Hello. Thanks for everyones responses to my many recent posts! I am trying to get this trip together and am just overwhelmed with information. If I am interested in traveling from Athens to Mykonos and Santorini, what are the different ways to do so? Are there other islands that are better to visit than these two? Thanks. Scott
My preference would be ferry to Mykonos, ferry Mykonos/Santorini, then Fly (Aegean Air) back to Athens from Santorini. Flights would be available for all legs, but the ferry legs I mentioned are short enough to be pleasant, and probably as fast or faster than flying. There are also ferry options, including an overnight ferry between Santorini and Athens, but I am just not a fan of long ferries. Of course there are also options among ferries, Slow Boats, Fast Cats, and Hydrofoils...I tend just to get the one that meets my schedule rather than worry about the type, if you keep ferry rides to 3 hour hops, it really does not matter.
Scott - The Ferry service from Athens to Mykonos and then Santorini is very good and actually enjoyable - The Hydrofoil service from Piraeus is , of course fastere and more costly but gets you there a lot quicker.http://www.hellenicseaways.gr/index.asp?a_id=80 These are the top two Islands - I am prejudiced since I own a place on Santorini But they really are Incredible. That's not to say that Corfu, Rhodes, or many of the other 200 plus Greek islands aren't great also. There's just so much to offer on Mykonos and Santorini that I am quite sure you will be very happy with that choice.
Greg
Quick & easy to take the hydrofoil from Piraeus to Mykonos and from there to Santorini. Then fly Aegean Air back to Athens.
It would be hard to beat these two islands for a Greek islands excursion, although you could probably add another island to the grouping.
Hello Scott. Going to those two islands : Mykonos and Santorini is not a bad choice. But those two islands have similarities. I recommend : go to Santorini and an other island that is different, such as Naxos. Naxos has large areas that are natural, and an area covered with olive trees and fruit trees. Naxos has the best beaches of all the islands in the Cyclades islands group. Santorini does not have a good beach. And at Naxos, it is always possible to go to a place that is not crowded with people. I would fly from Athens to Naxos, be there 3 days or longer, and ride in a boat from Naxos to Santorini, be there one or two days, and fly from Santorini to Athens. Olympic Airways.
I would second Ron's reply. Mykonos and Santorini are fairly simliiar, and Naxos (or maybe Paros) would be a different feeling.