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Help with packing and restaurants

I know all of you experts can help me! I'm so excited to be heading to Greece in a week for the first time!! The first 8 days, I'll be in Athens with a group and won't have much leeway as to where we eat, but I'd love a few suggestions for dinner. Then I'll head to Hydra for 3 days and then Nafplio for two days. I'd love some dining suggestions for these two areas.

NOW....for the packing....should I bring any shorts? What about my Converse casual tennis shoes? Are most places relatively casual (jeans?). Any other tips are appreciated. I don't want to scream "American tourist".

Posted by
3961 posts

Our favorite restaurant in Athens is Manh Manh. It's located just south of the Acropolis. We ate there several times. Need reservations for dinner to ensure a table. Very popular. They have their own wine label and can recommend either the white or red! The best wine we had in Greece.

Our choice for Hydra is the Veranda Restaurant for their wonderful food and unbelievable view of the exquisite harbor. It's a bit of a climb but worth every step! Again, make reservations. Enjoy your time in Greece!

Posted by
3311 posts

I'd suggest switching off the time; limit Hydra to 2 days (VERY quiet off-season) , Nafplio for 3 ... so MUCH more to do/see there. Check out this superb and NONcommercial website: http://www.visitnafplio.com -- NO ads or "tie-ins". comprehensive info and visuals, done by a Norwegian expats who's lived there for years ... tells you how to get there, what to see, where stay, eat, beach-walk, everything.

If you're going in April NO to shorts! Check the weather!! Probably highs about 70°F if you are lucky, and rains are still spotty -- bring a teensy folding umbrella in luggage. yes, everything's casual. Jeans, slacks, light jackets, a cardigan, and sneakers are fine.

Posted by
3961 posts

We agree with Janet. 2 nights in Hydra is good. 3 nights in Nafplio is magnificent! Highlight of our tour in the Peloponnese.

Posted by
219 posts

Athens' predicted high temperatures for the next two weeks are around 82*F.

Posted by
15560 posts

I'd take capris and a fleece jacket. In fact, that's what I did take last year, end of April to beginning of May. You never know, but for me the first few days were pleasantly cool - needed the jacket a couple of days, most mornings, by May I was happy in sandals and short sleeves. Locals I saw dressed casual. It was definitely warm enough for sunbathing at the beach and a number of folks went into the water at least for a few minutes. You'll need swimming shoes, the beaches are pebbly. Our group walked to a lovely beach in Hydra at the Four Seasons - pleasant walk took about an hour and a half at a pretty slow pace. There's a shuttle boat you can take there and/or back but I recommend walking one way.

In Athens, indeed the best restaurant I ate at was Mani Mani (the H is in Greek - the letter eta which is pronounced as a long E in English).

Posted by
265 posts

Leaving ourselves on Wednesday for 12 days in Greece. The 10-15 day forecast (I know, it is a weather forecast) predicts high temps around 80 for most of the next 2 weeks in Nafplio, lows generally mid 50's. Athens is much the same, Santorini about 10-12 degrees cooler. Should be very nice touring weather. I will take slacks with zip off legs (convert to shorts) if it gets too warm during the daytime, my wife will take Capris and one pair of jeans.

I have worn (and taken only one pair per trip) New Balance walking shoes all over Europe. No one cares. Unless you are booking meals at Michelin 4 star restaurants, you will be wearing casual wear, just like the natives if you are dining at Rick's kind of places.

Posted by
1353 posts

Its been a few years but Taverna Fanaria was our absolute favorite in Nafplio old town. Its down a small alleyway and it was always full. Which means the food is good and the price is right.
Don't miss hanging out whit the locals at the marble paved central square after dark
You can see the central square and Fanaria in the first 8 photos of this album
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157632094108982.

Posted by
3961 posts

Another recommendation for dinner in Nafplio is the delightful Taverna Pseiras.
We were on the RS Greece Tour and enjoyed an evening of music and Greek Dancing. Family run and traditional Greek dishes. A night to remember.

Posted by
3311 posts

Taverna Psieras it is true has traditional Greek dishes. I would check beforehand whether it has music & Greek dancing. I rather think that this was put on just for the Rick Steves bunch. Especially since you would be going off-season. If y ou are staying in Nafplio Old Town, If I were you, I'd consult with my hotelier about which places around town offer music during dinner ... it varies.

Posted by
3961 posts

@Janet, thanks for follow up. Yes, the music & dancing was arranged by our RS Tour. ;J

Posted by
33 posts

Totally second, third, fourth Manh Manh in Athens. Oh. My. God. I wish we had gone there more often! By far, the best meal from beginning to end we had in Athens.

A few of our friends went to Veranda on Hydra and enjoyed it very much. It supposedly has a wonderful view, too.

As far as dress codes - as far as our group - the men wore button downs or polo shirts with shorts or pants for dinner. Some women dressed up T-shirts with scarves or crinkled travel skirts.

Posted by
503 posts

I was in Greece on the RS tour in October of 2016. I thought it might have been cooler than it turned out to be. I wore shorts and tee shirts the entire time except for one evening in Athens when it cooled off a bit and I wore a pair of cotton capris. Check the weather forecast and wear whatever you are comfortable wearing in that type of weather. Remember, you will be waking around in the sun and that always makes you feel warmer. I never had a bad meal in Greece, whether eating in a highly recommended restaurant or just picking one on our own, it was all very good and inexpensive. Enjoy

Posted by
2455 posts

Emily, yes lots of good restaurants and food in Athens, and yes, Manh Manh is terrific! Great food, great wine, excellent and friendly service. It is up one long flight of stairs. I was there last year in June, and they opened for lunch at 2 pm. I was there twice right at 2, and was seated right away with no reservation. Dinner might call for a reservation, not sure this time of year.

Posted by
975 posts

Your Converse casual tennis shoes should be fine. I don't own any shorts. I have worn open toed shoes in the past but I will not do so again. I would stick with closed-toed, flat-soled shoes, lace-up shoes that will be good for a lot of walking. Last time I traveled I had two pairs of pants, one I wore to the airport and one extra pair, both sort of quick drying pants I bought at outdoor supply stores. I wore lightweight button down long-sleeved shirts. It matters that your shoes are good for walking a lot but the style won't make much difference to native Greeks and other tourists. The style of the rest of your clothes probably won't make a difference in most places. Some opinions say, don't wear t-shirts with slogans. Shorts and short sleeves are fine if you are not worrying about getting sunburned. Many native Europeans don't wear shorts and dress fancier than Americans most of the time; most Americans don't care about dressing like the local natives and it won't matter; most places don't have a dress code and most Greeks or other tourists won't care what you wear or they won't say anything about it.