Combine some city culture with an idyllic island break on a twin-centre trip to Greece this Summer. Our first stop was the Greek capital Athens, where we enjoyed an outdoor history lesson among sun-bleached ancient ruins and sampled the artier side of the cosmopolitan city while leaving time to sip cocktails and soak up the Athenian ambiance. Escaping the hustle and bustle of city life, OK!’s Nancy Brown then took the short flight to Crete, the largest of the Greek islands, staying in a charming seaside town where the welcome was as warm as the blazing sun…
WHAT CAN I DO IN ATHENS?
Set aside a morning to explore the glorious Acropolis Of Athens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that sits atop a rocky outcrop high above the city. Offering commanding views across Athens, this ancient citadel dates back to the fourth century BC and is home to the ruins of several buildings, the most famous of these being the Parthenon, a former temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. Celebrities have been flocking to the site for years, with everyone from Amal Clooney to Jennifer Lopez and Catherine Zeta Jones among the visitors.
Afterwards, wander down the steep cobbled streets to Pláka, where we browsed the souvenir stores – picking up a white marble fridge magnet of the Acropolis for less than £1 – before tucking in to traditional chicken gyros outside at the Karyatis Taverna on Palea Agora Square.
After enjoying the sights, OK! took a taxi out to the leafy northern suburb of Ekali, where we checked into the Life Gallery Athens, a 29-room boutique hotel with a contemporary vibe and an eclectic artwork collection. Our lovely bedroom had a low Japanese-style bed and huge glass shutters on the balcony that opened out to views of lush greenery and the mountains beyond. And, while it may be small, the hotel is perfectly formed, with a pool, spa and the stylish Kool Life Bar Restaurant that has an outside courtyard where we enjoyed the best Greek salad we’ve ever eaten.
For late-night drinks in the city, head to The Clumsies – it’s been rated the ninth best cocktail bar in the world and, after one look at the extensive menu, we can see why!
WHERE CAN I STAY IN CRETE?
After a 50-minute flight and a scenic hour-long car journey, OK! checked into the five-star Minos Beach Art Hotel, just outside the charming harbour town of Agios Nikolaos. Overlooking the glittering Mirabello Bay, the resort’s 129 white-washed bungalows and villas are dotted around the scented landscaped grounds and beachfront. We loved breakfast al fresco at Bacchus, where vibrant bougainvillea and fragrant roses cling to the restaurant’s white window-less arches, offering views across the pool and sea beyond. Dinner under the stars at La Bouillabaisse is a gourmet affair, while the traditional Greek night – complete with dancers and delicious barbecued food – is one not to be missed at the foliage-covered Terpsis Cretan restaurant.
By day, guests can relax by the pool, in the spa, at one of the hotel’s two private beaches or on the platforms that jut out from the sea-front bungalows and offer steps down into the ocean. Take time to explore the artworks that are dotted around the resort, too – there’s even a sound installation under the sea. Or head along to the water sports centre, where windsurfing, water-skiing, sailing and diving are all on offer.
A member of the Small Luxury Hotels Of The World, Minos Beach has played host to HRH Prince Andrew as well as Walt Disney, whose message and signature can be seen in one of the hotel’s early guest books at the reception.
WHICH STARS WILL I SEE?
The Greek islands are awash with celebrities during the summer months. While some, such as Beyoncé and Jay Z, cruise around the idyllic waters aboard a super-yacht, others check in for a longer stay. Lady Gaga enjoyed a two-week break on Crete after flying in by private jet. She was spotted soaking up the sun by the hotel pool. The picturesque island has long been an A-list favourite, with Jennifer Aniston, Irina Shayk, Leonardo DiCaprio and Rihanna also checking in for some R&R.
WHAT MUST I DO?
Book into the hotel’s Ananea Wellness Spa. OK! signed up for the Cretan massage in the privacy of one of the spa’s air-conditioned rooms, but you can also enjoy your treatment in a gazebo at the water’s edge. Our masseuse used local olive oil, orange and raki extracts (a Greek spirit) and we left smelling exactly like our Mediterranean surrounds! No two massages are the same as the treatment is tailored to the individual, and we were told we needed most work on our knotted back and shoulders!
Head into Agios Nikolaos (Ag Nik as it’s affectionately known by Brits), a ten-minute stroll along the waterfront from the hotel. OK! wandered around the charming harbour, taking in the pretty white-washed religious shrines, browsing the souvenir shops and picking up some olive oil and baklava, before popping into a quayside taverna for lunch. With views of traditional wooden fishing boats bobbing on the water, lunch at Ntakos featured traditional Cretan dishes such as deep-fried saganaki cheese, smoked meat with honey and sesame and delicious slow-cooked lamb.
Hop aboard one of the boat excursions on offer from Ag Nik harbour for a half-day guided tour of Spinalonga. The now-deserted rocky island, which was run as a leper colony until 1957, was the setting for British author Victoria Hislop’s poignant best-selling book The Island. We wandered around the ruins of the buildings of this eerily silent ghost town, taking in the tiny island’s churches and 400-year-old fortress while learning about the lepers who were once quarantined there.
REPORT BY NANCY BROWN
REPORT EDITED BY ANNABEL MACKIE
PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK, GETTY
