Due to time and logistic issues I need to cut out an island. Should we do Athens, Naxos and Santorini OR Athens, Crete and Santorini? We are a family with 24 year old and 21 year old traveling with us.
Thanks for any and all imput!

Insufficient data for a meaningful answer

I haven't been to Naxos, so I can't answer your question directly. But if you do decide on the A - C - S itinerary, you should take a look at our trip report and photos. We did that trip a couple years ago and really loved it.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...vilization.cfm

What time of year are you planning on?

How many days do you have for Crete or Naxos? How are you getting to these places?

Naxos is a small town, laid back kind of island. Crete is bigger, with more people, bigger towns and lots of archeological sites.

I wouldn't choose Crete unless you have at least a week, and preferably rent a car. Crete is the largest island in Greece, has lots to see, and it takes that long to do it justice. You could do an entire holiday on Crete and not see it all.

Naxos is a good choice for 3-4 nights, if that's all you have time for. It's the largest island in the Cyclades, but much smaller than Crete. The island has a good mix of beaches, mountain villages, and main town. Naxos is between Santorini and the mainland, while Crete is in the other direction.

Naxos .. because its wonderful.. the people are so sweet.. the town is just the right size.. not too small and not too large, the beaches are amazing.. and the food spectacular.. and the prices are cheap( and they will not be the least bit cheap in Santorini so you will appreciate the change)

<i>You could do an entire holiday on Crete and not see it all.</i>

This bears repeating. Naxos is an island; Crete is more like a landmass with beaches, forests, mountains, valleys, gorges, cities, villages, you name it. It's huge.

Thanks everyone. We have 5 days in Crete or Naxos. May 2-7. If we go to Crete we are planning on renting a car. We are not the type to lounge on the beach all day. We like to see things and hike.Im not sure there is enough to do on Naxos...

Well, there is plenty to do on Naxos, but it is noted for beaches. Crete has great beaches too, and that begs the question: If you <i>"are not the type to lounge on the beach all day"</i> why are you going to an island?

The mainland, especially the Peloponnese, has much more to see and do. Nafplio, for example, is only 2 hrs by car from Athens. No flights or ferries to worry about, and some of the best historic sites and scenery in Greece! If you are already planning to go to the Peloponnese, there is northern Greece, which hardly gets a mention on this forum.

IF YOU CHOOSE CRETE
if coming FROM Santorini, your only transport to Crete is the 5 PM/5:30 pm ferry, that arrives Heraklion 7:30 PM.
• DAY 2 - After a night in that big Concrete City, the next AM you should take in the stunning Museum, then get a car & zip out to Knossos (IF, that is, you are somewhat a history buff, and interested in ancient Minoans at all -- you do not indicate if your interests go beyond the athletic). Then drive directly WEST on big N Highway (a fab 10mi detour inland to MELIDONI Cave) to reach Chania Old Town for sunset on the harbor
• DAY 3 Explore CHania, considered THE most beautiful town in Crete; full of history and landmarks, AND charm. just a sampling of photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...57632117917828
• DAY 4 & 5 Options - Drive WEST (Falassarna beach!), drive SOUTH (via various routes ... thru Spili to MATALA (you can climb to to the famous Caves above the beach & stay over night), or to IMBROS Gorge, more do-able for short-stay folks than the Samaria gorge; 3 of you walk down gorge, 1 drives down rimside road (many switchbacks!!) to meet group at bottom & return up.
END OF STAY -- FLY back to ATH airport.

IF YOU CHOOSE NAXOS:
TOO much to do/see in 5 days! I've visited 12x, discover something new EVERY trip!! And BTW, at the time you are going, the sea will be too chilly to swim very much! In Naxos, You can Easily see much of Island on excellent bus network, or rent a car cheep-cheep for a one-day Whirl around the island. And Naxos TOWN is beautiful, fascinating, AND historical! You can stay at the adjacent lovely beach, Ag. Giorgios (St. George) a 15-minute stroll to the shops, sights, cafes and nightlife of Naxos Town. Here are just a few photos of what you can see & do:
Trip Around Naxos - http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7634605629689/
Naxos Town -http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632094558042/

BTW, all these marvy pix are by friend stanbr & spouse, who share my passion for Naxos AND Western Crete .. please do homework w. some good guides (not internet promo sites) before your trip -- it will triple your enjoyment & experience! Happy planning!

Why not Athens, Naxos and Crete?

Happy T, don't u remember you first trip?? Santorini is the must-see because of all the famous calendar photos. I just hope they enjoy the Famous View and then move on ... we don't know, really what the options are, because Bernadet doesn't share how many days total they have in Greece (I keep wishing people would provide fuller details, when they ask for best considered advice, sigh).

<i>Santorini is the must-see because of all the famous calendar photos.</i>

Hard to deny it.

http://onelittleworld.zenfolio.com/s...f4ed#h3ca6f4ed


And while I'm pulling out photos... Bernadet, if you enjoy hiking as much as we do, I can definitely recommend the Samaria Gorge.

http://onelittleworld.zenfolio.com/samaria_gorge

Mr_go. yes, Samaria Gorge is the "santorini of Crete"... which is to say, it is so ballyhooed that many people (who only use the internet) say "I'm coming to Crete to walk The Gorge" (because they don't know there are close to 20 gorges on the island and at least 5 very walkable.

I deliberately did NOT recommend the Samaria Gorge because they have only 5 days tops, in fact may have to get back to ATH airport area at end of 5th day, so LESS than 5 days ... and typically people who walk Samaria Gorge, take 6-8 hours to do so, and (unless they are experienced trekkers) have super-achy calves/hamstrings the next day, can't do much at all. Mr-go, did you do Samaria in a 5-day visit to Crete, and then bound up 7 am next day, with nary a muscle twinge? If so, explain how u did it. With children in their 20s, the couple (that's paying for the trip) are at least in their hi 40s... quite fit no doubt but maybe not Iron Men/women.

I suggested Imbros because it's shorter, can be hiked in 4+ hours, in May is NEVER crowded (I was there on may 9, and we saw exactly 12 other walkers the entire stretch) ... contrast w. Samaria which even off-season can have a long long string of single-filers, 100+... so you are doing much of it looking at someone's back. In Imbros, half-way mark is a shady grove to stop & picnic. Also, Imbros, while shorter, has equally dramatic steep cliffs and narrow spots (one is narrow enough that someone with long arms like an NBA player could touch each side). And in May it is gloriously green, verdant, blossomy, big bushes of fragrant thyme ... I remember thinking, I feel like a roast leg of lamb in a slow oven, with that aroma!

Finally, for anyone with a sense of history, Imbros touches the imagination. In 1942, when British soldiers were helping defend Crete against German invasion, they were trapped & had to get down to S. Coast to escape on waiting submarines. The local resistance led them down the Gorge, and when Wehrmacht pursued, the Chora Sfakian sharpshooters (noted as the Hatfield/McCoys of Greece) stood a mile above on the rim with their long rifles and picked off Nazis 1 by 1. As I descended the Gorge, I thought of that ... and of all the Cretans who suffered in years following.

<i> Mr-go, did you do Samaria in a 5-day visit to Crete</i>

Yes.


<i>...and then bound up 7 am next day</i>

Probably. 7 or 7:30. That's sleeping in for me.


<i>with nary a muscle twinge?</i>

No, I wouldn't say nary. Twinges were had. ms_go would say the same, I think. We persevered.


<i>If so, explain how u did it.</i>

Training, and a positive attitude. And the promise of a hearty Cretan breakfast.


<i>With children in their 20s, the couple (that's paying for the trip) are at least in their hi 40s...</i>

I was 52 at the time. I'm 54 now. (FWIW, we'll be hiking the Milford Track in NZ next month.)


<i>I suggested Imbros because it's shorter, can be hiked in 4+ hours</i>

I've seen pictures, and feel certain that would make an excellent hike as well. With fewer people.

I did Imbros at 67, and next day the "cliff walk" from Loutro to Chora Sfakion ... on a goat path a yard wide w drop-off of 200 feet sheer fall onto rocks! and I have a bit of acrophobia. My travel companion was 53 plus no height problems, and was sitting with feet hanging over the Abyss, taking pix and saying Come Look! I meanwhile was clinging to the cliff side of the path!! But alls well/ends well, and the Swim at Sweetwater beach was memorable. Not sayin' how many years ago... but need TWO trekking sticks now.