2greeceigo

I'm having trouble with two legs of my trip and am hoping someone out there can help me!

1. I'd like to visit Naxos and Santorini. Oddly, I can seem to get a flight from Naxos to Athens, but not the reverse, on Olympic. I'd like to do Naxos first and save Santorini for last so would flying to Santorini and then ferrying to Naxos be too much traveling for one day?

2. I'm traveling alone and would like to avoid renting a car. From Athens to Nafplion, I understand there's a train but my guidebook advises against it... although I'm not sure why. Is this a decent way to get between the two cities or would a bus truly be better? How are the buses?

Thanks for any help you're able to provide!

brotherleelove2004

The effort-not to mention the cost-it will take for you to fly to Santorini, get to the ferry port and then ferry to Naxos (assuming there's a ferry avialable when you need it) will be more then if you can catch a ferry from Athens/Piraeus to Naxos. The Hellenic Seaways Highspeed only takes about 3-3.5 hours from Piraeus. Check with www.gtp.gr and www.openseas.gr to see if you can make the connection.

Another option would be to fly Olympic from Athens to Paros and take a ferry from Paros to Naxos. That ferry only takes an hour and there are several each day.

travelerjan

2Greece, I've been to Nafplio 4 times and each time I love it more... and I don't rent a car and ALWAYS go by bus. Here's the drill.

Bus travel is fast and comfy and far more frequent than trains. Reserved-seat airconditioned coach costs 11Euros. It goes every hour on the half-hour and takes 2.5 hours except as noted below.

NOTE: try to avoid Friday afternoons & Sunday afternoons from May thru Sept., since you have the weekend traffic jams of Athenians leaving/returning. Any other times, bus is right on schedule.

It goes from "Bus Station A". If u are staying in Plaka, best to take a taxi there (incidentally if just going for a few days & you have 2 bags, your Athens hotel probably will store one for you).

Taxi likely will let you off outside the station and you'll have to wander thru a confusing crowd amid busses. Go to the Window marked "Argolid" to get your ticket. It will have a seat number on it. Seat on LH side of bus gives best views of the Saronic bay. You'll also see the Corinth canal (look FAST!) and lots of orange groves & farms on the other side. I've always enjoyed the ride. NOTE #2--not like US busses; no restroom aboard;so as your mom used to say, go before you go.

PS: Pleased at mention of a guidebook; some folks entering this forum seem to embark on long costly trips with no guidebook at all -- they spend $100 on sunglasses to look cool at the beach but not $20 on a book about the basics. Glad to see you are not one of them.

Heimdall

There is no real advantage flying to Naxos, as there is only one daily flight, usually leaving Athens around mid-day. If you can catch one of the early morning ferries from Piraeus or Rafina, you will beat the flight to the island by an hour or two. If you take the early morning flight to Paros, you will have to wait for the Piraeus ferry that stops there before going to Naxos. Take the afternoon flight to Paros, and you will have to wait for an evening ferry to Naxos.

2greeceigo

Thank you so, so much for the information! That's a big help! (And good to know there are no potties on the bus!) PS I've read 2 guidebooks cover to cover and am superexcited about my trip but am on information overload! Trying to sort through all the information is mnnd-boggling and your advice and experience is invaluable! If I can ask another question, once in Nafplion, the books make it sound easy to get to Epidaurus, Mycenea, etc... is this accurate? Or are they really long day trips?

travelerjan

Regarding visits to Mycenae & Epidaurus. If you take public transit, it would be one site per day, not because of long time to visit, but due to bus schedules.

Example: there's a bus to Epidaurus about 9:30(??) takes 45 minutes. A bus back at 1 pm, then a gap until about 3:30. So you see, a whole day. Similar at Mycenae.

If u can drive a stick shift, a car is relatively cheap...about 35E per day, so not too much outlay (you have NOT given us the dates of travel, which would help us give best $$ advice). The routes are easy to follow.

Thus u could go to Mycenae early (arrive by 9 am) and beat the coach-tour crowds, head out by 11 or so. Stop at Tiryns outside Athens for a quick look-see (I actually prefer it to Mycenae). OR do as friends of mine did; stop briefy at Ancient Nemea; it's right on the way. A good place to have a midday bite to eat, sitting on a fallen column.

Final stop:Epidaurus. BONUS: find your way to the nearby Beach for a late afternoon dip.

ALTERNATIVE: There's a travel agency on the big open square near the bus sta. -- ask around - which used to do a day tour to Mycenae & Epidaurus, with a midday (unnecessarily long)stop at a taverna; you pay for the meal.

That's how I first saw these sites, in '99. It could be quite costly now, and guide quality can be iffy. Ours gave us NO on-site guidance; we had to eavesdrop on other groups. A last resort, if this tour is even given any more.

littlebigshot

Long distance buses in Greece usually stop every one to two hours at a roadside diner/shop which has rest room facilities. These stops are announced as 10 minutes but usually last at least 20. Everyone gets off and people use the rest room, stretch their legs, smoke, buy drinks and snacks, etc. Sometimes you can buy souvenirs like local food products at these places.

It's still a good idea though to "go before you go."

2greeceigo

This is great info, thanks! As for dates, I'll be arriving in Athens the morning of Sept. 10. I plan to take that day just to get over the jet lag and see a little of the city. I'm considering a 3-day tour of Delphi/Meteora from the 11th-13th. I've never taken a tour and am leery of them but planning the logistics myself seems to be more of a hassle than just taking the tour. After that, I was planning on going to Nafplion for a few days and visiting the surrounding sites. It seems in mid-September that advanced reservations at hostels wouldn't be necessary but what do you think? (Oh, and I can't drive stick so it looks like I'll be bussing it!)

travelerjan

2greece, you CAN rent automatics, but you just have to inquire ahead, so they'll have one for you...

You said "hostels" I hope you mean hotels, there aren't many hostels except one in Santorini. In Nafplio I recommended Hotel Leto,the best budget hotel in town with fab view: here's the link to it:
http://www.leto-hotel.com/
I think offseason a single is about 40 or 45E, and Mr. Tzanetos the owner is such a dear man. I think if you book a room and ask him to find a car w. automatic shift for a 1-day rental & give the date, he knows everybody in town and could easily arrange it for you. His e-mail is [email protected] and tell him Janet Kroll sent you.

smartcookie

As everyone already said, taking the ferry, especially the fast one, is a much better idea than flying from Athens. Then, hopping islands in that group only takes 1-1.5 hrs in between each one. I believe I did Mykonos, Paros, and Naxos in 5 days.

Heimdall

Smartcookie, sometimes flying is an advantage, but not in the case of Athens-Naxos. In June I did fly the other way, from Naxos to Athens. I enjoy doing that because I can stay on the island as long as possible, then fly directly to the airport for my connecting flight home.

It is also an advantage flying to Santorini, Crete, or any of the island groups further away from Athens, thereby avoiding a long ferry ride.

2greeceigo

Janet and everyone, thanks so much for the information and the heads-up about Hotel Leto. I'll definitely look into it! The nice thing I've been seeing is that so many people say how wonderful the owners/hosts are at various hotels around the country. I feel as though I almost can't go wrong in choosing a place to stay! Thanks for your help!

travelerjan

2greece, it sounds as if things are coming together for you.

Just to inspire you about 2 of our fave places, Naxos & Nafplio, here are 2 stunning slide shows put together by one of Fodor's savviest posters, Stanbr. After you see them, you'll want to set off tomorrow!

NAXOS:
http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/552001505EYxVYT
NAFPLIO:
http://travel.webshots.com/slideshow/551991579dJbWvh

chatham

travelerjan,

Thanks so much for the link to those photos. I lived on Naxos late 50's & early 60's. I send that link to my daughter who was born there in 1959.
She's been back many times but I haven't since 1971. It's so beautiful.

Have a great trip, 2greeceigo.

Joan

2greeceigo

Thanks Joan! And thanks for the links Janet! The pictures were amazing! My trip is pretty much in order... many thanks to the advice found here! In a month, I'll be there!