6 Ultimate Moments You Need to Experience in the Greek Islands

Mainland Greece is fringed by 227 inhabited islands in the heart of the Aegean. Thanks to frequent ferry services, Paros and Santorini are two of the easiest to travel between. Prepare for glittering beaches, charming villages and fascinating journeys to ancient times. 

Here are six under-the-radar experiences you can have across both.

Day one: 11am – Find your balance with a uniquely Greek spa treatment

Named after the Greek word for sun, Elios Spa sits at the highest point of the 40-suite Cosme resort. Located just outside the luminous harbour town of Naousa on Paros, the hotel offers a bird’s-eye view of the Aegean’s azure waters, along with a platform and telescope to gaze up at the heavens.

Unwind with a wellness treatment that harnesses the power of local ingredients in one of two serene rooms before wandering to the open-air relaxation area and soaking up the vista. Think decadent facials infused with the anti-aging properties of pomegranate, golden krocus and black pine or a soothing body scrub made with Santorini grape extract, rich in antioxidants. For the ultimate bliss, set aside an hour for a full-body massage with melted candles.

2pm – Indulge in a lunch of locally caught lobster

In the heart of Naoussa, the sun-drenched terrace of Barbarossa is ideal for a leisurely lunch. Established in 1987 as a traditional ouzeri tavern, this family-owned venue has gained a reputation for its refined seafood-centric menu. The lobster salad with eel crumble and grilled octopus with smoky eggplant spiked with aged balsamic are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. Pair your meal with a local Greek wine varietal such as the dry white kydonitsa. Renowned as a great place to watch the sunset with a Campari Spritz in hand, there’s no need to rush here – you’re on island time.

TIP: Whether you’re eating, drinking, shopping or soaking up Greece’s unique culture, tap your way closer to your next trip with your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. You’ll earn up to 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on everyday purchases¹ so you can continue to grow your points balance. You'll also enjoy uncapped Qantas Points earning potential for every dollar you spend on your Card.

Day two: 9am – Shop for handmade designer jewellery in Parikia

Leave room in your suitcase for a visit to Paros’ historic capital, Parikia, a 20-minute drive from Cosme to the west of the island. The Cycladic vision of narrow cobblestone streets and hidden courtyards is bisected by the aptly named Market Street. This pedestrian thoroughfare is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and boutiques, where you can shop for holiday mementos. Find authentic Greek leather sandals, intricately embroidered scarves and chic straw hats at Red Nerium or geometric jewellery and rustic ceramics at Magissa Paros. Update your wardrobe with a bold saffron set of threads from Leto, then refresh with a cup of Greek coffee at one of Mikro Café’s bougainvillea-shaded outdoor tables.

TIP: Parikia caters to both travellers and locals, so it’s generally more affordable than other areas of Paros, such as Naoussa. Save your dollars for the haul and book your flights with the help of the annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit² that comes with your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. Each year, you’ll receive a $450 Qantas Travel Credit to use on eligible domestic or international Qantas flights when booked through American Express Travel.

4:30pm – Settle into a postcard-worthy Santorini scene

The journey from Parikia to Santorini takes approximately 2.5 hours by ferry. Upon disembarking at the port of Athinios, a 30-minute trip by hire car or taxi will take you to the island’s north-western tip, where you’ll find the luxurious Canaves Ena. For the best views of the isle during the drive, follow the twisting high road rather than the low coastal one.

Hugging the oceanfront cliff in the heart of Oia’s marble-paved road, this hotel looks straight out of a postcard of Santorini. Minimalist-chic rooms with broad terraces invite the ocean breeze and some even come with their own private pool. Onsite restaurant Adami is ideal for sunset-watching while nibbling at tapas-style Greek fare, such as wild artichokes (from neighbouring Tinos Island) with goat’s cheese and cod with garlicky skordalia. Or, if you’d prefer to dine in private, staff will set up a candlelit table on your terrace.

TIP: Moments of relaxation can start at the airport. With the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card, you’ll receive two complimentary Qantas Club Lounge invitations each year after your first Card spend on selected Qantas products and services⁴ and two passes to The Centurion® Lounge to use at Sydney or Melbourne International Airports⁵. Lounge access entitles you to complimentary food and beverages, plus enjoy free and fast wi-fi and more.

Day three: 9:30am – Uncover an ancient civilisation

Greece’s answer to Pompeii is the ruins of Akrotiri, a time capsule of a thriving settlement from ancient times. On Santorini’s south-western peninsula, the Bronze Age city was buried in the ash of a volcanic eruption more than 3600 years ago. Ongoing excavations that began in 1870 have revealed streets, squares and homes decorated in vibrant frescoes depicting boats, flowers and birds. 

Visitors can explore the 2000-square-metre complex on suspended walkways above the excavated Minoan and stone-paved streets that thread between the buildings. A guided tour brings the stories of the former inhabitants to life, from the elite who lived in affluent residences known as xeste to the residents of its more humble dwellings.

TIP: When hopping your way around the Greek Islands, make sure you’re covered for all possibilities. The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card's Complimentary Travel Insurance³ offers domestic and international insurance for you, your partner and your dependent children, when you pay for your return trip on your Card. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply (such as maximum age-limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits).

12pm – Drink local Greek wine in a cave

Home to some of the oldest vines in Europe, Santorini’s flinty volcanic soil and brisk winds excel at producing native wine varieties such as the crisp dry-white assyrtiko and the rich, cinnamon-spiced red mavrotragano. A cellar-door tour of the island’s interior will take you to family-owned estates that have produced wines with traditional techniques for hundreds of years, including harnessing the help of mules to till the vineyards’ soil. 

Visit Estate Aygros, a fourth-generation winery with 200-year-old vines and sample indigenous varieties such as the dry white aidani and the full-bodied red mavrotragano, or taste sweet vinsanto in an atmospheric underground cave at Hatzidakis Winery. If you’re pressed for time, you can sip your way around Santorini without leaving the ocean-view terrace at Santo Wines, a grape-growing collective championing the liquid bounty of the entire island.

TIP: Keep your exploration of great wines going when you return home. With your Qantas American Express Ultimate Card, you’ll get a complimentary Qantas Wine Premium Membership. Not only will you get access to exceptional wines and exclusive events, you'll also earn 3 Qantas Points per dollar spent on all Qantas Wine purchases⁶.

Have Fun Getting There

Fly Sydney to Athens return using Classic Flight Rewards, Classic Plus or Points Plus Pay via our one world alliance member airlines.^

Make your way around Greece with the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card. Receive 50,000 bonus Qantas Points* when you apply online by 14 January 2025, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Qantas American Express Ultimate Card within the first 3 months of your approval date. T&Cs apply. Available for new American Express Card Members only.

You’ll also receive:

• An annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit² to use on eligible domestic and international Qantas flights booked through American Express Travel.
• The potential to earn more Qantas Points with up to 4 Additional Cards for family or friends, at no extra fee⁷.
• Two Qantas Club invitations each year after purchasing select Qantas products and services⁴, plus two complimentary entries to The Centurion® Lounge⁵ at Sydney and Melbourne International Airports.
• Complimentary Qantas Wine Premium Membership⁶, allowing you to enjoy gourmet food, exceptional wines and exclusive access to events around Australia.
• Domestic and international travel insurance³ (for you, your partner and dependent children) when you pay for the return trip with your Card. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits).

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