Hi,
My mom and I will be in Athens early November for about 5 days. Does anyone have any day trips out of Athens to recommend or any specific tour companies we should book from? Would a day cruise to Hydra, Poros, and Egina in November be a waste? Also...does anyone know if Delphi is closed? I read something about it on someone else's posting. Neither of us have ever been to Greece and we are just hoping to make the most of our time there.
Thanks so much!
This is what Rick has posted to his Athens guidebook update page about Delphi:
About half of the archaeological site at Delphi — including the Temple of Apollo, Theater, and Stadium — is temporarily closed to visitors as a precaution due to falling rocks. Site entry is free during the partial closure and the museum remains open. Visitors can still see the Roman Forum, the Sacred Way, Treasuries, and Polygonal Wall. It is not yet clear when the rest of the site will reopen.
You should probably check the guidebook updates pages before your trip for the latest info.
Ana - So many choices - Of course The Cyclades with Mykonos and Santorini BUT - they really deserve more time than a day trip. My top choice would be Meteora - A truly unbelievable place and one that you would surely find worth the trip!
Ciao, Greg
Ana, you will want to do 2 solid days IN Athens (Acropolis, Ancient Agora, new Acropolis Museum & either Benaki Museum or National archeological). But I propose a terrif 2-day tour... which will take you to 2 of the TOP ancient sites --You see Corinth, Mycenae & Epidaurus --AND you have ample time & overnite in Nafplio, stunning, most beautiful town in Greece; here's a slideshow of Nafplio my friend did. http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/551991579dJbWvh
Two companies do the tour, CHAT and KEY tours. I recommend KEY because you can be in a "tourist class hotel" which is right in town (the Victoria, I like it), and CHAT puts you up outside town. Costs u 120€ each u can take it Mon, Tues or Wed. http://www.keytours.gr/en/packet.asp?packet_id=16&category_id=1&lang=_en NOTE: you can leave your Athens hotel for a night for this, they are USED to this kind of arrangement. You will thank me! It is unforgettable! MUCH better than Delphi at this time.
About an Island -- rather than 3-isle trip (it's all about getting on & off on & off), just go to Aegina, hire a taxi, to go to the Temple of Aphaia on a high hill, with 360° view. Breathtaking. Then eat seafood & take a ferry back.
I agree that Meteora is truly spectacular and shouldn't be missed if at all possible. If you can also do Epidaurus, Mycenae and Nafplio, so much the better. There's also Olympia to take into consideration.
If KEY tours are not operating in November, did you try CHAT tours? Theirs is also good, it's just that you'll have to take a taxi from the hotel to Old Town (and you can share with another tour person) ...
Another possibility is just to DO Nafplio YOURSELF. Take a taxi to the Kifissou Street bus station ( KTEL Intercity bus) and go to the ARgolid window for a bus to Nafplio - 11.5 E per ticket, and it goes every hour on the half-hour. A nice 2.5 hour ride, sit on LEFT side for view of the sea most of he way. When you reach Nafplio (end of the line), take a taxi (3.E) to Hotel Victoria... very handy. Call or e-mail & request a floor with view of the sea or of Palamidi fortress from the balcony. When u leave, knowing the way. you'll be able to walk back to bus.
You can TOTALLY enjoy just being in Nafplio -- get a morning bus, spend the entire day sightseeing this wonderful town, go back the next day. Go to the Cultural Information office (next to Fire Station; ask your hotel clerk). There you can get a FREE audio guide for a walking tour to all the city's landmarks!! At sunset time, head for the harborside cafes... they have plastic sides & heating if it gets cold, so you can enjoy sunset in comfort. Some nice restaurants: Aeolus, Ta Fanaria, Taverna Old Mansion (Palio Archontiko). Lots of great Shopping, the Nafplio Arch. Museum is Superb AND the best Folk Museum in Greece, I think. I did that on my own on 1st trip to Greece and it was easy as pie -- and will cost you a lot less than 120€ per!!
Thanks Janet! I think we are going to do what you suggested and do Nafplio on our own. I really appreciate your great advice! :)
janet,
I'm slightly confused. Are you saying that you can do a day trip to Nafplio OR go and do a 1 nite stay?
Thanks!
This is for Greg ... yes Greg, if you go to the websites of KEY Tours and CHAT tours, you will see that both of them offer a 1-day tour (which quickly drives you to Mycenae, a quickie lunch in Nafplio, Epidaurus in the afternoon then back to Athens). There is also a 2-day tour, offered April through November. I think it is MUCH better, if you are in Greece during that time period, because there is ample time to explore Nafplio -- which is after all a World Heritage Site for its stunning architecture and amazing history. You go the morning of day 1 to Mycenae, then to Nafplio. You have the whole afternoon, evening, and the next morning to explore & enjoy Nafplio and nearby area (you could even go to Tiryns, it's only 6 km outside town, by local bus!). And by the way, sunset from the promenade cafes at the Nafplio seafront is unforgettable ... I have taken people there 4 or 5 times after being in Crete and Santorini, and they all gasp, "This is THE best!!" The noon of Day 2 you go to Epidaurus, then back to Athens by 7-730pm on day 2.
As previously noted, I now prefer KEY tours because it books you into a hotel right in Old Town (Victoria), not outside.
