Looking for an itinerary for our 12 nights in Greece.I am usually great at setting up itineraries but am having a problem with Greece, based on our limited time and so much to see. My first thought was fly into Athens, drive to Corinth, for 2 nights to see the sights around there, drive back to Athens, take a flight to Crete and then get over to Santorini and back to athens. I am interested in some of the other islands as well ( Naxos, Hydra etc ) I am not sure if we should forego the inland part of the trip and just enjoy 2 or 3 islands. If so, which ones ? Crete, hydra, naxos, paros? what is the most convenient as far as getting to these islands? The one thing we are totally set on is a minimum of 3 nights in Santorini, and probably one night in Athens at the end to have a day to see the major sites there. We love great beaches, old towns and great food. Not such big fans of museums, but we do want to see some historical sites, since we are in Greece. Would love to hear opinions from people that have travelled here. We are 2 couples in our early 50's, but act much younger.

What month? That may affect the transport options.
Greece is high on my list but I have never been able to get a good fare, thus I have planned the trips for when I do make it. I was like you--overwhelmed with the options--and I felt clarity and peace when I decided to visit either just Crete, or just Athens and the Peloponnese. If you wish to include Santorini and Crete, with 1 day on each end in Athens, then I suggest flying to Crete for x days, then ferry to Santorini for 3 days before returning to Athens. good luck!

we are going August 26th through september 7

The good news is you have identified three good itineraries so you just need to narrow down your options.

As yorkshire says when you go could seriously affect the practicality of what I am goin gto suggest.

Option 1) Peloponnese
You can easily spend a week here. Do stop in Corinth to see the canal and ancient Corinth as well as Ancient Nemia (used to have sister games like Olympia) But don't stay in Corinth head south through the Namian wine country and get to Nafplio.
It is a typical Greek city until you get to the old town and harbour area. There you step back into time with Venetian era fortresses and a Picturesque mountain setting.
Nafplio will take up at least two days but is ideally situated for day trips to Ancient Tiyrns home of Heracles, Mycenae and Epidavros. There are also longer trips that would include Mystras and Monemvassia. This area is rich with antiquities
This is what you can see

Nafplio and Peloponnese http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632094108982/

Then drive back to the airport and fly to Santorini for your 3 days. Fly back to Athens and give it at least 2 days.

Athens http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632121475515/

Or turn the plan around and immediately fly to Santorini on arrival and do the Peloponnese and then Athens.

Option 2 Santorini Crete and Athens
If you can, fly immediately to Crete when you arrive in Athens.
There are two options, Chania or Heraklion with airports. We always fly to Chania and settle down there for 2 to 4 nights enjoying the old town and harbour then taking a few day trips.

Chania http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632117917828/
Chania 2015 https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57655164548880

Then we head down to the Libyan Sea to one of the remote villages for some hiking and beach time. There are several options but we like the village of Sougia

Sougia https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57653311291723

Then head back north and transfer to Heraklion with a stop in Rethymnon to visit the Fortezza.


Rethymnon https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57654700502270

End up in Heraklion to visit Knossos and the Venetian center. You can do all this in 7 nights.

Next morning catch the morning ferry to Santorini for your 3 nights then fly back to Athens for 2 days.

Option 3 Santorni Naxos Athens

Fly directly to Santorini when you arrive in Athens. Spend three nights Santorini

Santorini http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632154800782/

Take the daily ferry to Naxos. It is the perfect companion island for Santorini.You get the same white and blue buildings, a lovely main town topped by a Venetian era Kastro. Good dining and a beach that is part of the main town. All of this at half the price of Santorini. Spend 7 days in Naxos and fly or ferry back to Athens for your last two days.

Naxos Town http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632094558042/

Trip around Naxos http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7634605629689/

If it were me I would do option 3 simply because you don't have to change locations to explore Naxos while Crete is so large that you do end up moving.

Hope this gives you something to help you focus on one option

oops we cross posted. All three options will work on your time frame.

Thanks stanbr. That is some great insight. Do you have reccomendations of where to stay in these locations. I saw this on trip advisor to rent in Santorini. Having been there what is your opinion?

http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationR...th_Aegean.html

hotels on the cliff are quite expensive and this seemed reasonable for what they are offering

pfeffer, you get best advice if you share more. Where do you live? Yorkshire is giving advice from perspective of a UK resident, who can fly to Greece at low cost, and thus can plan to return frequently, much the way US or Canadians visit Florida or Caribbean repeatedly. However, for North Americans, Greece is a much bigger investment in travel time and airfare, so we may not plan in terms of multiple visits (except for those like me who become addicted LOL).

It's also important to state what date AND time of day you actually arrive ... that can affect your options for onward travel a lot. Example if you arrive in aft. of Aug 27, and leave in morning of Sept 7, you really just have 10 days. That limits you to 2 islands max, plus Athens & maybe 2 days in Peloponnese.

I hope you will look at some guidebooks; they really help you to decide priorities. Just because the Internet is faster and easier doesn't always make it better. Guidebooks help you filter out the hype -- the best ones are candid about what's most worthwhile. They make you realize that Crete is a huge country in itself (160 miles long; I've been there 5 x and have only covered half of it), and Hydra's a nice port with donkeys & pistachios & no beaches, That Ancient Corinth is unhandy to reach, and hard to under-stand without a lot of background. And finally that changing locales can eat up most of a day, what with checking out getting to ferry or plane, travel, transfer to new hotel. etc.

I do agree with Yorkshire that you might manage crete if you land before noon, take an immediate flight to Chania. Spend a day or 2 in that vicinity, then rent a car for 2 days more, ending in Heraklion in time for a 9:45 ferry to Santorini arriving noon. 3 nights there, then fly back to Athens for the remainder. In order to get the most from your Crete experience, homework is essential (and fun! i might add)... as is Athens for that matter. Santorini is just 12 miles long & mostly about the famous Caldera View.

If you do want to sample the Peloponnese instead of Crete, I suggest that on arrival you rent a car and drive (only 2.5 hours) on the most modern Greek intercity highway, to lovely Nafplio, on a peninsula, the most beautiful Old Town in Greece. Use it as a base for ancient sites, drive back by way of Epidaurus (ancient theatre seating 15,000!!), to airport. fly to Santorini for your "View Fix" then fly back to Athens for its impressive landmarks. This gives you the opportunity to compare the highly-praised Santorini sunset with that of Nafplio (my favorite).

Go to the library, take out 5-6 guides, whatever's available, and see what speaks to you. Insight has the most photos, but Rough Guide has the most information (and candor) about what's most worthwhile. Happy planning!!

Thanks Travel,

Believe it or not I have read through a bunch of travel books already, and I am still unsure. I tackled Italy, France and Spain with no issues. It its the connections here that is getting to me, like you stated. We are arriving in Athens at 10:30 AM on August 26th. We are flying out of Athens and back to New York at 12:15PM so that day does not exist. Nafplio sounds interesting to me. Does it pay to get a car immediately, drive there and spend 2 or 3 nights. Then drive back, catch a plane to Crete and then a ferry to Santorini? From your post you probably think 2 or 3 nights is more than enough in Santorini. I am having difficulty figuring out the connections part and what would work best.

sorry 12:15, september 7th
do you also think we should devote more than 1 night in Athens?

Yes, it is easy as pie to rent car on arrival and head for Nafplio... most modern highway in greece, you won't even have a traffic light unitl almost there. (see this google map: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.0198...6406,10z?hl=en
... as u can see, road bypasses above athens on road E6 which becomes E94. After corinth canal, you head SOUTH on a minor road (NO traffic) thru rolling hills, orange groves, thru Argos, on to Nafplio. 2.5 hrs if you don't stop..

BUT a big bonus, if at that turn-off point, you exit to RH side instead for 5 miles and visit ANCIENT NEMEA. You haven't heard of it, practically no Americans have -- but it is the "runner up" to OLYMPIA as Sacred Games site. Almost buried, un explored until UCBerkeley took on Excavations and WOW! Beautiful ruins, Temple columns, small superb museum, theatre and STUNNER of a stadium (original runners-blocks u can race from). And NO crowds or tour busses. U can enjoy in less than an hour.

Then u can proceed to Nafplio -- you will pass directly by TIRYNS, which is another "unknown" wonder - same era as Mycenae -- a huge Iliad-era fortress like Myc, no museum but also NO crowds ... a 30-minute stop any time you're nearby it's only 5 mi out of Nafplio.

Here's the Website of Nafplio & area -- noncommercial website, tells ALL -- read ALL parts... about Town, walks, beaches etc. I share the webmaker's choice for Hotel, Agamemmnon, On plaza facing seafront, sea view rooms. IF you can book u are in hi season... if not, try Omorfo Poli, nearby, small family-run boutique place.

Your Day 1 (8/26), if you get there 4 or 5, relax, nap then go to seafront canopied cafes for sunset -- wicker cushioned loveseats, mostly comfy sunset ever. 8/27 enjoy the Old Town, walk round base of peninsula, a cute (stony) beach on other side, take elevator INSIDE Cliff wall (ask your hotel) to view from top of town. Dnt miss small superb museum on Town's centra square, in a Venetian armory, has the world's ONLY existing suit of armor from Iliad days. A short color video (20 mins) will give u Good understanding of the ancient history of the area & meaning of famous sites.
8/28 On way back to athens, drive E from Nafplio to see EPIDAURUS -- from there when u reach Corinth area follow signs to jump off road at Isthmia, just to stand on the "old Bridge" take photos straight down of Corinth Canal (SO deep SO skinnny!). time it to arrive @ airport by 90 mins before your flight (uneed to check in 1 hr ahead).

You then would only have 7 days left. There is not time to do much in Crete, even if you don't unpack & sleep in your rental car LOL. And you don't really have time for another island either Instead. Fly to Santorini in Afternoon 8/28 . Since u insist on 3 nights in Santorini, then on Aug 31, take 3:30 pm ferry to NAXOS. (You MUST have a ferry experience! as part of a trip to greece, and this 2+ hour journey on the wonderful large Blue Star is the best... sit on back deck & enjoy the wake). Stay Naxos Aug 31 Sept1 2 3. Sun Sept 4 fly to ATH in AM for 2.5 days of sightseeing.

IMPORTANT NOTE!!! If you want your trip to work, u must nail down your transportation FIRST.. preferably TOMORROW. Otherwise, you won't be able to do it. Remember,you can always find another hotel. You cannot find another flight if all flights are booked. (ferries seat 1800, no prob geting those tickets when u get to island).

Whoops! forgot Nafplio/Argolid Website: http://www.visitnafplio.com -- again I urge, click on ALL the sections, great info & photos.

I loved Nafplio, but I can't imagine driving there ( about 2+ hours) after a 10-hour flight from JFK.

Try to connect to one of the islands ( Santorini, Paros, Naxos) on arrival in Athens.

Leave Nafplio for the end of your trip, when you're back on the mainland.

I guess we west coasters are a bit more robust than east coasters.
We drove to Nafplio after a 24 hour series of flights from the west coast. All you need is a morning arrival, coffee and adrenaline and the two hour drive to Nafplio is fine.

Thanks Travelerjan, good insight on the transportation. I will start working on it quickly. You think we should limit Santorini to only 2 night? If so would you still recommend skipping Crete and adding Naxos?

solidified! Went with mostly your thoughts, Jan. Looks like we get a bit of it all with that. We are renting a car and driving to Napflio on the 26th. Spending 3 nights there. On Aug 29th driving back to Athens. Already booked air from Athens to Santorini. 3 nights in Santorini, and then ferry to Naxos on Sept 1. 4 nights in Naxos and then plane back to Athens ( need to book this one still ) 1 1/2 days in Athens to bang out the sites and then home on the 7th. Thanks to all. I feel good about the trip now. Any recommendations on hotels in Naxos? ( we prefer a bit higher end )

Don't spend any time on Hotels until you get that Naxos plane booked ... Until this year, Naxos only had ONE flight per day, now has several; but be aware these are modern small jets only 38 passengers. Book ASAP.

This website http://reservations.airtickets.com/a...=1456847589024 shows 2 choices for you: 9:40-10:30 AM Monday (i.e. U are checked in hotel by 12), or if you want 2 full days for Athens, then 18:40 (6:40pm- 7:25 pm) on Sunday. You r checked in hotel before 9, can have nice dinner on "greek time" ... and be ready to spring up Monday and get up on Acropolis by 8:30, if you want to go D-I-Y (the tour groups arrive about 9:45). Talk it over.

U can still have nice final afternoon at beach; check out of room at noon, stash luggage at reception, then arrange w hotel that after your sun-time, you can use a vacant bathroom to freshen up for travel.. airport is small u can be there 45-50 mins. before departure.

HOTEL: Stanbr and I agree that staying at St. George beach adjacent to Naxos Town is handiest, u are on a beach, yet can walk in a few minutes to all the cafes, shops nightlife of town. Of the 3 upscale hotels in this locale I happen to prefer Naxos Resort Beach Hotel, back from sand about 100 yards but open view of water, pool that is nicely landscaped. Of course check TA reviews... and especially the useful review feature "room tips."

Thanks again Jan,

Just booked the air from Naxos to Athens arriving at 10:10AM . We will have almost that whole day and the next to explore Athens. I really appreciate the help. When am I able to book the ferry from Santorini to Naxos? Feel free to respond if you think of anything else helpful. If you need advice for Spain, France or italy I have great itineraries for those

Thanks to everyone for the help...got this done quickly after agonizing for 4 days!!!

THose ferries carry 1500-1800 people, just buy a icket when u get to Santorini, no big deal.

Yes St George beach is ideal for a short stay in Naxos. It is part of Naxos town so you get a beach holiday and all the activities of town
.
If you want to explore Naxos interior and a mountain village the local bus is a good way to do it. Sometimes a combination of a bus and a taxi is more efficient.

For upper end hotels consider Nissaki Probably the best high end hotel then Boutique hotel glaros. Right beside Nissaki and beautifully renovates in the past few years and of course Naxos Resort beach hotel. Glaros is not on any booking engines you have to go direct to their web site

St George Beach Hotels Naxos http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632162394787/
St George Beach Naxos http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632113170279/

One wee correction on Jans last post the flights from Naxos are on Dash 8 turboprop aircraft. They do only hold 30 or so passengers so that flight needs to be booked ASAP. Aegean had a seat sale last week but the price of these flights do not tend to change if you can get seats book them

As for Santroini I know it is expensive but Santorini is all about the caldera views. Make sure your hotel has a caldera view. Sea view isn't necessarily a caldera view.

You are going to love this trip