Athens/Santorini help

Posted by tiss229 on 03/20/19 05:15 PM

Hello,

My wife and I will be visiting Athens and Santorini in July. We will be arriving in Santorini Tuesday July 23 at 11am. We will be staying in Oia. We leave for Athens July 26 at noon (flying) and will be staying at the Hera Hotel. We depart July 29 at 5"30 pm.

I was told renting a car would be beneficial in Santorini. We plan on getting a hotel transfer in Athens.

Looking for some help with itineraries for both places.

We will want to do a sailing trip in Santorini. My wife and I love food, wine and culture in general. We are not really into the partying scene. Any and all help is appreciated!

Posted by Lee

Camarillo, California

03/20/19 10:06 PM

3122 posts

A car is definitely the best way to explore Santorini. In Oia you can rely on Vazeos for a car rental. Be sure to bring an International Driving Permit if you live outside the EU or the UK. In the US and Canada you get them at your local AAA/CAA office.

There are food and with tours offered as well as private and semi-private, full- or half-day catamaran tours, some of which include champagne, good food and the sunset. I recommend Captain Ted's Blue Lagoon Cruises. Also do a google search. Find the Santorini forum on the Trip Advisor website and click on "Things to do" at the top of the page. I personally recommend an early-morning visit to the archaeological site of Akrotiri. Be there at 8am when they first open to avoid all the tour bus crowds. It's magical then. Go down below Oia to Amoudi bay for a meal on the wharf, and walk the the end of the seawall there for a swim inside the caldera. This is what you'll find at the end of that 1/4-mile hike: https://tinyurl.com/y9kxpvqz

Posted by SoCal Travelers

Outside LA

03/20/19 11:27 PM

16 posts

Lee, How strenuous is the hike to Amoudi Bay?

Bill in SoCal

Posted by Lee

Camarillo, California

03/21/19 12:24 AM

3122 posts

Hi Bill. There's a road as well as 238 steps. Each step is 3-4 strides deep, made from uneven cobbles and slightly inclined. Going down is not the problem. It's returning up the cliff that's the challenge. If you're going down for a meal the restaurant can call a taxi for you. Look here: http://tinyurl.com/y3g2ra4j

Posted by SoCal Travelers

Outside LA

03/22/19 04:54 PM

16 posts

Thanks Lee, We are there in late April staying in Firastefani. Blue Lagoon cruises looks pretty pricey, so I expect we'll shop the other options, which look roughly comparable, and try to pick the best weather day.

Bill in SoCal

Posted by lekka_elpida

Athens

03/22/19 07:06 PM

51 posts

Amoudi is very nice. You can go by car as coming back is very difficult. If you like nice food go to Psaraki and try seviche. In Santorini it is very beautiful to walk from firostefani to Oia if you like walking in caldera. There is a path. Try also the beach bar restaurants like Imba and Theros.
In Athens there is no meaning to rent a car. Visit all classical archeological monuments and try to watch Ancient Drama performance (Fimonoi theater)