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Athens after Italy; is it worth it?

I know this is kind of a loaded questions, but I need a little perspective to help me decide whether or not to fly over to Greece. My husband and two teens are planning a 3-week trip to Italy, which will include a week in Rome. I've read that you can get pretty cheap airline tickets from Rome to Athens, so we have talked about flying over to Athens to see the ruins and then relaxing in Nafplion or Tolo for a few days before returning home. Our money will be running low, so we don't intend to hop a ferry and go out to the islands. Our main reason for the extra trip is to see the Acropolis and other ruins. Then I figured we'd just put our feet up for a couple days near the sea before heading home.

It looks to me from the pictures I've seen that most of the ruins in Greece are in much worse shape than those in Italy, save a small handful. So I have three questions.... Are the ruins in Greece as stupendous as those in Italy or are they a bit of a letdown and much fewer? And in your opinion (yes, I realize everyone feels differently) would you be worn out after 3 weeks in Italy and be bored of ruins unless they were dramatically different? Is it worth still going to Greece since we are so close?

Posted by
401 posts

The first time I went to Italy we then took the ferry over to Greece. While I found the countryside and the coast really pretty, I found Athens kind of a let down after Italy, especially after Rome. I agree with the others, I would do Greece as a separate trip, unless you don't think you will be getting back over for another trip, in which case, yes, you should go. Seeing the Acropolis is not something that one regrets.

Posted by
32352 posts

Cindy,

I have to agree with the others. You'll probably be "wearing a bit thin" towards the end of your trip, and IMHO it would be better to see visit Greece on a future trip (especially since your "money will be running low").

Which airport are you using for your flight home? As Frank II mentioned, find a nice quiet location in Italy to savour the last of your trip before returning home.

Happy travels!

Posted by
16285 posts

My personal suggestion is that after 3 weeks on the go you will be tired. Find someplace in Italy to rest a few days. Save Greece for another trip when you can enjoy the entire country.

Posted by
2186 posts

I agree with Frank II. I'd save Greece for a trip of its own (well worth it). I don't think you'll be worn out after 3 weeks, but I doubt if you'll be in the moood to spend a day hassling with two airports.

If you like ruins, I assume you've already planned visits to Pompeii and Herculaneum. I'd recommend Paestum as well. It's a lovely, peaceful spot with some really well-preserved Greek temples. Then find a little spot by the sea to relax for a day or two.

Posted by
274 posts

We don't have our tickets yet, but will fly into Rome and either out of Rome again or fly openjaw out of Venice. I'm starting to look at airline fares and needed to figure out whether or not to fly openjaw out of Athens.... This is our first trip abroad. I'd like to believe that we can make it to Greece some day down the road and take in the mainland and the islands, since I'm starting to believe it would be too much to add on to this trip. I also have to take into account just how much traveling our 12 and 15 year-olds can take on.

Posted by
32352 posts

Cindy,

The travel time for your teens is certainly something to consider. They'll probably be suffering some degree of "travel fatigue" by that point, and may not have the same degree of interest as you and your husband. Given that this is your "first trip abroad", I'd suggest pacing yourselves. As Rick frequently says "assume you will return".

In order to suggest places you might stay at the end of your trip, it would help to know where you'll be travelling in Italy? As you haven't booked your flights yet, that opens up all kinds of possibilities.

Cheers!

Posted by
274 posts

We are debating between two endings. Right now our trip includes Rome (several days), Manarola (4 days), Cortona & hilltowns (1 week), and then either head to Trento and end in Venice OR head to Terricina or Sperlonga for a couple days of beach time. Thoughts?

Posted by
1 posts

I'm afraid I'm going to throw a spanner in the works - so to speak!
We had 5 weeks in Italy and then flew from Rome to Athens where we had several nights and then 2 weeks sailing around the islands.
Athens has a totally different atmosphere to Italy and was fascinating on so many levels. The Parthenon is beautiful and not like anything we'd seen in Italy, so I can really recommend it.
Check out http://www.athensguide.com/index.html
for some info.
Also, being from Australia which is so far from everywhere, our motto is: Assume you may NOT be back!

Good luck with your plans!
Julieta :)