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Summer Greece Itinerary Help

Posted by on

We will have two weeks in Greece in late June/early July and would love thoughts on this schedule.

We've been once before so have some feel for travel there, but it's been years. We scheduled 1.5 days in Athens, although I know there is much to see. I'm nervous about summer weather and potential triple digits (or close) in a city. The heat feels like it will be more manageable on an island. We're going this time of year to attend a wedding.

Day 1: Arrive Athens from U.S. - Overnight Athens (unsure where, will be taking morning ferry the next day).

PAROS:
Day 2: Morning ferry to Paros - Stay in Parikia or Naoussa (explore town where staying; evening family event)
Day 3: Paros boat tour (all day)
Day 4: Half-day explore Parikia or Naoussa (wherever we're not staying) + likely beach; evening will attend a wedding
Day 5: Daytrip to Antiparos
Day 6: Drive to Lefkes, maybe Aliki and Beach

NAXOS:
Day 7: Morning Ferry to Naxos (explore the town, Temple of Apollo, Beach)
Day 8: Bus tour to village (or self tour): Apiranthos, Chalkio, Temple of Demeter, maybe beach

SANTORINI:
Day 9: Morning ferry to Santorini (staying in Fira: explore town, hotel pool, maybe to to Pygos if too busy)
Day 10: Walk from Fira to Oia, Ammoumdi Bay Swimming; Return to Fira by bus
Day 11: Akrotiri Ruins, Lighthouse, maybe Emporio Village, hotel pool.

ATHENS:
Day 12: Morning flight to Athens (partial day Athens)
Day 13: Athens full day
Day 14: Return flight to U.S.

Thanks!

Posted by
3436 posts

You seem to have given a lot of thought to this, but perhaps haven't researched all the options:

FERRY vs FLYING:
- Fast-ferries Pireaus-Paros save only about 1 hour, very $$ - The pleasanter large open-deck BLUE STAR takes from 7:30-10:45? and requires staying in hot ( &somewhat grimey?)Piraeus or rising early-early to metro/taxi to boat. If you FLY (and check for January %off promotions of Aegean or Sky Express), flights arent that much more, and offer more relaxed "recovery day". I.e., arrive ATH (noonish? 2pm?) - get (free both ways) shuttle to HOTEL AVA, 25 mins away, overlooking beach.. swim, dine in tree-shaded Rafina square, early night, AM shuttle back to Airport for earliest PAROS flight. Explore this option.

NAXOS-SANTORINI TWEAK?
Why Santorini for 3 days? Its main thing is Famous Caldera View, which can be appreciated in short walk from Firostephani to Fira... NOT that hothot slog Oia- Fira (that trek is promoted mainly because Santorinii has almost no other walks). I would recommend that you limit Santorini to 48 hours ... and focus on the view. and allot 1 more day to NAXOS ... remember how hot it may be.

SANTORINI THINGS to CONSIDER:
(1) If it's important to you to get the Famous Glimpse of Santorini cliffs as you approach, you'll need to take the 12:45 Blue Star arr 2:30, not a morning ferry (those are reserved-seat enclosed cabin, no deck/no view).
(2 In July on Santorini, village of OIA is JAMPACKED 7 days a week - to avoid crowd-crush woes... be like the 3rd Little Pig in the Nursery Tale -- get up super-early, book taxi ahea @€25 to arrive by 8am or earlier, & you'll have 2 hours to wander the lanes & take your pix till the cruise-armies and package-tour hordes invade.. then leave, take bus back to Fira. Also, don't fall for the "sunset in Oia" fable... book a wine-tasting, several vineyards have good sunset vista, no crowds.

Posted by
1671 posts

On Paros, stay in Parikia, where locals live. Naoussa is very commercialized and touristy: full of Brits.

Haven't been to Naxos.

Santorini: I was there in 2015. It was crowded in Oia and Fira. My brother visited for a second time in 2021 and told me that he wanted to leave Oia as there were too many cruise ships tourists.

Posted by
3436 posts

Agree with Barkinpark... Naoussa used to be "real" when I first visited (24 years ago) but now is all pretty-pretty pastels, pricey shops, costly dining, hasnt seen a fisherman in decades. Parikia still has some boatmen mending nets sometimes, in the morning. In hot June, book best places now - a well-situated small place, Casa di Roma, has enclosed garden area & pool, in heart of most traditional central neighborhood.

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