apriloliphant

Looking for advice on our early trip portion from Athens>Spetses>Hydra>Naxos>Santorini

We have a very relaxed latter portion of our trip! However, just wondering what this may look like to some experienced travelers of Greece. 5 places in 11-12 days is seemingly looking tight. Spetses is a place that my fiance really wants to visit & enjoy dinner. (Would appreciate feedback relative to the proposed schedule)

I'm assuming the inner travel by ferry is relatively smooth and is a 3-5 hour ordeal for each move aside from Hydra to Athens to Naxos. I'd like to get an idea of what the general feedback is for traveling by boat.

Also, if anyone has any details on the Miaoulia festival in Hydra, that would be super helpful! I've researched online but with no official details as it seems like a very local, well-known celebration in Hydra. We'd really like to be there during the closing night to see the fireworks. I've emailed hotels I'm interested in to try and get details on this.

Here we go!

• Monday, June 22 @9AM, Arrive in Athens, Check into hotel in Athens, view local sites, Night in Athens

• Tuesday June 23, Day trip to Olympia or more sight seeing in Athens, Night in Athens

• Wednesday June 24, Breakfast and morning trip to sights in Athens, Late check out of hotel in Athens at 2PM, Travel to Spetes via Ferry, Check into Spetses, Night in Spetses

• Thursday June 25, Day in Spetses, Night in Spetses

• Friday June 26, Early Morning Check out of Spetses, Boat to Hydra, Check in hotel around 1PM, Day in Hydra, Night in Hydra- Miaoulia Festival

• Saturday June 27, Day in Hydra, Night in Hydra- Miaoulia Festival

• Sunday June 28, Check out of Hydra, Travel to Athens port and then to Naxos or Paros, Check into hotel, Night in Naxos

• Monday June 29, Day in Naxos, Night in Naxos

• Tuesday June 30- Day trip to Paros or relax in Naxos, Night in Naxos (If recommended, maybe we should move to Santorini, however hotels are less affordable)

• Wednesday July 1, Travel by Ferry to Santorini in the morning from Naxos to Santorini, Check in Santorini Early Morning, Spend half day in Santorini, Night in Santorini

• Thursday July 2, Full Day in Santorini, Night in Santorini

• Friday July 3, Check out of hotel, Flight from Santorini to Thessaloniki, Travel to hotel in Palio, Night in Palio

• Saturday July 4, Wedding Day in Palio

• Sunday July 5, Beach at Palio

• Monday July 6, Beach at Palio

• Tuesday July 7, Beach at Palio

• Wednesday July 8, Depending on Flights, may need to flight back to Athens, spend night in Athens

• Thursday July 9, Flight out of Athens at Noon, Back to the US


Inner City/Island Travel
1. Athens to Spetes – Ferry
2. Spetes to Hydra – Ferry
3. Hydra to Naxos- Ferry to Athens, Athens Ferry to Naxos
4. Naxos to Santorini- Ferry
5. Flight from Santorini to Thessaloniki

mariha2912

I would forget about Olympia which is about 5 hours driving one way from Athens and I would skip at the very least one island of your itinerary. If your heart is set on Hydra and Spetses and you definatley want to visit Santorini, forget about Paros or Naxos. After all Hydra and Spetses are really tiny with one small town each and while there is more to do and see on Santorini it is a small island too, you may drive from one side of Santorini to the other in 45 minutes. Naxos and Paros are the larger islands of Cyclades with diverse geography, many towns and villages, lots to see and do and I do not think there is any point getting there just for 3 nights/2 full days.
On the other hand adding those 3 nights to Athens and Santorini will ease your visit there a bit. Athens is a huge modern metropolitan city with lots to see and so, count at least 2 full days to cover most major archeological sites and visit one or two museums.
Visiting on late June/July it is wise to be flexible, sightseen on early morning/afternoon and visit an air conditioned museum or have a long lunch in a local tavern or have a siesta around noon.

You could get a flight to Santorini straight upon arriving in Athens airport, spend a few nights there, then get a flight or ferry to connect on Argosaronic islands, return to Athens and explore Athens, then head north.