Ideas for our first trip to Greece

The best suggestion I can offer is for you to buy at least one Greece guidebook, pick the islands and mainland destinations that interest you then contact either Dolphin-Hellas Travel or Fantasy Travel to help you create the best itinerary possible to cover what it is you want to see. They will want to know what your budget is so their suggestions are within your limits. They'll also be able to guide you away from an itinerary that isn't practical logistically.

http://www.dolphin-hellas.gr

http://www.fantasy.gr

Hi

If you like hiking check out Naxos - http://www.islandstrolling.com/english/index.htm. From there you can do a day trip to the sacred island of Delos. You may also like Paros. We stayed at Sunset View - http://www.sunsetview-paros.com - and can highly recommend it. I suggest that you hire a car for a couple of days to tour the island. It's easy to do on your own. It's about beautiful scenery, especially the beaches.

Brotherlee is right, in that Greece-based agencies can create an itinerary for you that will cover islands or mainland places you are inerested in. "Guided" tours on a mainland try to pack in as many sights as possible in their description --- but that just means you are driving by a ton of them, and not really seeing things, just driving in a bus.

You will do much better if you FIGURE OUT what YOU want, and then ask an agency to get this for you... if you feel you want to have someone do this. Bear in mind that they will steer you to hotels that may be a little more than you wanted ... because those are the hotels that pay commission. And if you want to have some one buy all your ferry tickets, pick you up at a hotel and deliver you to the dock, then pick you up in a car at the dock and drive you to a hotel... fine. But it's costly.... and you say you are in your 40s and fit. Why not do it yourself??

Looking at a trip of 10 days (and that should not include coming/going), you need to be realistic. TRANSPORT will take up quite a bit of your time. So, realistically, you could perhaps squeeze in 2 islands, 2 days in athens, and one 2-day bus tour out of Athens.

The only bus tour I would recommend, and it would be the TWO-day, not the 1-day trip would be a trip to Nafplion & the ancient sites surrounding. It enables you to see 2 wonderful ancient sites (Mycenae/Epidaurus) and have ENOUGH time to explore a wonderful gem of an Old Town... Nafplio... Both CHAT (tour 6A) tours and KEY tours do this,; check out their descriptions; very similar.
http://www.chatours.gr/sub_cat_page.asp
http://www.keytours.gr/en/packet.asp?packet_id=16&category_id=1&lang=_en
KEY can be a tad cheaper because it offers a "tourist class" hotel" rather than just 1st class -- and I would prefer that because it is IN town, whereas the CHAT hotel is outside town.

Two days in Athens, if you are peppy will enable you to cover the 5-6 ancient sites, see the New Acropollis Museum, one other Museum, and shop a bit.

THe only way you could manage in 10 days would be to fly IMMEDIATELY on arrival to your farther island, t hen ferry to your next one, then fly or ferry back to athens area. Your athens sightseeing should be LAST, not first ... not a good idea to be on an island until right before your plane, because a glitch could make you miss your flight.

Two good books to give you a visual/factual overview quickly are EYEWITNESS: The Greek Islands (it includes Athens also) , and EYEWITNESS: Athens and the Mainland. You can get them at the library, an it doesn't matter if the editions are a few years old -- you are not consulting them for hotels & meals, but for sights... and they stay the same.

We did our first trip this past July and had a wonderful time. Take a look at my trip report, you might get some ideas. I felt it was a really good overview. If you can't manage 15 days I'd probably shave a couple off Athens (we did 5) and either drop Delphi or one of the islands. But if you can swing two weeks I think you'll be happy you did. The trip report includes reviews of the places we stayed and I would definitely return to all of them.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/from-santorini-to-the-peloponnese-isabels-photos-and-trip-report.cfm

Thank you all for the excellent suggestions and helpful advice. I really appreciate it. I will check out the links you all sent, and the books recommended!

Delphi was my favorite place.

Carolyn & Isabel, Glad u were able to enjoy Delphi... but Delphi should be off everybody's list until it is clear what the renovations, repairs whatever are up to, and how long they will be disrupting the visits ot the site. I heard that the stadium way up top had been closed for awhile. NOw they have blocked off the upper areas of the site (inlcuding temple of Appollo) so really all you can see is the Sacred Way... just a portion of the site. FUrthermore I do not beieve the guided tours make up for this defect by t aking you down the rote to the Tholos... this is the round structure that is depicted on many of the posters, calendar pics etc. Most of the bus tours never take you here or to the sacred spring OR to hte tombs. WHY??? Because they are in too much of a hurry to take you off to a RUG STORE or a TAVERNA where YOU pay for a mediocre, unwanted meal ... because the tour company gets commissions from the Rug guy and the taverna. So.... go on your own ... and DONT' go without inquiring thoroughly as to its status. The Trip Advisor forum has a Delphi expert who watchdogs such things.

We are going to Greece May 5th to May 17th with Go-Today.com.. 3 nights in Athens, 4 nights on Santorini, 3 nights on Mykonos and 1 night in Athens.. its about $1900 from Chicago, airfare, hotels w/breakfast, ferries, taxes/surcharges...
I think there are about 7 of us going - various ages if you are interested in joining us...

I took a "classical tour" that went to Mycenae and Epidaurus the first day, Olympia the second day, Delphi the third day, and Meteora the fourth day. There were three nights on the road, in Olympia, Delphi, and Meteora. It was extremely informative. We spent enough time for my taste at all the sites except Mycenae, which was cut a bit short because of a holiday that day, I believe.

At Delphi, the tour certainly did walk down to the Tholos, then walk up to the upper sites and through the museum. It would be worth checking what parts of the site are open. But my opinion is that the site is so spectacularly situated, and so important in Greek myth, literature and history, that it is worth the trip even if you can't make it all the way to the top. (I did not climb up as far as the stadium because of my bad knees, but Delphi was a highlight of the trip for me.)

I arranged for the tour through Fantasy Travel, but it was operated by GO Tours.

You might be interested in my trip report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/carnival-in-greece-nikkis-trip-report.cfm

I don't think it's bad to miss the Delphi stadium, but I understand tha much of the upper parts are not available. Perhaps even he museum. I think that anyone should go to Trip Advisor site and put "Delphi partly closed" or some such in the search slot, and find out more. This was news from last week.

Travelerjan is right, part of the site is closed to the public for safety issues due to a rock fall. Until it has been assessed &/or made safe it would certainly make a trip there less worthwhile.

If the whole upper section is unavailable I'd rethink making the trip all the way out to Delphi as it's relatively far from the other areas being discussed. But Nikki is right about the setting of the whole place (even including the town itself) as being very beautiful, and the history and all. (www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/116190053) Still, if most of the site is closed I don't think it would be worth the trip just for the setting. Everything, including the stadium, were open and in fine shape in July so hopefully it's just temporary. It's beside a large mountain, I would think occasional rock falls would be expected.

The stadium itself was not that interesting, but the view from above the theatre down is quite spectacular and by the time you are at that point the stadium is only a bit further. www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/116190025

The tholos is a bit of a hike from the rest of the site but so worth it. www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/116190018

I generally hate tours but in some cases they are the best way to see certain places and I can see how Delphi might be such a case. We rented a car but if for some reason that wasn't doable a tour might be a solution. I would however at least look for a tour that spends the night in Delphi, that way you could take your time at the site because you can walk to the hotels in the town center easily - and skip the shopping.

We're working with FreedomToursLLC (www.freedomtoursllc.com) and doing four nights in Santorini, hopping back on a flight to Athens for a weeklong cruise through several other islands, and then back to Athens for three days.We are leaving in late June and taking about 16 days total. Annie, the owner, is working with us, and does lots of custom work. You tell her what you want, with your budget, and she puts together an itinerary for you. Originally, I had considered island hopping, but realized the logistics might take too much time (we are a fit couple in our 50s). We did not want the large ship cruise thing (it's OK for other things) because we wanted more time on the islands; the yacht cruising thing seemed more flexible with more time on the islands which is what we want to see! We are also using AMEX pts to save on flights and Marriott pts to save on Athens hotel, and she is willing to work with things like that.

Advertising and self-promotion are not allowed here.

I apologize, I misread your posting.

I just returned from Greece on September 27. Indeed, at Delphi, you could only walk up past the Treasury of Athenians to the end of the Sacred Way. Where the Sacred Way turns left uphill towards the Temple of Apollo, it is roped off, and access to any of the higher areas is blocked. I do think it is still worth visiting, if only for the wonderful museum and the Precinct of Athena.

If you want to cover a lot of ground quickly, you might consider a taxi tour. You can put together an itinerary, for 1 or more days, and find out how much it would cost. Before my trip, I arranged a one-day private taxi tour with Paul from Athens Taxi (www.athenstaxi.org). He was great, and I would definitely use him again. He picked me up in his Mercedes at my hotel and returned me there after the tour. We visited Mycenae, Tiryns, Nafplion (where I had lunch at a Taverna of my choosing), Epidavros & Ancient Corinth (all on the Peloponnesian Peninsula). I had a limited time and did not want to have to worry about driving or parking a rental car so this was a great option for me.

It's really a matter of choice whether or not you want a guided tour. Personally, I don't think guided tours are a necessity, although they sometimes allow you to bypass lines. Even when I am on a group tour, like I was in Greece, I often leave the group once I'm inside the museum, ruin, etc. so I can be sure to see everything on my "list." In my opinion, tour guides sometimes spend way too long talking about something that may not be a be a particular interest. I like to do reading and planning before my trip, so I already know what I want to especially see and have learned about it in advance. I also take print-outs of the plans of museums, sites, etc. that may not be included in my guidebook(s) of choice so I will know where I am and how to get to where I want to be.

Delaine your information is very good... your suggestion about the taxi tour would be even better if you would mention what you paid for that private tour. Many people would of course like to do that... but is it 100€ 200€ or 400€? If you do not say, then they cannot know whether it is possible on their particular budget. Please share!

Two years ago we spent three weeks in Greece and had an absolutely wonderful time. We don't really like tours, prefer to plan for ourselves and have the luxury of spending our time the way we want. For the first two weeks of the trip we had an apartment in Nafplio located on the Peloponnese Peninsula. We did day trips from there (along with two overnights.) Day trips were to Epidaurus, Ancient Corinth, Mycenae, Nemea, Olympia and a ferry trip to the islands of Hydra and Spetses. Mystras and Monemvasia were an overnight. Delphi was another overnight. These two weeks were through a company, Untours. (www.untours.com) Nafplio is a delightful little town complete with its own ancient fort overlooking the lovely water. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to spend time there. After that we moved to a hotel in Athens for 2 nights, took a ferry to Santorini for 3 nights and then flew back to Athens for another 2 days. This planning gave us a mix of ancient archelogical sites,awesome museums, waterfront dining and viewing, and all the hiking or walking you could want.

Ifnotnow,
I'm planning a trip to Greece in April, going right to Nafplio for 4 nights. We're still undecided about renting a car while there. Did you?
Also, did you take the ferry right from Nafplio to Hydra for the day? That sounds great.
Any recommendations for restaurants in Nafplio?
Thanks.
From there we're going to Crete (Chania) and Santorini.

Hey Bettina.
We go to Nauplion every time we go to Greece and always rent a car. Actually we rent it at the Athens airport and drive to Nauplion. The roads are very good although the other drivers Having a car is really great. You can do day trips from Nuplio to Epadarus, Mycenae, Tyrns and a bit longer to Ancient Corinth, Ancient Nemia and for a real long day try Mystras near Sparti.

thanks stanbr.
we're going back to chania and staying at pension nora's again!

Bettina,
Yes, we rented a car. That's how we did all the day trips we did. Stanbr is right about all the places that are within driving distance from Nafplio. The ferry we took to Hydra was out of Tolo, a little town not far from Nafplio. We drove to Tolo. You will be amazed at all the restaurants in Nafplio. To be honest, I really don't remember their names. There were several around Constitution Square, several in a row a block away from the square, and of course many along the waterfront. We stayed away from those as they are more expensive, except for the last night when we went to one at the far end of the town. It kind of hung out over the water and was very good.

Hey Bettina
We are going back to Chania again in late May and we have decided to stay at Nora again as well.
We wanted to make a statement.

As to dining in Nauplio we loved Taverna Faneria.
It is a block away from Constitution Square down a small side alley. It was always full while nearby tavernas were empty. That always tends to tell me that it is a good place. Food was good and prices were very reasonable.
Here are our pictures of Nuplion. Faneria is the 3rd picture.
http://travel.webshots.com/album/551991579dJbWvh
Have a great time.

Thanks Stanbr!

Bettina - I recommend you rent a car and drive to Nauplion. You need a car there and the drive is very easy. It is a beautiful area and rich with history. Not to be missed! Plus lots of great tavernas and walks.
Have you been to the south coast of Crete? I recommend Plakias and Mirthios. Cheers!

FirstTriptoGreece,
Go hang out in a bookstore and look through the travel books. There are so many choices in Greece. 8-10 days means you'll need to narrow your focus. The mainland has lots of hiking and fabulous historical sites. You really don't need to sign on with a tour. My husband and I are older and we just plan our own itineraries. You can stay in Athens in a 2-3 days, then rent a car and head out to Delphi and/or the Pelloponnese. The islands hold their own allure and there are so many. My favorite is Paros and Crete. I think you will spend too much time in transport to go to Rhodes or Crete even if you fly. It is a short hop on Aegean Air but you'll have to deal with airport time. I find the ferries run reliably despite what some reviewers say. You could also save time by going to a closer island in the Saronic Gulf. Have a great time - you'll want to back again to see what you missed!

Stanbr,
Your pictures of Nafplio are outstanding. They certainly depict the lovely little city as it truly is. Future visitors should know that besides this beauty are frindly and really nice residents. We were also struck by the children playing in Constitution Square, even in the evening hours when you would think they should be tucked into their beds sound asleep, but they were having such fun. And we were too just watching them.
Linda

I was at Delphi on October 26. The upper part (the sacred way) was still closed but the museum and the rest of the site were open. The site is spectacular. We also briefly visited Arachova, the village about 2 miles away that is popular with skiers in the winter. It is a lovely village with many craft stores and tourist amenities and it looks like a very pleasant place to stay. I definitely want to go to Delphi again, but this time I would stay a day or two in Arachova.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

Sorry, I've been away. It was 200 euros for the taxi tour, and that was the price whether there was 1 person or 4.

I too recommend Arachova. I spent 2 nights there at the Santa Marina Arachova Resort, which was lovely. The town was so charming too, especially when you wandered the narrow streets off the main street. The town is built on the side of Mt. Parnassus, and around 200 stairs up from main street, there are beautiful views from the church.

bookmarking

@Delaine's taxi tour... is this a reasonable cost? how far in advance should you book one of these?

I am going to Athens 10/28-11/1/10 and just started looking at locations and options for my sightseeing. Most of my time will be spent at the marathon event but will try to see everything I can squeeze in.

I've seen many people suggest taxi tours as the way to go, but I'm not really sure what to expect as I've never booked one before. It does sound like a better option than the tour bus because I am truly not interested in the "rug guy's" offerings. Thoughts or suggestions on the taxi tour?

Text-t-weed ... That would be a reasonable price for a full-day hire to go to those places in the Argolid, because it is over 100 miles there & 100 back, and takes a full day of the drivers time. It would be quite efficient use of time, if you have only 1 day. Note that this trip of Delaine's did not include Delphi -- that was a separate day.

The only objection is to the use of the term "taxi tour." The accurate term would really be private car-hire, because the driver is not a licensed Guide and cannot provide what you think of as a "Tour." He can drive you to the sites but is not allowed to accompany you onsite and give information; licensed guides in Greece must take an intensive long course & pass tests; taxi drivers mainly supply anecdotes and transportation convenience. You will note that Delaine said she liked to prepare herself by prior reading, and to take a guidebook and print-outs from internet sites... thus enabling a "D-I-Y" tour. VERY do-able, and i recommend it to you!

bookmarking

@travelerjan Thanks!

this whole topic has definitely been bookmarked. thanks to all.

Delaine - We will be in Greece with a group of friends in March and have one day in Athens that we would like to use to take a day trip to Delphi. There will probably be 8-10 of us going and we don't really want to do a group bus tour that involves stops at rug shops, etc. When you arranged your taxi tour, did Paul actually give you a "tour" of Delphi, or just drive you to the places you wanted? Did you take this as a 1 day tour, and if so, where else would you recommend stopping? Thanks for any help you can provide.