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Greek Isles and Athen and beyond

Adjusted our itinerary now for about May 2-May 17. Combining islands on our own and then back to Athens to join a group. Any suggestions on this plan?

Athens 1
Santorini 3
Naxos 2
Mykonos 2
Athens 1 then join group next morning for Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
Athens 1 Explore Plaka, Constituion Square, on own
Going 5 day tour Olympia, Dephi, Kalambaka, Nafplio, Meteora and back to Athens

We land in Athens and take ferry to Santorini in the morning. Where is best place to spend the night in Athens that would be close to ferry?

Any feedback would be just great.
Thanks!

Posted by
1224 posts

[Re]move the first day in Athens. Go directly (with layover) from flight into Athens airport onto your flight to Santorini...

Posted by
3312 posts

It is hard to advise when you are so terse with details. What TIME of day do you arrive on Thurs May 2?? Unless you arrive after 6 pm you should FLY (allow a 2 hr layover) immediately to SANTORINI. A ferry takes 8-9 hours (and most of the trip, nothing to see but sea), a flight takes 50 minutes -- and in Early May, depending on time of day, the $$ may be roughly the same. If you arrive 6 or later, I advise staying near airport (but on a beach) at Hotel AVRA ...recently renovated v. nicely -- a 25 min ride on FREE Shuttle to/from airport -- and take early AM flight to Santorini.

• SANTORINI - going on Thurs night would give you 3 full days/4 nights there... so I would say leave Monday AM on ChampionJet 10:30 or so, for NAXOS - open back deck permits nice departure view & photos, arrives Naxos by noon.
• NAXOS - I propose you devote 4 nights to Naxos, and skip a stay in Mykonos. Naxos is a super island for scenery, antiquities, walks, drives, food, nightlife... not yet totally touricized so spend time there before this changes. If Mykonos is a "must-see" there's a daily excursion from Naxos (which also has option of 3 hours on the sacred isle of Delos). Since you will have already seen one v. expensive, totally touristic Greek isle (plus the Famous Caldera View), why see another... if you've been to NYC or Palm Beach or Beverly Hills, you already have been to "famous name" luxury shops Cartier-Hermes-Calvin-Boss-DKNY etc etc, no need to re-visit. Friends say "you must see Mykonos" that's because they were there on a cruise.
• RETURN to MAINLAND -- Flight or Ferry? Again, options. Flight = 45 mins vs. 5.5-6 hours. If you DO decide on Ferry, I suggest the Blue Star departure 6pm - 11:45pm ... Enjoy sunset on deck, get "reserved economy" seats for sitting inside later, large comfy leanback seats to read,snack, snooze. That way u dont have ferry ride 9:45 - 3pm using up most of a day.

Posted by
1353 posts

As I look at your post, it is possible to interpret your the plan 1) arrive in Athens spend the night then meet a group for a tour of Acropolis then taking the classic Greece tour to the highlight places on the mainland, returning to Athens for a night then ferry to Santorini, Naxos and finish in Mykonos. I presume you plan to return to Athens for your return flight?

The way the first two respondents have interpreted your plan is 2) as a night in Athens ferry to Santorini,Naxos Mykonos, Athens for a night then the 5 day classic tour.
As Janet has mentioned its important to give us sufficient information so we are not having to make assumptions which dilutes the worth of advice we can give.

Posted by
527 posts

I visited Mykonos and Naxos in September. Mykonos was nice but Naxos was great and four days wasn't enough. I would cut Mykonos and give to Naxos plus you won't lose all that time changing islands.