Rome to Athens for a day

Two weeks in Rome is an awfully long time. I would give Rome one week, at the most. It's definitely not worth the time or cost to travel to Greece for just a day. Have you considered other places in Italy? Florence and Siena come to mind right away. Or the Lake District up north, for a change of scenery.

Hi Rick,

Yes, I am doing Milan, Venice, Florence/Pisa then I've got 2 weeks in Rome.

I'm planning a similar trip to Italy with a little teaser of Greece at the end (except it will be more like five days to a week in Greece). Flights to Greece are very affordable and fast, alternatively you can take a ferry (which isn't much cheaper but would take up more time) to Piraeus (near Athens), or to Patras or Crete if you want a shorter journey.

If you did go to Greece, would you have to fly back to Rome to catch your flight home or could you just fly out of Athens?

I'd have to fly back to Rome for my flight home. I haven't found any 'cheap' flights from Rome to Athens - who do you recommend? I am going Sept 20-Oct 12.

'Cheap' is relative. You won't find any cheap flights today, but they are affordable. Try Aegean or Olympic Air and you can find flights for 100 - 130 euros.

You have more price and location options with ferries but voyages between Brindisi, Italy and Patras, Greece (which is about half the distance between Rome and Athens) are around 15 hours each way. You can get a night ferry and if you just want a spot on the deck, you can do it for as cheap as 35 euros each way. The price will skyrocket up to 180 each ways if you add so much as a single bed inside and facilities, but there are many berth options in between. This information is based off of Endeavor Lines, but all ferry companies are pretty much the same. And you'd have to have some flexibility to deal with ferry schedules. Personally, I'd prefer Patras over Athens for a less touristy glimpse of Greece and it's closer to Olympia and Corinth but you will need to dedicate more than one day if you want to go to Greece.

I'd recommend you cut Rome to one week and then head south to spend a week on the Amalfi Coast. We like to stay in Marina del Cantone on the Sorrento Peninsula -- tiny fishing village with boat and bus connections to Capri, Amalfi, Positano, Pompeii. It's peaceful and beautiful. Very relaxing and restorative.

Although Athens is worth seeing, I think a quick visit for a day or two would be hectic and stressful. Best to save Athens for the end of an island-hopping trip in Greece.

I'm not really the restorative vacation type. I like the night life too much I'm afraid. My idea of relaxation so far has been Paris cafes.

Dennis, I would back up Charlene on her idea. We were in Rome for 6 days last spring and loved it. 1 week in Rome is perfect. Believe me, we walked everywhere and saw A LOT. If you had months, I would say stay longer. The Amalfi coast is a great idea. This isn't just some sleepy little village in nowhere-ville. It's an entire smorgasbord of different towns and villages spread along a hundred or so mile coastline, all connected by a combination of buses, ferries, and rail. The ferries run up and down the coast with fantastic views along the way.

There is plenty of evening "action" along the way in Amalfi town itself, Positano, Ravello, and Sorrento.

We were on the Amalfi coast for a week and visited Sorrento, Pompeii, Positano, Ravello, and a couple other spots I don't now remember, and could go back tomorrow.

Let me pose a question. If you had all the money you could spend, where would you go?? Answer: Brad and Angelina chose Positano.

Whatever you choose, enjoy your visit.

Dennis,

Flying to Athens for a "day or two" is not really worth the effort IMHO (especially for one day). You'll require about half a day travel time each waya by the time you include travel to and from each airport, security, check-in, etc. Even a two-day trip probably wouldn't allow you to see much of Athens, as you'd have to arrange your touring around the flight times for the return to Rome.

You might consider spending a week or ten days in Rome and the remainder in Athens, using open-jaw flights (inbound Rome, outbound Athens). That would be the most realistic and efficient method.

Happy travels!

Dennis -

You didn't say what you consider 'cheap', but easyJet has flights from Rome FCO to Athens that start at €75 round trip in September with no checked bags. They are not yet booking flights for October.

I love Greece and it deserves it's own trip, I think flying over for a few days is a good option.

If you have never been, Sorrento w/ a visit to Pompeii, Naples and possibly other towns on the Amalfi coast is a easy side trip for a few days.

Enjoy your trip!

Dennis - Didn't look at the date of the original post, just noticed it showed up in the recent posts...

Anyway, just got back from Central Europe (what we call Eastern Europe)... Krakow has a lot of night life - we had a blast every night. There are several clubs just off the main square. Our favorite was the one in the basement opposite the 'face' sculpture. They had some great bands - don't remember the name, but they hand out discount coupons right in front - don't know why they do because the place was packed every night. Enjoy your next trip.

Dennis,, I have no idea of your age bracket,, but ,, I will say, a week I spent in Mykonos when I was 23 was very memorable( and that was many years ago),, and that was in the midst of a 3 month trip around Europe. It was also last week of Sept, first week of October(spent other week on another island, which was more restorative, LOL ) .,,great weather,, not totally packed,, but still "lively" ..

If you can cut Rome down to 5 or 6 days,, I would definately head to Athens,, cheap flight, and jump a ferry to Mykonos..

When my friend and I went we did not prebook any rooms on islands,,we just got off ferry and there were all these people holding up photos and calling out "rooms rooms". It was cheap then, I am sure not as cheap now,, but I still bet a room rented that way is cheaper then the fancy pants hotels that are now all over,, LOL( hey,, I wish we could have stayed in a fancy pants hotel,,but we were young,, )

Had an amazing time. Would list Greece right up there with Paris and Switerland,, my other two favorite places in Europe.
Rome is great,, loved seeing ST Peters, Colisuem ,, Pantheon, Forums, etc, ,, but you can see those highlights easily in one week. Rome will still likely be hot,, and no lovely med ocean to jump in like on Greek islands..

Sorry, I am going on a bit, give an old woman her fond memories.. LOL

Ps Hopefully I do not sound like Greek islands are only for the young,, they are most definately NOT,, they are enjoyable by anyone of any age.

Thanks for all your help, but my trip was October 2009. Had a great time in Rome for 2 weeks staying at an apartment in Trastevere. Didn't get to Greece but will save it for its own trip. Next trip is Central and Eastern Europe. Amsterdam, Munich, Prague, Krakow, Berlin and Hamburg over 3 or 4 weeks.

If you have week ( and a car)for Greece I'd do Athens 2days, Delphi 2 days, and Meteora 2 days, back to Athens.