Thanks to all of your advice, we've decided to only hit Greece on our upcoming vacation. We plan to fly out on Friday (arrive late day Saturday) and return the following Sunday. Knowing that this leaves us with 7 full "non travel" days, what is your suggestion to see? We'd like to do a mix of city and country/island. We're happy to rent a car, or take public transportation, and are very active and happy to have a fairly "packed" itinerary. Thanks so much in advance, isn't trip planning so fun?
Posted by
Grapevine, TX, USA
875 posts
Athens: the Parthenon; the Plaka area; changing of the guard Kalambaka: Meteora - the wonderful monasteries at the apex of rock pinnacles. Watch the James Bond movie "For Your Eyes Only". You can visit that monastery also Delphi - The Oracle at Delphi - at that elevation it was easy to see why the people thought the gods inhabited that area Olympia - the original Olympic ruins The theatre at Epidaurus The island of Santorini - one of the most dramatically beautiful places I've ever seen!
Posted by
Chicago
2876 posts
A good city/country/island possibility for you would be Athens > Nafplion > Santorini. I agree with Janis that the Acropolis and the Plaka area are "must-sees" in Athens, plus the National Archeological museum if that interests you. The island itself is the "must see" in Santorini. From Nafplion, you can easily visit the amazing amphitheater at Epidaurus. And Nafplion itself is interesting and fun.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3320 posts
7 days for a whole country is NUTS, but if you're determined, be prepared to fly & drive. Of course it would help to say when you are doing this. Does "Upcoming" mean November?? Or May??? Makes a big difference, in whre to go, what to do. Heres a possible May or June Scenario: ARR late saturday, stay near Airport: SUN 8 am - Rent car airport, drive (2.5 hrs) to Nafplio, explore Old Town, swim, sunset. MON - Drive to Mycenae, Epidaurus, Tiryns? Swim Tolo, dinner, Stay Nafplio. TUES a.m - Drive Airport,drop car, fly Santorini @ noon. (TUES-WED) explore santorini. FRIDAY 7 or 8 AM - Fly ATh airport, metro to Central athens. FRI AFT & SAT: dash around seeing ATHENS world-famous Landmarks. SUN - Fly back to U.S. Collapse. Finish trip by checking off To-See List. When asked what you did on vacation, u can say "We saw Greece." Next year = China, in 10 days. Onward!
Posted by
Manchester, CT, USA
69 posts
You can also visit the nearby island of Aegina. You can go to the port of Piraeous (sorry for the spelling)and take any ferry from there- no need to buy in advance, there are many options. It is about 30-45 mins away for a different perspective and yet near Athens. They also have a good monastery there and ruins and then have lunch in the very colorful marina. The buses are towards the left when you get off the boat from the marina and it will take you to both the monastery and ruins. I think there is also a great beach you can walk to from the marina but we did not have time to do that to get back to Athens early afternoon.