We are starting our trip in Athens for 3 nights, and then picking up a car and driving to Meteora - staying in Kalabaka for 2 nights. We have 3 nights to be in a third destination with the last night in Athens because we have a very early flight out on our final day. I would love to be in Napflio, but understand it is about an 8 hour drive from Meteora. I hate to spend a whole day traveling when we are only in Greece for 9 days. Would you have other suggestions? Any islands maybe?
Many thanks!
Posted by
France Southwest
2391 posts
If you go to Meteora it is better to stay in Kastraki rather than Kalambaka.
Since you are going 4 hours north of Athens and will have to return to Athens you will spend a lot of time driving anyway.
And indeed, you cannot at the same time want to see every corner of Greece in 5 days and not want to drive too much.
There comes a time when you have to make choices.
So, if you don't want to drive more than 6 hours in a single day, leave Meteora early, return the car to Athens and continue to an island.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you for your advice, I appreciate it. I understand making choices is our problem! If you were going to go to an island from the Port in Athens, which would you choose? We are traveling in late October. I wasn't sure about the weather for island travel at that time of year. Your thoughts?
Posted by
France Southwest
2391 posts
From a ferry travel point of view the weather can be a problem in August as much as in October. And it's impossible to predict the weather more than 3 days in advance.
From a temperature point of view the weather is generally still very good late October
If I were you, and if I wanted to go to an island, I would not spend 3 nights in Athens at the start of my stay.
Instead I would only stay one night in Athens before leaving for the Meteora then go to an island (or vice versa) and I would keep these two nights saved for the end of my stay.
But maybe you have already booked your hotels.
As for which island to choose, it depends on many things, but above all on your preferences, not mine, otherwise I could recommend around fifteen... :))
The easiest island to reach by ferry from the port of Piraeus is Aegina (in the Argosaronic Islands).
https://www.visitgreece.gr/islands/saronic-islands/
There is also Tinos island by ferry from the port of Rafina (which is 20 minutes by taxi from the airport)
And Paros or Naxos to which there are ferry departures from Piraeus until 4 p.m. / 5 p.m.
These last three in the Cyclades islands