Greece First Time - Itinerary Help

Some basic advice since you don't want to overschedule or always be traveling somewhere.

First, know how you'll be getting around Greece before making a list of places you want to go.

Second, depending on your mode of transportation, know how long it will take to get from one place to another and in what order.

You will only have 10 full days from June 5th to 14th, so don't try to see and visit too many places. The most common mistake is to make a list of places to visit because they are considered must-sees and recommended by other people, guides, social media and tourist brochures, without taking the context into account.

Since you've already done the Iceland Ring Road, perhaps you'll want to do the same kind of trip in the Peloponnese. But be warned, getting around Greece and visiting the main sites of the Peloponnese isn't as easy as in Iceland, even though the Peloponnese is half the size of Iceland. The main sites are scattered and not always well connected. The road network is often in mountainous areas where you won't be driving faster than 40 mph, and there are as many reasons to stop between sites as there are to see the sites themselves. At some point, you'll inevitably face a real headache trying to plan an overly ambitious itinerary.

Regarding the islands, there are at least a hundred that can be visited, the most famous being those in the Cyclades and Crete.
Some Cyclades islands have an airport connected to Athens (Naxos, Milos, Paros, Santorini, Mykonos). Crete also has two airports connected to Athens, but the majority do not.

If you plan to take ferries, you must take into account travel times. A ferry trip often requires a full day of travel logistics.

Partially visiting an island takes at least three full days, which means that, taking into account the travel time to and from the island, you'll use up five days. Half of your ten days.

Remember that temperatures in Greece are not those of Iceland or Austria; in June, it can be very hot from 10 a.m., 30°C (85°F)

Four children will quickly get tired of running from one place to another in the blazing sun.
In June, the sea temperature begins to become "swimmable." The best option is to plan sightseeing in the early morning and relaxing time at the beach in the afternoon or late afternoon.

You don't say, but I'm guessing you are from US or Canada, rright? It would help if you'd say Where in those countries -- can make a huge diff. in your travel time/jet lag. For example, living in Philadelphia quick drrive to airport for 4:30pm nonstop, flight is about 10 hourrs... but if you're from West Coast it can take up to 17-18 hours with lalyover/transfer. It is ALSO important to say not only day but TIME you arrive & depart. on such a short visit, every hour matters! If you use a nonstop from N America, you'll land rom 9 - 11:30 am and Thus can go right to your f irst destination to relax ... otherwise day 1 can be mostly a lost day.

PLEASE do not plan for Athens- first... when exhausted, a bustling world capital can be confusing & world-famous sites will be a blur. Since for saftey you must be in Athens the night beor homebound anyway, please count TWO full days there at end, and that means 3 nights. (because you have teens who are hard to rouse in AM -- I know, I've been there). Do take seriously everything Jo-Lui says; she is a fount not only of information but of wisdom. She's also realistic without being discouraging.

You have other possible issues to address: your budget, and your very late start -- some of the best accommodations and transport (flight) for places will be booked by now. Fllghts to/from the islands you've heard about in the Cyclades can break the bank for 6 people, even supposing any seats are there for your dates. Fast-ferries are easier to book, but have eye-watering prices. Your best bet may be the large slower-speed open-deck Blue Star Ferries, which go 2x daily, & take 4 hours to closest Island (Paros). Then you could bite bullet & FLY back to ATH 3 days before the end. However, outbound that's 7:30 AM & 5:30 pm ,,, which could mean loooong wait at airport/seaport with tired quarrelsome kids. Quite a dilemma!

Here's an option that might appeal -- go to a very nearby (1 hour ferry ride) island, AEGINA, midweek (Athenians crowd it up on weekends), get over jetlag, enjoy beaches & some history, then zip back to PIraeus and pick up a rented mini-van, and drive across Corinth Canal for 4 daysa in a magical history-filled, OLd TOwn, NAFPLIO, at the tip of a Peninsula ... where you can climb a huge fort-peak, visit cool ruins AND an "Olympia runner-up" sacred games site, enjoy beaches, and then return for your Athens finale. Best of all, you can book lodgings even at this late date, buy ferry tickets on the day, and even get mini-van IF you book ahead (Especially if you can only drive automatic shift).

Here's a day-trip to AEGINA - http://www.flickr.com/photos/36264706@N03/sets/72157621604646139/detail/ - it shows Ag Marina beach but you might look at Marathonas & others... You can buy ferry tickets TO Aegina right at airport (specify open-deck, not hydrofoil). For driving NAFPLIO you can browse usbg this online Map - https://tinyurl.com/zekuft9 (click to enlarge). For sights & sites, this superb noncommerical website - http://www.visitnafplio.com/ -has it all; click every link!!. When you return mini-van to airport 3rd day befdre departure, use car service like Welcome Pickups for transfer to central athens lodgings . and Please pick a place very near Acropolis if possible, for your gang (on sites like booking* com, always click "show on map" to view exact location of available spots -- they now have many pvt apts suitable for 6, in central areas, walk to everything).

If this approach looks do-able, coime back with specifics I mentioned, also your budget-range per night for 6 people, and you'll get better advise. Without all thet facts, it's guesswork. Best wishes for a rewarding trip!

I am so grateful to you both for your sage advice, JoLui and Janet! Thank you so much for taking the time to help with such pertinent information and tips. Here's what I have sketched out so far:

• In talking with 2 Greek families we know here, we will not drive ourselves as it seems too risky for our taste. Plus, will enable us to relax letting someone else do the driving.
• We are based in Durham, NC. Flight Tues 6/3 at 6:20PM for Paris and arrives in Athens Wed 6/4 at 2:10PM. We can get to hotel, walk around a bit, eat an early dinner, and get tucked in for a good night's rest. Janet, you are so right about posting this info as it absolutely matters - I have never posted before, but will note for future! :)
• Thurs 6/5 - I think we will plan to see as much of Athens as we can this day including Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, and other sights TBD. (Suggestions welcome.)
• Fri 6/6 - Mon 6/9 (or Tues 6/10) - I'd like to either book a tour bus for the 6 of us OR a private tour van to take us to cities (suggestions on order of these welcome): Nafplio, Olympia, Meteora, Delphi. Do these look like good "top places to visit" if this were our one and only trip to Greece (it may not be, but never hurts to try). Any suggested companies that may have this itinerary or private tour companies that could do this?
• Back to Athens either Mon 6/9 evening OR Tues 6/10 with plan to transfer to an island for the last part of our stay. I'm still not sure which island and/or if we should plan on 1 island or 2 that could be easy to get between. One of our Greek friends raved about Hydra - which would be a fun short ferry ride (an experience in itself that I think our kids would love). We are open to ferries, flights, anything to make the commute shorter. Perhaps we could spend one night in Hydra and then plan to go to one other island? On one hand, Santorini has the appeal of beauty. I have heard great things about Naxos. Is there an option to do Hydra and then fly to a different island by any chance? Certainly don't want to squeeze in too may islands, but especially if we could get to a close island Tues 6/10 AM, perhaps spend one night, and then Wed 6/11 get to a different island with plans to stay until Sat 6/14 mid-day, then get back to Athens for last 1/2 day, I'm thinking 2 islands may be doable (though ambitious).

Any thoughts about this itinerary are more than welcome. Oh, and I might throw in we are vegetarian, so if any islands are better in that regard, would love thoughts. Thanks!

I just re-read Janet's reply - we are very open to re-ordering these different options too. For example maybe it would even make sense to arrive in Athens, and consider flying directly to Naxos or Santorini, spending 2 nights, then back to Athens, do a 1.5 days of sightseeing, then planning the road trip, and then perhaps at the end making 2 night stay on a closer island accessible by ferry?

And also re: budget - flexible. We do not want to stay in luxury hotels and generally like to save $ on the hotels so we can put the money into excursions and things that make us get more out of a trip. For example, we can afford a private tour if that ends up being the most efficient way to see the mainland towns we want to see, or we can fly to an island if it saves us time ultimately, etc. Obviously, with 6 of us, a consideration is accommodations that allow 6 to stay (are AirBNBs an option or do we need to always book 2 hotel rooms everywhere?)

We will not drive ourselves as it seems too risky for our taste.

Driving in Greece is absolutely not risky. Many forum members, even Americans, who have done it can confirm this. After a day of driving, I'm sure you'll be completely comfortable.

Fri 6/6 - Mon 6/9 (or Tue 6/10) - I'd like to either book a tour bus
for the 6 of us OR a private tour van to take us to cities
(suggestions in order of these welcome): Nafplio, Olympia, Meteora,
Delphi.

It seems you didn't take my advice into account:

You will only have 10 full days from June 5th to 14th, so don't try to see and visit too many places. The most common mistake is to make a list of places to visit because they are considered must-sees.

To visit Nafplio, the old town, and its surroundings (Mycenae, Epidaurus), you need at least two full days (three nights).
Olympia is located far west while Delphi and Meteora are to the northeast. Regardless of the order of visits, getting from one place to another requires at least half a day of driving; once you arrive at your destination, you will need to spend one night there. If you arrive too late to visit this place, you will have to visit it the next morning, then hit the road again to your next destination.
So think twice and think of your children because that will require you to spend your time on the road, running from one place to another and unpacking/repacking your luggage almost every day.

Booking a private van wiith driver for 6 people to complete this itinerary, assuming you find an agency willing to do it, will cost you a fortune (probably several thousand euros) because you'll have to pay for all the driver's accommodation and food.

• Hydra is not the easiest or fastest island to reach from Piraeus.

Is there an option to do Hydra and then fly to a different island by
any chance?

Hydra is in the Saronic Gulf; it's a car-free island with no airports and Naxos or Santorini are in the Cyclades. There's no way to get from Hydra to the Cyclades without going back through Athens, and ferry schedules may require you to spend a night in Athens.

One consideration is accommodations that allow 6 people to stay.

In Greece, there are plenty of accommodation options, from studios to small apartments with several bedrooms (with kitchens). Much more than traditional hotels. They are often family-run, it's has always been the best way to find accommodation in Greece.
If you want to save a few hundred euros, these are the places to stay.

Just chiming in to say we found the driving easy, and if you drove the ring road in Iceland, you should be fine driving in Greece. We picked up and dropped off at ATH (avoiding city driving), and the roads in the Peloponnese were either modern highways or rural roads. Now granted, you’d be in a van, but again nothing to avoid. We spent ten days, saving Meteroa and Delphi for a future trip, skipped Olympia.

JO-Lui has tried to talk sense about what's do-able... I have also tried. You seem to have a changing wish-list, more of a "hope-list" -- but we can't promise you success with it, especiially when trying to budget, and having a late start if trying to find affordable accommodations and transport for 6 people -- a challenge even when starting 6 months ahead. Your research appears based on friends' enthuiastic remarks, and "heard great things", rather than homework. It's really hard to help, given this approach, and we do want you to have success.... and it starts with being reallstic.

You have time for ONE island for 2-3 days, ONE mainland setting with beaches, ruins, landscape, and 2 fulll days of Athens sightseeing (which means 3 nights in Athens) if you do Athens last. Even this will be a challenge to set up on a reasonable budget at this stage but can be done if you can be practical. Otherwise, we can only recommend some well-regarded Athens-based travel organizations who deal constantly with US travelers, and you can see what they can do for you.

I went to Greece with a group of seven but we had more time than you. We did two islands, Nafplio, and Athens. I would suggest one island, Nafplio, and Athens.

If you can work out flights, I would suggest Naxos for a family group. I would do it if possible upon arrival. We really liked it there. There are of course other islands you can fly to and even more you can take a ferry to. It is easier to fly upon arrival even though you have to build in a buffer for unconnected flights but still easier to do that than to go to the ferry terminal. Spend four nights there.

Then fly back to Athens and rent a car. With four children you will either need a van or two cars. We rented two cars. It is much cheaper. The driving to Nafplio and that area is not difficult. I drove it in addition to my husband as we had a group of 7.

Spend 3 nights in Nafplio. You will love it. The fortress there was several of our group's favorite thing in Greece. You can do day trips from there. I would suggest going to Nemea instead of Olympia . There were four sites that rotated for the Greek games and Nemea was one as was Olympia. My kids loved going through the tunnel to the track and running the track. And there are reconstructed ruins and an air conditioned museum which is really well done. It was in high 90s so the a/c was appreciated.

Return the car to the airport and go into Athens. We took the bus. Doing Athens last is the most efficient as otherwise you will have to "waste" one night to be near the airport the night before you leave. This is really important as you do not have very much time.

JoLui and janet, you are treasures, generous with helpful information and gracious sharing your priceless insights. I've read countless posts of yours here and anyone would be wise to heed your cautions and listen to your advice.

I'm a very experienced European traveler, I've figured out how to make things work even in crazy places with complex logistical challenges (I actually enjoy that). And I've struggled literally for years trying to "figure out" how to do a trip to Greece, and every time I take a run at it I end up throwing up my hands in frustration, setting it aside, and using my time for a trip elsewhere. Despite Greece's many obvious appeals, it seems to me that it must be the most difficult and challenging part of Europe to plan a trip, bar none. There are just too many "must see/must do" places, they are scattered all over a vast region, and - here's the kicker - getting around them and between them is shockingly slow and inefficient - so slow and inefficient that initially one tends to disbelieve it (thinking: "Bah! I've been to Europe before, I've been on ferries before, I've gone to obscure little places all around the world before...I'm smart, resourceful and determined, it can't possibly take THAT long to go from A to B, I'll find a way!").

After spending many hours staring at ferry and airline schedules, it eventually dawned on me and I now accept it: If one wants to "do Greece" and hit your long list (or even just a short list) of "musts" you really need a long trip (like, a month or more) just to start scratching the surface - and even with a month, you still can't get to all the places most of us want to see.

I have come to the following conclusion: Checking off all your Greece wishes in a single trip just can't be done. For me, a "long trip" is about 4 weeks. I can't "do" Greece in 4 weeks, so I have given up. Instead of thinking of it as "my big fat Greek trip" I'm thinking of "Just my FIRST Greek trip" and I have concluded that I need 3 or 4 of those 3-4 week trips to get through MY list. That includes: Athens. The Peloponnese. The monasteries. Other top mainland sites. Crete. At least a few of the famous (and over-touristed) islands. A least a few of the less famous (and not completely over-touristed) islands. Maybe a couple that are quiet and off the beaten path. And Crete - which seems like it deserves at least one dedicated trip of its own...

There are over 100 Greek islands, I'm not expecting to reach them all in this life, but I want a good sampling. So I'm looking at probably 4 trips to Greece. As the family travel agent I tell this to my wife. She looks at me like I'm crazy, but only adds "as long as we include Santorini and that crazy church on the rocks, that's OK with me...just make sure the rest of it is good, too." Deal. (That's how we roll.)

I think the OP in this thread has yet to come to grips with the scale of what they want, versus what can be reasonably be accomplished in a single v-e-r-y short trip.

I don't want to completely hijack their thread so I'll just add that anyone who ignores the advice generously provided by others in this thread does so at their own peril. I will come back with my own logistical questions (for my Greek Trip #1 of 4) another day and will be most appreciative of the sage advice offered.

Greece is hard to do quickly.

P.S. If you want to do all you propose, you will need to return to Greece. That is a good thing. We made a second trip and went to Crete, Meteora, and Delphi. I have a third trip all planned out to visit more of the Peloponnese.

Thank you David... I am also thankful for the gifts of Jo-Lui ... she has such good taste (but then, she's French)....