I will be arriving in Athens on the morning of August 31 from the US and leaving for Paros on 9/2. I want to see the main sites (Acropolis, Parthenon, etc), but would love recommendations on the best "skip the line tour". Also, I think a half day is enough as we love to walk the city. We would likely do the tour on 9/1 so recommendations for what to do the first day. Also, if any of the museum are a "must see". Meteora seems great, but don't know if we have time?

Also, we will leave early in the morning on 9/2 to head to Paros. Should we take the regular ferry (4 hours) business class or economy? Take a plane? or the fast ferry? If we do the the long ferry we arrive at 11:15am - what are the best activities for the first day? We are there for 3 days so additional recommendations welcome.

Then off to Naxos and Santorini - each 3 days. All recommendations welcome as we finalize our activities.

Thanks!

It really depends on what you want to see and do, but FWIW, I had 5 nights in Athens and had difficulty making time for everything I wanted to see there. Athens has several truly outstanding museums; I couldn't say what would be a "must see" for you. If you don't already have it, I found the Rough Guide the most useful of the half dozen guidebooks I used to plan my trip.

You might find some useful information in my trip report. Santorini begins with post # 89, Naxos with post # 109, and Athens with post # 181.
With Gratitude for a Glorious Solo Month in Greece

Question: Do you really have 3 days (so 4 nights) for each island?

No, you don't have time for Meteora. And sorry, I can't answer your questions about skip-the-line tours or how to get to Paros.

You'll see some wonderful things -- enjoy!

You definitely don't have time for Meteora.

I don't know anything about skip the line tours of the Acropolis either but I understand that they have recently introduced timed entry, in order to manage crowding. As it is likely to be hot, most people advise visiting early or late in the day. Athens is great but best enjoyed if you don't rush around too much.

I'd take the metro to Piraeus and then jump on a ferry to Paros. You can book in advance (directly with the applicable ferry company is best) but usually not required unless it's a holiday period like Easter. Openseas or Ferryhopper will show you timetables.

Thanks. Yes, I have 3 nights and on the 4th day I go to the next island. I will review your blog. Much appreciated.

If you don't know about skip the line tickets, did you use a tour guide? If so, is there a tour guide company anyone recommends?

Thanks!

Our most recent visit was last year in late April, before time slots were introduced. We did not use a guide but just bought a ticket at 8:00 at the ticket gate. Now I would probably consider booking online. I think there is now an entry line for those who have booked and those who want to buy tickets.

Thanks!

I am hardly an expert on visiting the Acropolis, but I can share what I know:

The Acropolis is the only site in Athens where you should buy your tickets well in advance. They open for sale on the official site two or three months in advance. They have instituted time slots, and you should chose the first of the day . This all could change as time goes on. Link:

https://etickets.tap.gr/webengines/t.../tap.exe?PM=P1

When you buy your ticket, you can buy one for all major sites of Athenian ruins. From the time you first use your ticket, I think you have five days to visit the other sites. The other sites are uncrowded; though arriving early to the Agora when nobody else is there feels like a privileged experience. I highly recommend printing up your tickets on paper. I saw a lot of people wasting their time trying to pull it up on their phone, and the scanner didn’t always work as well.

The Acropolis opens at 8am, though I don’t know if that fluctuates throughout the year. If you are on your own (without a guide), then the only chance you have for a temporary peaceful experience is to arrive at 7:20am. Without a guide, I highly recommend reading up before you go, and (at the very least) try to understand what makes the Parthenon so special.

Once people start flowing in, you can’t escape the crowds. This is the one place in Athens where everyone wants to be. All at the same time.

The day before our visit, we hired a private guide. The cost was 160 Euros. The guide waited on line for us, so we only needed to get there close to the 8am opening time. We already had our tickets. The guide will spend an hour with you, and then most people will spend another hour looking around solo. Solo with a thousand other people.

No matter how you plan to visit: solo, with a private guide, or as part of a guided group, it’s good to know about how to enter, so I provide these instructions:



To get there from the Acropoli Metro station, walk up the wide pedestrian street of Dionysiou Areopagitou until you get to :

37°58'11.8"N 23°43'29.1"E

I am giving you these coordinates so there is no confusion. Plug them into Google Maps. When you reach this spot, on your right are the stone steps leading up to the Odeon of Herodus Atticus, the ancient amphitheatre still used for live concerts. Go up these steps and when you get to the entrance of the amphitheatre, go left. You will need to walk past the amphitheatre. After you pass the amphitheatre, you will see a stepped path turning to the right. Go up the path and on your right you will see the entrance to the Beule Gate. Probably there is a canopy near the front of the line to protect people from the weather. You should already have your tickets, so no need to go to the ticket office. There appears to be a southern entrance to the Acropolis near the Metro station, but don’t waste your time standing on line there.

I can’t comment on the experience of buying into a group tour. Get your Guide, Tiqets, Viatour and many others all sell a guided experience. You should easily be able to find this on the internet.

No matter which you choose, only licensed guides can guide you through these sites. To get a license, there is a special 3-year course they have to take. So it is serious. Obviously, a group is far less expensive per person.

Here is the link to the private guide we used. She is a marvel:

https://acropolis.tours/

shelemm Thanks so much for your detailed reply. After I made my initial post, I decided to go with a guided tour through Get Your Guide. Hopefully, this will be a good choice rather than the private tour you've since suggested. The coordinates you give are where we meet, so thanks so much for that information!

I did not book to see the Acropolis Museum yet and wondering if I should buy those in advance or wait to see if we are up to visiting after the Acropolis tour which we booked for 8am? I'd appreciate your thoughts or any others?

Also, I welcome input on restaurants that you've eaten at. We are not looking for the most expensive, but great food that locals eat. As far as our interests, they are varied. I do love mythology and would like to learn more on what to see. Thanks

I said I hired a private guide, but that is not necessarily the right decision for everyone. I was just showing you what my experience was. You do not need to book the Acropolis Museum in advance. It is open late every day, and you can just waltz right in. The Acropolis tickets are the only advanced tickets you need.

My favorite restaurant was Annie Fine Cooking. Completely extraordinary. Traditional ingredients put together with care. Menu changes often. No reason to spend a lot of money on food in Athens, though its not dirt cheap either. Informal. We showed up in shorts and were seated immediately, although it's a small place.

I also recommend the bougatsa (pastry) at Bougatsadiko Psirri near Monastiraki. Six to an order, so one order is enough for two people.... until you've eaten them all and wonder where they all went. Served warm out of the oven. Make sure you order a cafe freddo, iced coffee.

I had only two full days in Athens and chose mostly to stay outdoors and visit the ruins. Acropolis one day, then Agora, Roman Forum, Hadrian's Library the next. Too many great things to see....

shelemm Thanks again!

Things to visit in Athens (for people who are interested in):
Parthenon, Parthenon Museum, Roman Agora, Thission, Cycladic Museum, Greek National Museum, Bizantine Museum, Benaki Museum, Theatre of Herodes Atticus, Churches of Mitroupoli, Kapnkkarea and Kaiseriani. Greek Folk Dance Performances Dora Stratou (on Pnix Hill).
Outside the town: Monastery of Dafni, temple of Cape Sounion, Seafood restaurants at Mikrolimani (Piraeus).
Sleep at Port Square hotel at Piraeus if you want to board a ferry the following morning.