MAMMA MIA !! our 10km hike from Fira to Oia, Santorini

 

Fira to Oia Hike

Before I start, let me clarify that I quote Mamma Mia as an expression of our experience, not because it was set in Santorini. The movie was set in another island, Skopelos.

Santorini was majestic and beautiful. We got to appreciate its beauty through our 10-km hike, a true challenge to this mamma.

By the time we got to Santorini and the start of our hike from Fira to Oia, we had already clocked in way over a hundred thousand steps over the previous days. We had hiked to the top of the Acropolis, Cynthos, got lost in the streets of Fira and even hiked to the beautiful Heart of Santorini. We were feeling tired. Ok, so now that I’ve got that disclaimer out…it took us 5 hours to complete the average 3 hour hike. Well, we were strolling and taking lots of photos—this was what we kept saying, every time another group of hikers overtook us on the trail.

Fira

Anyway, we were aiming to catch the sunset at Oia and I wanted some time to go around Oia so we started at about noon, at the height of the heat. But as it was so windy, we did not feel sticky nor did we overheat, even if we wore long-sleeved shirts to protect us from the sun. It was the best hike we had ever taken. It was not the most difficult, but it was definitely challenging, with the trail changing from cobbled path to paved roads and then gravel and stone. 

gravel path on Fira to Oia hike

we have to go through that?!

trails at Fira to Oia hike

There was hardly any shade, which was a challenge in the noon-day heat. It was also hard for me to keep my hat on because it was very windy. There was enough signage to make sure you were going in the right direction and the views were just amazing. Anywhere you point your camera, it was just beautiful. Walking through the hotels along the caldera and passing many, many churches on the trail was just something we would not normally have on any hike. We passed by the beautiful towns of Firostefani and Imerovigli.

boutique hotels @Imerogivli

 We skipped (and thankfully we did) the side hike to Skaros Rock which would take us an extra hour (so they say. This would probably take us two, with our pace).

Skaros Rock

We got to Oia at 5pm, tired and not finding any public washrooms. The one we did find was closed. So, we couldn’t drink so much as well. We had planned to have dinner back in Fira (taking the bus back) after watching the sunset. In hindsight, we should have just eaten in one of the pricey restaurants, used the WC and watched the sunset relaxingly. The most popular place to view the sunset was…well… popular. It was so crowded, we really didn’t want to squeeze in. There were a couple of cruise ships that I saw docked so that didn’t help with the crowds. If you had the time or inclination, you can also book a catamaran sunset cruise. And while it was a great experience, we wished we could have enjoyed the destination as much as the journey. Our feet were not happy (nor were our bladders) but all in all, it was an experience I would not trade off. The journey was very memorable and the sunset was gorgeous.

Oia

Sunset @Oia

Sunset @Oia

Things to do and how we got around in Mykonos

 

Saint Nikolaos of Kadena

We were booked near the Kalo Livadi Beach in Mykonos. Our hotel was close to the best beach among those we visited, but it was far from other places we wanted to explore—about 30min drive to main town and over a kilometer walk to the nearest bus stop. So, here’s what we did:

Delos tour - we got a Delos tour which included hotel pick up/return. Of course, this cost us an extra Eur50, but we enjoyed the convenience of not having to secure a cab (very few in Mykonos) or managing the timing of the public bus (only about hourly, which would totally screw up your plans if you missed it). From the port, Delos island is only about a 40-minute boat ride. We explored this UNESCO site for about 3 hours, marveling at the structures and even flooring that had been preserved. We started off doing the most difficult part, which was climbing Mt. Cynthus. While only under 400 ft, it is the highest point on the island and had the most wonderful views. The museum was unfortunately closed the time we were there, where they kept the original Naxian stone lions. However, the Terrace of the Lions, were still an amazing sight to see.

Temple of Aphrodite @Delos Island

path to Mt Cynthus @Delos

Terrace of the Lions @Delos

Explore Chora – we took advantage of a late hotel return after our Delos tour and explored the Mykonos Town or Chora. It was fun to get lost in the maze of streets filled with boutiques, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants. 

Sunset @Kastros

In Chora, you can also see many beautiful landmarks such as Little Venice, the Windmills, Panagia Paroportiani, among others.

Little Venice @Mykonos

Windmills @Mykonos

Panagia Paraportiani

Explore Ano Mera – we had lunch at Kalammmakia where I got kebabs and fried cheese. 

Fried Cheese and Kebabs @Kalammmakia

Then we checked out the town where the Tourliani monastery was located

Tourliani monastery @Ano Mera

and Gyzi castle ruins which dates back from the 13^th C Medieval times.

Gyzi castle ruins @Ano Mera

Gyzi castle ruins @Ano Mera

Beach- hopping – we got a quad/ATV to get around the island.

one of the quads to rent in Mykonos

 We went to several beaches for a whole day and here’s our take:

 Paradise and Super Paradise beach – party/club beaches. Sun beds are more pricey but more elegant.

Super Paradise beach

lounge at Paradise Beach

Paraga Beach – had a lot of rocks and the sand was grainy/pebble-y. Quite busy.

Agrari Beach – beautiful, quiet beach. Waves were more intense and the waters are deeper (drop is a bit more abrupt).

Agrari beach

Kalo Livado Beach – our favourite. The beach was long and wide and the area was quiet and relaxed. The sand was more fine and waters are shallower.

There were so many other beaches to explore and each one has a different vibe. Of course, you can spend days just being on the beach. For all of these, the waters were super clean and crystal clear. You can actually see little fish swimming by you.  

Hubby and I liked the more relaxed vibe of Mykonos (compared to Santorini), even if getting around was challenging. We have seen many beautiful beaches around the world and the beaches of Mykonos rank high! Add that to having a UNESCO site, (and once a sacred site) Delos, 40 minutes away and a beautiful town to get lost in, Mykonos is definitely one of the Greek islands to visit!