afa001

Wife has an event on Mykonos September 18th through the 25th. We will either fly to Athens together and do some touring prior to the event, or I will fly out and join up with her after the event and then do touring. Seeking assistance from the Island specialists as to:
1) What timeframe is better for touring - the week of Sept 12th or the week of Sept 26th? Prefer less crowds but warm weather is better.
2) Which islands are best to see and experience? Would like to minimize transfer; especially having to transfer via Piraeus.
3) From where is it feasible to make a short jaunt to Ephesus for a day trip?
Appreciate any other "words-of-wisdom" for this upcoming trip.
This will be our first time to that part of the world.
Thanks in advance.

worldinabag

Hi

In the first half of September the weather is warmer and it is more crowded. However ferry services do decrease in October so I would avoid island hopping then. So I guess what I'm saying is if you can do your touring in the second half of September that would be my preference. As for which islands, it really depends on your interests. Handy to Mykonos are the islands of Paros and Naxos. I've been to Paros and can recommend is an inexpensive, laid back, beach orientated island. Naxos gets lots of "thumbs up" in this forum. Apart from lovely beaches, hiking seems to be a popular activity there.

Ephesus is 1.5 to 2 hours by ferry from the island of Samos. It seems a long way to go to do a day trip although the island of Samos may well be enjoyable too. Personally I would leave Ephesus for another time when you can visit the rest of fabulous Turkey. If you are intent on going I would look at flying to Samos from Athens. Check out Aegean or Olympic Air.

HappyTrvlr

We had good weather mid September through mid October although some businesses and restaurants on the islands were starting to shut down in October.

travelerjan

Samos would be lovely during the first part of September and not crowded, so if you decide on a look at Ephesus, I would recommend flying via Aegean Air to Samos -- It is relatively easy to get those promotional-rate tickets to Samos.... wait for early Spring for the 49€ specials. First of course, If you have not ever been to Athens DO save 2-3 days of your total for the world-famous sites there... at least the Acropolis, the Agora, the new Acropolis Museum and a few other things.

I'm getting that you have 2 weeks so you will have to head back to home (USA? you don't say) and jobs right after. Thus my advice would be if you arrive on the 12th try to make it via one of the 3 airlines that are nonstop from east coast US and arrive 9-930 am.

My suggested (ambitious) Scenario --
(1) Use 12th-13-14 for Athens sights. (2) Get up super-early on 15th and catch Aegean 6:30 flight to Samos. Take a day to explore lovely Vathy (I recommend cute Hotel Pythagoras right on the bay overlooking a tiny beach), catch a breathtaking sunset in mouth of Vathy bay. (3) Next AM Sept 16 at 7:30 get the 1-day excursion boat to Kusadasi/Ephesus at Vathy pier. On other threads I've advised how to get the most out of this tour (i.e.,avoid the side-trip to rug merchants). (4) On Thurs Sept 17, you'll be looking to get to Mykonos. When I was in Samos in 2006, there were daily ferries to Mykonos. Last year, apparently not. Instead, on Thursdays a boat from Samos misleadingly called the Nissos Mykonos BYPASSED Mykonos and docked at Naxos. FRom Naxos there was a daily Seajet boat called Superjet that went at 11:25 am arriving Mykonos 12:45 am.
... you will have to be patient and prowl the ferry websites in Spring and Summer to see what's available in 2010; there will be something, and you'll just work around it.

afa001

Thanks for the various posts.
No job to return to; we are both retirees.
Yes, will plan on 2-3 days to see the Athens sights.
Question: how feasible is it to get to Santorini from where we will be?

ThinGorjus

I am partial to Rodos, flying to/from the island on Aegean Air. Rodos/Rhodes has lots of history and some very nice beaches.

I recommend the Rodos Park Hotel just outside the Amboise Gate of the Old Town.

Weadles and I call the swimming pool here "Tit Central" because lots of the female German guests like to swim sans top.

Thin, posting on Fodor's since 1999.

travelerjan

afa001. Let's recap: aside from the 1-week stint required on Mykonos you have only one additional week allotted for elsewhere in Greece. You want 2-3 days in Athens, -- plus add in 1/2 day to get BACK to Athens from Island(s). That leaves you only 3.5 days. Please look at a map of Greece... and look at the major ferry routes ... and be realistic. The only way to zoom around as you wishfully ask, is to have a Magic Carpet, or be able to walk on water... and that hasn't been done in the Mediterranean area for at least 2000 years ;-)

If you want Santorini, you will have to give up Ephesus. Here is a Good map of Greece (click to enlarge) http://courses.cit.cornell.edu/his45...eece%20Map.gif
But more importantly here is a map of usual Greek Ferry Routes in HIGH season, http://www.greeceathensaegeaninfo.co...erry-chart.htm Since you will be out of HighSeason can cut the frequency noted in half. Please note that Samos (e.g. Ephesus) is way off the map to the right.

I don't know what else I can say on this.

tengohambre

Santorini is an astonishingly beautiful island. More impressive than we had expected. Frankly, with crisp sunshine, the blue Aegean and the Caldera in front of you there is little else like it anywhere. Oia is charming and the island itself has a bunch to see. I would try not to miss it if you are already so close in Mykonos. Have fun.

maryanne1

Just having been to Mykonos, Santorini and Ephesus in early Oct. I would go to Santorini. The weather was perfect at that time. Santorini beautiful-unlike other isles due to the spectacular entry. You can catch the bus to Oia which is a spectacular drive in itself. I would leave Ephesus to another trip when I had more time to visit Turkey.

borisandkathy

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