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Athens/Naxos/Crete - add nights in Athens or Crete?

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I'm 48f and doing my first solo traveling this fall. I booked a group tour that starts in Athens and ends in Crete. It will be 10 nights total, very late September/early October.
2 nights Athens,
3 nights Naxos,
5 nights Crete - 2 in Herakloin and 3 in Chania.

I'm considering adding an extra night (before the tour starts) in Athens so I can maybe do a food tour. I loved the one I did in Rome. My tour includes going to the Acropolis and also the Acropolis Museum. What else could I fit in if I go a day (or 2) early?

The tour ends in Chania. The time in Crete includes seeing the Palace at Knossos, doing a tour/cooking class at an olive farm and then in Chania we have a full day just seeing Chania and then another day taking a boat to Gramvousa Island and also going to Balos Lagoon.

I'm not 100% sure about adding time to Crete only because its the end of the trip and since i've never traveled alone I think i could end up being ready to go home. But I would consider adding a night or 2 if theres something I shouldnt miss - maybe a trip to Elafonissi beach? I love beaches but also just sightseeing and beautiful scenery is good too.

Posted by
3487 posts

What else could I fit in if I go a day (or two) earlier?

There's plenty to do and see in Athens over 2 or even 3 extra days. It's impossible to list them all, and it depends on your interests.

The choice is yours:

https://www.thisisathens.org/

In Crete there is also enough to keep you busy for 2 more weeks.

Posted by
1660 posts

Where will you be departing from on your way to Athens. If you are doing a transatlantic flight you might want to add at least a day to Athens to get over jet lag. You will want to be clear headed and full of energy for the start of your guided tour.

If you want to add another day or 2 to Chania you might be interested in a locally owned tour company called Wanderlust tours. It is a couple of yeas old with a 12 passenger bus that has exceptional destinations. A different one every day. We no longer rent a car on Crete and now take day tours with them to visit around west Crete.
For fun here are some images from where you are going.
Chania 2024 https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72177720318408008/
https://www.cretebus-travel.gr/tour-category/wanderlust/
Gramovossia,Balos and Elafonissi

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157698932695812

Posted by
51 posts

I'll be coming from New England. Probably I'll fly out of Boston. I like the idea of getting there a day early at least so I can get a good nights sleep before the tour starts. I'd also like to do a food tour because it was so much fun in Italy. So was thinking of flying in at least a day early. But maybe 2?

I'll look up the Wanderlust tours. That might be up my alley. Thanks for the suggestions!

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