8 Days in Greece this spring
 

Which islands should we visit, what sights should we not miss, and how long should we spend in Athens?

I'd suggest no more than a quarter of your time in Athens - there are lots of 'sights' but it's not really a pleasant city. <BR>With only 6 days to spend on the islands, you're not going to see them all! I'd suggest you work out what you're looking for, then choose an island 'group' to explore. For example, if you're looking for spectacular scenery, you might want to choose the cyclades (Santorini, Mykonos, etc). For beaches, you might think about Skiathos/Skopolos, etc. <BR>Have a good time!

FIRSTLY I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT 8 DAYS ARE NOT ENOUGH BUT HOPEFULLY YOU WILL GO BACK. STAY IN ATHENS AS LESS AS YOU CAN. JUST VISIT THE ACROPOLIS AND THE PLAKA,THE LUCABETUS HILL. AFTER THAT I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST VISITING SANTORINI AND MYKONOS(THEY ARE NOT VERY CROUDED IN SPRING).ANOTHER ISLAND THAT I LOVE IS CRETE BUT SINCE IT IS VERY BIG AND YOU WON'T HAVE TIME VISIT THE TOWNS HANIA AND RETHYMNO. WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT MISS IS EATING GYROS.HAVE FUN BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THAT GREECE IS ABOUT.

I agree on spending only a few days in Athens and then trying to get to some islands--though you also might want to consider something like an overnight trip to Delphi, on the mainland. You can take a public bus there and then stay at a little pension. I believe there are also organized tours, but the public bus is fun, and you really feel like you're absorbing more of the culture that way. <BR> <BR>I don't know how much travel you've done in that area, if any, but I'd just say, be prepared to be loose with your schedule. Particularly if you're in an out-of-the-way place, perhaps the bus will come on time, perhaps not; perhaps the boat will sail today, perhaps not. <BR> <BR>When we went to Crete in May one year, we'd flown from Athens and planned to sail back to the mainland via Santorini. The seas were particularly rough that May, so we sat on a boat for half a day, waiting to sail, and then decided to give up and take a bus to a far corner of the island. It was one of the most delightful parts of our trip, and when we got back to Heraklion for a flight back to Athens, we learned that the boat had never sailed. <BR> <BR>Just take your time and enjoy the sights, and the beautiful way light plays on everything, and the friendly people, and the great food. <BR> <BR>If you do go to Crete, definitely hike the Gorge of Samaria. And, if you are interested in ancient Greek history, visit the ruins of Knossos. <BR> <BR>In Athens, see the big sights like the Parthenon and the Plaka, but also don't miss the Agora, the ancient marketplace.

Carey, you might want to check out www.greektravel.com for an alphabetical breakdown of the Greek islands that I found invaluable. (just don't use the rental car company recommended on the site, but that's another story) Anyway we were in Santorini for 3 days and wished we'd had more. Our hotel was only $70.00 per night and was right on the caldera's edge. There is so much to do there! I loved it and suggest you visit there.

Had a great holiday in Greece in June / July. Started off in Athens, then Skiathos, Crete, Santorini and finally Mykonos. <BR> <BR>The highlight for me was without doubt Skiathos, then Santorini. I recommend giving Mykonos a wide birth - it's outrageously expensive over developed and very commercialised. <BR>

Spring is a great time to visit the Peloponnese and Crete, but the smaller islands may not be quite awake if you are going to be there before April or May. <BR>Too many Americans, in my humble opinion, miss the greatest sights of Greece by not going to the Pel. Head out of Athens after a couple of days, go to Delphi, then cross the Corinth canal and drive to Nauplia via old Corinth. From your base in Nauplia, see Epidaurs and Mycenae. Then drive on through Sparta, seeing the medeival Mistras, where the wild irises will be blooming around the ruins, and head for Olympia--beating the Olympic crowds by three years. <BR>Another time, to to Crete and spend a week in the spring enjoying the incredible wildflowers. Some of the islands are indeed very scenic, but save them for another trip. <BR>V.

I was in Athens for the first time in October. I agree that it's not a place to spend a lot of time - - and I'm not sure I'll go back - - but the Acropolis is the most extraordinary site I've been to. The great cathedrals, Stonehendge, the Coliseum all pale in comparison. The buildings and the museum show an art and architecture that suddenly matured in a fifty or so year period into the universal forms that we've used in the West ever since. I wouldn't have missed seeing it firsthand for the world.