Athens, Rhodes, Naxos, Santorini Workation Package

Athens is a city famous for its history and celebrated for its lively contemporary culture. With ancient life springing up in the center of the metropolis and shaping modern concepts of architecture, design, and thought, the city easily becomes a playground in which you can leap between the past and present. 

When you land at the airport, your Workation representative will meet you and take you to your pre-screened accommodations to settle into city life. You can relax and enjoy the amenities that will help you succeed in a fantastic work-life balance that combines focus, exploration, and experiences. If you have time in the day, you can walk along the Kolonaki neighborhood to enjoy the casual luxuries where designer stores, local jewelers, art galleries and shoe shops set an opulent tone.  

Focus: Arrive in Athens and once in your accommodations spend 10 minutes exploring your block. Pay attention to the sounds and smells. What shops do you notice? What sensory details become your favorite? 

Suggestion: For a great introduction to Athens, try a local dessert like mastiha ice cream.

The ancient city of Athens is often given the moniker of the “Cradle of Western Civilization.” With a full day in the city, you can easily get immersed in the past by exploring the ruins that range from the start of the city-state known for Socrates to the development of a contemporary kingdom. 

Visit with a guide for a better perspective on why history matters to modern life as you tour the Temple of the Olympian Zeus, the largest structure in ancient Greece. The foundation dates back to the 6th century BCE and the standing columns are a reminder of how large the structure once reached, connoting the power of the King of the gods. You can see the Parthenon clinging to the Acropolis in the distance, designed to look the same from every angle. Before you reach the top of Acropolis Hill, you can experience the seriousness with which ancient architects and civilizations took their devotion. 

Focus: Climb to the top of the Acropolis and enjoy the view over the city. What can you hear from the top? How does it make you feel when you have the Parthenon in view?

Suggestion: Don’t miss the sacred Athena Olive Tree on the Acropolis, said to be a gift from the goddess to the people of Athens.

The Athenian Riviera is a luxurious stretch of coastline where locals and tourists can intermingle among the beautiful beaches, clear water, ancient history, and quiet towns. You can visit the port town of Lavrio and delve into the luxurious lifestyle where yachts weigh anchor, beachgoers lounge on benches overlooking the still sea, and you can taste the salt air.

The seaside road offers ample panoramas as you wind around the towns, cafes, and curves until reaching Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon. Much like the Temple of the Olympian Zeus, the large pillars represent the structure’s former grandiosity. Learn more about the foundations dating back to the 6th century BCE honoring Apollo until the 4th-century BCE structure took over to honor the sea god. Embrace the view of sunset when the colors of the sky reflect on the standing, stoic marble. 

Focus: Take five minutes to think about the fact you followed in the footsteps of pilgrims and stepped foot on a temple honored by a sea god. At sunset, reflect on what stood out most to you during the day and why. Write it down.

Suggestion: When eating along the Athenian Riviera, try the local seafood like mussels or shrimp saganaki for a great flavorful meal.

Today is your first workday since arriving in Greece and you can set yourself up for success by implementing a ritual. A ritual is a routine set with intention that can help you dive into work and also disconnect from the job at the end of the day to establish your work-life balance. Once the workday is completed, you can set out to explore Athens and visit one of the city’s celebrated museums. 

The Acropolis Museum is one of the newest in the city and combines ancient displays with modern design. You can feel like you are walking through history rather than just viewing it. You can view the head of a statue of Alexander the Great or see veiled maidens of the Erechtheion, whose bodies acted as the pillars to the ancient portico. At the top level, you can enjoy a view of the Acropolis and also see the Parthenon Marbles that tell the stories of the gods battling giants or fighting the Amazonians. 

Focus: Concentrate on the details of the Parthenon Marbles and their stories. What elements can you memorize? Close your eyes and recall as many details as possible before opening your eyes and seeing how much you remembered.

Suggestion: The restaurant inside the museum has one of the best views in the city.

You will set in motion your ritual to start your day. Whether it involves getting a coffee from the local cafe or performing 10 jumping jacks, the routine and intention are yours and will help you focus on work.

When the workday has ended, your Workation representative will meet you and take you to the airport for your flight to the island of Rhodes, home to the ancient Colossus and mesmerizing medieval Old Town. Once in your new accommodations, you can relax and enjoy the pre-screened amenities that will help you succeed while on your Greece Workation package.

Focus: Breathe with intention by taking a deep breath to the count of eight, holding to the count of six and releasing to the count of eight. Do this four times. 

Suggestion: Try the pitaroudia for dinner when you arrive. The pies are made with boiled chickpeas and baked for great aromatic, herbaceous, and layered flavors.

With the rituals you have put in place while in Athens, you can easily continue your routine with the intention to start and end work during the day. By now, you have created the systems that fit your style. At the end of work, you can step into Rhodes Town to explore a city with foundations dating back to the 5th century BCE. 

What remains of historic Rhodes are mainly medieval streets and buildings that hide the modern life within the maze of narrow cobblestone alleyways, plazas, and palaces. When you reach the Palace of the Grand Masters crowning the Street of Knights, you can find the impressive triple circuit of walls. The internal courtyard sits beneath the whimsical towers and crenulated ramparts giving way to an interior with a pebble mosaic floor and 150 rooms. 

Focus: What does the medieval city feel like to you? Do the buildings and streets tell a story? What about the rooms in the Palace of the Grand Masters? 

Suggestion: You can walk around the ramparts for a great view of fortifications and sea.

Start work early so you can finish with enough time to enjoy a catamaran ride to the alluring coastline of Symi Island. The short trip rewards you with images of sherbert-colored mansions with Neoclassical facades rising above the water. Whitewashed churches create a familiar image against the backdrop of gold hills and views looking out to the clear blue water. Spend time on one of the hidden beaches or visit the Panormitis Monastery to view the frescoes that glint when catching the light. The island can be a great escape from the daily pace of life, even when finding the right work-life balance for you. 

Focus: Pay attention to the smells of the island. What do you find? What don’t you find? How does that affect the way you connect to it? 

Suggestion: The 500 steps to reach Chlorio village are worth it for the views.

After work, you can explore more of Rhodes by visiting the Tsambika Monastery. You can easily disconnect from the working mindset and focus on the experience as you reach the old religious complex built on the top of a hill with a reconstruction dating back to the 18th century. 

Wander around the unique features of the monastery and find the place where an altar to the goddess Artemis would have once stood in ancient times or notice the hollow roof tiles and Dodecanese design. Pebbles and shells pave the exterior and interior and the Byzantine atmosphere quickly becomes clear. The monastery stands on top of 350 steps providing a great view of the coast and the Lindos Acropolis. 

Focus: Study the church and its main characteristics for five minutes. Don’t just pay attention to the sights but focus on the sounds and smells. What sounds do you hear? Close your eyes. What details do you remember?

Suggestion: Be respectful in the monastery; it’s considered a great protector of the island.

You have a full day to enjoy exploring the Acropolis of Lindos. The ancient site stands over 380 feet above the base of the hill and historic village. The foundations date back to the 6th century BCE and now hide behind the defensive walls of the Knights of St John, layering the hill with the weight of history. 

Inside the walls, you can breathe in the ancient air as you face the remains of the Temple to Athena Lindia and the remaining columns of the Hellenistic portico. From the plateau, you can enjoy the elongated views of the coastline before continuing a tour of the site’s past leading from pre-Hellenic to the Geometric period, the Archaic, and eventually revealing the theater built into the slope of the hillside with 19 rows and seats that could hold up to 1,800 people. 

Focus: Visit the modern village of Linos for the stark contrast between ancient construction and contemporary life. Take 10 minutes to explore and pay attention to the architecture, smells, and sounds. How does it feel different? 

Suggestion: You can see the historic mansions on the hillside, each one named after its owner.

Naxos island is the largest of the Cyclades archipelago and can feel like an overlooked gem compared to more popular, and crowded islands. Your Workation representative will meet you at your accommodations on Rhodes and take you to the airport for your quick flight to Naxos. Once there, you can enjoy settling into your pre-vetted accommodations and the amenities you need to enjoy your Greece Workation package. 

The remainder of the day, you can enjoy the beauty of Chora, where Byzantine and typical Cycladic architecture converge. White houses glow in the Mediterranean sunlight with red, green, and blue shutters. Terraces shine with purple and pink bougainvillea. The sound of crashing waves echo from the coastline and quiet fishing towns offer a glimpse into places where historic and contemporary life connect and continue. Visit the 13th-century neighborhood of Kastro to find the streets and homes built around the remains of the central castle.

Focus: Walk along the whitewashed homes and colorful flowers. Turn off your phone and enjoy exploring at your pace. 

Suggestion: Enjoy your first day on Naxos with some yogurt dip with parsley or a local fragrantica pie known as sefoukloti. 

With the rituals you have implemented during your Workation so far, you can easily start the work week even though you have changed locations. The combination of intention and routine allows you to pick up and put down work according to your schedule. 

After work, visit the ancient Temple of Apollo in the main town of Chora. The remains of the temple is one of the most famous landmarks on the island, known mainly for the Doorway that stands overlooking the Aegean. Enjoy the picturesque view of the two marble columns framing the coastline, especially at sunset when the sky fills with burning colors. 

Focus: Sunset is one of the most magical times on the Greek islands. Enjoy this sunset with the unique view between the Portara. Turn off your phone and note the different colors you see. 

Suggestion: If you have time, visit the Folk Museum to view the variety of artifacts that speak to how stories, traditions, and ephemera share culture.

After work, you can enjoy more adventure on Naxos by exploring its natural beauty at Mount Zas. The peak reaches more than 3,290 feet above sea level making it the highest point in the Cyclades. 

Two main trails weave around the slopes including areas of the path paved with cobblestones. The mountain is named for Zeus with walkways connecting to the open cave said to be where the god of gods was born. Pass the ancient spring with freshwater and a goldfish pond before you reach the cave at the top of a steep trail. Inside, you can find stalactites and stalagmites adding texture to dark. 

Focus: At the summit, enjoy the 360-degree view of the island. Take one picture and then don’t look at your phone until you’re back down the summit. 

Suggestion: You can drink from the spring and enjoy the refreshing freshwater.

After work, you can embrace the beauty of Naxos traditions and culture with a cooking class using local, seasonal ingredients. Fresh products that can include customary raki, a liqueur similar to brandy, can enhance your overall experience and delicious connection to the island. 

Your guide will introduce you to the typical ingredients used in Greek and Naxos cooking after visiting the market in Naxos Town. You can smell the wood-fire and ingredients like tomatoes, garlic, and eggplant. You may make a dish like stuffed zucchini blossoms or mussels saganaki that includes items like cheese and red onion. 

Focus: Focus on the flavors you enjoy. What are they? Are they bold or subtle?  Do they taste like home or something new? 

Suggestion: Greece is one of the originators of the Mediterranean diet and a cooking class gives you direct interaction with what that means.

Start work early so you can finish your projects for the day and explore Naxos by bike. Cycling around the winding roads can lead to impressive coastal views or hidden villages. You can follow the road leading out of Chora and along the coastal road. 

Pass sheltered bays where the calm water shines crystal-clear. At Flisvos Beach, waves curl and crash, inviting thrillseekers from around the world to appreciate the surf. At Agios Arsenios, you can explore one of the largest villages on the island, appreciate the whitewashed homes, and enjoy access to the quiet beach. Ruins of an ancient fortress loom large along the hillside and an 18th-century church stands above the town streets acting as both religious center and observatory. 

Focus: Focus on the rich smells and views as you cycle around the island. What’s your favorite moment? List your top five during the ride. 

Suggestion: You can visit Akadimi Village and enjoy the colorful gardens and quiet streets.

Celebrate the start of the weekend by disconnecting from work and finding joy in the historic and indulgent flavors of olive oil on the island. Visiting a selection of olive groves can give you a wide variety of flavors to sample for a better understanding of the diversity fed by the soil and elements. 

Like wine, olive oil has particular characteristics and personalities based on its surrounding elements. You could start your tour by visiting the Olive Press Museum, which started in the 1800s and depicts the products and machinery used to create oil on the island for centuries. Learn how the olives were picked, pressed, aged, and ultimately stored. You can continue to a family-run estate to taste a selection of aged olive oils where you may find fruity smells before enjoying a touch of peppery notes lingering in the mouth. 

Focus: Close your eyes and look for the different smells and flavors. What do you find? 

Suggestion: Many estates make more than just olive oil, don’t be afraid to ask to sample more than just the olive oil, like cheeses or nuts. 

You can meet your Workation representative early and fly to Santorini to enjoy a good portion of the day on the famous island whose cliffs overlook the clear waters of the caldera. The sea can shine turquoise with steep cliffs plunging deep into the water shaped by the active volcano. Your Workation representative will help you ease into the new pre-screened accommodations.

Visit the charming village of Oia, which is known for its whitewashed walls and colorful sunsets. The picturesque streets are paved with marble and lead to open plazas, windmills, and the iconic churches with blue domes and shutters. The streets can feel maze-like as they wind away from the cliffs’ edge. Enjoy the zigzagging above Ammoudi Bay leading down to the small marina set beneath the remaining tower of the castle. 

Focus: Witness your first sunset in Santorini at Oia. Just relax and enjoy the view, the colors, and your invitation to relaxing on the island. 

Suggestion: The volcanic soil of the island gives the produce stronger flavors. Try something fresh for dinner for a great taste of Santorini.

With a full day to enjoy Santorini, you can set out on a guided wine tour to visit the unique, historic, and flavorful wineries. Each vineyard will have its own particular style, flavor profile, and techniques for growing and producing the wine. 

You may find a winery weaving the grapevines into a basket shape to protect the crops from the wind. Just like with other produce, the grapes absorb the minerals from the volcanic soil gaining a richer and stronger flavor that imparts into the wine while using techniques shaped by one of the oldest wine-growing regions on the planet. You can perch high on a cliff while tasting a wine from an indigenous grape with a citrus smell, fruity taste, and a slight briny note. 

Focus: What flavors can you find in the wines? What aromas do you like best? Which wineries did you enjoy most? 

Suggestion: Ask what dishes or ingredients the wines might pair with best so you can enjoy the wine and food together on the island or when you return home. 

You will test your ritual once again by implementing the combination of routine and intention in your new accommodation. After work, you will travel to the marine for your sunset cruise.

The boat can set sail around the caldera as you watch the cliffs rise above the water. Pass the towering figure of the lighthouse in Akrotiri and the rusty sands of the Red Beach. When the boat stops, jump into the water and enjoy the refreshing temperature and crystal-clear views. Enjoy the warming waters during a visit to the natural hot spring, trek to the top of the volcanic rock in the heart of the crater, and sit back to really embrace the panoramic view of sunset on the horizon with nothing in your way. 

Focus: Turn your phone off for the entirety of your trip. Don’t worry about taking pictures. Focus on each moment on the boat, viewing the landmarks, swimming, the different beaches, and the incredible sunset.

Suggestion: Bring a light jacket onboard the boat. The wind can make the trip chilly when in motion. 

Akrotiri is one the most unique corners of Santorini and after you finish your work for the day, you can spend time exploring the area’s diversity. Visit with a guide for a better perspective of the history and its importance during your tour of the ancient city. 

The ancient city of Akrotiri is often considered the foundation for the myth of Atlantis. After one of the volcano’s largest explosions, the city was buried under ash, which has protected the ruins from the elements. As they are uncovered, you can find elements dating back to the 17th century BCE. Rich frescoes and two-story homes emerge from the layers of mud. Warehouses, workshops, and mills tell stories of daily life and the images caught in the murals share elements of culture, with images of lilies, volcanoes, and more. You can visit the lighthouse after touring the historic city for a great view over the Agenea. 

Focus: What stories do the artifacts in Akrotiri tell? 

Suggestion: If you have time, you can stop in Fira to see the best artifacts found in Akrotiri on display in the Museum of Prehistoric Thira.

For your final full day in Santorini, you can take one of Greece’s most beautiful walks once you are done with work. The trail connects the main town of Fira to the village of Oia with a tremendous view over the caldera. 

Travel along the dirt path and between the collection of whitewashed walls, blue-domed churches, and incredible panoramas for the gratifying adventure that sweeps over the water and between the terraced cliffs. When you reach the village of Firostefani, youc an stop at the Monastery for a great view framed by the architecture and eventually leading to the terraced homes and church of Imerovigli. This is a town that feels like authentic Santorini, often overlooked for the more famous villages and panoramas. 

Focus: Don’t forget to look up and enjoy the view, noticing how far you have to go and how far you have come.  

Suggestion: If you are running out of time before sunset, you can climb to the top of Skaros Rock instead of continuing onwards to Fira where you can enjoy the unique views from the rocky promontory. 

Depending on your flight, you may choose to put in a full workday before heading to the airport. Your Greece Workation representative will meet you at your accommodation at an appropriate time to make sure you can check in to your flight. 

You may be able to visit the shops in Fira or walk around the marbled streets of Oia one more time before traveling home. You can also extend your trip to another country like Italy or Croatia now that you have the tools in place to succeed anywhere in the world. 

Focus: Make a list of the most memorable moments on your trip. Are they what you expected? What made the list that you didn’t expect? What didn’t make the list that you did expect? 

Suggestion: In season, the Santorini airport can get crowded. Make sure you discuss your flights with your Greece Workation representative to travel to the airport with plenty of time to catch your plane home.