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Italy and Greece- month trip- seeking advice

Posted by on

Planning a trip summer 2017 for both Italy and Greece. We have been to Italy several times including Positano (planning to go back). We are up for suggestions on changing length of time or cutting parts.

here is what I am thinking- I am not sure if this is logical or not.
Greece-
1. Fly into Athens and then get out immediately-
--go to hydra for 3 nights,
--then Crete (3 nights),
--Santorini (3 nights),
--- Mykonos (2 nights),
--- Athens (4 nights) with day trips planned

Italy
then fly to Sicily (not sure which place to go (either Catania or Palermo)
--- and depending on which one- spend 4 nights in one and 3 nights in the other- suggestions?
--- then fly to Naples- get out of naples
---go 7 nights in Positano (Capri one day and Sorrento one day)
--- then Naples for 3 or 4 days- going to Herculaneum for one of the days and flying home from Naples

--- posting this in both the Italy and Greece forums- thank you for your help and suggestions

Posted by
27215 posts

I beg you to allot more time to Sicily. It is a large and fascinating island easily deserving of 2 weeks--and even then you would miss a lot of great places. Pick up a guidebook to Sicily (an older one will do, or visit your local library) and start making a list of places that sound intriguing.

Four nights might be about right for Palermo if you include a day-trip to Cefalu, assuming you want to see quite a lot of the glorious churches and oratorios. Just understand that Palermo is a Naples-style city (rambunctious, crowded), not remotely like Positano. If that doesn't sound so appealing, maybe just two nights in Palermo.

Catania has an attractive old town but is the second largest city and sort of Palermo-lite. It wouldn't be my suggestion for a second base in Sicily. I'd prefer Siracusa for its historic district, ancient ruins and easy access by bus (if you're not driving) to the nearby Baroque towns of Ragusa, Noto, and Modica.

Many folks head straight to Taormina, which is beautiful and touristy. Other possibilities for bases are Trapani/Erice, one of the interior towns like Piazza Armerina (to see the fabulous mosaics at the Villa Romana del Casale). Someone else will need to make a suggest about covering the Greek sites in the southwest. They are not my thing.

Where to get some extra time? I'd drop Hydra in a heartbeat, and I'd trim Positano. If you just can't spare any extra days for Sicily, honestly, I don't think I'd bother to go. Keep it for another trip.

Posted by
7175 posts

Yes, I think Sicily needs 10 days at least. Visit Naples on a day from Positano, and add those 3-4 days on to Sicily.

Posted by
11294 posts

I'll third the advice to spend as much time in Sicily as possible. In fact, you could spend your whole time in Italy there, and not run out of first-tier places to see.

I spent 10 nights there, and ran around just getting an introduction (still missing a lot of places, including everything west of Palermo). Here is my VERY detailed trip report: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/sicily-palermo-caltanisetta-siracusa-taormina

Posted by
15 posts

Thank you everyone. . . based on the feedback we have tweaked the plans, but still interested if anyone has additional thoughts or suggestions.
Fly into Athens and then fly out (same day-
Crete (3 nights),
Santorini (3 nights),
--- Naxos (4 nights),
--- Athens (4 nights) with day trips planned
Italy
Athen to Sicily via air
--- Catania or somewhere in the area (suggestions!?!?) for 4 nights
--- Palermo (3 nights)
fly Palermo to Naples then to Positano
--- Positano (6 nights)
---Naples (2 nights)
--- Fly home
still posting this in both the Italy and Greece forums- thank you for your help and suggestions

Posted by
27215 posts

Your choice of a place to stay in eastern Sicily should take into consideration what cities you want to visit in that part of the island.

I would want more time on Sicily and less in Positano, though I realize that you especially like Positano.

Posted by
1540 posts

I love Sicily. Cefalu is one of my favorite places (spent 3 nights there) along the north coast.
Here is a great link for all kinds of info on Sicily - there are dozens of links to all kinds of info from this site.
Best of Sicily

Posted by
1 posts

Athens 4 nites- with day trips. If you have not been to Athens before, then obviously you will want a full day in the city to see the Acropolis, the Plaka and perhaps the national museum. For day trips, I would suggest a trip to Naphlion/ epidaurus and then another perhaps heading north to Delphi. Check out Matt Barrett website for lots of insider details.

Posted by
72 posts

You are taking my dream trip! I have been pining for Sicily for about 10 years now.

Your Greece itinerary is good - what part of Crete are you going to? If Iraklion - be sure to see the Palace of Knossos and visit the archaeological museum in Iraklion. It houses some beautiful frescoes rom Knossos and traces the history of the fascinating Minoan civilization.

There is also a strong Venetian history in Crete that is worth studying up on before you go - Jan Morris does a nice job describing Venetian history in her book The Venetian Empire: A sea voyage. And it's a short book!

Enjoy your trip for all of us!

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