the next adventure!

comfy walking shoes are a must!

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”3685166″]