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HELP with island hopping in the Greek Isles

We would like to follow Lonley Planet's two week guide for island hopping. In order we would go from Athens to Mykonos to Delos to Naxos to Folegandros (maybe) to Santorini to Crete to Iraklio to Hania and the Samaria Gorge leaving to back to Athens from Kissamos-Kastelli. Our question is - how long to do spend on any of these islands. We will have two teenage girls with us and we are all interested in lots of beach time and a relaxing pace. We would rather stay two nights in most place if there is enough to do there. Has anyone done this? Can you give us any suggestions?! We will be going in August - I know, I know it will be HOT!

Posted by
3115 posts

2 nights in each location really means whatever time you have left on the day you arrive plus the next day and night. The following morning will be your time to check out of your hotel and get to the port for the next ferry. You couldn't have a less-relaxing pace if you tried. This does not leave you with a lot of time to explore an island. You need a minimum of 3-4 days per island depending on the island. And Crete needs a minimum of a week with a rental car to explore.

My suggestion is that you should rethink your itinerary and eliminate at least one island. True, Mykonos has great beaches but they will be extremely crowded in August and prices for accomodations, food and drink will be astronimical there. Your money will be better spent on islands that haven't been overdeveloped and overadvertised. Choose between Mykonos and Santorini. I'd choose Santorini. True, it suffers from the same over-touristed problems as Mykonos but at least there's more to see and do there. To be fair, the beaches aren't as nice as Mykonos-they're either red or black rocks, pebbles or grit and get VERY hot in August. But the water is fantastic and the island is the most uniquely beautiful in the Aegean.

By the way, the whole island of Delos is an archaeological site and as such visitors are not allowed to stay there. The good news is that there are daytrip excursion boats from Mykonos, Paros and Naxos to take you there.

Here is a look at what's already on the books for the Crete>Piraeus(Athens) ferry trip. You can use this same website to check routes between other islands once they're made 'official' which in general isn't usually until about a month before they're needed, although some are available now.

http://tinyurl.com/cm4e99

Posted by
7448 posts

Well, If I had to drop an Island, Folegandros is the odd one out. I say that because you would actually have to go to Santorini first (from Naxos) then back to Santorini to get to Crete, meaning extra travel out of your days, and the possibility of missed connections. All other travel segments are easy one shot type deals, so it keeps it simple. Folegandros also is a smaller island with a dedicated August crowd that books the islands in week long blocks or more, meaning you may not be able to get a couple nights easily. I am contrary to Lee, I loved Mykonos, found the beaches much, much nicer than Santorini, and the Beach clubs at Paradise beach half the price or less than anything on Santorini, but honestly, my teenage daughter would not want to see the wild topless and nude crowd (probably including me) found on August Mykonos beaches. (hey, don't get me wrong, best time I have had, but maybe not a family trip). My suggestion. Fly into Athens, spend one night, doing what you can the day you arrive. Early ferry to Mykonos, see the town, maybe depending on ferry schedule, do Delos, then a ferry to Paros. do two nights on Paros, then two nights on Naxos. (as Lee mentioned, you can do Delos from Mykonos, Paros or Naxos) Then two nights on Santorini, then on to Crete. Do a couple nights in Iraklio(heraklion) to see the museum and Knossos, then on to Hania (Chania) to enjoy the town and daytrip to the Samara Gorge from there (three nights in all) then fly back to Athens (Aegean Air) for a night or two before leaving. This is all doable in your time frame and accomplishes most of what you wanted.

Posted by
11507 posts

Gee, we spent two weeks on the islands years ago,, and that equaled two islands, Paros and Myknonos. We found Mykonos had alot of beaches to visit and a very lively town and could fill the 6 or 7 days there easily, but Paros was smaller and only really worth about 3 or 4 days. I though Delos was just a daytrip from Myknonos( but this was years ago so my memories are vague).

Personally I would not do all those places,, yuck, the ferry rides are not that fun you know.

I would choose Mykonos, Naxos and Santorini,, and if you really feel you cannot relax then maybe one other.

Take into account the travel time you are spending going from place to place.

The Greek islands were faboulous, we loved the beaches and pretty towns, do not rush about like you are on a big bus tour,, I would stay minimum 3 or 4 nights in each place.

Posted by
473 posts

A lot of the ships that go to Delos are small, not like the big, smooth ferries that travel between the populated islands. I definitely recommend going to Delos, but if you do make sure to bring Dramamine. Our ride was a bit rough, but it was no problem with the Dramamine.