Excursions on Greek islands
 

Looking for your 'go to' places on the islands of Crete, Santorini, and Mykonos (Plus Dubrovnik). Open to any and all suggestions.

Will be on a one week cruise (Venice to Athens) so we have minimal time to maximize our experiences. Want to pick the right excursions and/or to venture out on our own.

Thanks,
Pat

A lot depends on your interests. Some people are really into history, others like to have long lunches or go to art galleries.

Crete is a big island, where will you be? In Dubrovnik I'd suggest walking along the top of the walls, you pay a minimal fee to do it and the views are sublime. We liked the Buza Bar which is/was a tiny bar built into the outside of the walls but that was years ago and I'm wondering if it's changed. Google it.

On Santorini, once you get on to the island from the cruise ship, you might not have very much time. If you can manage it, get the bus or a taxi down to Oia which is at the end of the island. It's a quieter, slightly more attractive area than Fira. If you don't have much time, just wandering around Fira would be fine, there are amazing views and lots of tourist shops and places to eat.

Kay

Hi Kay,
Thanks so much for the suggestions. I am looking mostly for places of beauty or historical interest.
We arrive on the island of Crete via Chania.
Pat

Hi PatLinn

When visiting Mykonos please take the short boat trip over to Delos. Truly magical, many ancient ruins and the mosaics are wonderful. The boats leave from the harbour in Mykonos town in the morning and if I remember correctly you have around 4 hours to explore before they come back for you. The journey time is only around 25 minutes or so. You can do this small excursion on your own or choose a tour. If you have a good guidebook I recommend the former. Heimdall, a Fodor's regular has a terrific knowledge of Delos so hopefully he will join the thread and give better and more accurate information than I have.

The island is a UNESCO site and this page gives some information you might find helpful:

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/530

Bill

Chania , Crete is one of Greece’s most beautiful towns/ cities. Stay there for the day, enjoying the Venetian Harbor, remnants of the Ottoman rule. It is a beautiful seaside place filled with very good restaurants and a museum. We spent two weeks there and can’t wait to return.

Santorini
Visit Oia, the inspriation for the posters of Greece, blue domed cycladic buildings. From Oia, go down to Amoudi Harbor for a seafood lunch by the water. Taverna Katina is a good place to eat. If you have enough time, visit ancient Akrotiri, a Minoan village, c.5 BC.
Be prepared for big crowds from the cruise ships. Santorini is quite small( 15 x5 miles) and huge ships drop off thousands of passengers; usually there are several ships there at the same time. Cruisers have to access Santorini by cable car from tenders, not the ferry dock, and the lines can be very long so allow enough time for that.
Mykonos
Walk around the twisting and charming pathways in town. Go over to see the windmills and Little Venice too.
If your schedule allows for a boat trip to ancient Delos go there! It is the historic center of the Cyclades, in mythology, birthplace of Apollo and his twin sister Artemis.Extensive anxient excavations.
Dubrovnik- walk the city walls!

Akrotiri is actually quite a bit older than 5 BC. Try 1620 BC!

Sold! Thanks, Bill.

Thanks so much. It's becoming more real and exciting!

> Sold! Thanks, Bill<

You are most welcome,PatLinn. I should also have suggested that when you visit this archaeological treasure take a hat and water (not too much shelter from the sun there) plus comfortable shoes!

Bill

Yes, head for Delos when you get to Mykonos. Your cruise ship may have its own tour, and of course it depends upon the hours it will be in port. The boats for Delos leave from Mykonos old port, and your ship will either be docked at the new port or anchored off shore. If you are docked at the new port you can take the water taxi to the old port: https://www.mykonos-seabus.gr

Boats leave for Delos from the old port several times a day, mostly in the morning, and your return ticket allows you to take any boat back. You don't say what month of the year you will be cruising, and that affects frequency of boats, so check the timetable when you arrive on Mykonos. If you have enough time in port you may be able to visit Delos in the morning and still have time for lunch and a walk around Mykonos Town in the afternoon.

A few of my photos of Delos, reflecting my special interest in mosaics. I don't know why my link doesn't go to the album header, but click "Back to Album" at the top left hand corner of the photo and you will get there:

Thank you so very much for your comments and sharing your amazing pictures. Our cruise leaves Venice on 10/7. Arrive in Athens the following Saturday.

Santorini - Best way to see the island
 

We will have a day to explore this island via cruise ship. (In port 0800-2200). We have 2 goals: to spend time at Oia and to see as much of the island as we can. How challenging is it to drive, and should we rent a car? Other options? We are trying to stay away from ship excursions.
Thanks so much.

We rented a car just fine - main problem will be finding a parking space in Oia! :)

Crete - We had a leisurely day to explore Chania last October, and needed no additional excursions. Our ship had shuttle buses from the port into the city and we wandered on our own.

Santorini - We tendered, took the funicular into Fira, walked to taxi station for ride to Oia, spent hours in Oia, were unable to get a taxi back to Fira so took the bus (crowded) back to Fira, no additional excursions. But do look for the charming Atlantis Bookshop (all English language) while walking out to the tip of the island.

Mykonos - Again, walked all over the island, before catching a public bus out to the beaches for a couple hours. No excursions. Crete and Mykonos were our favorite islands.

Get a book from your library on the islands and see what interests you most; after spending five days in Athens and an excursion to the Pelopponese, we did not want to spend our island days amongst more ruins. In Athens, loved the National Museum, of course the Acropolis Museum, Mt Lebettus (what a walk before reaching the funicular!), Benaki Museum, and the Acropolis itself of course.