|
Greece - 20 glorious days
Greece, May, 2025, 2 active, well-traveled, but with some minor back issues, 75 year olds.
Itinerary: Athens - 3 nights Journey to Mycenae - 2 nights in Nafplio Head to Delphi - 1 night Transfer to Kalabaka - 1 night Return to Athens - 1 night Flight to Crete - 1 night Heraklion Chania - 6 nights Paros - 4 nights |
Athens--Day 1 - Flew from Newark to Athens, arriving about 9am. Picked up at airport and checked into Athens Gate Hotel, located in the historic district of Athens, opposite the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Had lunch on the rooftop restaurant, with a view of the Acropolis. Walked to see the changing of the guards in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which, at 11 am on Sundays, has a whole marching platoon accompanied by a band. There were throngs of people and, even though we were at the front on a curb, people gathered in front of us, making it hard to see well. It was festive, and the platoon and band were visible. We returned another day and more clearly saw the actual changing of the guards. We then walked around the Plaka neighborhood. After a brief freshening in our hotel, we took a taxi to an early, wonderful dinner at Jonah's, followed by going up the Lycabettus Hill via the cable car. The view from this, the highest point in Athens, and the sunset, was breathtaking. Taxi back to the hotel and viewed the Acropolis lit up at night from the rooftop with dessert.
|
|
Following, I love love Greece! We have four nights each in Iraklio and Chania at the end of the month, then four nights in Athens on the way back. Our first visit to Crete, so I am particularly looking forward to hearing about that part of your trip.
Would also appreciate recommendations for rooftop restaurants in Athens. Thanks! |
The rooftop restaurant in Athens was at our hotel, Athens Gate Roof Top.
|
Athens--Day 2 - took another walk in Plaka along the perimeter of the Acropolis to the Anafiotika neighborhood, within Plaka that is like a Cycladic Island. It was built by laborers from the island of Anafi, who were working on King Otto's palace.On our way down, we came upon a delightful restaurant, Thespis, and had a great lunch-fabulous food with a beautiful setting. We took a taxi to the Palaio Faliro marina and took a stroll along the promenade. At 5:30, we began our next 12 days with our Greeking.me tour Greece's Timeless Treasures, meeting the other 2 people on the tour as we had come the day before with a couple who were friends of ours from home, so the total number in the group was 6. We had a private Evening Highlights Tour and Meze Dinner. It was an overview tour, we saw the changing of the guard more closely than yesterday, and landmark sights such as the National Gardens, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, walked through historic neighborhoods, Monastiraki Square, saw Hadrian's Arch, Roman Agora, etc., while learning about the history and culture, We had a Greek tapas dinner at Ella's Restaurant. The stifado (chestnut stew) was one of the highlights, as our guide had us sample so many Greek dishes!
|
|
Thanks for the report, following.
|
Athens- Day 3 - We met with the group at 8 am after a lovely breakfast at the hotel and met our tour leader for our 4 hour Mythology Tour of Acropolis and Acropolis Museum. The walk/hike up was slightly challenging. The elevators were broken, as were the restrooms on the top. There are few places with handrails. I say all of this, because I was recovering from a compression fracture in my spine and my husband has some back issues. Our guide was captivating and thorough! We walked through the Odeon and Herodes, We visited the Acropolis sights such as the Propylaea, Temple of Nike, the Parthenon and the Erechtheion, hearing fascinating stories along the way. We were guided through the museum, a great help. Aferwards, the 2 of us had a lovely lunch at Arcadia Restaurant, close to the Acropolis and headed back to the hotel for a nap. At 5pm, we met our fabulous tour leader, who would be with us for the rest of the tour days--Niki, an energetic, caring, knowledgeable Greek native who was the backbone of the rest of our time with our Greeking.me tour group. We were off for an excursion to Cape Sounio and the Temple of Poseidon. Stopped for a delicious dinner at seaside Labros Restaurant. We rode along the Athens Riviera, gazed over the Doric-column Temple of Poseidon overlooking the Saronic Gulf and the Aegean Sea.
|
Labros Restaurant
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...cb5573056.jpeg Saronic Gulf https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...c5b2843ce.jpeg Temple of Poseidon https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...242c706ba.jpeg |
Due to time constraints, the remainder of this trip report will be brief, but I am happy to fill in details and/or answer questions.
Mycenae tour and Semeli Winery - Day 4 -visited citadel of Mycenae with a private tour with an archeologist. Visited Semeli winery-great tour, fabulous food & wine. Arrived in Nafphio, Decadent, delicious dinner at Wild Duck, Nafplio. Epidaurus and Nafplio - Day 5 - Visited Epidaurus with a wonderful private tour, free afternoon in Nafplio following seaside moussaka lunch in the Port of Nafplio , walked, enjoyed ice cream, sunset tour of Nafplio with our wonderful leader, Niki and dinner. |
Great itinerary. A Few Light Suggestions: |
Great itinerary. A Few Light Suggestions: |
I hear your suggestions, which are wise, but luckily we had a driver and could relax during the long rides. The reason we went back to Heraklion for the ferry to Paros is because (as you will see when I finish the trip report) our Greeking.me group tour ended after 12 days with them and we extended another week, desiring to visit Paros.
|
Heading to Delphi - Day 6 - Left Nafplio and drove to our hotel in Delphi. We had lunch at Agora Cafe overlooking the Corinthian Gulf (wonderful pizza) and then walked viewing beautiful mountain scenery to meet our tour guide for Ancient Delphi and the Museum. A wonderful dinner followed, but
Delphi to Kalambaka - Day 7 - Driver took us to the lovely Divani Meteora Hotel in Kalambaka. We embarked upon a 4pm sunset tour with a private guide viewing 6 monasteries, visiting the Assumption of Mary Byzantine Temple and enjoying the sunset. Spectacular views. Delicious dinner followed. Our leader, Niki, knew all the perfect restaurants to take us to and the best food on which we could feast. Meteora visit and drive back to Athens - Day 8 - Amazing tour of lofty rock formations creating an eerie scenery, explored the monastic region with the help of an expert local guide, visiting 3 monasteries. Stopped for a quick gyro and headed to Athens. Returned to one of our favorite restaurants, Thespie, for dinner. Crete - Day 8 - Early morning flight to Crete, after viewing sunrise from our room. Bakery lunch and toured Knossos Palace with a private guide. Checked into Olive Green Hotel. Dinner with view of the port. Heraklion Food tour and transfer to Chania - Day 9 - after a morning stroll, 4 hour walking food tour with delicious tastings and lunch with a local guide after which we were driven to Chania and checked into the Avra City Hotel where we were staying for 5 nights. Niki took us to a local fish restaurant. |
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...12328bcdd.jpeg
Chania https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5d90ddd69.jpeg Bougatsa https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...efc62745f.jpeg Knossos https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...a8d170386.jpeg Meteora https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6cf42b4f1.jpeg Nafplio |
Beautiful photos. Enjoying joining you on your Greek adventure.
|
Awesome view of Holy Trinity at Meteora. You also had a great view of the Roman Forum with the city and hills behind. Looking forward to hearing more about Crete.
|
Chania - Day 9 - Hotel has a fabulous breakfast and a lovely golden retriever. We embarked on a 7 hour private tour in the region of Apokoronas, located in the eastern province of Chaniawith a local guide. Our first stop was a cafe for Greek coffee where we also saw sheep being herded through the village. Next, villages of Aptera and Stylos, where we took a nature walk learning about vegetation that grows in this region.We then experienced the art of Cretan cheese-making with a visit to a local cheese factory in Vryses where, after touring the process, we can sampled traditional varieties such as 'Graviera,' 'Mizithra,' and 'Anthotiros. In Emprosneros, we had freshly baked bread with olive oil, along with cookies and biscuits from a local bakery. In Fres, lunch at a traditional, family run 'Kafeneio'. Dinner was along the waterfront in Chania at sunset @ Ta Chalkina.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...188171041.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...3bd993786.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...022f77a5c.jpeg Chania lighthouse |
That sounds like a great up-close tour. How did you arrange/find it?
|
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:09 PM. |