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From naxos - on way to Athens ?

Hi we are flying into Paros ( late May ) staying four nights - then taking ferry to naxos and have booked five nights there ( we have been three times before ) then that’s it , I’m stumped ! I have another week I can use for Greek islands ( this is part of a month long trip ) - so I’m trying to perhaps do the impossible - find an island convenient to getting back to Athens and on way from naxos ?
I figured I could find a flight to our next destination from
Athens easier than the islands .

So any ideas ? I’m just feeling quite “ stalled “ on this trip planning this time even though I’ve done it for years , but nothing since 2019 ! I’ve lost my travel planning mojo lol

Posted by
1735 posts

You don't have to find another island, you can go back to Athens and then rent a car to visit other places inland.

But if you are not interested, there are several possibilities from Naxos with daily ferries.

Only from a logistical point of view of travel without talking about details (beaches, visits, hikes, atmosphere, authenticity) specific to each island.

  • Tinos: 2 hours from Naxos

From Tinos it is possible to return to Athens either by the port of Piraeus or by the port of Rafina
(about 4 hours by ferry)

The particularity of returning via the port of Rafina is that you are a few minutes from the airport.

Leaving Tinos for Rafina the day before your return flight to Canada, you can sleep one last night at the Avra ​​hotel in Rafina which offers a free shuttle to the airport for the next day.

https://tinosecret.gr/en/

  • Sifnos: 2 hours from Naxos with ferries that make this connection usually at the end of the day (on their way back to Piraeus).

https://www.abettergreece.com/sifnos/

https://www.roomsinsifnos.com/

From Sifnos you are 2h30 from Piraeus by highspeed ferry and about 4h30 by traditional ferry.
New ferry connections are planned for 2023 on this Western Cyclades route, these are not yet announced.

  • Amorgos: About 2h30 from Naxos.

It's the furthest island from Athens among the three. The Amorgos-Athenes trip lasts from 7h1/2 to 9h depending on the ferries.

https://amorgos.gr/

Hope this gets your travel planning mojo back!

Posted by
1353 posts

Hey Pat greetings from the island.
Obviously you like Naxos so I think you will really like Crete. Naxos is often referred to as Mini Crete because of its topography.
There will be a couple of ferries daily that do Naxos to Crete. Daily to Heraklion and twice a week to Rethymnon. These are return trips so you will get into Crete between 5 and 7 Oclock. You can overnight in Heraklion not my favourite choice, Rethymnon is better.
Crete has it all. Great beaches, mountains, old cities, small coastal villages and if you are history buffs lots of Minoen and some Roman era antiquities.

Our favourite destination though is Chania. Its a Venetian era city some walls still intact, a vibrant old town full of winding streets plus the old harbour where everyone goes for the evening stroll and dining.

Chania is a three hour bus ride from Heraklion and about an hour and a half from Rethymnon. Same KTEL bus service as Naxos.

The bonus is you can fly back to Athens for your return trip easily as there are several flights a day.

Some images
Chania 2022. https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72177720299646015

Chania 2018 https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157674446812148

Posted by
11507 posts

Thank you Stan and jolui !

Both Crete and Sifnos look like contenders - will have more to look into now !

Stan your shots of chania are amazing

Posted by
585 posts

Another Islander here! Second Stan’s suggestion of Crete and Chania, I am a huge fan of both. I have found the Rough Guide to Crete provides most of the info on sights (sites also) in Crete. Covers everything from what is possibly the world’s oldest producing olive tree at Vouves which is near Chania. The tree is reckoned to be over 3000 years old.

Other sites worth visiting. Knossos, Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, Gortys, a Roman town scattered through the olive groves, Phaestos, a Minoan palace site without the reconstructions of Knossos. In eastern Crete Iwould recommend a visit to Spinalonga. A Venetian fortress it had a varied career ending up as the last leper colony in Europe (closed in the 1950’s).

Add in hikes along various gorges, great beaches, great food, wines, hospitable people, you will find plenty to keep you busy for a week. May Is a good time to visit…pleasantly warm though maybe a bit cool for swimming.

Posted by
1353 posts

Since lanlubber brought it up, his suggestions for exploring antiquities in Crete is right on. I can say the archaeological site at Gortyz is our favourite on Crete. It used to be the Roman capital of Crete, there is a small gated site but the adventure begins when you walk up the road from the parking lot. Within a couple hundred meters you start to see columns lying in the olive grove. Keep going and follow the rocky road into the groves and you will discover a partially excavated Roman city.
You can do Knossos, Phastos and Gortyz all in central Crete.
Here are some images
Archeological sites Phaistos, Gortyz and Knossos.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157645085297380