4 Days in Greece, itinerary suggestions/comments and getting to islands?
 

Hi

I will be visiting Greece for the first time this May 22nd through 26th, 4 days, was planning on 1 day in Athens, 1 day trip to Delphi (assume with some bus/tour company) and thinking would like to do a day and night at one of the islands (either Santorini or Mykonos) and wondering

1. Suggestions on itinerary

2. How to get to islands easily as well as somewhat cheaply and any reco's on Santorini or Mykonos or other?

Interests include nature, walking around seeing major sights as well as eating/drinking to absorb culture through my stomach :) I take at least some public transportation to get a feel of the pulse of the place too.

Thanks

shriram

HUge getaway weekend for Greeks May 21-24, so take that into consideration. Outbound transport would be OK on Monday May 24 I guess.

However, you really do not have time to go to an island that far away at least cheaply! I suggest you Enjoy Athens 22 & 23 -- do A delphi Day trip (look at CHAT Tours) on 24th, and on the 25th, try a quickie day tour to an island ... Aegina. Here's how:

(1) put on swimsuit beneath clothes, stuff a towel n your day-pack
(2) Take a Green-Line Metro to Piraeus (30 minutes, Fast, but don't keep valuables in your pockets, there are some pickpckets)...
(3) take the first available ferry ( a regualr ferry, open decks, not an enclosed fast-ferry) it's about a 50 minute ride. Wander the port town for a bit, buy world's BEST fresh pistachios.
(3) rent a scooter if you like or else get a BUS or TAXI to the most beautiful Ancient TEmple in Greece -- TEmple of Aphaia, on a high hill, 360° view of sea, fab foto op.
(4) walk down the road (return busses are scarce).. look for a sign called "short-cut" follow a trail downhill to a beach town (ag. Marina?)... have a nice swim, check bus times, have a bevvie in a cafe, bus or taxi back to port t own.
(5) enjoy sunset in port cafe, dinner perhaps, a starlight ferry back to Pireaus.

Have you been to Athens before and that is why you only want to spend one day? Since you desire to see Delphi, there are lots of archeaology to see in Athens and places to walk and dine.
You may not be able to find a flight or hotel on those islands during that time as they usually get booked pretty fast the week you are going as May 24 is a holiday there.
I suggest taking one of the many buses to the Nauplio which is beautiful, and has really good places to eat and you can walk around and even up the Palamidi fortress, or you can enjoy the little beach in Tolo (I also went there mid-May and there were people swimming). Other places to see archaeology are Corinth, Mycanea & Epidavros. Just make sure that there are no strikes in Greece though, because you could be stranded there until the next day unless you take your trip with a tour company.
If you want to see islands closer to Athens you can take a day trip to Aegina, Hydra, Poros or the other Saronic islands.

Many years ago we did the "3 islands" tour to Aegina, Poros and Hydra. We booked it in Australia before we left and I can't remember the cost. It was a great day out. Have been to Mykonos and Santorini. Both are well worth the effort but I think too far for a day and a night.

HI I have not been to Greece or Athens before, this was the suggested itinerary from my greek friend who I had asked.

Shriram

Well, maybe you'll fall in love with it and come back for a longer stay. Athens has much to offer. Some people can only stand 2 days max and others like me can stay for weeks. You really can't absorb too much island life culture in a day and especially in Santorini or Mykonos. You can try and get tickets and a hotel but you better do it now. I think you should consider doing the island first and then Athens & Delphi, just in case you have flight problems on the way back.
Maybe on such a short trip and being unfamiliar you can use GO and CHAT tours to do daytrips that will take you to both Delphi & Meteora, or Epidavros. But you can manage Nauplio on your own using KTEL bus. (just take a taxi to the bus station if you aren't familiar getting there).
I think you'll enjoy Aegina too (but it is better in August when the pistachios are ready). In any case, you'll be back.

I have been in Athens twice and saw nearly all the monuments in one day. As they are on the centere and very close to each other you will not have a lack of time, I guess. Now, I am on the island og Chios, a Greek island. You can take the ship to the islands from Piraeus port and it takes about 9 hours. Tickets are about 20-25 Euros. Santorini is a very nice island, http://www.mygreektrip.com/santorini/, and you can see some other islands,http://www.mygreektrip.com/, very easyly with the ferry. They are very close to each other. Also, they are close to Turkey. Yeap! I am from Turkey. So, if you have time you can visit another country too.:)

Have fun!