Greece Photos: A Journey Through the Greek Islands

Words and Photography by Pete Heck

Greece.

When people mention the country, I naturally think of big blue skies, vibrant teal waters, and white pearled cities dotting the landscapes. After spending nearly three weeks island hopping and digging into lesser-known spots, I discovered that it’s the sort of place that slowly grips and takes hold of you, making you wish you never had to leave.

But how do you decide where to go on your trip to Greece, and how do you pick an island to travel to? Literally, you can just pick one (there are 6,000+) of them, and you’ll be sure to find something special. There are many good reasons why millions flock to the touristy spots of Mykonos or Santorini each year and why Mediterranean cruises featuring Greece are also so popular.

Needless to say, these masses of people were not what I was looking for, and fortunately, there are ways to avoid them: travel in the shoulder season, find lesser-visited areas, and book something offbeat, or as I did, find an operator who offers carefully-considered tours that allow you to get a taste of a few islands.

I was looking for an intimate experience without much hassle. Booking a Greece Sailing Adventure with Club Adventures gave me offbeat experiences, but also, a loose itinerary allowed me time to explore on my own. What I wanted from my journey to Greece was to capture the islands through my lens, eat some incredible food and get a better understanding, albeit just a taste of what life was truly like on a number of the Cyclades islands.

Culture, History and Civilization

Wisdom begins in wonder.
Socrates

There really is no way to get through Greece without stepping upon ancient ruins. Whether it’s the Acropolis in Athens, Apollo’s Gate in Naxos, or the archeological ruins of Skarkos on the island of Ios, I found myself immersed in ancient civilizations. They drew me in, created an itch to learn more, and offered an understanding of the varied layers that exist throughout the country.

A close up of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece

*View of the Acropolis from Pnyx Hill in Athens*

Athens guards kick their legs during the changing of the guard ceremony in Athens — *Soldiers march at the “Changing of the Guard” in Athens*

A view of Apollo's Temple from the Greek island of Naxos — *Sunset at Apollo’s Gate on the island of Naxos.*

The Landscape of Greece

Greece was a muse. It inspired creativity in magical ways that I can’t even begin to understand or explain.
Joe Bonamassa

Unbeknownst to me was the variety of landscapes throughout the islands. White sand beaches against aqua waters, ragged peaks and rolling hills dotted with white orthodox churches, rows upon rows of ancient olive and lemon trees, and sea cliffs that triggered chills down any spine as waves crashed into them far below.

The old port on Santorini — *The old port in Santorini*

The church built into the mountain on Naxos — *A church built into the mountain in Naxos*

A view of Fira, Santorini at night — *Santorini, Greece, by night*

A church on top of the hill in Ios, Greece — *A church on top of the island of Ios*

The rocky landscape of Ios, Greece — *The rocky landscape of Ios.*

*The rocky path that leads to Homer’s tomb*

A view of Ia, Santorini — *View of Ia Santorini*

A panoramic view of Santorini, Greece — *Santorini*

Greek Food

There is no sincerer love than the love of food.
George Bernard Shaw

If there’s one firm reason to go to Greece (if I haven’t convinced you already), it’s for the food. Olives, fresh fruit and vegetables, seafood, cheese, you name it. There’s a reason the Greek diet is considered to be one of the healthiest in the world. It’s always fresh from the sea or the earth, and it’s been prepared the same way for generations.

Apart from loving every meal I consumed, I particularly appreciated that there’s always yogurt (not the shitty skim milk crap littered on the shelves in North America) with every meal. The full fat, unflavoured, minimal ingredient, as-it-should-be yogurt. They use it for breakfast, lunch, supper, and desserts and I loved it.

A selection of Greek Food — *A typical Greek salad*

Octopus hanging to dry in Santorini Greece — *Octopus hanging to dry in Santorini*

A restaurant on the edge of the bay in Ios, Greece — *Enjoy lunch with a view*

A plate of stewed Octopus — *A dish of stewed octopus*

A spread of delicious Greek food — *A sample of Meze*

The Famous Greece Sunsets and Sunrises

Let every dawn be to you as the beginning of life, and every setting sun be to you as its close.
John Ruskin

As a photographer, catching a sunset is easy. It’s the task of getting up for sunrise that requires work and dedication.

So it was easy on the last night the group would be together. We grabbed a few bottles of Santorini’s finest Asyrtiko wine and found a terrace to watch the final moments of light from the day. We gathered around and toasted what was an incredible journey. And we weren’t alone. A wedding was celebrated on one side of our restaurant, and an engagement was held on the other.

We knew we were somewhere special.

We knew we were somewhere special. And it wasn’t only Santorini. Whether we were atop Lycabetus Hill in Athens, at Apollo’s gate on Naxos, at a lighthouse on the rocky cliffs of Ios, or with the thousands of people lining the terraces of Fira, they always took your breath away.

Light rays shine down at sunset in Santorini — *Sunset in Santorini, Greece*

A pink and purple sky over Naxos during sunrise — *Sunrise on Naxos*

The orange and pinks skies in Santorini during sunset — *Pink Skies of Santorini*

A sunrise scene in Naxos, Greece — *Pink Skies over Naxos*

*A couple shares the sunset in Naxos, Greece*

Weeks have passed and I’m left dreaming about the Isles of Greece. I recently rewatched the Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown episode on Naxos and reflected on his words:

“The pressures of the outside world I don’t want to think about. I’m on a Greek Island here, it’s a beautiful day, I’m planning on passing out on the beach, snorkeling, you know maybe some water colours, do a little cooking, more napping, eating, napping, contemplate mysteries of the universe, or nap, either one, or eat cheese, all of those are honorable options. I mean that’s vacation to me: staying put and doing nothing.”
Anthony Bourdain

I have but one thought. I need to get back.

Where to Stay in Greece

No matter what Greek island you travel to, there are always fantastic places to stay. Here are some of the hotels we stayed at and enjoyed on our travels.

Plaka Hotel (Athens)

Plaka Hotel is one of the best hotels to stay at when visiting Athens. It’s 5 minutes away from Syntagma Square, and has a rooftop patio with a view of the Acropolis that can’t be beat.

Athens at Night — The Acropolis lit up at night.

Cavo Tagoo Santorini (Santorini)

When staying in Santorini, THIS is the place to splurge on a place to stay. The Cavo Tagoo Santorini, is where to do it. The views from the rooms and pool terraces are incredible, the staff is very friendly and accomodating, and the rooms are very spacious and comfortable. If you want luxury, this is what you will get, and you won’t regret it.

Almiriki Naxos Beachside Living (Naxos)

Mere steps to the beach lies Almiriki Naxos Beachside Living. Pamper yourself on our favourite island in Greece by staying here. The rooms are clean, comfortable and spacious, and the hotel has it’s own beach chairs so we could relax in the sun. It’s close to many restaurants and breakfast is included here.

Greece Photography Essay a cover image of Naxos Greece

Dionysos Seaside Resort Ios (Ios)

Located right on Mylopotas Beach, Dionysos Seaside Resort on Ios is a lovely place to stay. The food is incredible as many of the ingredients are grown in the resort’s garden. The staff are more than accommodating and extremely friendly, and the rooms are spacious and comfortable. Best of all, they have a tennis court for their guests!

Experiences in Greece

Athens

Athens always has something to offer. Visit the Acropolis, take a full or half day tour of the city, venture over to the Temple of Poseidon, or dive into a cooking class. Here are the top experiences in Athens.

Naxos

Our favourite of the Greek Islands, Naxos offers so many things to do. Take food tour, climb to the top of Mount Zas, or experience life on a Naxos farm, here are some of the best experiences.

Santorini

From wine tours, a catamaran adventure or a private tour of the island, here are some of the best experiences in Santorini.

For trivia nerds here are some fun facts about Greece that I bet you never knew.

Greece Photos: A Journey Through the Greek Islands

Culture, History and Civilization

The Landscape of Greece

Greek Food

The Famous Greece Sunsets and Sunrises