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My partner and I are planning our first trip (10 days) to Greece in late August. We'd like to spend about 3 days (over a weekend) in Athens, 3 days (over another weekend) in Mykonos, and 3 days (during the week in between) in Santorini. Our initial flight into Athens arrives at 10:20 AM on a Friday morning. Having read through this forum, we had thought to go straight to Mykonos and save Athens for the second weekend (prior to departing for home), so as to avoid any potential travel difficulties with traveling from Mykonos to Athens to NYC in one day. However, the next flight to Mykonos on Friday is at 7:15 PM, and the next ferry is at 5:15 PM. Seems like we'd end up wasting a day in the Athens airport waiting for the evening plane or ferry to Mykonos. Are there other travel possibilities to Mykonos that I'm missing? If not, then maybe we'll stay in Athens for the first weekend, and try to do Mykonos the following weekend.
Looking at return travel from Mykonos, it looks like we could take a ferry from Mykonos to Athens which arrives at 8:00 AM. Our flight home leaves Athens at 12:00 noon. Do you think that, even with that 4 hours for the ferry to airport transfer, it's likely that we'll have problems catching that noon flight? If so, should we try to arrive in Athens the day before our flight home and spend our last night in Athens?
Another question about Athens: Where is the best place to find hotel accommodation, in order to be convenient to the tourist attractions, restaurants, and shopping? We were trying to decide between the area South of the Acropolis and the Plaka area. Any thoughts? Or is it so easy (and cheap) getting around Athens that it doesn't matter where we stay? We are on a modest budget, so we don't want to spend more than $150-$200/night for hotel.
Thanks for your help!
ACC
Travel advice for trip to Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini in late August
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We stayed in an apartment in Athens last June 2009. It was perfectly located to public transportation and within walking distance to many sights.
The best part about this apartment was that is was only 80 Euro per night and had a terrace with a beautiful view of the Parthenon at night. It also has a washer and dryer which we find very convenient.
Here is the Link: http://www.vrbo.com/147936
Have Fun! Laurie
Go to Mykonos immediately upon arrival in Greece. There's a fast ferry on Fridays in August, The SeaJet 2, from Rafina to Mykonos that leaves around 3:15, arriving at Mykonos around 5:30. There's an airport express bus to Rafina that will get you to the ferry port in around 30-40 minutes. You can buy your ferry tickets online from the Amphitrion Holidays website to be picked up at the airport from their travel desk in the Arrivals Hall between Exit/Entry Doors 2&3. Buy your bus tickets from the kiosk outside Door 5. They'll tell you where to go to catch the Rafina bus. You'll have plenty of time to relax in Rafina and have a snack before your departure.
You can then take the Hellenic Seaways FlyingCat 4 fast ferry from Mykonos to Santorini any day but August 25 or September 8 for the 2nd leg of your journey, then take another ferry or fly back to Athens from Santorni so you don't backtrack and waste time.
Athens Airways, Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air all fly between Santorini and Athens.
Ferry schedules can be seen here: http://www.gtp.gr There may be more added between now and August so check back for updates.
Save Athens until the end of your trip to give yourselves plenty of time to get back to the mainland. DON'T wait until the last day to return. You're just asking for trouble.
For inexpensive hotels in August very near the Plaka and Syntagma Square check the Omiros, Tempi, Metropolis, Attalos, Cecil and Athos Hotels.
You can get back to the airport for your flight home from the Airport Express Bus Stop next to Syntagma Square. The bus leaves every 20-30 minutes 24/7/365. The trip takes 45-90 minutes depending on traffic. You can also take the Blue Line Metro back to the airport from the Syntagma or Monastiraki Metro Stations and beat the traffic. The earliest Airport Metro leaves around 5:30am and takes 45 minutes, and the last one leaves around 11:00pm.
The Attalos Hotel in Athens is inexpensive,well regarded and in a great location. You can get to it by metro as the stop is less than a block away-easy to and from the airport if you want to avoid the cost of a taxi. It has a fabulous rooftop view and bar,internet,decent size rooms,etc. Check it out on Tripadvisor and book immediately as it is very popular!
Alas, Attalos has outrun its reputation, it used to be about 50€ a night & worth it, now it's more like €80-90 in High season and not worth it... on a grungy block too ... if you are looking for something in that range, try Akropolis Myrtos on Nikis Street, or Metropolis hotel (rooftop terrace) on Metropoleos St. or Hotel Phaedra just off Lysikrates St (ditto) all have websites & reviews.
Amalia Hotel is a very nice place located at Syntagma Square, in the town centre. You can reach it very easily both from the airport and the port by bus or by metro as there are bus/metro stations close to it. You can have a look of the hotel here http://www.athens-greece.us/amalia-hotel/ . What I really liked during my accommodation at Amalia Hotel is its modern and colorful furnishing and the dinners at the restaurant with a view to the Parthenon, especially during the evening when the lights are on making this monument look astonishly imposing and impressive.