Hello! Our daughter graduates from college and she chose Greece for her grad present! Our plan is to go from May 7-14 2024( yes that is around the corner!!) before she heads off to the real world. We live in the USA/TN and are lost in the sea of information that is posted. We have been to Europe before and love sight seeing. We would would love to see any bible realted history and any other suggestions within the 7days we will be there. Where would you suggest to fly into and start our trip and where to end? We have seen that Santorini, Naxos and Athens are some suggestions. We appreciate any and all HELP!
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
388 posts
There are some very interesting bible related sites in Greece. Here is some inspiration:
https://www.visitgreece.gr/inspirations/the-route-that-apostle-paul-followed-in-greece/
https://greekreporter.com/2024/01/21/saint-paul-greece/
https://stpaul-culturalroute.eu/travelling/greece/
We had a wonderful trip for about that length of time in Greece, split between Athens and Napflio with day trips out. We flew in and out of Athens. We did not do any of the islands.
Posted by
Oregon
230 posts
Hopefully, you will arrive in Greece after May 7. May 7 is the official Worker's Day in Greece this year, so expect strikes.
You could visit Patmos Island and Ephesus, Türkiye (both have Christian sites) by flying through Athens into Samos Island. Take a ferry to Patmos and/or to Kusadasi. Other islands nearby are Ikaria. Caution, I haven't done this.
Posted by
City of Seattle
1771 posts
With as little time as you have, do one or two islands and a short look around Athens.
Santorini is not overrated in the least, unique and remarkable. Easy enough to get a little bit out of the tourist centers there too - it's a fairly big island.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11180 posts
Where would you suggest to fly into and start our trip and where to end?
You will almost certainly enter/depart Greece via Athens. It may be possible to fly from certain islands to other European cities, but you will find using Athens is pretty much the easiest and in most instances the default routing.
If you do stay on an island, do it at the beginning and finish your trip in Athens. Makes getting the flight for US much simpler.
Posted by
4384 posts
What does your daughter have in mind?
Greece is not one thing--it does not have to be an islands trip for example. With a week, I would think you would have time for one island.
If you are interested in the biblical angle, that would include the north. Athens and Thessaloniki would make a great spring time trip.
I would get a guide book and assign everyone to select their top 2-3 places to see, then see where everyone overlaps.
Posted by
Nanaimo, BC, Canada
1375 posts
In Athens very close to the Acropolis you will find Mars Hill or Areopagus hill. That is where Paul preached. Its a good place to visit plus the Acropolis.
You might want to consider visiting Nafplio. Its a lovely seaside city with beautiful views an lovely old town and a mighty Venetian era fortress on the hill over the city. On the way you can visit ancient Corinth where there is a significant Christian era archaeological site.
In a week you do not have enough time to do much more that Athens and Nafplio.
some images of both
Athens https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157632121475515
Nafplio https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157632094108982
Arriving May 7 may not be a very good plan as it is designated as strike day. Do you have any flexibility to come sooner or later than the 7th