Snickles

Flying into Athens for 5 days and looking to visit the the islands in September. Never been to the islands and looking for suggestions. Like scenery and like to dive. Looking to go to 2-3 islands. Suggestions would be appreciated?

BeniciaChris

You didn't mention how long you would have for the islands. Some islands require more time such as Crete. also depends on your travel style. I like a week on each island. We are also going in September. this is our 3rd trip. First trip Rhodes/Corfu-2nd Paros/Santorini & Crete. This time Naxos & 5 nights in the Plaka.
Look at Matt Barretts site for more info.
Have fun. Its a wonderful country

brotherleelove2004

Your timeline is unclear. Are you saying that you're flying in and out of Athens and visiting 2-3 islands, all within a 5-day window? If yes, my suggestion is to be more realistic about your plan. This one won't work.

Snickles

I have 4 days to see the islands. Thanks for your input

Snickles

I will be leaving on a cruise on the evening of the fifth day. I will be visiting Rhodes off the cruise ship. I've seen Athen from a prior ship but interested in seeing some of the islands. I'm just interested in scenery and driving

mariha2912

You may get a flight upon arriving to Athens airport (I guess this is where/how you will enter Greece) to whatever island your cruise does not include and had an airport and convenient flights for yout timetables, hire a car localy, explore the island and then get a flight or maybe ferry back to Athens.
It has turned sort of a cliche during last few years on this forum, but you may want to check Naxos. It is the larger of the Cyclades island and very diverse and ideal if you are willing to drive. There are many sites and sights, sea side towns, beach resorts and mountain villages, venetian watch towers, byzantine churches, ancients kouros resting on the ground in the middle of nowhere, marble quarries, windmills, sandy beaches, coves, rock formations and sand dunes, cedar trees and olive groves and soooo much more...
I think on your timeframe one island is more than enough. An other option is Paros, again larg-ish with plenty to kep you busy for 3-4 days and there is the added bonus of Antiparos island only 7 minutes ferry crossing away. A bit less in terms of inland villages and sites, but still a couple of interesting mountain villages, many small sea side towns with cute harbours, lots of interesting beaches and coves and especially the Kolybithres beach with its weird rock formations, a moths valley that may start to be quiet on September and Antiparos offers only one beautiful town, many sandy beaches and a deep cave in the middle of the island to explore. Antiparos features a rough side with impressive rock formations you can not drive to but there are boat trips surrounding the island and taking in tiny islets too.
An other idea would be to drive to Evia, the second largest island in Greece but weirdly not so explored by foreign visitors. There are a couple of ferries from mainland to Evia spots but there is a bridge betwwen too, so you may drive straight to Chalkida, the capital town and start your exploration.

All that said, if driving and scenery is what you are after, why not to stick with mainland? Plenty of those around.

travelGR

If you like diving then you should head to Amorgos. That's where the film the Big Blue was filmed. You'll find plenty to look at and the best waters around, crystal clear down to 30 metres. If you want, you can spend 2 days in Amorgos and 2 in neighboring Astypalaia, a tiny island with incredible food and even better dive waters than Amorgos (just don't tell me if you do because I will die of jealousy!!!)

mariha2912

On a tight timeframe travel logistics for those islands might be a bit difficult though travelGR?

Heimdall

If you are going on a cruise you will already be visiting islands, so I don't see the point in going to even more. What I would do is follow the suggestion in the last paragraph of mariha2912's first post and stay on the mainland. Nafplio, in the Argolis region of the Peloponnese, is only 2-3 hours by car from Athens, and has many beautiful sights.

travelerjan

Totally agree w. Heimdall ... Nafplio is considered the most beautiful Old Town in Greece and --- since it's on a peninsula, surrounded 3 sides by stunning blue water -- it feels like a magic island. Not one but THREE "castles" (forts) to gaze at/visit... Acronafplia ramparts atop the town, the Bourtzoi "minifort" in the bay, and Gibraltar-like Palamidi behind it all. And in my humble opinion the sunset view from the row of canopied cafes along the seafront equals or excels any of the more famed/ballyhooed sunsets in Greece. Just returned from 12th visit to Greece, which included 7th visit to Nafplio & Argolid... each of which has yielded a new discovery for me.

This NON commercial website http://www.visitnafplio.com shows u the highlights. And this link tells all about how easy it is to get there from Athens -- http://www.visitnafplio.com/really-u...transport.html ... if u are leaving from a Hotel within central Athens, and don't want to drive, a quick taxi ride (11-12E) gets you to the bus station for a carefree 2+ hour ride on a/c reserved-seat bus w. plenty to see along the way.

WWK

I am in Nafplio right now and totally agree with travelerjan's recommendation. After many trips to Greece, this is quickly becoming one of,our favorite destinations. The views from the top of town rival some of the best views in Santorini, and that's saying a lot! Alsomits very easy to access some gorgeous beaches/coves even without a car using public transportation or a taxi.