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Best part of Greece for visiting markets and eating local food?

Posted by (Toronto, Canada) on

I am still struggling to come up with an itinerary for 5 days in Greece. We are spending a week in Crete and 2 days in Athens. This leaves us with 4 to 5 days to spend somewhere else.

Our most favorite thing to do is to explore small towns, eat local food and go to markets. We are planning on renting a car. Ideally we would like to find a place to stay where we could settle in for a few days and use as a home base. I've been reading the guide books (RS and others) and still can't decide. I think the best way to finalize the itinerary is to hear from people who have had these experiences already. So your advice would be most appreciated.

Posted by
1388 posts

I probably won’t be the only person to recommend Nafplio, a favourite of many of us here.

It’s a beautiful small town just under three hours from Athens by bus, less by car. It’s Greece’s first capital with a pedestrian old town, a large Venetian fortress and a wonderful seaside walk around the headland.

There’s a fairly large vegetable market held every Saturday and Wednesday, and a lively local restaurant scene. If you do go it’s worth checking out restaurant along 25th Martiou, an emerging area in the new town and a few minutes walk from the main old town.

Alan

Posted by
1157 posts

I agree that Nafplio will be your best option. It's one of Greece's loveliest towns and has a nice waterfront and lots of shops, markets, and tavernas.

It's also a wonderful place as a base to explore the World-Class Archeological sites in the area plus various villages and towns nearby.

Check out this website, THE best for Nafplio and surrounding area:

http://www.visitnafplio.com/

Posted by
3320 posts

I second the motion about NAFPLIO .... it would be good to put it in between Crete & then do Athens last. You'd fly in from Crete, about mid-day if y ou can, pick up a car at the airport, and have a wonderful drive on Greece's most modern multi-lane intercity highway, running beside the sea much of the way, until after the Corinth Canal. Exiting south to Nafplio, a smaller road goes through citrus orchards and olive grove, gently rolling hills with ruins on peaks nearby. A lovely drive.

Once in Nafplio, you're in a Gorgeous Old Town -- considered the most beautiful in greece -- on a peninsula totally surrounded by water, with high bluffs above with a stunning 360° view. Nafplio is a safeguarded architectural treasure of 17th C Venetian buildings, with an amazing small museum... and it's in the center of Greece's MOSt historic area of ancient ruins --- Mycenae, Epidaurus, Asine, Tiryns, Nemea etc. To truly appreciate it, do some homework. The website http://www.visitnafplio.com/ is superb, and totally noncommercial -- read EVERY link, see the pictures, it's a treasure of information. Here is a photo album of Nafplio highlights to show what I mean: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632094108982/

Posted by
11156 posts

Chania, Crete and Napflion are Greece’s two most beautiful small cities. Both are real gems. Napdlion would be an excellent base for you as it is surrounded by many of Greece’s most important Archeological sites, The Mycenae, Epidavros, etc
Chania has a wonderful market.
In Athens sign up for a food tour with Kostas of Athens-Walks.com. It was a wonderful tour to a variety of markets, shops and restaurants with this local Athenian.

Posted by
30 posts

I just got back from Greece. My itinerary was Napflio, Santorini, Naxos, and Athens. I am going to give a little different view of most on this list, and will post on my reviews on our itinerary review. While Napflio was nice, it I had it to do over I would reduce my time there and increase my time in Athens. My daughter and I loved Athens, and had way too little time there as there is so much to do, see and communities to wander through. The food markets in Athens were wonderful and if you like museums, sites, and shopping in narrow streets then you need more time then 2 days.. Napflio was pretty but you can pretty much walk the whole town in a few hours and most of the shops were targeted to common tourists souvenirs that you will find at any stop you make. Don't get me wrong, Napflio is a nice place to visit for a few days to have a nice long dinner or drinks in the town square, and if you rent a car see some of the wonderful archaeological sites nearby, but in hindsight I would have made it a stop or day trip from Athens.

I rented a car and used the great suggestion of renting and returning it to the airport and not driving in Athens. It was simple, the roads are easy and parking at the port in Napflio plentiful.

Posted by
4375 posts

Another vote for Nafplio. In addition to fruit, veg, olives, herbs, that market had the most fresh smelling fish I have even encountered (and I have visited a lot of fish markets!). The high concentration of ancient sites to visit in the vicinity and the beauty of the area make it a slam dunk to me.

Posted by
1157 posts

While in Athens check out the Central Markets on Athinas St. It's wild, crazy and wonderful place just to stroll around and see the vast array of meats, fish and produce, many of which you may not be familiar with. In addition there are numerous streets off of Athinas St. with small shops with locals goodies including several excellent delis, herb/spice shops and unique items you won't find back home.

As far as Greek food check out photos of my many meals at various tavernas in Athens and numerous islands:

https://tinyurl.com/y7lqwv66

One of the best reasons to go to Greece is Greek Food!

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