We are adding on Greece to another trip and will have 4 days to explore. With only for days and knowing we fly out of Athens, looking for recommendations how best to see an island or two plus Athens?
Do we stay Athens and just day trip cruise?
Do we fly to Santarini for 2 days then Athens?
Santarini whole time?
Looking for recommendations.
Thanks
Athens and maybe Nauplio.
With four days, as you said, not much time. You are really down to "What time do you arrive in Athens day 1?" and "What time do you leave out of Athens Day 4?"
Sure, you could book a flight Day 1 and get to Santorini, but in reality that day is shot travelling, maybe a nice evening, but little else. Day 2 you have in Santorini, but Day 3 you really need to be getting back to Athens, again shooting most of the day, leaving an evening in Athens before you fly out the next day. Probably no real time to see anything in Athens, other than what can be seen walking around. If Santorini is really what you want, then it works, just a bunch of traveling to get it. Santorini is one of the few islands that operate year round, but there will still be many places closed in early March. No need to do "Beach Time", maybe Akrotiri would be the main draw besides just seeing the Caldera.
Spending the time in Athens would allow more, see some things there, everything will be open. You might even do a day trip to Delphi or the Peloponnese. In the Peloponnese would be Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Corinth ancient sites, maybe do an overnight in Nafplio. Olympus might be too far.
What's your reason for tacking on Greece? How many nights do you have on the ground? I have no idea what the sea is like in early March, if it's bad, ferries may be canceled. Oh my, I just looked for ferry schedules for early March from Piraeus (Athens) to Heraklion and Santorini. Only slow ferries, though looks like there may be night sails on some dates. No ferries at all between the two islands. Flying is simpler. Look for flights to Chania (much better to visit than Heraklion on Crete). There are frequent ferries to Hydra from Piraeus, which might suit you for 2 nights, but you'd have to check what is open for tourists - shops, restaurants, hotels.
There's plenty to fill 4 full days in Athens. With the possibility of bad weather delaying flights or ferries, I'd want to spend my last night in Athens in any event.
Athens deserves a minimum of 2 days with 3 being better. There's more to Athens than just the tourist sites.
I think it would be wasting time for a overnight trip to just about any island for the time frame you have. You can take a flight which cuts down on travel time but you still have to pack up, get to the airport ahead of take off, get off the plane, go to your accommodations, unpack, etc. and do the same thing for return.
I would recommend spending your time in Athens. If you want an island experience you can take a day trip to Aegina which has everything one wants in a Greek island. It's just a short ferry ride away. Leave in the morning, spend several hours exploring, take an afternoon ferry back and you'll still have for a night out in Athens.
Check out what Athens is all about here:
Here's a photo album http://www.flickr.com/photos/36264706@N03/sets/72157621604646139/detail/ that is in effect a step-by-step visual of a June daytrip to Aegina. Aside from a swim, all this could be y ours on a sunny day in March ... A particular treat is sitting out on deck on a conventional ferry (do NOT take a hydrofoil) just to enjoy the seascape... all the many vessels, large & small, from huge liners to sleek schooners, with gulls, and waves etc. Much better idea than trying to get to a faraway island like Santorini..
