10 days Greece in mid-Sept 2017

Old Apr 24th, 2017, 04:11 AM
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10 days Greece in mid-Sept 2017

Hello

My husband and I are planning a 10 day Greece vacay either at the end of first or second week of Sept (please advise the better option).

Would much appreciate your help in planning the itinerary as the only thing we are sure of at the moment is Santorini and little bit ruins.

We would love little bit of history but mostly the calm and scenic beauties engage us.

Please help with your suggestions for this one!

Many thanks in advance.Cheers!
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 06:20 AM
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The earlier date ... a few more things are open in islands, a few more options in transit & daytrips.
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 07:40 AM
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Personally I agree with travelerjan that the earlier the better. I don't think end of first week vs second week of September makes much difference, though. After the first week of September most families with schoolchildren have left for home, so the islands are beginning to get quieter.

Small islands are the ones where some things are beginning to close. Santorini will be busy right through the end of September, and there is no real off-season on the mainland.
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 08:19 AM
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For the past several years the tourist season has been stretching beyond September on the more popular islands. Santorini stays busy now until the end of October, although most families with school-age children are no longer in the mix.
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 10:49 AM
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September will be off-season so many islands and areas of Greece will see far less tourism but will have lower prices, less tourists and still nice weather.

There is more to Greece than Santorini so you may want to do a bit of research to seek out other islands that may offer a less tourist-oriented experience, even off-season Santorini will have cruise ships and lots of tourists for day trips.

Check out Matt's Greek Island Guide for info to make alternative choices for Greek Islands:

http://www.greektravel.com/greekislands/
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 11:38 AM
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Look at Napflion for access to significant antiquities.
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 04:22 PM
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Hi, here is what we have planned for June after a bit of research & comments from folks on this forum:

Day 1: Arrive in Athens. Fly straight to Santorini. Evening in Santorini
Day 2: Santorini
Day 3: Santorini
Day 4: Ferry to Naxos. Evening in Naxos
Day 5: Naxos
Day 6: Day trip to Delos & Mykonos
Day 7: Fly to Athens. Evening in Athens
Day 8: Athens
Day 9: Day trip to Delphi
Day 10: Fly back

We haven't tried it yet so please take it for whats its worth.
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 06:11 PM
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For 10 days that's pretty ambitious but if you like to keep on the move constntly, fine. If you really want to see Delos, OK, oherwise I'd devote that day to renting a car and driving all over Naxos.
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 08:46 PM
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Thank you very much guys for your inputs!

Well I guess we don't have a choice to make it earlier..but I think the better option would be early Sept..

Okay so I now going to look up Naxos, Mykonos and Napflion!

One key question guys: We hold an Indian driving license and the process for the International permit is on..will it be too bad to not have the option to drive around..just in case
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 11:25 PM
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Wanderer_butterfly, a car is an advantage, but not essential. Before I had a driver's license from an EU country I used to get an IDP just in case, but never used it in Greece. You won't need a car in Athens, and the islands have good public transport. If I were you I'd get the IDP just in case you wish to hire a car for a day or two. You can look for a hire car when you get there.
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 07:46 AM
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Here are a few good links for your destinations:

NAFPLIO -- http://www.visitnafplio.com/ this is THE best (and NONcommercial website, created by an expat Norwegian who lives there. I urge you to click on ALL links, at bottom and TOP of home-page. Nafplio is only 2.5 hours by intercity bus from Athens (it goes hourly).. If u don't want to take car from Athens, bus is a great alternative, and then while u are there you can take one day to thoroughly explore the Old Town (considered by Greeks to be THE most beautiful Old Town in all Greece), and then rent a car for 1 day to do a "ruin-a-thon" -- early AM to Mycenae, then a quick stop at Tiryns, ending at Epidaurus. On your way back to Nafplio, you can stop at Tolo beach or (my fave) little Kastraki/Asine beach for a swim... in September the sea is sublime.

NAXOS - This island not only has golden-sand beaches but dramatic inland landscapes (MARBLE mountains!!), and ruins galore. I suggest stay at St. George beach directly adjacent to Naxos Town, a 10-minute walk to the lovely seafront crescent of cafes & shops. Some photo highlights:
Trip around Naxos - Naxos Town - Naxos Mts & Villages: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7634605629689/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632094558042/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...7632110674306/
I personally feel doing the Delos-Mykonos Day excursion may crowd up your schedule, but here's a photo album of the experience:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57637922138466

SANTORINI - Here's a good album of the classic Caldera view & Oia: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...7632154800782/ Personally if you are mainly visiting this place for this Famous View, I believe that 48 hours is sufficient. I urge you to consider taking the 3:15 ferry to Naxos on day THREE, or at least the 10:45 AM fast-ferry on Day 4 that arrives NAXOS at noon -- gives u more time on an isle with so much to see & do - including festivals of the grape harvest in mt. villages

ATHENS - Since u only have a short time in Athens, it's doubly important to be right in Center, close as possible to Acropolis & other landmarks - do NOT be seduced by a bargain rate to being in a grungy district like Omonia, or inconvenient area that's not walkable to main sites. Look at booking.com and STUDY th google Map for actual location - many hotels say they're in acropolis area when they're not. If u are only doing 2-3 nites bite the bullet & reserve at moderate hotel only steps from Acropolis -- 3 choices are Hotel Herodion, Phillipos, AIrotel Parthenon -- and my budget gem Hotel Phaedra. If you want to look at conveniently-located hotels, this booking.com link -- http://tinyurl.com/heq6edp -- lists hotels telling how close they are to Acropolis. Don't consider any that are more than l km distant.

DELPHI - With your crowded schedule I am conflicted about your plan to take a Day Trip to Delphi. 3 companies offer this, and reviews very mixed. On my first visit to Greece I took a bus tour & was very disappointed: too much time on road, then too-short time at Delphi site, Forced to leave for unwanted taverna lunch that YOU pay for, and stops at Souvenir shops. You leave at 8 am, return after 1900, with only about 2 hrs total at Delphi site. I later went on my Own by public bus, had much better time, but it does require you doing Homework. If u are interested, you can click my name, & contact my e-mail and I can provide a Do-it-yourself strategy.
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 08:02 AM
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PS - a link I meant to include for Santorini. In SEptember, sunset occurs about 7:30, around the time you hope to be looking at a dinner menu. So, if you hope to enjoy the much-promoted "santorini Sunset" in a serene dinner setting, rather than standing jammed along the parapet walls, plan to have dinner at the rooftop terrace of this modest-priced lovely restaurant in FIRA town, http://www.stani.gr it's just 1 street back from the rimside path. (ask your hotelier to mark it on a map). If you phone ahead, or stop by STANI earlier in the day, you can reserve one of the best tables and --unlike in Oia, where restaurants with a view charge €€€ -- Stani is VERY moderate, most plates are between €10-15... and a large choice of vegetarian dishes.
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 09:14 PM
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Wow!! Thank you Heimdall and Travelerjan.

Its a relief that the car constraint is not gonna be a major worry!

I am going to go through all this amazing info now : -)

Thank you very much guys..i will bother you again when I put together a tentative plan..for your very generous help and comments!

Much love..cheers
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 10:53 PM
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Travelerjan..I would like to visit only a handful places..

Athens..day trip and then
Nafplio, Naxos and Santorini

Please advise if you think we can give Delphi a miss as I don't want to cram it up too much.
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 11:00 PM
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Went to several islands last summer and they are beautiful. However, I don't think anything topped the sights of Meteora, about 5 hours from Athens. If you look up pictures, it really IS that beautiful! I liked Delphi (which is on the way to Meteora from Athens) but, having been to Turkey, I did not fall in love with it as many do. If you can fit in an overnight trip to Meteora, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
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Old Apr 26th, 2017, 06:48 AM
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Skip Delphi ... it will give you a bit more time to appreciate all that Athens has to offer. and despite Kawh's raves about Meteora I do not think that a 10-day trip including TWO islands + Athens has room for Meteora. What's the old saying? You can't pour a quart of liquid into a pint bottle.
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Old May 26th, 2017, 09:26 AM
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Hi guys!!

So this is how the final plan looks like..

10 nights from Sept 8:

Day 1..8th Sept..Arrive in Athens -- bus to Nafplion.
Day 2 ..Napflion
Day 3...Fly to Santorini (Napflion - Athens - Santorini)
Day 4...Santorini
Day 5...Santorini
Day 6...Ferry to Naxos
Day 7...Naxos
Day 8...Naxos
Day 9...Ferry to Athens
Day 10...Athens
Day 11..Check out - Fly back

Please tell me what you guys think of this..thanks very much!!
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Old May 28th, 2017, 07:08 PM
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A quite sensible plan -- I just suggest a few tweaks

DAY 3 - I recommend you choose a late-afternoon flight to Santorini. That will allow you more time to appreciate the Nafplio area, and not be rushed in your return to Athens. (for instance you'd have time to go up top of Palamidi -- you don't have to climb those 999 steps! -- just taxi up the back way! U can either walk down.. or ask the taxi to wait 30 mins, take some pix, & ride back).

If you are going directly to the airport after your KTEL bus back from Nafplio, there is an easy "short-cut" that is faster & avoids center-city traffic. Do NOT go all the way to the terminal.THEN take another bus thru traffic to the airport. Instead, at the city's edge, get off at ELEONAS & go down steps to the Metro BLUE LINE (Metro Stop is ELEONAS) straight to the airport. This map - http://www.in2greece.com/mappages/athens-metro-map.jpg -- shows it clearly. It's easy, I did it, just from a tip like this.

At the Nafplio Bus Station, ask for tickets to ELEONAS. If you already bought tickets to the terminal you can use those. On boarding, tell the driver you want off at Eleonas. Do not worry; many people do this; there will be at least a few on each bus who get off there. The bus driver stops & gets everyone's luggage from the under-bus compartment. You can buy your Metro ticket from a machine inside the station if there is no window open. Just be sure to have a few Euros in change. I think an individual ticket is ?? 7 or 8E? there may be a ticket for 2 for 14? When you go to the platform, you will need to stick your ticket into a turnstile kind of thing -- it pops out on the other side. Be sure to get the train that has an airplane symbol (other runs stop a bit short of the airport).

Train will be virtually empty when you board, but crowd up by the time it gets to Syntagma. Athens has far less petty crime than almost any big European city, but the one place that pickpockets do target is any Metro line used by tourists. Men, do NOT keep wallets or passports in knapsacks or pockets - in ANY pockets. even inner ones. (75% of victims are men, who somehow believe they would notice if someone touched their clothing. Wrong!). Either use money belt or give your stuff to your wife to put in a zippered purse she can wear crosswise with her hand on the zipper. I have traveled Athens metro scores of times without any incident - but I'm a seasoned public-transport user in big US cities. If you'll use this ELEONAS, you'll greatly shorten the transit Nafplio - Santorini.

DAY 6 - We "vets" used to recommend getting the 15:30 (3:30pm) BLUE STAR ferry (arr NAX 5:30) because of good open-deck view on leaving Santorini vs small Seajets w. NO decks. However, there are now TWO large vessels (ChampionJet 1 & 2) that have back decks for photo-snapping the cliffs on departure & take only 84 mins or so -- 10:45 & 12:15 ... and give you more time on Naxos. 3 nites/2 days on Santorini is plenty ... Naxos is the largest island in Cyclades, & Santorini despite its fame is just 12 mi. long, with most interest on the Caldera side w. its Famous View.

DAY 9 - Again, it depends on how much you want to see/do in Naxos vs how much time for Athens. The daily BLUE STAR (9:30am-3pm) eats up the whole middle of the day. The daly CHAMPION (1:45pm) takes just 3 hrs & 10 minutes... but costs about twice as much. The only available 9/16 flight is 7:25am - 45 mins, €80. Your choice. You CAN with planning enjoy sunset on Acropolis before on your Athens arrival - sundown 7:30.

DAY 9-10 IF you are planning to D-I-Y the Athens highlights, I highly recommend Rick Steves Guidebook for its step-by-step guide to Acropolis, Ancient Agora, and Nat. Arch Museum -- OR hi FREE audio downloads = https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/greece/athens -- to your I-pod, mp3 or smartphone. This enables you to bypass standard tour timing, which is 9:30 - 12 for Acropolis ... you can go after 5 pm or at 8 am, avoid crowds.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2017, 01:27 AM
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Thank you Travelerjan!!

I am keeping all this in mind and will share a final one as it seems we may end of going in August instead (this is the last alteration!- the itinerary remains unchanged)

Thank you very very much!
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Old Jun 2nd, 2017, 05:49 AM
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End of August is OK too -- the crowd DOES ease a lot, because most European countries start their school year last week of August, so families are hustling home to buy backpacks, sneakers etc!
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