Highlights from Our 3 Week Trip to Italy and Greece

Have you ever traveled to or dreamed of visiting Italy or Greece? These two destinations have always been on my vacation bucket list, and I can’t wait to share the highlights from our three-week trip to them with you.

It’s safe to say that I am NOT a world traveler. So, I can’t tell you how excited I was when we started planning our trip to Italy and Greece before the pandemic.

This was seriously a trip of a lifetime for me. And it did not disappoint.

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We packed many things into our 19-day trip to Italy and Greece!

We started in Venice, Italy, and stayed for a few days before moving to Ravena, where the cruise ship was docked.

Next, we went on a cruise to Greece and Turkey and traveled to Italy by bus, train, ferry, and water taxi before and after the cruise.

My husband and I went with a group of friends, which was great for planning private excursion tours because there were 7 of us. This was the best thing about having a group, and I highly recommend it!

Venice, Italy

It was an early and exhausting morning. We left our house at 4:30 AM and headed to the SeaTac Airport to catch our 7:00 AM flight.

We laid over in Newark for a few hours and then went to Venice, Italy.

Our flight arrived in Venice around 9:00 AM. I was so tired, as I’ve never traveled long distances, and it’s hard for me to sleep on a plane. I was dragging.

The only way to our hotel in Venice was to take a water taxi. This wooden boat was so beautiful! I didn’t expect a water taxi to look like this—it was a very pleasant surprise!

We experienced a gorgeous scenic one-hour water tour of Venice. I was so overwhelmed by the old buildings and canals that I had a teary moment. I couldn’t believe I was here.

Of course, gondolas were everywhere you looked throughout the waterways of Venice. This incredible experience snapped me out of being tired and energized me. I was ready to go!

The outdoor cafes were amazing. There was just such a romantic feel overlooking the canals.

People have asked me if the canals had a foul odor. When we were there in May, it was not too hot, and I didn’t notice any smell.

We made it to the Bauer Hotel dock and checked in. We stayed in the Residenza Grunwald, the next store in the same hotel.

My hubby made me pose for a picture in front of the wallpaper in the lobby area. Can you believe how well my outfit matched the wallpaper?

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Venice Highlights

Often known in English as St. Mark’s Square, the Piazza San Marco was the first place we sat down to have a bite to eat at one of the outdoor cafes.

Here I am, waiting for my first bite of authentic Italian food.

I’m so glad we went to Venice in May. The temperature was perfect in the seventies, and the crowds were not as bad as usual in summer.

The square was always busy, and we often had to wait for a table.

It was hard to get used to the European way of dining. People would sit at a table for hours and not get asked to leave as we do here in the U.S.

St. Mark’s Basilica Cathedral church was stunning.

I couldn’t get up close because of the work being done on the building.

Let me ask you…what is the first thing you think of when you hear “Venice, Italy”?

Is it the canals or a gondola? We couldn’t leave the city without riding a gondola. It was so much fun, and I highly recommend it.

The Cruise Ship

After spending a few days in Venice, we took a water taxi and then a bus to Ravena, where the Celebrity cruise ship Constellation was docked.

I don’t have much to say about the cruise because…

Olympia, Greece

Our first stop on the cruise was Katakolon, Greece.

We took a private tour to the archaeological site of Olympia in a valley in the Peloponnesus.

Here, we saw the remains of the sports structures used in the Olympic Games, which were held every four years starting in 776 B.C.

Olympia is the home of the ancient Olympic Games and the former site of the great statue of Zeus, which has been ranked as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

We learned so much about Greek history during the tour, and I highly recommend this tour.

There are so many quaint outdoor cafes in Greece.

And the gelato is amazing!

Santorini, Greece

I don’t even have a picture to share with you.

This beautiful place was at the top of my bucket list. I was so excited to see the sandy white beaches, white buildings, and blue roofs.

The plan was to…

Unfortunately, plans don’t always turn out how you want them to.

We did not get to go to Santorini due to the high winds. It wasn’t safe enough to tender to the port. I wish I had some amazing experiences to share with you, but maybe next time.

Ephesus, Turkey

The cruise ship docked in Kusadasi, Turkey, where most of my friends in our group went on a private tour of Ephesus.

Here is a view of the Basilica of Saint John, located in Ephesus.

We decided to stay on the ship that day. Here’s a view from our cabin balcony.

Thessaloniki, Greece

Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece.

We didn’t make any excursion plans at this port, so it was low-key.

We went to see The White Tower on the seafront, which has a view of the entire city and the Mediterranean Sea.

Walking along the Beach Promenade and Aristotle Square was a lot of fun, and there were so many incredible places to dine.

Here’s a view of the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Center.

Without dating myself too much, the structure reminded me of the TV cartoon show The Jetsons.

We spent quite a bit of time at the Kapani Market in Thessaloniki.

The market had everything you could want: flowers, produce, fish, meat, household items, olives, nuts…you get the picture.

Mykonos, Greece

This was my favorite stop in Greece. If you can’t go to Santorini, Mykonos is the next best thing.

There were a lot of white buildings and beautiful blue trim. I loved how charming this town was.

The most adorable doors, window shutters, stone pathways, and funky little stairs.

The water is so clear and blue here in Mykonos.

The stone paths to stores, bars, and restaurants were narrow and fun to walk.

Athens, Greece

This was the busiest and most physical day of the entire trip. There is so much to see in Athens, the historical capital city of Greece.

We had a private tour of the Parthenon, Acropolis, and Acropolis Museum, and of course, we had a fabulous Greek lunch.

The Acropolis, an ancient citadel in the center of Athens, Greece, can be seen throughout the city.

It contains the remains of several ancient historical buildings, the Parthenon being the most famous.

Above, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stone Roman theater structure.

Acropolis Museum

Artifacts on the Acropolis and surrounding slopes can be found in the Acropolis Museum.

Here, you can see the Caryatides or Maidens of Karzai.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

After the museum, we visited the Presidential Mansion in Athens and watched the Presidential Guard. This ceremonial infantry unit guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and mansion.

Zakynthos, Greece

This is one of the most exotic Greek Islands in the Ionian Sea. Zakynthos is well known for its sandy white beaches, including Shipwreck Beach, and turquoise waters.

The blue caves are the main attraction here. From everything I’ve read, Zakynthos has the most gorgeous views and plenty of opportunities for the perfect picture.

Sadly, I was not getting around very well after an accident the previous day, so I borrowed a wheelchair from the cruise ship, and we went to a wonderful outdoor lunch at a nearby restaurant.

That was about all I could do that day.

Capri, Italy

After the 10-day cruise, we headed to the Bologna train station in Ravena, Italy.

Once we arrived in Bologna, we took the ferry to Capri, Italy, where we would spend the next three days.

We stayed at the Hotel Weber, where the view was spectacular.

Just down the hill, where all the rocks are, is a loading area for boat tours. My friends went on a boat to see the sights.

Unfortunately, it was too steep for my bad knees, so I enjoyed their pictures.

Capri was the most charming and picturesque town on our Italy and Greece trip, and it was one of my favorite destinations.

I loved the quaint sidewalk cafes.

My husband and I had a romantic dinner here. The food and ambiance were amazing!

Get ready for a Capri, Italy blog post with more beautiful pictures, info on shopping, the chairlift we took to the top of the mountain, and many more scenic spots!

Naples, Italy

After spending a few days in Capri, we took the ferry to Naples, where we stayed for two nights.

This was a great location, close to the airport for travel and the Positano and Amalfi Coast tour we took the next day.

This is the view from the Grand Parker Hotel, where my friends stayed.

And where we should have stayed.

This is the view from our room.

Yes, you could say that we did not plan this one correctly.

But we did find a wonderful restaurant in one of the alleyways.

We loved this restaurant, Bencott, so much that we decided to come here twice. It was the best food we had during our trip to Italy and Greece.

Sometimes, you find the best surprises when you venture from the beaten path.

Doesn’t this seafood pasta look amazing?

There is a lot of graffiti in Italy and Greece. It took me by surprise. Venice and Capri seemed to be the only places I didn’t see it.

Here’s a beautiful building on the way down the hill to the water.

Overall, I would not come to Naples again except for access to the airport. It was my least favorite stop.

Positano and the Amalfi Coast

Our group arranged a private tour from Naples to Positano and the Amalfi Coast.

What I loved about this tour was seeing the most gorgeous views from the very top.

We exited the tour van a few times for a photo opportunity.

We even got to see mozzarella cheese being made.

This was the most delicious mozzarella cheese I have EVER tasted.

We also visited a farm-to-table restaurant with outdoor gardens where food was grown for our meals.

What I Learned from Our Trip to Italy and Greece

I hope you enjoyed some of the highlights of our trip to Italy and Greece. We had such a great time!

Stay tuned for more blog posts from our stay in…

Until next time,

Happy Traveling!

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