Best European Vacation: 91 Days Greece to Paris

This blog is primarily based on a 100 page Shutterfly book we recently completed. Because Shutterfly is predominantly a photo based site, this contains far more photos than narrative. However, it quite accurately traces our best European vacation trip this summer. This post should be helpful if you are looking for the best European Vacation for couples, singles or family adventures. You can skip around the sections by selecting a section from the table of contents below.

Please visit Paul’s blog for details on timing and places we stayed on Cosguide4travel.com/olympic-journey-athens-to-paris/.

Greece

And so our summer vacation starts in Greece on May 9. We visited two Greek islands including Santorini, Mykonos, and also Athens, Piraeus, Delphi and Meteora. All of our planning was done on our own based on research Paul conducted.

Santorini

Our home base in Santorini was the Petite Palace, a charming collection of individualized guest rooms. The bar and restaurant were excellent, and we were treated to the famous Santorini sunset! This was a summer of over-tourism, but May was a wonderful time.

Of course you must visit Fira with its bougainvillea draped everywhere and where local restaurants, bars and artsy stores thrive. We had a wonderful meal at Kaliya across the street from Palia Kament, a famous cocktail bar with great views of sunset.

But do take a trip out of town to visit Akroteri or other small villages where life is more basic as well as challenging. Our tour included a visit here, the archealogical dig nearby, a short stop in Oia (crowded) and a wine tasting at our favorite vineyard.

The views from our hotel were gorgeous, capturing the famous white structures on the caldera. This is a good-bye to beautiful Santorini and on to Mykonos.

Mykonos

Windmills, Greek salads and beautiful town walks. One of our walks we booked through Get Your Guide, and it was excellent, a true overview of Mykonos followed by a down-to-earth walking tour.

We really enjoyed finding out-of-the-way places (although we did indulge in the fabulous Katrin Mykonos Restaurant).

We took a wonderful sailboat ride we found on Get Your Guide to Delos from Mykonos, to visit the amazing ruins that are being recovered. After a delicious Greek supper onboard, we were treated to a famous sunset, more beautiful than even Santorini! And so our sunset sail in Mykonos means it’s time to leave for Athens.

Athens

A city of neighborhoods including Plaka. The majestic Acropolis towers above it all, joined by the Parthenon and Temple of Athena. Fabulous restaurants included Oikeio, Point A and Varoulko Seaside in the Port of Piraeus. We loved how friendly everyone was and seemed to enjoy visitors.

Here are the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (the Theatre) and the marble Panathenaic (Olympic Stadium), still in use today. We were in awe of the bougainvillea outside the Acropolis Museum. Everywhere we went, we continued to discover ruins.

Delphi

The ancient Greeks considered the center of the world to be in Delphi, marked by the stone monument known as Omphalos of Delphi (navel). Temple of Apollo in Delphi included the well known Delphi Treasury, the Delphi Theatre and a wonderful museum filled with ancient treasures.

The Ancient Theatre of Delphi is the largest structure in the Temple of Apollo.

The Treasury of Athenians is one of the most impressive buildings in the Sanctuary of Apollo. It looks very familiar to those of us in financial services.

Meteora

The magic of Meteora, its isolated monasteries, perched on top of impossibly thin rock structures. The Agios Stefanos monastery was just one of them.

We came across a group of Serbian Orthodox parishioners and their priests. They had brought a feast which they offered to share with us as a thank you for taking their picture. Their joy was infectious.

Albania

We had a two week private guided tour in the Balkans, starting with Athens. It was beneficial to have an Albanian gentleman guide us through these countries not only with language and “road knowledge” but also local culture, history and insight. This proved to make our trip very successful. There was a similar trip that mirrored ours but was a family trip for a mother and her son.

Gjirokaster

Our first stop in Albania was Gjirokaster “Stone City”. Its old town is a UNESCO world heritage site, one of the best preserved medieval towns in the Balkans and a great first taste of the ancient history of Albania. We stayed in a local B and B whose owner was a delight.

Ali Pasha figures prominently here and throughout Albania. We had quite a lesson in his influence including the good, the bad and the ugly. Despite his shortcomings, most Albanians seemed to revere his contributions. We visited the island where he was finally murdered.

Berat

Byzantine churches, the castle, a town of 1001 windows, the Onufri National Museum, Saint Maria’s Church. This was a stop filled with so much history and antiquity.

We tasted wine at Cobo and had a unique experience as we took a local cooking lesson with a young couple from Australia in a private home within the Castle. We booked this through Get Your Guide!

The birthplace of Onufri, genius artist, known for his Orthodox murals and icons as well as his founding of a school of painting. He took the secret of his special red/pink color to his grave.

North Macedonia

It is a point of disagreement that today’s residents would prefer that their country be called Macedonia, but that name is already taken in Greece.

Ohrid

Ohrid is famous for its 365 Orthodox Churches. We saw the Church of St. John at Kaneo. Enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Kaneo featuring the one and only Ohrid trout during the storm. The Lake is one of Europe’s deepest and oldest, with a unique aquatic ecosystem of worldwide importance.

Next, we visited Tsar Samuel’s Fortress and the Monastery of St. Naum. This is a Macedonian Orthodox monastery and is a fine example of Byzantine architecture.

Albania

Tirana

The capital and the largest city. Tirana was likely the core of the Illyrian kingdom. It is also the birthplace of Mother Teresa.

Today it is surprisingly cosmopolitan poised for tourism and economic development. Recently a direct flight from the United States was implemented, which many hope will translate to additional tourism. We spent two days exploring the city, learning its history and seeing so many bunkers. We met a charming famous actor as well as the once ambassador to Mexico and Cuba who now owns a charming business, Komitet, a cafe/museum.

Our delicious visit to Salt and its seafood tower. In the morning, everyone has a breakfast pie from places like the one below.

Kruje

Kruje is the symbol of Albanian resistance against the Ottoman expansion. We visited Kruje Castle, the Skandere Museum and the Kruje bazaar where you can find authentic handicrafts.

Kosovo

Decan

The Visoki Decani Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located near Decan, Kosovo. We found the monastery to have a particularly spiritual atmosphere. It is a gorgeous structure and very well preserved.

This is often considered to be one of the most endangered European cultural heritage sites. It is by far the largest medieval church of the Balkans. It has been under legal protection of Serbia since 1947, guarded 24/7 by a peacekeeping force from NATO.

Albania

Fishte

Back in Albania on our way to Shkoder, we visited Mrizi Zanave, a multi-dimensional agrotourism collective that included a vinyard, production of cheese, pepperoni, jams and jellies as well as a very nice restaurant and retail store.

Shkoder

A charming city founded by the Illyrian tribe, clearly influenced by Venice. We enjoyed a boat ride on the Lake of Shkoder, girls dribbling basketballs, a vineyard visit and the Venetian mask factory (this is our mask below). Also we visited Rozafa Castle which is surrounded by the Buna and Drin rivers..

Our drive took us by this beautiful natural green reservoir, created by the hydroelectric dam. Much of the electricity in this country is hydroelectric.

Montenegro

Budva and Kotor

Budva of the Montenegro Riviera is a walled city which has become the destination for the Eastern European jet set. There are incredible tourist stops and we found this to be very busy.

This was our second time in Kotar, one of the best preserved medieval towns in the Adriatic.

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Mostar

Many reminders of the war. Mosar was a stunning sight, with the river Buna making its presence known. It is renowned for its iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge) reconstructed after the war. This was the last part of our Balkans tour.

Sarajevo

The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. With the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, World War I was started.

Sarajevo was the site of the 1984 Winter Olympics. However, most remember the siege of Sarajevo, a prolonged bloody blockade during the Bosnian War from 1992 to 1996. Visiting modern Sarajevo was surprisingly similar to other places we visited, with the exception of the Tunnel of Hope Museum at the airport.

Croatia

Dubrovnik

With its distinctive massive stone walls, this is a bucket list item for most people. However, the cruise ship thirst for this city is taking its toll with overcrowding this beautiful place. However, we absolutely loved our hotel, the Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik.

Korcula

Although rumored to be the birthplace of Marco Polo, most people deny this. We were impressed with the stunning architecture and spectacular wine culture. We booked an all-day wine tour through Get Your Guide; you can see our convertible van below! As a result, we fell in love with this great place.

Hvar

Summer playground for the wealthy. For good reason. It is famous for its buildings, world class cuisine and beautiful beaches. We loved our daily walk to town where there was a great five-o-clock cocktail vibe, accompanied by excellent street music.

Split

A stunning walled city, best known for Diocletian Palace which is still inhabited today. We took a wonderful tour of the local markets, the palace as well as the Peoples Square, courtesy of Get Your Guide. Two of our favorite restaurants were Michelin Bib Gourmand SUG and Articok.

We explored so many places around Split, by Get Your Guide’s Tuk Tuk (Ivan Mestrovic’s home and studio and Tito’s summer house),

and by boat (historic Trogir, Maslinica Island and the Blue Lagoon), again through Get Your Guide.

See the Croatia futbol banner draped across our window on our hotel.

Rovinj

Rovinj became our favorite in Croatia and was one of the best places for the entire trip. And why not? With its picturesque old town, stunning Venetian-like architecture and crystal clear Adriatic Sea, this is a dream come true. Our accommodation, the breathtaking views at sunset and wonderful truffle-infused food were all contributors. Plus it’s only a 3.5 hour ferry ride to Venice! The best time ever!

Zadar

One of our very best sunsets was in Zadar, Croatia’s oldest city. Beyond that, we toured the city with an excellent native guide (through Get Your Guide) and further explored on our own where we found Nicola Basic’s architectural Sea Organ with plays music with the waves.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park has a chain of 16 terraced lakes, joined by spectacular waterfalls that extend into a limestone canyon. Truly one of the most beautiful waterfalls we have ever visited. We loved staying at Restoran Antemurale, a family run inn, complete with restaurant. Nothing like watching Croatian futbol with the owner!

Zagreb

Capital of Croatia is distinguished by its Hungarian inspired architecture. Looking forward to visiting, we were disappointed that so much was closed, impacted by the earthquake in 2020. However, we had a delightful tour, “visiting” famous Croatian statues, from Nickolai Tesla to Ivan Mestrovic and his statue entitled “Well of Life”. We found this local tour through Get Your Guide. I also loved the Ban Jeiacic Square, Gornji Grad, and the Croatian National Theatre building.

Slovenia

Ljubljana

Ljubljana is Slovenia’s capital and largest city. Everything about this city is extraordinary and we loved it. The way the river meanders through the city, the beautiful castle and the dragons scattered throughout.

Slovenian countryside including Lake Bled, Predjama Castle

Touring Slovenia’s countryside gives one surprise after another. Lake Bled and its Plenta flat bottom boats, Predjama Castle built into the mountain, a swan drifting in the fog at Medvode. So surrealistic and somehow so Slovenia.

England

London

A few days in London, one of our favorite cities. We stayed at the beautiful Conrad Hotel, complete with English Breakfast, and visited La Mia Mamma restaurant in Chelsea. The restaurant was fun (all the cooks are mothers imported from Italy) and Chelsea is a great upscale community.

We visited both the British Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. Plus we went to Starlight Express and Back to the Future.

Finally, we toured the street art in Spitalfields with a local guide through Get Your Guide and were rewarded with seeing two Banksy’s!

Spain

Basque Country

Landing in Madrid, we drove to Parador de Olite in Navarra, but saw several scary billboard bulls along the highway. We detoured to Zaragoza, spending only a short time but were impressed with the baroque basilica.

Our Parador in Navarra is a beautifully converted castle, our first stay in a Parador and our introduction to Basque County.

Bilbao

As the Capital of the Basque Country, Bilbao was primarily an industrial city until the Guggenheim Museum. This brought world-wide fame and attention.

Gorgeous parks and flower beds, creative Pintxos, statues, the classic train station, the Bilbao Opera House and the Bilboko Donejakue Katedraia (the Cathedral) make this walking tour an absolute delight. Of course, we found this tour through Get Your Guide.

Cangas de Onis

Cangas de Onis was the location of our second Parador. Once a monastery, this was even better than the first. The setting is gorgeous and a very popular tourist attraction. We visited the town and found the Monumento a Don Pelago as well as a very good wine and cheese shop.

Santiago de Compostela

The destination for so many pilgrims following the Camino Frances, the Camino Portugues or the Camino del Norte. It is the site where Apostle Saint James is buried. We were struck by the sheer joy of people in the main square and couldn’t visit it often enough. Upon completion, the pilgrims are met by a bagpiper, something we saw in Finisterre as well. The Cathedral itself is very beautiful both outside and inside and holds regularly scheduled services.

Our third parador was a converted hospital, Parador de Santiago de Compostela.

We decided to visit Fisterra, an alternative final destination for pilgrims who seek to travel beyond Santiago de Compostella. As with Santiago, pilgrims are met with a bagpiper. Fisterra is also known as “Lands End”, one of the westernmost points of land in Spain.

Leon

Leon, capital of the province of Leon and site of the gorgeous Gothic Cathedral. It is also home to Gaudi’s Casa Botines. Our Parador de Leon is the most stately and luxurious yet, built for the Military Order of Saint James. Its carved facade, cloister, church and magnificent choir stalls are breathtaking. Throughout the city you see the sign of the pilgrims.

Burgos

What we didn’t expect was to find a Cathedral that rivaled Leon Santa Maria de Burgos, which you see below. We stayed in our last Parador, Parador de Lerma. The village of Lerma, outside Burgos, is very small but we found a convent with several delightful nuns selling their homemade goods.

Pamplona

How Ernest Hemingway loved Pamplona, writing “The Sun Also Rises”, based on his love for this city and its bull fighting. The Opening Ceremony was pure craziness. And pure fun. Hope this captures some of it.

Madrid

Three days in Madrid, starting with possibly the biggest LGBTQ+ pride parade ever! Remarkably, everything was perfectly restored by the next morning!

We fell in love with Madrid in a way we hadn’t before, as we had excellent guidance from our tour guide. Can’t wait to go back again!

Toledo

Toledo, the city of three cultures, was the first stop on our river cruise. What a wonderful city, filled with stories of religious co-existence.

Salamanca

Visited the Universidad de Salemanca with its Roman Bridge and ornate sandstone buildings. This university was one of the most prolific and prestigious universities in Europe during the Renaissance and Spanish Golden Age. Even today, students come here to perfect their Portuguese language skills. Below you can see a replaced sandstone border that features an astronaut (!) and a monkey eating an ice cream cone!

Portugal

Castelo Rodrigo & Pinhao

We boarded the Ama Vida, our river home and visited the Castelo Rodrigo overlooking the River Douro. Beginning the winding journey, we docked in Pinhao with its blue and white tiles at the train station, which told the story of wine production in Portugal. The next day, we took a short trip to Favios Moscatel, marveling at how the workers navigated the steep narrow vineyards along the hills.

More cruising and a visit to Senhora de Remedios with its 686 steps.

Wine tasting in beautiful Jardim da Quinta da Aveleda in Penafiel.

Porto

Then on to Porto, known for its Port, wine and so much more. It is a gorgeous city and our last stop on our river cruise. What an ending.

Porto at night.

Tomar

Disembark and drive to Tomar, the Convent of Christ. This magnificent structure comprises a round church, a temple, huge bell tower and seven cloisters. And perhaps the most beautiful window ever built.

Lisbon

The capital of Portugal. A hilly city, complete with trams. Delicious Piri Piri chicken, sweet cherry Ginja de Obidos and Belem pastries. The enormous Jeronimos monastery.

Almancil

On to Southern Portugal, to the wonderful Conrad Almancil, where we spent almost a week. We took a ferry so we could drive along the Atlantic coast, visited the rock formations which reminded us of Cabo. We also saw where Nadal has a home. See the gorgeous red rock backdrop on the beach!

France

Bordeaux

Our first two Olympic events (futbol), a visit to Cite du Vin, a day with a great wine tour with picnic and a visit to Saint-Emilion. It is always wonderful to spend time here, but we were connected to our Paris plans using high speed train travel.

Paris

The Paris Olympics of 2024! We started with beach volleyball in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and couldn’t get enough! A pleasant surprise was how easily we navigated their public transportation system.

Also, we saw Coco Gauf lose to Croatian Donna Vekic. The heat during this match was almost unbearable.

Paris is magic. Whether you’re visiting Avenue George V for window shopping, tasting the goodies at the hospitality suite at the Four Seasons, reminiscing over the Flame of Liberty in Diana’s memory or discovering the hidden treasures of Luxembourg Gardens and Palace. It’s all bewitching.

We visited the Louvre again and saw exhibits we never noticed before. The Olympic Cauldron had everyone in awe!

The Parisians know how to host a hospitality venue…starting with Moet and delicious French food throughout the afternoon. Plus we saw holes 1,2 and 3 plus 15, 16, 17 and 18!

Heading for the gold! Our champion Scottie Scheffler! However, Jon Rahm’s supporters were the best dressed!

Last full day in Paris. Final women’s beach volleyball, with Brazil taking the gold. Visiting the hosting center. Catching dinner in a bistro and then one last chance to look upon the glistening Eiffel Tower and Cauldron.

Ireland

Dublin

Charles De Gaulle to Dublin Airport. The face of Ireland with a Guinness…Unfortunately Paul’s luggage decided to stay in Dublin-town for a couple of extra days.

Back in NYC, we found that we could have stayed here and have the same picture as Paris!