In Genoa for city break…

We escaped to Genoa for  one of our beloved city breaks. One of our last ones in fact was again in Italy in the romantic Venice! We booked our tickets with Volotea, which is a perfect choice for getaways in Italy, Greece and special destinations such is Dubrovnik and got ourselves to the most colourful port we ve ever seen, so far!

Is a 24-hour trip in Genoa enough?

Actually it is… But we suggest you spend a weekend at least. The city is ideal for walking and endless hours of exploration and enjoyment of Italian flavors!

We recommend staying close to the train station so you can easily escape to nearby areas such as the Cinque Terre and move easily to and from Genoa airport.

A wonderful city will begin to unfold in front of you from the very first moment you exit the train station! Classic architecture – masterpiece buildings will be your partners as you stroll down the streets, first you ll meet those of the Royal Palace and the University of Genoa. Here the area is full of affordable little shops ideal for a quick espresso and an Italian focaccia!
Continuing you will meet a building that reminds a lot of Greece in a perfect contrast to the adjacent Genoese coloured buildings!

Next is Garibaldi Street  where you have to take a look at the alleys on the right left of the pedestrian zone. You will see inspiring lights forming beautiful words like history, joy, love etc (so an evening stroll is definitely required).

Genoa challenges you to the hashtag #morethanthis

Via Roma

Keep strolling and you will find yourself alongside Via Roma a special touch in an urban environment. The street is surrounded by the well-known colourful buildings  while  hanging colourful windmills make the street look even more intense creating a perfect Instagrammable spot!

Alongside Via Roma a flea market is located with antiques and retro object in an open-air bazaar which will steal your heart!
Piazza Ferrari and Genova come next. A huge fountain and three buildings in its background will distract you enough time for photos and to watch the people as they pass by while you ll be enjoying sitting on  one of the many benches you will find throughout the square. A monument to the word Genova is the third must see point of Instagram shots!

Next stop is the Piazza Duomo and the temple of San Lorenzo, a special gem inside out and a quick coffee shot at one of the many  cafés just down the street (in one of the dozens of alleys of the center of Genoa).

Main attractions

• Porto Antico
• Aquario di Genoa
• Via Garibaldi
• Via Roma
• Piazza delle Fontane Marose
• Piazza Ferrari
• Galleria Mazzini
• Piazza Matteotti
• Piazza delle Feste
• Galeone
• Sn Lorenzo
• Palazzo Antonio Doria
• Accademia Ligustica di Belle
• Palazzo Stefano Balbi
• Palazzo Nicolo Grimaldi
• Port dell Arco
• Biosfera
• Stazione Piazza Principe

Our Favorite Spot is Porto Antico

The old port of Genoa is more lively than ever, with docks, a huge aquarium, modern architectural additions inspired by the past, benches, biosphere, wheel ride at €8, panoramic spot with view of the whole city in €5, Gelato, pizzerias and people of all ages are making it even more vivid and the perfect place to hang out!

Genoa in the Evening

• Do Not miss an evening stroll in all the above places! The night has its own beauty and charm as you keep wandering in the alleys and enjoying an aperitivo. Leave the old port as the last part of  your trip and be amazed by the alluring lights of the city at night!
• Try eating at Fuori (menu €6)
• Drink italina coffee at urban Tazze Paazze
• Enjoy panoramic views from the steeple of San Lorenzo for €5

Affordable air tickets, classic italian beauty, Italian Riviera in only one hour away, many options for nearby getaways with  Cinque Terre National Park being the top of the top, budget accommodation and food make Genoa the perfect choice for city break!

The post ESCAPE TO GENOA FOR THE PERFECT CITY BREAK appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

A few words about Cinque Terre

The Villages of Cinque Terre, the five countries or, the five places belong to the Italian Riviera in the region of Liguria and the province of La Spezia. Since 1997 it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Airtickets to Genoa

For our trip to Genoa we flew with Volotea, a low cost company, with the most modern aesthetics and many interesting European destinations for you to choose. Tickets with Volotea especially in autumn start from only €9! Can you believe that? Last year we escaped unexpectedly t to Venice a year ago with the airtickets’ price being as low as 9 euro per person!

The itinerary

This trip to Cinque Terre as we said  before was quite short so in a few lines it included:

• Genoa-Pisa
• Pisa-La Spezia
• la Spezia-Cinque Terre
• La Spezia-Portovenere – Cinque Terre
• Cinque Terre – Genoa

All our transport was made by train!

cinque terre manarola nessun dorma

Move by train

As you exit the  Christoforo Airport you can get a bus that will cost you around €1.50 which then takes you to the nearby  train station and from there to Genoa Principe Central train station depending of course on the tickets you already have in your hands or you are planning to book towards Pisa (or La Spezia, Or Cinque Terre etc.).

Always check the timetables  at the train station so you don’t find yourself heading to the opposite direction!

After taking one bus and two trains you will arrive in about 2 to 3 hours in Pisa (for Intercity train you will need around 20-25 € while for a simple train 15-20 € but then the trip will be longer, 4 hours to arrive).

From Pisa to La Spezia we travelled by train and from La Spezia to the villages of Cinque Terre as well. We  chose La Spezia as a base because of the most low budget accommodation, besides Cinque Terre is located only a few minutes away!

We recommend the visitors to the Cinque Terre to buy a Cinque Terre Card including several services such as shuttle buses and usage of the trekking trails.

At every Cinque Terre train station you can buy the Cinque Terre Card Trekking (7,50 euros) or Cinque Terre Card Train (4 euro per ride or 16euros for unlimited rides per day including the pass to the trekking trails), get maps and all other information needed (Tourist information points). From now on you can buy the Cinque Terre Card online too (external service provided from the Cinque Terre National Park) .

Generally the train has routes every 30 minutes so don’t be disappointed if you miss a ride. The villages are only 2-5 minutes away from each other so you are comfortable with seeing everything in only one day. We recommend two days to try all  hiking trails too!

Extra Tip book your daily ticket online because the line for the tickets exceeds 100 meters especially in the morning hours!

Extra Tip we recommend to start your day from Rio Maggiore to Monterosso, unless you start with hikes so you will go the opposite direction (duo to sunny hours and difficulty of hiking the rocky scenery)!

More about Cinque Terre – These are the five villages

Riomaggiore

The first village (direction from the south to the north), is tiny, colourful and highly positioned inside a picturesque creek!
Hint: The panoramic view, from… Bottom Up! Extra Tip: Return to see the sunset from the rocks!

Manarola

The second village with the most colorful houses which are perfectly located on a steep cliff! Lovely palette and perfect spot for some swimming!
Hint: The visit to Nessun Dorma, a touristic shop with unparalleled views of the village and affordable prices (20euros for 2 aperols and a platter).

Corrniglia

The third village in the row is Corniglia with the wonderful peculiarity that it is built onto the mountain. Unique alleys,  little shops and many, many steps that take you from the train station to the main village, make up the beautiful scenery of the it!
Hint: After cooling off with a gelato italiano start hiking to the next village! Be prepared… At least athletic shoes!

Vernazza

This village is more cosmopolitan and has a n incredible blue beach. Colourful landscape and one more hike up to the next village.
Hint: The panoramic view from above.. Those who hike will definitely pass through the spot!

Monterosso Al Mare

Unfortunately (for us) the last but not least, was not our thing there… The last of the five villages of the park left us… nothing actually. Classic touristic resort, (justifiably) crowded but not in harmony with the previous villages.
Hint: You can start from there to the next hiking village and not spend a much time there unless you live there of course.

cinque terre portovenere

The coastal area of Liguria, Portofino and Portovenere

More generally, the coastal area of Liguria has many other colourful villages worth visiting, e.g. the famous Portofino could easily be one of the villages of the Cinque Terre area. An alternative excursion you can have from La Spezia and you can easily go by bus that costs only €5 vice versa per person, is Portovenere (much more beautiful than Portofino). A colourful port with lovely alleys, a castle and an islet within only ten minutes by boat (you will find boats at the port) and ideal for a mini getaway. An excursion to Portovenere is highly recommended.

This was our little adventure in the area of Cinque Terre, read more “italian” posts from Genoa and Pisa, or Milan, Venice and Rome.

The post FROM PORTOVENERE TO CINQUE TERRE – THE ITALIAN RIVIERA BY TRAIN appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

A few words about Pisa

Pisa is a historic city of Italy that belongs to the Tuscan region, with its university running since 1343 which is evidenced by the many young people you will succeed in the alleys of the town and is world renowned for the sloping Leaning Tower of Pisa with the 6 floors, 56 m high and the infinite steps.

Top Monuments of Pisa

• Piazza dei Miracoli – Duomo Cathedral Square-UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. On the square are the three following monuments that are the main attraction of tourists!
• Leaning Tower of Pisa in Piazza dei Miracoli
• Pisa Cathedral
• Monumental Cemetery of Pisa Camposanto
• Palazzo dei Cavalieri
• Palazzo Blu
• Piazza Garibaldi
• Chiesa di S Paolo in Ripa d Arno
• Orto Botanico
• Baptistery of Pisa
• Knights Square
• Santa Maria della Spina

Where to stay in Pisa?

We recommend hostel Safestay Pisa hostel for a very low budget stay (unless you seek for something more elegant). Colorful hostel with people of all ages, low budget breakfast, dinner buffet and a garden to enjoy your unlimited or beer!

Where to eat and drink?

The answer is, everywhere. All along the old town of Pisa you will meet small picteresque shops to taste delicacies or wine for a very reasonable price  even in the most touristic restaurants. Classic italian espresso, Aperol, wine, limoncello on the one hand and focaccia, pizza, pasta on the other.

pisa rome

Pisa is a beautiful youthful city that is definitely worth visiting but not more than two days. Usually travellers choose it as part of a roadtrip or more generally speaking part of a larger journey. For us Pisa was part of a short trip to Genova and Cinque Terre! We landed on Volotea in Genova and took a train to Pisa.

Pisa is ideal for a weekend!

The post VISIT PISA AND THE LEANING TOWER appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

A few words about the company – Alliances – Awards – Fleet

Aegean is an airline company aiming to provide high quality safety and services on short and medium distance flights from 1999 to today, linking every corner of Greece and of course Greece with the whole world!! In 2003, it merged with Olympic Air, also known to the Greek audience, and has been a member of Star Alliance since 2010. Alliances and collaborations have a leading role in Aegean. Through Star Alliance and its partner airlines (such as Air Canada, Air Baltic, Brussels Airlines, Etihafd, Egyptair, SWISS, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines etc.), it offers worldwide access, recognition and  perfect travel experience.

122 destinations in 44 countries

Aegean receives international recognition and has been honored the Skytrax World Airline Awards for the eighth time as the Best Regional Airline in Europe. The Aegean fleet consists of 61 aircraft, of which 47 belong to the Airbus family and 14 are Q-series Bombardier.

Services

By clicking on the links below you will automatically be taken to the relevant travel extras on the website of Aegean and start planning your next trip!

• Services
• Book a flight
• Book a hotel
• Manage ypur booking
• Low Fare Calendar
• Rent a car
• Route map

Aegean has been honored with the Skytrax World Airline Award for the eighth time, as the Best Regional Airline in Europe.

 

Find below a quick look through Aegean’s site main categories:

PLAN: Navigating at the official Aegean’s website is easy enough, as the site has a modern design and in this category allows you to easily manage and change your booking, check in and other useful information! Here you will find the low fare calendar to find the lowest prices available for your trip by destination option up to 11 months ahead!

TRAVEL INFO: In this category you will find all the luggage and location information and the fantastic Aegean App to have everything you need for your trip with you on your mobile!

DISCOVER: This is definitely our favorite category !! The reason;;; Here you will get inspiration for your next trips !!! Flights, destinations and our favorite interactive map to “travel more”. In the same category you can find the famous campaign of Aegean Greece by Greeks, where dozens of photos from all over Greece have been gathered to showcase their beautiful places! Surely you’ve all seen the fantastic ad with Giannis Antetokounmpo!

MILES + BONUS: Last but not least.. our beloved miles !!! For those of you already collencting miles, congratulations! Those of you who have neglected to do so, you can start doing some travel hacking! Collect miles and enjoy privileges and services that turn every trip into a unique experience! Each tier gives you more flexibility, comfort and convenience before, during and after your flight! We lost the counting of our many miles collection cards but do not worry because we will help you put them in order!

OTHER EXTRAS: During flights, we always expect Aegean’s fresh snacks if it is for domestic flights or delicious meals for the longer flights! In addition, Blue magazine will accompany your traveling and, of course, for the lovers of shopping therapy, look for Shop on board and enjoy your purchases in flight!

In general, we would say that the Aegean site is very handy and quite functional! It has a great variety of FAQs and information to solve all your queries and many contact details to choose from!

We love the blue color that reminds us of Greece and we like the safety and quality that has been synonymous with the Aegean Airlines, for all its years of operation, as evidenced by its ranking in position 37 on the world awards list of airlines, a list at the top of which you can find airlines such as QatarAirways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and others!

Here our tour in Aegean world ends! Hope you enjoyed our flight!

CU on board again!

The post BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS WITH AEGEAN AIRLINES appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

In that post we presented to you the cheap flight low cost airlines and carriers that operate in Greece in a list, including the links to the main site of the airlines and their fly route map so that you can navigate easier and find your cheap flights from any destination!

Now we made for you a great freebie of all the low cost carriers and the Greek airports towards they operate!

Enjoy your freebie and enjoy your flight! Download your freebie here –> Cheap flights to Greece nonstoptravellers travelling

The post HOW TO TRAVEL TO GREECE BY PLANE ON LOW COST appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

• Sightseeing (Volcanic park, Byzantine castle ruins, Akrotiri lighthouse etc.)
• Food – Cafe – Bars (Santo wines winery, Tranquilo etc.)
• Walking from Oia to Fira (Oia to Fira)
• Beaches (Perissa beach, Kamari beach etc.)

But first let us introduce you to this extraordinary island!

Santorini, or Thira, is the top travel destination in Greece and amongs the most romantic travel destinations in Greek islands and the whole travelling world. Located in the Aegean Sea, in the Cyclades islands, Santorini was the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the world and what remains today is a submerged volcano and a caldera, as a complex of islands (Thira, Thirassia (or Thirassia), Aspronissi, Palea and Nea Kameni.

Here is our suggested mini guide of Things to do in Santorini island — >>>> THINGS TO DO IN SANTORINI

Extra tips:

• light clothes
• comfy shoes
• suntan oil
• hat
• water
• map or app
• good mood

Enjoy!!!

The post 3 DAYS IN SANTORINI ISLAND appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

Greece accepts flights from all over Europe. So you can visit Greece easily with cheap plane tickets either by direct flights or via Athens or even other smaller airports, besides all flights in Greece last about an hour more or less! We made a good search for you and present you a table of all low-cost flight companies that they are operating in Greece with cheap airfare, directly from Europe. All airlines keep their plane tickets low, staying competitive and making your vacation trip more affordable!

Here are the cheap flight low cost airlines and carriers that operate in Greece in a list, including the links to the main site of the airlines and their fly route map so that you can navigate easier and find your cheap flights from any destination!

1. Wizzair
2. Easyjet
3. Eurowings
4. Norwegian
5. Ryanair
6. Transavia 
7. Volotea
8. Vueling
9. Cobalt
10. Airbaltic
11. Blueairweb
12. Iberiaexpress
13. Flypgs
14. Jet2

Ready!  Set! Go!

The post 13+1 LOW COST AIRLINES WITH CHEAP AIR TICKETS ΤΟ GREECE appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

The volcano

This island’s complex was created precisely because of this intense volcanic activity of the earth! Twelve massive eruptions, one every 20,000 years or so, contributed to the creation of a caldera, destroying most of the volcano.

The last major explosion took place about 3,600 years ago (in the Minoan era), covering the three islands (Thira, Thirasia, Aspronissi) with ash, thus eliminating a prehistoric culture. The volcanic activity continued much more mildly, creating within Caldera the islands of Old and Nea Kameni. The island is thus a huge living geological museum, an ideal place to observe the processes of building and evolving a volcano.

Seeking romance

Santorini island is considered to be the most romantic travel destination in Greece. Loving couples are travelling  every year to the sunny island to enjoy the famous sunset of Santorini. In fact, in recent years the island has established itself as a top travel destination for couples to hold their wedding ceremony or honeymoon.

Things to do in Santorini

Touring to the volcano, walking along the caldera path from Fira to Oia and shopping are the most popular activities on the island. Shops in Santorini island vary from small souvenir stores to international brands. Most beaches in Santorini are organized and have watersports centres with fun games. Diving centres also have their base in the beaches of Santorini, offering courses and diving trips to close islands, old wrecks and the volcano. Trekking paths are also available in the island.

A small tour of the villages of the island

The capital of the island is Fira. Built on the Caldera, 260 meters above sea level, with a splendid view of the blue waters of the Aegean Sea and the island of Nea Kameni. Fira along with Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia are spread out to the length of the Caldera enchanting the visitor, each in its own unique way. Other less famous but equally beautiful villages of the island worth visiting are Akrotiri and Mesa Vounos with their famous archaeological sites, the Tower, the Karterades, Emborios, Ammoudi, Finikia, Perissa, Perivolos, Megalohori , Kamari, Messaria and Monolithos. Some of them are more cosmopolitan, some quieter, others surrounded by huge vineyards, others dominate high castles with immense views of the Aegean, but they all have a special personality that will fascinate you.

The products of the land

Who does not know the unique local products of Santorini island? White eggplant, tomatoes, fava, capers and green cheese: all delicious ingredients of delicious local dishes that will be appreciated by lovers of good food! The island is also considered one of the country’s most organized wine tourism travel destinations.

Beaches

Discover volcanic beaches Let us not forget to mention the wonderful beaches of the island that could only be in harmony with its special volcanic character. Dive into beaches with black, red and white sand or colorful rocks, sculptured by the salt and wind rocks. A unique setting that you will not find anywhere else in Greece…

Santorini awaits you! It is certain that its intoxicating atmosphere where the blue of the Aegean blends with reddish rocks and the white of the houses will charm you! Let the energy flowing out of the volcanic landscape penetrate you and discover a special magic that really no image can capture.

How to travel to Santorini

There are two main ways to travel to Santorini, by plane and by ferry .

Flights to Santorini

The Santorini airport (JTR) accepts flights from all over Europe and Athens (ATH). So you can visit the island with cheap plane tickets either by direct flights or via Athens. Athens to Santorini flights are about 40 minutes. We give you a table of low-cost flight companies that they are operating in Santorini with cheap airfare, directly from Europe.

• Easyjet
• Eurowings
• Norwegian
• Ryanair
• Transavia 
• Volotea
• Vueling

Ferries to Santorini

In order to travel from Athens to Santorini by ferry you have to move to Piraeus Port, 40 minutes close to Athens International Airport (ATH). From the port there are many ferries and high speed boats that are connected to Santorini with fairly cheap tickets. The trip is comfortable and unique experience. You have a lot of options depending on the tickets cost, your itinerary and what do you really want. Here are some search engines to choose the best deal for you.

• Travelplanet
• Viva
• Airtickets
• Aktoploika
• Directferries 
• Petas
• Ferriesingreece

Where to stay in Santorini

There are a lot of places to stay in Santorini, depending on your mood.  If you want expensive and place with a lot of people, then it is a good place to stay in Fira or Oia. Another expernsive option but not so crowded and more romantic are Firostefani and Imerovigli.  Cheaper places are Kamari and Perissa. Kamari is a good place to shop also. It is cheaper than Oia or Fira markets.

Weather in Santorini

Santorini has a  semi-arid climate, with low total rainfall average, full sunny and strong wings that could be observed in the summer season. Total report for the santorini weather could be seen here.

Are you ready traveller?

Find out more from our Santorini island itinerary ”Things to do in Santorini island” — >>>> THINGS TO DO IN SANTORINI

The post SANTORINI ISLAND AND HOW TO TRAVEL FROM ATHENS appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.