Venice to Greece
In April 2023, my wife Marianne and I boarded the Viking Sky in Chioggia, Italy, to begin a week-long ocean voyage from Venice to Croatia, Montenegro, and Greece before exploring Athens and three Greek islands on our own.
The Viking Sky
A tour of the 930-passenger Viking Sky, our home for the first week of the journey. See our Penthouse Veranda room, restaurants throughout the ship, the two swimming pools, plus lounges, terraces, bars, and more.
Venice and Murano
We take a boat up the Venetian Lagoon to San Giorgio Maggiore, a grand 16th-century Benedictine church on an island across from St. Mark’s Square in Venice. Next, we visit Murano for a glassmaking demonstration and a stroll along its picturesque canals.
Split, Croatia
We sail into the port of Split and explore the ancient city, including the palace of Roman Emperor Diocletian — who was born close by — and his extensive cellars. We also get a good look at a variety of streets, sights, and squares across this attractive Croatian city.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Our next stop is Dubrovnik, one of the most beautiful cities in the Mediterranean. We tour Dubrovnik’s top sites — fortifications, churches, and the TV-famous Jesuit Stairs — while taking time to explore the many charming passageways of this formal regional power.
Montenegro
Our ship takes us to mountainous Montenegro. We sail into the Bay of Kotor, then take a tour around Mount Lovćen, enjoying some local delicacies and visiting the former capital of Cetinje before finishing in the ancient city of Kotor.
Corfu, Greece
We begin a full week in Greece with a stop in the Old Town of Corfu. We get glimpses of its long and varied history, see its Venetian Fortress, sample the delights of the city’s many shops, and visit the Corfu Central Market.
Olympia, Greece
We dock in Katakolon, Greece, for a short drive to Olympia, the site of the first Olympic Games. We see ruins of temples, the stadium, the gymnasium, the wrestling school, and the altar containing the Olympic flame.
Athens, Greece
Our cruise ends, but we continue our journey with a day of sightseeing in Athens, the capital of Greece and the birthplace of democracy. We visit the Acropolis and other ruins, shop a famous flea market, and enjoy two meals of outstanding Greek cuisine.
Parikia, Greece
We fly to the island of Paros in the Cyclades to begin four days of island exploration. We start with a tour of Paros’ port city of Parikia, with whitewashed buildings and attractive, narrow shopping streets.
Paros, Greece
Our drive around the island stops at a 17th-century monastery and the town of Naousa, with attractive shops and a large harbor. We continue on to see a gorgeous windmill, have lunch with a view, and nearly get our car hopelessly stuck in a tiny village.
Naxos, Greece
We board a car ferry to the island of Naxos, for centuries the seat of power in the Cyclades. We drive up into the mountains for a delightful lunch of Greek specialties, then visit the port town and the ruins of the Temple of Apollo.
Antiparos, Greece
Our trip comes to an end with a breezy morning on the little island of Antiparos, less than a mile away from Paros. We also take one last look at our favorite town on the entire journey, Parikia, filling our stomachs with fresh seafood and our minds with infinite gratitude.