After the first sold-out week of Sail Greece, we jumped right into the second week.

Check out the video recap & pictures below!

The post Sail Greece: Wanderlust Group Trips 2025 Highlights Week 2 appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

We slept on board a wooden sailing vessel for 7 nights, then checked into some truly beautiful, boutique hotels in Mykonos, Ios and Santorini!

Watch the recap below & scroll through some of our photos to see what we got up to!

The post Sail Greece: Wanderlust Group Trips 2025 Week 1 Highlights appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

Santorini is known for its stunning white buildings, blue domes, and breathtaking sunsets, but if you want to have unforgettable photos of your trip, you might want to book a Santorini Flying Dress Experience!

There are a lot of companies that offer this experience. (Some charge $800+, yikes!)

But I found an excellent photographer who was incredibly professional, fun, easy to work with and had very reasonable rates!

What Is It?

A Flying Dress Experience is a photo shoot where you wear a beautiful, flowing gown that creates a dramatic, wind-swept effect against the gorgeous backdrop of Santorini.

The dresses come in vibrant colors like red, blue, and yellow, creating a striking contrast with the island’s iconic white buildings and deep blue sea.

How to Book

You can easily book a Flying Dress Experience through Airbnb Experiences. There are a lot of options online so just read the reviews. Everything is taken care of, including the dress rental and professional photo editing.

This is the exact Airbnb experience I booked and my photographer Lucia was AMAZING. Again, I can’t recommend her highly enough.

Things to Know For Your Santorini Flying Dress Experience

• Wear shorts under your dress! The dresses will be flying up and opening constantly. If you only have underwear on underneath, you’ll repeatedly reveal yourself.
• Most likely, you won’t be wearing a bra. Most of the dresses are corset style or bandage around you revealing an open back. Be ready to ditch your bra on arrival once you slip into your dress.
• Yes, there will be pedestrians stopping to stare at you. But don’t let that stop you!
• Book an early morning session if you can. This will help you avoid the cruise ship crowds and being super sweaty during the hottest part of the day.

Whether it’s for a special occasion or just for fun, a Flying Dress Experience in Santorini is a unique way to create lasting memories and incredible photos!

More on Greece:

• 10 Tips For Your First Visit To Athens

The post My top Santorini flying dress recommendation! appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

Painted Village in Greece.

10 Facts About The Tiny Painted Village in Greece You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

No doubt you’ve seen countless travel photos of Mykonos, Santori or the ruins in Athens. But the beautiful Greek island of Chios is often not included in the conversation of travel around Greece.

Despite the fact that it’s home to an unforgettable little painted village that is sure to delight and surprise you.

And yet, I’ve never seen pictures of it anywhere else online!

This lesser-known gem of Greece is a town called Pygri.

So without further ado, here’s 10 facts about this village to inspire your trip!

10. It’s located on the island of Chios.

The Greek island of Chios is located across the Aegean sea from Athens. It’s closer to Turkey than the rest of Greece. When you’re standing on certain beaches of Chios, you can actually see the shore of Turkey with the naked eye.

9. Pyrgi is located on the southern end of the island and is one of the largest villages in Chios

Pyrgi is about 35 minutes from the main downtown area and there are a number of ways to get around the island.

You can rent a car or you can rent a motorbike. You can also order a cab.

Despite it being the largest village, there is still less than 1,000 residents living in the little painted village.

8. The decorative motives in the facade of the houses are called xysta. 

The beautiful, intricate patterns are designed and constructed into the plaster of the houses by traditional craftsmen.

It has become tradition in the village to maintain the wonderfully complicated xysta on every wall, balcony, church and open surface in the village.

7. Pyrgi still maintains it’s medieval style to this very day.

In true medieval style, the roads are narrow and lined with arches.

As you walk through the tight, winding streets of Pyrgi it really will feel as though you’ve traveled back in time to some bizarre, storybook town.

Although the town is small, I’ve never seen anything quite like it.

6. The stone houses of Pyrgi are built close to each other to build a defensive wall for the city.

Pyrgi has been standing for hundreds of years and during that time, it has seen everything from major earthquakes to bloody massacres to pirate raids. The buildings were strategically built to provide a defensive wall of safety to protect villagers.

While the little town isn’t a fortress, it’s dense walls with limited entries does prevent excessive incoming traffic into the village.

5. Pyrgi first formed when residents gathered to avoid pirate raids.

In the 11th Century, a fortress and the Nea Moni (New Monastery) was built to defend the Chios port from pirates.  As the raids worsened, the population of Pyrgi grew as people from all over Chios fled to the safety of villages more inland.

4. Pyrgi is one of several “mastic villages”

And what is mastic village you may ask? It simply means that the villagers harvest a sticky substance (known as mastic) from trees. It was a hugely desirable and profitable crop that was originally only found on Chios.

During the Ottoman rule of Chios, mastic was worth its weight in gold. You could be executed by order of the sultan just for stealing some of the sticky, bubble gum residue.

Our tour guide pulled the van over on the side of the road so we could see a mastic tree up close and pop some of the “tears of Chios” in our mouth. It really is just like bubble gum but with an earthy flavor!

3. It survived a great earthquake in 1881.

The 1881 Chios earthquake occurred on April 3rd with a magnitude of 7.3 and nearly 8,000 deaths.

The actual town of Chios was devastated largely due to the narrowness of the streets. Nearby cities in Turkey lost 40% of the homes. But the little painted village in Greece survived.

2. If you visit in the off-season, you’ll have the place to yourself.

Like the rest of Greece, Chios is busiest in the summer season.

However if you visit in the off season, you can have the place to yourself.

It just depends what type of trip you’d like to take. In the summer you can expect more crowds but if you go late in the winter, many of the restaurants or car rental places will be closed.

We loved having the island mostly to ourselves in October but there were some smaller bars and restaurants that had already closed for the season.

1. You can go cave spelunking nearby.

Chios is full of many interesting and surprisingly places to explore. But did you know experts consider it a geological paradise?

Olympi and Ayo Galas Caves are both open to the public and make for adventurous day trips!

While you have a car rented for your trip to Pyrgi, also plan to go cave exploring on the island!

Want more information? This blog post is a great resource for a weekend guide to Chios.

More on Greece: 10 TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST VISIT TO ATHENS & VIEWS OF THE ACROPOLIS FROM MY BED- WHERE I STAYED IN ATHENS!

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Views of the Acropolis from My Bed-
Where I Stayed In Athens!

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to keep us inside for weeks, it’s been a great joy to go back through my travel photos and relive some memories of the past two years.

During my travels in the spring of 2019, I wound up in a great variety of countries. Many of which I hadn’t originally intended on traveling. But due to the suggestions of travel companions or simply cheap flights- I found myself traveling around Poland, Cyprus, Israel and Athens that spring.

Now I love my life on the go but when we arrived in Athens- we splurged for an Airbnb that we could stay at for almost a week. Yes a whole week in the same Airbnb was longer than I was used to staying most places. But since Athens is an inexpensive city, we were able to get such a fantastic place for a very reasonable price.

Basking in the sunshine on the rooftop was divine. Being centrally located in the heart of the city made walking everywhere a breeze. But you know what really made this place special? The perfect view of the infamous Acropolis right from my bed.

At night, I would lay in bed just gazing out the window at nearly 2,500 years of ancient history lit up above the city.

Gazing at the Acropolis from my cozy bed!

Views Over Athens

From one side, we had unparalleled views of the Acropolis. And on the other side, we could look out over the city of Athens.

Some of our favorite finds in the city included:

• Little Kook– a bizarre and over the top themed dessert cafe!
• Strolling through the National Gardens
• Hiking up Mount Lycabettus for great views over Athens
• Free walking tours of the city (Just be sure to tip your guide!)

The Airbnb we stayed at has taken it’s listing down for the moment but if you’re looking for a great budget hotel stay with views of the Acropolis, be sure to check out Acropolis View Hotel. The view from the rooftop bar is spectacular!

Budget Hotel Option: Acropolis View Hotel

Low-key lodging offering free breakfast, as well as a rooftop bar with a terrace & Acropolis views.

Have you ever stayed in an Airbnb with an amazing view? Let me know in the comments!

Read more on Greece: 10 TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST VISIT TO ATHENS & CHIOS, GREECE: EXPLORING A TINY MOSAIC TOWN

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The post Views of the Acropolis from My Bed- Where I Stayed In Athens! appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

Tips For Your First Visit to Athens. Tips For Your First Visit to Athens.

10 Tips For Your First Visit to Athens

First time in Athens, Greece? Not to worry. This bustling city is filled with sites to see, friendly locals and great prices. Here’s a few things to keep in mind- prepare to be blown away by incredible history and a vibrant modern city!

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Have you been to #Greece? Tag your travel buddy #athens #traveltheworld #traveltips

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1. Go to the Acropolis first thing in the morning

Be there before the gates even open! Trust me, you do not want to try and wade through the throngs of tourists at mid day. Depending on the season, you can go up to the Parthenon at either 8am or 8:30am. Check the schedule ahead of time so you know exactly which hours they are running.

Pro tip: Buy your ticket the day before so you’re ready to skip the line and head up first thing in the morning!

We were some of the first people up to the top but by 9:30am, the place was so packed you could hardly move. Trust me- don’t over sleep this day, you’ll want to beat the crowds. Even an hour after opening, it will be crowded.

2. Join a free walking tour to better appreciate the ruins

Athens offers a number of fantastic free walking tours! Why not join one the first day to help you understand the importance behind the ruins? Without all the juicy details and historical significance, the ruins might come across as just a scenic pile of rocks. Pretty bland considering the rich history of politics, war, murder and brilliance that Athens holds.

Trust me, you can’t fully appreciate the Parthenon without hearing about the golden ratio! Just be ready to tip your guide cash as a courtesy.

3. Skip the hotel, go with Airbnb

Scroll the the Airbnb site and you’ll see just how many gorgeous Airbnbs are located right in the heart of Athens. We stayed at a lovely penthouse with two terraces and a stunning view of the Acropolis from the bed.

Get $40 off your first Airbnb booking!

4. Hike Mount Lycabettus, skip the cable car

An easy, scenic hike with walking paths gives you a glorious view of Athens! For €7.50 you can ride the cable car one way to the top, but truthfully the hike isn’t difficult, save your money and climb the hill! It will only take you 15-20 minutes. The entire way is paved and when you reach the top, there is a restaurant if you want to stay and enjoy the view over Athens.

5. Athens International Airport is far from the city center but easily accessible by a €10 one-way metro

Once you’re in downtown Athens. you’ll be able to walk most places! But the airport isn’t near the city center. The metro is easy to locate when leaving the airport but allow over an hour to get into the city. A single ticket costs €10.

6. Watch the sunset from Areopagus – “Ares Rock”

The Acropolis is beautiful lit up at night. Be sure to catch a sunset over Athens from Ares Rock and soak up the view. Bring up a picnic or a few drinks and enjoy this totally free evening! Ares Rock is just a short walk from downtown, you can’t miss it. This large rock outcropping is just northwest of the Acropolis.

7. Try the street food

Athens is full of delicious places to try a variety of falafel dishes, pita wraps and moussaka- a potato or egg-plant based dish similar to lasagna! Affordable and delicious, Athens is a great place for street food!

My favorite: Falafellas

8. Stay downtown, you’ll be within walking distance to most places

Downtown Athens puts you within walking distance of most sites you’ll be wanting to visit! We stayed in an Airbnb just a few blocks from the Acropolis and never needed to take the metro after the initial trip in from the airport. We were just a short walk from museums, restaurants, shopping and a ton of historical sites.

9. Be ready for a quick change in weather! Pack a jacket and umbrella

A beautiful sunny day can quickly turn into a downpour in Athens. And evenings will be chilly!

Pack a light jacket and be ready for a quick switch in the weather.

Two days in a row I was caught in surprise showers without a jacket. And if you catch the sunset in the evening, you’ll be glad you have a warm outer layer.

10. Find a variety of activities to mix up your days and avoid “burnout” over ruins

Take a day trip to one of the islands, join a pub crawl or spend an afternoon shopping in the flea markets to mix up the historical sites. Your brain can only take some many museums, monuments and historical details back to back.

Athens has so much to offer both historical and modern!

The post 10 Tips For Your First Visit to Athens appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

Welcome to Greece, the island of Chios.

You’ve probably heard of the Greek islands Santorini and Mykonos but did you know that Greek sovereign land includes 6,000 islands scattered about the Aegean and Ionian Seas? One of these lesser known islands is Chios, despite it being the fifth largest of the Greek islands.

My friends and I were fortunate enough to spend a week here after working at Oktoberfest for 2 months with Stoke Travel. Each year, at the end of the season, the company helps pay to send the festival crew on a thank you trip.

Well Oktoberfest wraps up after the busy season in Greece, so when we arrived- the island was empty of tourists!

So for one glorious week, we wandered and explored the island, feeling as if we were the only ones there.

Pyrgi: the “Painted Village”

All of the island is lovely, but my favorite discovery on Chios was the tiny mosaic village known as Pyrgi.

Located on the southern part of the island, Pyrgi is home to less than a thousand villagers.

All the buildings, churches and homes are painted with unique white mosaic patterns.

Walking around this little painted town feels like something out of a storybook. It is dazzling.

Peaceful and totally quiet in the off season….

If you’re there during the off season, you’ll experience open streets with little more than stray cats and dogs roaming about.  Because Chios, like the rest of Greece, is filled to the brim with tourists in the summer months!

But it is relatively quiet in the fall and winter. 

So you might only see the local people quietly hanging laundry or sitting in front of their shops. 

Picturesque and charming!

Pyrgi is a photographer’s dream come true!

If you enjoy taking pictures, there are endless interesting buildings and angles to shoot. Intricate designs line every rooftop, wall and balcony.

No building is left unpainted!

Cute blue doors, pretty flower arrangements and intricately painted buildings….

The entire town is so idyllic, it’s hard to believe it’s real.

Bubble gum that literally grows on trees! 

Pyrgi is one of the largest villages in Chios. And here, the locals farm a sticky, gum-like crop that Chios has been harvesting for over 2,500 years.  You can chew this naturally occurring gum right off the trees! 

 So we pulled our van over to have a taste of this fresh, naturally occurring gum. We pulled it right off the trees, popped it in our mouths and chewed it the whole drive back to the beach. A very interesting taste! 

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Mavros Gialos aka “Black Beach”

This lesser known gem of the Greek isles is full of beautiful beaches.

But my personal favorite- the black beach, Mavros Gialos!

Other great Chios beaches include:

•  Agia Dinami Beach: turquoise waters and white sands and very relaxing with no hotels or restaraunts around, tour the Olympoi Cave while you’re there
• Vroulidia Beach: located near Black Beach, this incredible beach has light PINK sand
• Komi Beach: a popular beach with hotels, restaraunts, deck chairs, water equipment rentals etc.
• Limnos Beach: nearby Volissos, an ancient village.
• Karfas Beach: bustling with activity, it’s the largest tourist resort on the island with bars, nightclubs, resorts etc. you’ll be able to get umbrellas, sun beds, and water sports equipment for rent.
• Agia Fotini Beach: beautiful blue waters and sun chairs available
• Agia Irini Beach: secluded area with no facilities of any kind, small white pebble beach , very peaceful and bearby the medieval villages of Mesta and Elata.

All of Chios is lovely but nothing quite tops the mosaic village of Pyrgi! 

More on Greece: 10 TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST VISIT TO ATHENS

Looking to book a trip to Greece? Check out the great deals on TourRadar!

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