The lifestyle of travel writing is a hot topic right now, as more and more millennial’s are seriously considering becoming a travel blogger. As we get ready to plan our summer travel adventures, many of us canāt help but wonder:Ā Would it benefit me to start a travel blog?
Guess whose back, back again… Question: The Himalaya’s , crashing waves,The Imperial Palaces and the City of Gold.. what do they all have in common?Ā
My Bucket List *Insert A Well Cool Emoji Here*
PSA: I am, by far in no means a well-travelled person.Ā
Thatās a fact. What I am though, is hell bent on self-discovery and the sheer freedom of doing something incredibly exhilarating. Best places to travel alone for female travellers around the world is a compilation of destinations with liberating experiences straight from my bucket list. Solo women travellers are no longer an oddity and their brave ventures are a celebration of a freedom of women across the world. āBest destinations for solo female travellersā is a list of some of the safe havens for travellers where single women, travelling alone, are guaranteed the time of their life.
Hence, I give wings to this wide-eyed desire of solo women travellers with a list of 9 of the best places for single women to travel alone. And still, have a littttttty experience.
Iāve included hyperlinks, feel free to explore more on the links.
It’s a short life and a wide world. Fathom it solo, ladies!
This was a no-brainer for me. First on the list of best places to travel alone is Kyoto. This city of gorgeously styled temples, art galleries and master pieces of Japanese gardens is, against my better preference, best explored walking. For a solo female traveller, not justĀ KyotoĀ butĀ Japan, is a country that is considered the safest, thus walking through the beautiful corridors around the city with blooming cherry blossoms at night is not a problem at all.
The āKagai areasā which literally means āflower townsā of Kyoto are places where you can enjoy Teahouse plays with Geiko and Maiko, or apprentice Geisha (the traditional Japanese entertainers we associate with Japan) play traditional Japanese instruments.
Next up isā¦
It’s safe. It’s cheap. Destination for solo female travellers can’t get any better. Itās an experience of otherworldly wonders with the most stunning beaches, Buddhist pagodas, rivers and an addictive heritage of the country must be thoroughly explored.
This made it to my bucket list because along with the quintessential hectic south Asian experience at Ben Thanh market inĀ HoĀ Chi Minh City, there are hundreds of towns inhabited by energetic locals who love to LAUGH.
As a solo female traveller,Ā VietnamĀ gives you a chance of a lifetime to dive into a culture influenced by Mahayana Buddhism. A visit to the Bat Nha Buddhist temple and other monasteries can give you an enlightening taste of Pure Land and Zen practices.
You’ve got a bucket list for a solo venture? And you donāt have Bhutan? Yep- add it in. Donāt think too long, just add it. Bhutan is one of the best places to travel alone. To make the most of this tour, I suggest you make your trip during the festivals, which are literally celebrated every month. Itās a chance to join all the locals in the celebrations who come from different parts of the country to the huge Dzongs (Monasetry/Fortress) and perform as masked dancers.
This Land of Thunder Dragon has the most beautiful trekking routes around the country. Druk Path Trek, Jomolhari LayaĀ GasaĀ Trek and other treks to the high altitudes of Bhutanese Himalayas is the best gift of nature awaiting every adventurous soul.
Bhutanās stunning mountain scenery is a hikerās paradise, but Snowdon probably is a small heap of rocks. Compared to the colossal 24,840 ft above sea level compared to the mere 3,560 ft that we were huffing and puffing on. Read about my Snowdon experience here- if Snowdon was gruelling, climbing the Himalayan mountains should be triple the punishment. I cant wait!
New Zealand. Based around 2 large harbours, is a major city in the north of New Zealandās North Island. In the centre, the iconic Sky Tower has views of Viaduct Harbour, which is full of super-yachts and lined with bars and cafes. Auckland Domain, the cityās oldest park, is based around an extinct volcano and home to the formal Wintergardens.Ā While you soak in the beauty of the rolling greens ofĀ AucklandĀ and the sunny beaches, stay assured that the Kiwis give no worries to a dreamy solo traveller. The awe-inspiring volcanic cones, Hauraki Gulf Islands & the amazing food tours, it’s simply a paradise for solo explorers.
Horse ridingĀ (screams inside)(and if you know me, you know Iām obsessed!) is one joy of life and beaches are another. Auckland gives you a chance to take a horse to a beach. Could it be any better? HELL NO.Ā
So Yes, the big big City of Gold. Look beyond the mass hysteria about travelling alone in the middle east and realise thatĀ DubaiĀ awaits every wide-eyed wanderer with open arms. Really does. The Palm Islands, Burj Khalifa, the golden Jumeirah Beach and hundreds of other futuristic modern marvels can leave you awestruck at every step.
Shop till you drop, ladiiiiiiiiies! Because we know that if there’s a solo female traveller out there in Dubai, she’s roaming with a serious purpose. Dubai realises and in fact celebrates your seriousness about shopping.
Finland made it to my list! Solo travel gives you a golden chance to meet new people and get a taste of unique cultures around the world.Ā Rest assured; FinlandĀ is a country warmest at heart towards the visiting travellers with their local food leaving you deliciously directionless in the best walking trails. And if you are at a countryside during Midsummer celebration, chances are that you have a time of your life.
Another beautiful Himalayan town and Indiaās hidden secret, DharamshalaĀ has recently come on the real map for a lot of travellers around the world promising a uniquely distinctive experience. Various non-profit organisations give ample opportunities to volunteers from all over the world to teach and work with the Tibetan community here. Growing voluntarism makes Dharamshala a great destination for solo female travellers.
Dharamshala is surrounded by the breath-takingĀ Dhauladhar Range promising a scenic bliss throughout your stay and at the same time offering some of the best hiking and trekking routes around this small town.
Costa Rica? Yeah, Costa Rica because if amidst the political turmoil in the Latin American region the country manages to officially be the ‘happiest country in the world’ and one of the best places for females to travel alone.
Costa Rica is also counted as the greenest country giving you a chance to be at the lush rainforests brimming with biodiversity.
My friends are certainly thinking Iām crazy for this one- nobody goes to this rugged, rainforested central American country alone. Its been ruled a safe haven, offering plenty of solo activities that will leave you in awe.
The foaming pacific waters rest at the best seasideās in Costa Rica where travellers find all kinds of water sports opportunities at quiet sleepy beach hamlets.
Have you travelled solo and loved your experience? Share yourĀ itineraries,Ā photographsĀ andĀ videosĀ with me and tell us about the offbeat spots you visited during your travels!
19 NOV 2018- 1PM
If like me, youāve done the whole āfly for 6 hours, go to the mall, shop all day, sleep all night, go to the beachā thing and want some heart racing thrill and throat throbbing excitement in your life, listen Iām telling youā¦ This. Is. IT. The crazy that is me, did a long-haul flightā¦ landed and checked in by 11am, changed, and was at the XLINE booth in Dubai Marina Mall by 12.45pm.
As we step in, the signs are huge, so we wander around slowly, taking it in.
Men sit around in tailored suits, laughing richly over their latest lavish spends. Couples walk hand in hand, and small groups of Chinese tourists stand in the pathway, ignoring everyone having to walk around them. Ā There are white people, black people, Arabs, Asians, Hispanics and Europeans. Women in stilettos and high neck tops strutting along, looking too made up and plastic for so early in the day. Spa after spa, health centres and luxury hammams line the route. Ghost by Ella Henderson plays over the speaker. Is it normal to feel nostalgic already? Certainly feels like an upgraded version of Westfield, without all the Beckys and hoodrats that roam around day and night. Smells like warm melted chocolate, & it feels goodā¦ This aint London for sure.
The booth is tucked under the escalator, and extremely easy to miss- so pay attention. We strolled up to the counter, still a little dazed, exhausted and jet-lagged. Iām not sure it had hit us yet that this was even Dubai. A lady approached us, weighed us in, took photos of our ID and paired us with a harness, helmet and trolley each. Quick safety briefing and were off to the point of no returnā¦
A bus service chauffeured us to Amwaj Towers, a residential building 41 stories high and raises up a whole 170m off the ground and 558 feet away from civilization. For those in London, a good comparison is that it is a little under the BT Tower in Camden and 10m taller than the building with the Sky Garden. Imagine jumping off that?! Bloody hell, even that gives me chills.
I think it was much easier because I just didnāt know. I didnāt know how high up or which building until last minute. Then, the demons in your heads canāt play games with you. Murphyās law canāt act up and whisper in your ear. You just donāt know. Legally Blind.
We took a lift to the 40th floor and walked up 2 flights of stairs to get to the roof. One guy, Australian fella, had come alone, and you could see his heart pounding with evident sweat. A fat grin plastered through his ginger beard. He was perhaps no more than 26, travelling through Dubai for a day or two. Heād be going to Thailand next he told us, and weād mentioned weād be going too. Heād said heād be near Phuket, staying at Phang Nga Bay. The conversation was short. The view on the rooftop of the 40th floor is breath-taking. The crystal, sapphire-blue sky is cloud-less for early afternoon. It was mesmerising, how simple it looked, yet it seemed to hold every one of our thoughts, dreams, our secrets. The space was a vast thing, stretching out for infinity over our heads. It was terrifying and yet so affectionate, daunting yet friendly. If you stared at it for a long time, watching everything come and go, you would think, maybe, it was all talking to you. It was communicating in a language you couldnāt begin to understand. I got lost in thought before they called for the first two volunteers.
Of course, I volunteered. The worlds longest urban zipline- twice the distance and lasts twice the time at twice the speed as the last one. And I volunteered to go first.
My ginger beard friend volunteered to come with, and slowly, we made our way to get strapped into the superman harness. The guy high fives you, attaches you onto the cable that your trusting with your life, and makes you lie down horizontal onto a launch bed. Once youāre in, the bed is lowered and your hanging, mid-air, 40 floors up, A WHOLE 558 FEET AWAY FROM THE GROUND, ready to fly.
I nearly shat myself. I nearly cried and yelled right there to get me off. Whenever I get myself into moments like this, silence is my friend. Someone once said, āFeel the fear, and do it anyway.ā Often, we think, āIāll do it when I am not so afraid.ā But in reality, it works the other way around. The ādoing itā comes before the fear goes away. The only way to get rid of the fear of doing something is to go and do it. So, we diiiiiiiiiiiiiiid it baby! We done flew through the sky, over land and water, at up to 80km/h and from 170m down to ground level. I FLEW, did the Michael Jackson moonwalk mid-air, imitated wonder woman, became a local super hero. I FLEW. And it was amazing. The marina water glistens, and yachts bob up and down below you. Everything is so saturated this time of day, full HD colour.
You supposed to be streamlined. like a bullet. They told us if you start turning to one side, pull your weight to the other. I nodded. Easy. Iām not sure what juice they drank to not tell us how strong those winds would be. Wind veered me right, my weight got pushed to the left. I almost flipped, slipped and tripped mid-air. You still move forward, and the helmet provides some sort of aerodynamic vacuum for you. But lard haffi mercy, I couldāve been a leaf in the wind the way I was twisting up in here. Lasted a few seconds though. So, prepare for it. You will be twisted.
If you go, maybe donāt pick the right rope out the two. As you draw closer to ground level, you come awfully close to the brick corner of the mall building. Its quite the scare at the speed your going at- an uncomfortable but safe distance. The whole thing is recorded, and photography is taken for you by the XLine team. The goPro strapped to your helmet gets the best shots of the experience, and so, feeling more alive than ever, we made our way to our lockers to update the world.
The experience felt super safe, built and operated by highly qualified and globally certified teams. They carry out daily testing and regular maintenance of the line, making sure safety is always first. Id like to hope so anyway! The company have strict requirements for the experience; You need to be between 12 and 65 years of age, taller than 130cm, weigh 50 to 100kg and in good medical health. Loose clothing canāt be worn, and footwear is preferably sportwear or boots. Closed. They take off every single day from 9am till 5pm and are situated inside the Dubai Mall. Ā You can click here to book it or visit the booth at the Marina Mall or visit any of the Platinumlist partner merchants across the UAE. Ā The entire experience lasts for approximately 90 minutes, from registering at the XLine booth until you complete the zipline ride.
So, if your looking to goā¦ get ready to hang tight and Iāll see you someday to applaud you. It isnāt for the weak hearted, thatās for sure.
Definitely going to do this again… perhaps this time in Ras Al-Khaimah for the entire worldās longest zip line. A whole 2.83 km long, the Jebel Jais flight is 1,680 meters above sea level and has a glass bottom suspended floor. Um… YES PLEASE.
You’d think after passing the headache that is security and check-in at an airport, you’d have nothing to worry about besides getting to your gate on time and having your fully charged phone ready at hand.
That’s a lie.
Already exhausted and feeling my bones about to give way, I just about made it to Athens International Airport for my connecting flight.
As I walked in, a Caucasian lady alone in a wheelchair crossed me, manoeuvring her way silently through the airport. My conscious mind wouldnāt normally register it. This was a lady, on her way somewhere and you, my darling,Ā have someplace to be. so focus. Yet… her face troubled me.
I looked back and asked if she knew where she was going. Mainly for the sake of it. Worst thing in the world is being lost, and not asking for help. Perhaps its shyness, perhaps its pride. Either way, if I could do something, Iād do it. She turned. Smiled. She was heading to the same side of the airport, her battered fingers tired from manually turning her wheels. Kind of hurt me to see her like that, but with 30 minutes to get to my gate, I offered to push. I donāt even remember her name. I hope someday I bump into her again, her deep-set smile grateful for a little help.
Sometimes, in life, if you can lessen the burden of another, you might be able to change their world. Ā Nobody knows what anyoneās going through, emotionally, mentally or physically. We donāt know what wound a simple kind gesture can heal. I left her at her gate, and sped-walked to mine.
Aegean Airlines Airbus A320 arrived and the next hour and 25 minutes was filled with power naps and constantly questioning my choices in how I decide to spend my weekends. I mean, realistically, who does this? In the past 24 hours, this little hijabi had coffee in Vienna and lunch in Athens, dragging an entire suitcase, alone and insanely tired. Iām borderline regretting this already. Itās pretty dark outside; no lights, just sea. The only sound is from the deafening propeller engines constantly humming and dipping to their own tune. Soothing.
We landed in Thira on Saturday afternoon at exactly 19:13. First stop, hotel. Ā I picked the Rocabella Hotel Resort & Spa because of its room view, its location and its services. I completely underestimated the hospitality here. Every part of my body crying, I walked in. Maria met me, and sent someone to take my luggage to my room right away. How awfully sweet, and lord was it needed! A glass of still cold fresh juice was waiting for me in my room, I felt a little pampered before Iād even settled in. The next 4 hours were spent sleeping in my double bed, wearing off the exhaustion that had settled from the past few hours.
Unlike myĀ very calculated plan in Athens, it was an absolute fail for Santorini. I knew it the second I woke up. Its midnight, and my deluxe caldera view room was the most magnificent thing in the world. My private balcony overlooked the sea, Ā and at 12pm at night, it was glorious and captivating in its beauty. If you read my Barcelona story, youāll know how crazy in love I am when it comes to the sea. This time, I had the luxury of seeing it so close but from the comfort of my room. Ā I switch off the light behind me, and take a seat.
Lets a take a minute here, because you really need to see what I saw. Let me show you my view. Everythingās dark. Real dark. The sky is pitch-black, albeit specks of light dancing somewhere behind the haze of thin black clouds. Some stars are dull, merely flickering into existence now and then, but if you stare, some stars shimmer, glow and light up the night. The moon is oh so clear, directly ahead from where youāre sitting, its neon light bleaching the world into grey-scale silence.
The sky and sea meet somewhere in the distance, and infront of me, water sways and glistens, freckled with the reflection of glittering lights. The wind keeps brushing against the waterās surface, the ripples ruffling the stillness and disturbing the peace.
I sit with a thick blanket over me, on a hard wooden deck chair, donning two layers of hoodies. Itās cold. Goosebumps keep erupting through my skin. Itās not enough to make me get up, and in silence I observe something Iāll probably not get to do in again in a while.
Music plays in the distance, and in a remote space up ahead, neon lights reflect off the marina with echoes of laughter and drunk conversation. In the quiet stillness of my room, I feel relaxed and at peace. The night is beautiful.
9am. Breakfast.
Fresh fruit, some softened nuts, beans on toast and a croissant serve as my breakfast. Gwitta, the breakfast chef, was attentive to every detail. I asked if there were any halal meat options to go with the beans on toast, and she profusely apologised. She later sent a platter of chocolates to my room, which, canāt lie, surprised me. It was awfully kind of her. The dining space was under renovation so I headed out onto a terrace with seats. Definitely a good way to start the day.
After breakfast, I opted for the complimentary spa treatment until noon. Spa tub, massage and full body treatment. Lovely stuff.
Iād spent nearly 12 hours in Santorini, and I hadnāt even explored it yet. I just wanted to stay indoors, sleep some more. Perhaps jet lag was catching up to me?
A roughly 20 minute walk from the hotel, was the village of Imerovigli. My first stop in my little expedition. The little village is another level of picturesque- when you think Santorini, this village is what you picture. Houses and houses crammed onto the decline of a cliff, all painted white,Ā built amphitheatrically around the caldera and crossed by extremely narrow paved paths.
It was crammed for a Sunday afternoon, I kept having to slow down, stop or squeeze through narrow pathways as people came in both directions constantly.
I headed to Skaros Rock, which was cobbled with stones and a little distant from the village. Iād planned to go all the way down the beaten path, up to the rock head and take pictures… but things turn out a little different when you see it in real life.
The rock was insanely huge- I donāt know if the rock was stable, I donāt know what I was thinking, heck I donāt even know if it was safe to climb it. This was something you did with someone. You slip, they have your back. I was not, I repeat, was not looking to fall off this cliff and have an unclaimed body in another country. Not sireeā. Not today, Murphy. Not āappnin. Nope.
Iāll conquer that rock someday, not today.
Instead, I took the seaside path towards Kandakhor and stopped off at La Maison. I only wanted a quick bite but again, Santorini found a way to keep me occupied and in awe. La Maison is like a little haven of fine dining on the edge of a cliff- a literal glass box with 360Ā° windows showing off Greeceās caldera, the sea, volcano, sunset and even nearby islands.
Thing is, itās also a very romantic spot and for a late afternoon meal, the vibe and music made me totally out of place. At least I know where to come back to when I return with company. Ā There isnāt much choice, infact none at all, for the halal eaters… but seafood was an option. First time ordering mussels in my life, I looked at the waiter as if to say with my eyes… āIām ordering this but I donāt want itā but he didnāt get it. Itās ok. I got distracted by the sea and the changing hues in the sky.
Yeah, Mussels. Never again.
By now itās about 5pm. The sun sets in around 2 hours. I move quickly and down towards the Nomikou M right by the descending cable cars, connecting the town of Fira to the port. Here, for ā¬5 each way, you get to go down to the town, Santoriniās capital, in literally 5 minutes tops. Another town ofĀ whitewashed buildings, Fira is built on the edge of a 400 metre high caldera on the western edge of the island.
The plan was to take a boat trip from here but given time limitations, itāll have to go on my list for next time. You get a glimpse of what I saw in a short video on my instagram, but words or video could not accurately depict that moment.
I got back to Rocabella Hotel with a full wedding procession in full swing. The groom was so well dressed, arms bulging in his tailored suit. I presume the man holding onto his shoulder was his dad, speaking softly to him, looking down. Maybe he was tearing up, maybe he saw something on his shoe, and maybe he was in the middle of a lie and couldnāt make eye contact. I donāt know.
The lift opened, and the doors closed on the chaos behind me.
Quick shower, change of clothes. I came back down to the same commotion, and without hesitation, I ordered some sparkling juice and strolled right over to the bride to congratulate her. She beamed, not really knowing what to say or how to react. Ā I guess you donāt fly out to Greece with the whole world for your wedding, itās more a private function so youād know everyone attending.
I found two fairly young Asian ladies watching intently at the scene unfolding before them, from a corner. They looked hesitant, but smiled warmly. Ā Sealed their fate with that smile. I now found people to spend the evening with and kawaliss the wedding. The party went upstairs onto a large purpose built terrace and we followed.
Donāt ask me why, I have no idea.
Fairy lights everywhere, a make shift bonfire in the centre and speakers that were on full volume. Some sort of party began to commence.
I say this alot, but when I tell you that some moments are literally a blur and flash of excitement, adrenaline and insane laughter that you canāt recall in one single memory, only then do you know youāve enjoyed yourself. IĀ have flashbacks of a cliff side party, the moon in the distance, the sky back to its jet-black canvas. People laughing, sweat glistening on everyoneās forehead and Marc Anthonyās voice hurting my eardrums. Perched on the ledge of a short wall, overlooking the sea, looking back at this madness, I laughed to myself. This was insane.
I left this madness at around 11pm and went to my room. Donāt be fooled though, nobody leaves a party empty handed- I had probably taken every single bit of chocolate ganache, 4 plastic bowls filled with big chunks of vanilla wedding cake, small vanilla things, and biscuits to last a lifetime. Nobody would miss it, and I was hungry. I sat in my bed, opened my balcony to let the salty sea breeze in and started answering emails on my iPad. Whatta night.
Morning came and I checked out. My flight back home to London wasnāt until 2pm so once breakfast was over, I grabbed some sun glasses and headed to try some golf nearby with my new Asian friends. Not sure if they would give me that title, but they sure as hell were my friends from now on.
I found out on the day that Iām leaving, Rocabella hosts a whole range of water activities including snorkelling, sailing, scuba diving and water skiing. I couldāve rented out a bicycle and jumped on one of the trails nearby. Parasailing was an option. Helicopter and airplane tours were available on site, even scooter and moped rentals. Thatās alot of things on my bucket list that couldāve been ticked off.
But again, ain’t nobody claiming my body if I die in any of those situations. Iām definitely coming back here sometime in 2017.
Santorini, our time was fun. Rocabella, see you soon.
I headed home with a 2 hour stop over at Athens, and a 5 hour stop in Frankfurt. It felt good, Iād be back home to mummaās cooking real soon.
Notorious for its dated andĀ archaic classical Greek architecture, Greece is also prominent for yielding Olive Oil, Honey and Mastiha Chios- something I didnāt even know and learned as I typed out this very blog post. Like me, there are things people still donāt know about this little European country, and questions donāt come quicker than when you plan to take a little trip there yourself. Below are some useful answers to some much asked questions, which helped me before I headed out to visit the country myself. Feel free to add any other tips from your trip in the comments below!
Sea Routes
The Greek islands are a grouped in clusters, surrounded by both land and sea. To the east of the mainland is the Aegean Sea, to the south is the Mediterranean Sea and to the west is the Ionian Sea. For this reason, plenty of ports are available and a great many shipping companies provide their services to get in and around the country with a modern and luxurious fleet. All the islands are linked to the mainland with regular service, so island-hopping is a definite option during your vacation!
Check out timetable for ferries for Greece or the Greek islands here.
Greece is still a very active member-state of the European Union and consented to the Schengen Agreement Ā back in 1992. The agreement abolishes many of the EUās internal borders, facilitating passport-free movement throughout the bloc. This means that citizens from EU countries can move around Greece with just their passport, or a police issued I.D card that is easily obtained with the help of respective embassies, consulates or even travel agencies. Visas are not required by citizens of countries within the Schengen Agreement and the following is a list, correct as of January 2015:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France and Monaco, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Citizens from these EU countries that are not apart of the Schengen agreement may also visit Greece without a visa:
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and United Kingdom.
So if youāre like me and hold a British passport, you do not need a visa to enter Greece. As a British passport holder, you can stay as a visitor for 3 months. For longer stays, you will need to apply for a residence permit.
Getting to/from the Athens International Airport and the city center, located about 20 km (12 miles) east can be achieved via:
Metro Line 3 connects the Athens airport with the city centre. Trains run every 30 minutes, 7 days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. The trip from/to the Airport to Syntagma station (Athens centre) lasts 40 minutes.
Express bus routes connect AthensĀ (city centre & greater area) andĀ PiraeusĀ (port) directly with the Athens International Airport. Service is provided on a non-stop basis seven days a week including holidays (24/7 operation).Ā Bus tickets are sold at the info/ticket-kiosk (located outside the Arrivals between Exits 4 and 5), or onboard (ask operator) at no extra cost.
There are four main routes, check them out here.
TheĀ Suburban railwayĀ (Proastiakos) connects the Athens airport with theĀ Athens Central Railway StationĀ (Larissis Station) and Acharnai Railway Centre, and through them to theĀ National Railway network.Ā The Suburban railway departs every 15-25 minutes from the Athens Airport railway station to Plakentias station, where you can change trains and continue to the city centre (Metro Line 3 to Egaleo), using the same ticket.
Taxis are available at the designatedĀ Taxi waiting areaĀ located atĀ Exit 3 of the Arrivals Level. A taxi from the airport to the city centre (inner ring) costs a flat rate of ā¬35 from 5:00 a.m. to midnight, and ā¬50 from midnight to 5:00 a.m.
Note:Ā The charge is determined by the time of arrival at the destination and includes all applicable surcharges and extras.
For you to have access to necessary healthcare citizens from member-states of the EU must have the European Health Card (EHIC) or any form of legal community document issued by their competent social security agency. Itās free to acquire one in the UK and isnāt a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to state provided medical treatment that may become urgent during your stay. Any treatment provided is on the same terms as Greek nationals. Visit your health care professional at least 3 to 6 weeks before your trip to check whether you need vaccinations or any other preventative measures. In case of any emergencies, have these following numbers close by:
Police: 100
Ambulance Service: 166
Tourist Police: 1571
SOS Doctors: 1016
Duty Hospitals and Clinics: 1434
Pharmacies: 1434
Open Line for alcohol drug Addiction: 210 3617089
Poisoning First Aid: 210 7793777
Local Laws and Customs
Greece has made it illegal to smoke in all indoor places, violating this could mean a penalty fine of up to ā¬500.
Donāt become involved or even try to bring Class C drugs of any kind into the country. Possession of even the smallest amount will lead to arrest and could mean lengthy prison sentences- visitor or not.
Any indecent behaviour is not tolerated by the Greek, including mooning. The courts will most likely impose a heavy fine or prison sentences on people who behave indecently.
Lastly, keep any receipts of purchases you make! Arrests have been known to be made for purchasing/acquiring/handling pirate CDs and DVDs and have led to imprisonment in some cases. Keep any and all receipts! Dont say I didnt warn you.
Greece has a Mediterranean climate with ample amounts of sunshine, meek temperatures and a limited amount of rainfall. In the summer, the warmer and dryer days and cooled with seasonal winds called the Meltemi, whilst the more rocky regions have commonly lower temperatures. In the winter, mild temperatures in the lowland areas attract low amounts of snow and ice, whilst the more mountainous area is completely covered in snow.
Arriving in Athens this morning, my last flight into Thira wasnāt for another six hours. In my world, instead of booking a hotel, dropping my bags and staying in close vicinity to the airportā¦Ā I went straight into the city to explore. Time not on my side, this is my 6 hours in the ancient city of ĪĪøĪ®Ī½Ī± (Athens).
After arriving at the International Airport at roughly 11:40am, the taxi service from Exit 3 took me directly to the cityās centre for a mere ā¬35. From there, first stop was the famedĀ Ancient Agora. The marble structure still standing provided shade from the punishing sun, and the site was oddly heaving with people for a midday Saturday. Tourists and their children andĀ their grandchildrenĀ walked around aimlessly in shades and shorts, inĀ starkĀ contrast to me who lugged a carry-on suitcase and donned a heavy black jacket. The sun wasnāt proving kind to me at all.
A flock ofĀ what looked likeĀ American tourists, around 18 of them by eye count, were taking a tour around the ruins. I joined them, smiling. The American voice on the microphone told us about how every ancient city has a place called an āagoraā, the word defined as an assembly of people and by extension, means the āgathering placeā. She told us that the site had gone through countless deconstruction and rebuilding cycles, and had served as an Iron Age cemetery, library of Pantainos, a Basilica, gymnasium for the Herules and a roman Stoa. Quite the history.
Today, the pillars of Hephaisteion stand intact without its arched ceiling, and its columns riddled with holes that appear to be from bullets. The round large foundations of Tholos are still visible, and the voice on the microphone tells us it served as the headquarters for the 70 executives of the Boule- āThe council of Citizensā. It also served as the dining place for the Prytaneis who were fed here at the publicās expense.
Iām imagining a scene from Game of Thrones of the Bloody Wedding- long tables unnecessarily crammed with food, and live folk bands playing wildly. Women in long woolen peplos adorned in gold jewellery, entertaining drunken men. And a professed king at the high table, looking down at his intoxicated nation. Itās just all crazy. Ā Tholos mustāve been one heck of a place.
Iād grew tired of being in the sun at this point, so 45 minutes into this trek, I left the crowd. Close by was theĀ Acropolis of Athens, my next stop. I couldāve taken the walk in hindsight, but the 18 minute taxi journey was BY FAR the best few minutes Iād had the whole day. It wasnāt until Iād actually sat down in the taxi that I realized just how exhausted I was.
We arrived and I asked Pablos, my aged driver, to stay for another 5 minutes. He kept the meter running and I sat back. I had a habit of going to Trafalgar square in London, and simply sitting back to observe scurrying people hurriedly live their lives. Here, now, I was doing the same. Young, old, busy people in their own heads living their own little lives, so laissez-faire. It was quite refreshing in a way.
I took a deep breath, grabbed my suitcase and made my way out.
An hour and 30 minutes into Athens and I was at the Acropolis. The term Acropolis literally means hilltop, and is the most significant one in all of Greece. It housed many ancient buildings of great architectural significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. I didnāt know any of this stuff myself so I wonāt pretend like Iām an expert – the Greeks have kindly placed boards of information all around the entrance from the main road. Saved me quite some time having to go through my little Smiths tour guide book.
Taking out my trusted camera, I walked to the rocky outcrop and found a perch to view the city. You know the moments that simply take your breath away- no words to illustrate them; no emotion to expressā¦ this was one of those. I was quite literally, ontop of the world.
I sat still. In that moment, an absurd feeling washed over me. Iāll never forget it. I almost shivered as goosebumps ran down my spine. Almost whispering, I broke out into a familiar hymn Mr Thompson once taught us in Primary school. Quite fitting really.
The Carpenters- Ontop of the world.
In that moment alone- sitting on the highest point of Athens, looking at the city basked in a gorgeous afternoon glow, I felt grateful. The horizon was so far out, everything between us packed with silhouettes and shapes of buildings, structures and busy roads. Ā The city was buzzing with life, and the entire thing felt surreal.
In all honestly, I did pick this place for the views. I took a few more pictures and made the long walk down the hill towards the main road again.
From here, another short taxi ride away was theĀ MonastirakiĀ flea market neighbourhood with traditional souvenir shops, retail boutiques and customary stalls to please any heartās desire.
I walked around, not really looking to purchase anything and instead, went to check out the Tsisdarakis Masjid. Legend has it, the governor that built this mosque back in 1759, used one of the pillars from the Temple of Zeus to make lime for the buildingā¦ but I mean, who knows for sure? I couldnāt get inside as it was closed for some reason, or perhaps I didnāt find the right door. The mosque by definition was definitely of Turkish influence with its architectural style and design. I loved it- majestic in its stature yet gentle and welcoming in its presence.
Iām hungry at this point, the rumbling in my stomach a constant reminder. Since IĀ havenāt sorted out my mobile data for this country just yet and wifi isnāt an option, I donāt know where to find Halal food. My options are fruit and fries. I donāt mind. I need something hot though, and walking past stalls and stalls of lamb, poultry and pork, I found a ragged, aged greek woman frying fish and potatoes-Ā for tourists less inclined to meat or greek cuisine I guess.Ā I purchased my lunch and two cans of Orange Juice and looked at the time. 4:10pm.
The last leg of my flight was in 1 hour 30 minutes. I stopped a taxi new-york style and proceeded to the airport to catch my flight. It began to rain,Ā IĀ was relieved.
Athens, you were kind to me.
Santorini, here I come.
Iāve wanted to see Greece since I first studied its vast history and Greek mythology with Ms Wilkinson back in secondary school of 08. Something attracted me to the still shots of the once strong, erect structures of the Parthenon- dedicated, in Greek mythology, to the goddess Athena- and the ancient temple of Erechtheum that once stood tall, proud and buzzing with life.
Although I have absolutely no interest in the details of history, it fascinates me that time can literally float right past you. That a whole generation of people existed and fought and ruled their land, only for time to claim them, and we stand here looking at what remains. Time and life fascinate me. Ā Itās the most precious commodity we have, and humbles you to see how far common humanity has come.
I left my place at 3am, and began the long journey to LHR. Roads were quiet, the airport was just as eerie and calm. I like it like that- fast, productive and efficient. I booked a 2-stop flight to Thira (Santorini) because letās face it, whose bucket list is Santorini NOT on?! Booking a layover in Frankfurt, Vienna and Athens saved me quite a pretty penny- layover flights are not the best thing in the world, but when you can visit four cities for the price of one and you actually want to see them, then youāve just manoeuvred the biggest and oldest secret to cheaper deals in the book.
I only had 6 people on my flight, Iām not sure why that surprised me given the length of the journey we were about to undertake. 6am came, gate A8 was called. I handed my KLM boarding pass to the young Caucasian man who looked way too hyper for 6am, and we boarded.
If thereās anything I love more than chicken (and SomaliāsĀ loveĀ their chicken), itās the window seat. The seat that has a clear parallel view of a window with no disruptions, bent angles or horrible positioning. My pre-selected seat on this flight was 19A- perfect view of the wing, yet within 5 rows of the nearest exit. I pulled out āHow to Win Friends and Influence Peopleā By Dale Carnegie and my first 2 hours and 10 minutes were filled with casual glances at fluffy candyfloss clouds and some orange juice. There is no feeling in the world better, in my opinion, than being ontop of the world. The sun was at full beam by this point, and a shard of light pierced silently through the cabin. Felt good to just sit back and appreciate the beauty that is life.
Flight AF1738 arrived at Flughafen Wein (VIE) at 8:15am.
Vienna.
Youāre beautiful. You rained on me but I still love you.
The layover was only one hour, so leaving the airport wasnāt an option. The plummeting rain further solidified that choice for me. The shuttle service took the 6 of us to Terminal 3 for our departing flight at gate F13 to Athens. My connecting 9.15am 0S801 flight with Austrian Airlines arrived, we boarded. Theyād sat us closer together this time, guess it saved the crew having to parade up and down the aisles a hundred times for the next 2 hours. 1 hour in, the pilot came out of the cabin whilst airborne and asked each of us how the flight was. It added a nice touch to the dullness of the flight.
2 hours and 20 minutes of Greys Anatomy and Hawaii Five-0 later, we arrived at the Athens International airport. 11:35am and I was in Greece. 6 hours and 25 minutes to go till my flight to Thira. I better get exploring.
