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Travel in Italy and Greece with teen boys - what to visit?

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Hi everyone - and thanks so much for the info I've already received on this forum. I'm planning a graduation trip for my son (and his brother) and he has his heart set on Greece and Italy both. We have 10-11 days on the ground total between the two countries. I'm planning on 2 days in Rome, 2 days in Athens, but what else should we visit given the limited time? I'm planning on flying between Rome and Athens, with our start and end in Rome. Thought we'd leave Rome until the last 2 days if possible since I want to be in Rome the day before we leave for home. Just to complicate things, my sister is travelling with us and REALLY wants to go to the Pope's Wednesday morning audience (if this still is a thing?). In Greece, I'm fine with renting a car in Athens and driving, and am guessing that we'd have more time on the ground if we stayed on the Peloponnesian peninsula rather than island hopping.

My kids have limited patience with museums - so I was thinking things like Pompeii (if do-able from Rome without burning too much time?) and at least 1 day at a beach somewhere. Planning on visiting in mid-late May of 2025.

I know this is entirely too short to visit both, but those are my marching orders. Any suggestions and feedback would be very much welcomed.

Posted by
3971 posts

This sounds like a great family graduation trip. I think to maximize your 10-11 day/night? trip I’d consider flying open jaw or multi city in to either city and out of the other not RT Rome. If cost is a huge factor and RT Rome is what you do, consider flying onward from Rome to Athens on the day of arrival with a 4+ hour cushion between separately booked tickets but ideally into one city and out of the other on one ticket is the best for limited time and less risk.

As far as itinerary, have your son show you some things he’s most interested in doing in each country and see how long his lists are. For kids interested in history and mythology I could see spending equal time in both cities with a Greek island day trip from Athens. For a much shorter train ride from Rome to a historical site and possible beach side trip, I’d consider Ostia Antica instead of Pompeii.

10-11 days/nights somewhat split between two cities with a day trip to a nearby place isn’t too much time IMO for a first time visit to these significant cities if you and your son’s lists are long.

Posted by
4473 posts

So, everyone has a diminished time then? They could have one good trip or two lesser trips stuffed into one. I know what I would choose!
If teenagers are dictating the two destinations, then they should be making suggestions for the itinerary. I would ask them why they chose each and what they wish to see in each--both are really varied places.
At the very end of May, you might have swimming weather but it is early for beach (and marvelous for just about everything else).

Have you checked multi-city flights, into Athens and out of Rome?
If you stick with Athens and mainland, then Nafplio is a fantastic town close to many sights. Then you just need one other Italy destination, and I would choose Naples and visit Pompeii form there instead of from Rome (too far). That's four destinations in ten days, which is too much.

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