Would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.
Planning to visit Greece this April for 7 days (my wife, our 3 years old toddler and me). So, what are your thoughts regarding:
1. Spending the whole period in Athens.
2. Adding other places like islands, etc..
It is our first time in Greece, so itinerary and Hotel recommendations are much appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Posted by
Irving
3226 posts
How many nights will you be in GR? Athens deserves four nights that includes a day trip to Hydra. You can then take a bus or rent a car and drive to Nafplio for three nights and visit and Epidavros and the Mycenean Gate.
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Actually 5-6 nights. Unfortunately, it is a very short.
Posted by
France Southwest
2318 posts
Three full days minimum are needed to visit Athens.
With only 5 or 6 nights, if you don't rent a car and want to visit an island, you could spend one night or 2 on a nearby island such as Hydra or Aegina. (Aegina being more interesting and closer to Athens than Hydra)
You did not specify when in April. If you plan to be in Greece between the 14th and the 17th, it's Greek Easter, a very busy time.
There will be many Greeks on vacation, on the roads and on the ferries.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3397 posts
With a toddler, for a day trip by ferry, I would recommend AEGINA over HYDRA, for several reasons:
• HYDRA is a longer (2+hr?) ride, & u are stuck in reserved seat cabin, no deck, no view, no place to walk around -- AND with no cars, you essentially are limited to walking up & down the harbor area.
• AEGINA Is 1 hour ride & if you get "conventional" open-deck ferry (it goes at 8:30am & 12:30, back at 18:15) you can walk around with toddler, and sit out on deck & enjoy sea-scape -- huge ships, schooners, tiny sailboats etc. Here's a nice photo album of such a day trip in June.. https://www.flickr.com/photos/36264706@N03/sets/72157621604646139/detail/ -- much same in April except no beach swims (brrr), tho toddler can play in sand. You can either rent a car for half a day, or use a combo of local bus & taxi (to make sure u can call a taxi from elsewhere on the island, pick up a few cards from drivers in the port taxi area). On weekends, Athenians flock to AEgina, so best days for visit = M-Fri.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, USA
6713 posts
I'd go for Athens + Nafplio with that amount of time. I haven't been to Aegina but I think Janet makes a good case for it if you really want to visit an island. I've been to Hydra (not via Athens) and liked it, also the donkeys would be a draw for the kiddo, but it's a long boat ride that may not be so enjoyable for him/her.
We stayed at the Herodion Hotel in Athens, liked it fine, very good location for the Acropolis and its museum. But there are many good choices.