We are starting to think of our 2020 June vacation and Greece for 7-10 nights.
During the time we are spending in Athens, is there a island that folks could recommend that we could do on a long day ferry trip.
Leave early in the morning catch ferry to an island for a long day. Visit some sites, beach have lunch and dinner there and return to Athens after dinner on the ferry? Is this doable or possible?
Aegina works. We did that and had a great day trip. Very cute little main town, and a short bus ride to an amazing temple. Another short bus ride to a small beach community. I know people also do Hydra.
Aegina (40mins or 60) is closer than Hydra 2 hrs... People keep raving about Hydra has no cars, but for a day-trip, Aegina has VERY little traffic but handy to have vehicles around. One can take a bus to Island center to see stunning Temple of Aphaia atop a hill (360° view of Saronic bay), then walk downhill to Ag Marina? beach for swim & lunch .... if bus schedule works, take bus back to port town, otherwise taxi. (get a taxi driver's card at the port, to call if u need it). Sunset at port & dinner is great, then ferry back by starlight. THis photo album https://www.flickr.com/photos/36264706@N03/sets/72157621604646139/detail/ shows step by step a day trip in June. NOTE: since Aegina is so popular as getaway for Athenians, best to go M-F, not weekends. I was there in early june on T-W, not crowded.
Another nice beach, Marathona, has a cute cafe for lunch, and more beach room
- https://www.aeginagreece.com/aegina-island/directory/aegina-listing/restaurants-cafes-bars/beach-bar/la-palma-marathonas/
Here's the key: at least outbound, take Conventional FErry, NOT the more-frequent Hydrofoils (latter has no outer deck, windows are salt-frosted no view). With conventional ferry, u sit on deck & enjoy seascape, everything from freighter to huge cruise ships, to schooners, or fishing boats... gulls, even maybe a dolphin ... and enjoy approach to attractive port. If u return after dark, u could take a hydrofoil for convenience. I can't seem to access the usual ferry sites tonight, but I know there's a conventional ferry at about ? 8;30. you can stop into a ticket agency near your central Athens hotel and ask for timetable for NONhydrofoils.
Just take Green line Metro (30 mins) from cental athens to Piraeus (WATCH for PICKPOCKETS; don't carry valuables, etc, just a small zip-coinpurse with €€ for the day) ... buy ferry tickets at a portside agency.
