Greece itinerary - need advice!

Old Mar 20th, 2017, 06:50 AM
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Greece itinerary - need advice!

Hi all!

I'm not sure why my first post was removed, so here we go again.

I have an itinerary mapped out and would love to hear feedback. I mainly want to know if it sounds like we are trying to cram too much into our trip. We will have 12 days on the ground from Oct 20 - Nov 1. I realize the timing is not ideal, but that was the only way we could work this out. So far for our itinerary:

Get into Athens the 20th and fly to Santorini for 4 nights
Ferry to Paros 2 nights
Ferry to Naxos 2 nights
Ferry to Mykonos 2 nights
Ferry to Athens for the last 2 nights

If we have to drop an island, I'm leaning more towards Mykonos, mainly due to expense and the fact we can still do a day trip to there and Delos from Naxos.

We would have loved to work Milos into the trip, but I couldn't find anything about ferry information online. Any feedback and help would be appreciated!
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Old Mar 20th, 2017, 07:53 AM
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Two nights on an island then a ferry hop means you really only have a day and a half on each island. Three islands in 6 days means you have wasted a day and a half on the ferry hop.

Personally I would drop two islands. Choose your favourite Naxos, Paros or Mykonos. You will have a better experience.

Your dates are very late in the season. Perhaps you might want to look at an island further south which theoretically will be a bit warmer later. Have you considered Crete.
Six days on Crete will give you a nice experience in some of its Venetian era cities. Heraklion, Rethymnon and Chania.

There are daily ferries from Heraklion to Santorini.

If it were me I would fly directly to Chania from Athens spend 6 days in west Crete with last night in Heraklion then ferry to Santoini then you last nights in Athens.

Here is why
Chania http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632117917828/
Chania May 2016 https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57671465596275
Rethymnon https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57654700502270
Heraklion https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57655935354556
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Old Mar 20th, 2017, 08:11 AM
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Don't know why your other post was removed either, and I replied to it. Two nights on an island means only one full day, so you really won't see very much of Paros, Naxos and Mykonos if you stick to that plan.

Stanbr has a good suggestion, but weather doesn't vary much in such a small geographic area, so Crete won't be much warmer (if at all) than the Cyclades in that period. Late October weather is unpredictable, though, so I would pick an itinerary where you can travel by a large conventional ferry rather than smaller catamarans.

I suggest you drop Mykonos and add one night each to Naxos and Paros, which are both on the Blue Star ferry route back to Athens. Stop at Naxos first, then Paros, because that's the order they fall in on the route. Blue Star is a huge conventional car ferry, much more stable than the catamarans, and less likely to be cancelled with exceptionally high winds, which do sometimes occur in late October.
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Old Mar 20th, 2017, 08:15 AM
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I agree with stanbr, two nights on an island is really not enough to experience, especailly with ferry travel from island to island which eats up time.

Since Santorini and Mykonos are two of the most popular and heavily touristed isalnds I would remove one (Mykonos) and spend more time on Naxos & Paros. However, Naxos & Paros can be considered similar since they are both part of the Cyclades Island Chain. If it was me I would spend the extra time on Naxos, one of Greece's nicest islands with a wonderful combination of Old & New World Greece.

There is a lot to do, explore and experience on Naxos with one of the most spectacular roads from Naxos Old Town over the mountains to the small seaside village of Pollonas. There are centuries-old Byzantine churches, hiking, archeological/historyic sites, great tavernas, markets and lovely locals.

I can understand trying to do and see as much on holiday but quality is more important than quantity but as an experienced traveler to Greece I found that it's best to stay longer in one area that trying to go to one island after another wasting time waiting for ferrys, the ferry ride (sometimes early morning travel)and finding accommodations adds to the stress of which should be a wonderful time in Greece.
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Old Mar 20th, 2017, 08:26 AM
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In season, you can visit Mykonos / Delos from Naxos as a daytrip but not sure about late Oct. And Paros is also very close by (to Naxos) with the larger ferries that you could do as a daytrip....depending on the late Oct. schedule.

I think Santorini and Naxos make a good combination.
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Old Mar 20th, 2017, 08:37 AM
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Unlike you, crazyh, I prefer Paros and Antiparos to Naxos. Paros is a little smaller than Naxos, but more of it is accessible by road, and there is the bonus of Antiparos only seven minutes by ferry across the narrow strait.

Antiparos has a stalactite cave, known from ancient times, and the archeological site at Despotiko where excavations began three years ago. Plans are to make the site an open museum similar to the larger one at Delos. Until then you can visit it for free by boat from Agios Georgios at the southern end of Antiparos.
https://vimeo.com/134105970
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Old Mar 20th, 2017, 08:39 AM
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No, suec1, it won't be possible to make a day trip to Mykonos/Delos from either Paros or Naxos that late in the year.
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Old Mar 21st, 2017, 05:18 AM
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I've never been to Paros so that is why I recommended Naxos. I'm sure Paros has a lot to offer, so would Antiparos.

Paros is still on my to-go-to list.

I debated whether to go to Naxos or Paros and found that Naxos would offer more for me . . . maybe Paros for a future trip.

I did take the Delos/Mykonos day cruise from Naxos mid-October, but am not sure how much longer after that it will still be running.

Delos was spectacular, Mykonos too crowded for me.
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Old Mar 21st, 2017, 07:06 AM
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I've been to Naxos about four times, and Paros/Antiparos over 20 times (after so many years it's hard for me to remember). I do like Naxos, but have always felt there is more to do on Paros, and along with Antiparos deserves more than two nights, which is all you would get if you followed crazyh's suggestion to put all your extra time on Naxos.

Strangely, crazyh contradicts himself, because earlier in the post he wrote: "I agree with stanbr, two nights on an island is really not enough to experience, especailly with ferry travel from island to island which eats up time."
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Old Mar 21st, 2017, 08:05 AM
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Perhaps I should refine my original suggestion where I said
"Personally I would drop two islands. Choose your favourite Naxos, Paros or Mykonos. You will have a better experience."

That was too broad. What I should have said was drop one island (and if it were my choice that would be Mykonos) which will add a day each to Naxos and Paros. That will give the OP a good introduction to both islands.

However to expend my suggestion, if the OP were to drop two islands that would give her 6 nights on the one island. In my opinion ideally each island requires 5 or 6 nights to truly begin to explore what that island has to offer. Less hops more time on an island is how we visit Greece.

I think the three of us pretty much all do Greece in a similar way and choose quality over quantity. As I see it we are each essentially proposing the OP drop at least one island and spend more time on which ever island(s) she chooses.
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Old Mar 21st, 2017, 08:36 AM
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Heimdall or anyone - could you specify for me and the OP as well "plenty to do on Paros". I have been to Naxos, and have thought about returning but I'd like to hear more about Paros to consider in the future. Thanks!
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Old Mar 21st, 2017, 08:50 AM
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Heimdall: I didn't think this was a contest about what islands to visit or personal choices. I have been to Naxos but not Paros. I loved my time in Naxos. I'm sure Paros has lots to offer and would offer anyone an excellent Greek Island Experience.

All I'm saying is Naxos is an beautiful island to visit and offers most everything one wants on for a Greek Island.

If you have to go out of your way to defend Paros, fine, but there are many other islands that are worthy of a visit, just as much as Paros or Naxos.

And there's really nothing "Strange" about what I post . . . just my personal opinion as I'm sure you have personal opinions on islands or the mainland.

Greece offers just about everything one would want for a holiday . . . over-the-top touristy islands, more laid back and traditional islands and everything in-between.

Let's not argue about Greece!
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Old Mar 21st, 2017, 10:46 AM
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Crazyh, if you look at my post history you will find I have probably recommended Naxos more often than Paros, and Antiparos hardly at all except for those who already plan to visit Paros.

My point was that you first said two nights on an island was not enough, then recommended (in so many words) four nights on Naxos and two on Paros. My suggestion was to drop Mykonos and add one night each to Naxos and Paros, making it 3-3, not 4-2.
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Old Mar 21st, 2017, 11:05 AM
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Suec1, Paros has two major settlements, Parikia and Naoussa. Parikia has a kastro plus a museum and the most beautiful cathedral in the Cyclades, Church of 100 Doors, which was built over an ancient Greek temple:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/heimda...7627739415280/

There is also an ancient cemetery near the docks which most people aren't even aware of.

Naoussa is an old fishing village, now developed for tourism, but so beautiful it is often used as a setting for films:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/heimda...7627739415280/

As well as the above two there are other villages all along the perimeter of the island, and a good road along the coast linking them. Lefkes, one of the inland villages, is the former capital of Paros. There is a Byzantine footpath from Lefkes to Prodromos, and other interesting walks:
http://paroshikes.com/the-lefkes-mar...y-walks-hikes/

If you still have time, Antiparos has a stalactite cave (good for rainy days):
http://www.antiparos.info/En/Cave.htm

During summer there are round-island boat trips, but not in late October:
http://captainbenantiparos.com

I mentioned in an earlier post the archaeological site on Despotiko, which can be reached by arrangement with a boatman at Agios Georgios, Antiparos. In October you may be the only visitors on the site.

This is only a sample of things to do on Paros.
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Old Mar 21st, 2017, 11:49 AM
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Thank you H. - I sort of hijacked this thread but I thought the OP would not mind additional info. If / when I return to the Cyclades, it will be in May or early Oct., hopefully May.
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Old Mar 21st, 2017, 12:10 PM
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Heimdall: I don't see where I said two nights on Paros. I stated to drop Mykonos then spend the extra time on Naxos & Paros which would be 3 nights on each or just spend the entire time on Naxos which is what I recommend.

I don't see where we disagree on how many nights on Naxos or Paros . . . 3 each . . . or just stay on Naxos for the entire time which is my recommendation.

I would never go to an island for just 2 nights . . . it's really a waste of time . . . unless, of course it's an island like Aegina or Hydra which can be done in a day trip or two at the very most since they are very easy to get to from Piraeus.
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Old Mar 21st, 2017, 02:57 PM
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Crazyh, you wrote: "If it was me I would spend the extra time on Naxos..."
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Old Mar 21st, 2017, 03:28 PM
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Suec1, here are a few more attractions on Paros:
http://www.greeka.com/cyclades/paros...lies-paros.htm
http://www.greeka.com/cyclades/paros...i-quarries.htm
http://www.parospark.com
http://www.paroskite.gr
http://www.parosurf.gr

Also, if you have the time to watch, another round-island boat trip in a 17 min YouTube. The video shows passengers being picked up at Pounta on Paros:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2b8nzBEWKo
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Old Mar 22nd, 2017, 11:08 AM
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renee: Whatever you decide on and wherever you are going and for whatever number of days I hope you have a great time.

I think most of the destinations mentioned will provide you lots of enjoyment and a feel for Greece . . . old & new!
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Old Mar 22nd, 2017, 12:22 PM
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Hello
I suggest the following itinerary in tne direction of the ferries:

Rafina / Mykonos 3 nights if you want to visit Delos.

Paros : 4 nights

Santorini : 4 nights

Retour Santorini Piree par ferry or Santorini/ Athenes pavion .

You can do the same itinerary starting by Santorini , Paros , Mykonos and Rafina

Riadhou
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