hi all

Myself , father and 3 siblings ( father in 80's , rest of us in 40's) will fly into Athens mid October for 5 nights--- last year we went to Aegina for the 5 nights and loved in--it was mid September and there seemed to be a lot more ferry options meaning logistically it worked. However , ferry times not working out this time meaning we'd have to spend a night or two in Athens to get early morning ferry to and from Islands---(Agistri, Poros, Hydra, Andros, Kea, Aegina). So reluctantly i think we need to look elsewhere along the coast from Athens----so i am looking for suggestions ;

ideally :
# somewhere reachable via public transport ( can rent car if not feasible though)
# within 2,3 hours max from Athens airport
# coastal or within striking distance of nice beaches
# traditional ---so not hotel resorts --- would ideally rent a traditional Greek house for the few days--- last year we rented a lovely Villa in Aegina--was remote but with car we could reach villages, beaches etc
# Not into a party vibe, but the option to get somewhere for a few drinks, food etc would be good

Suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

thank you all!

What time ferry to the islands would you prefer? I can see three ferries on a randomly picked day in October from Piraeus to Hydra but I don't know whether any would suit. Hydra might not be a good choice if you want nice beaches although we thought it was a lovely island.

An alternative could be Nafplio. Or take a look at Galaxidi?

I agree that Nafplio would be a good choice.

Hi folks
Thanks very much for the replies.
Flight lands at 3pm and only ferry I see that late would be to Kea 530pm or Agistri 430pm. Would be tight to make with any sort of delays, and would hate to miss the ferry and lose a nights accommodation I'll have paid for.
Nafplio is one place that did crop up in my initial search and I'll look into that more now . Hopefully relatively straight forward to get to from airport.

In May 2022 we spent 5 nights at Kiveri, a small fishing village some 20kms from Nafplion. It’s less than 2hrs by road from Athens airport, most of it on a newly built highway. Not sure where you’ll be coming from and if you should be driving though. We had already spent over 3 weeks in Sicily/Italy and had no issues picking up our rental car and driving immediately on arrival.

Kiveri has a small pebbly beach, but there are better ones in/near Nafplion and along the coast. The water should be reasonably warm mid-October, it was way too cold when we stayed early May.

If you are interested I can give you details of our rental, it is an old fisherman’s cottage, belonging to the owner’s family since the late 19th century. Three bedrooms and two bathrooms, so it should work for your family.

Don't worry. Once more, GREECE is not able to publish correctly the timetables of the ferries that will run in 1 1/2 months.
Have look at http://www.openseas.gr/
and scroll back until October 2023 in oder to see what usually runs in October.
Rafina - Andros - Tinos - Mykonos
Lavrion - Kea and Kithnos
Pireaus to everywhere

I also recommend Nafplio. I’m currently writing up my trip report for our recent trip to Greece and am actually writing about Nafplio now. If interested, click on my name for the report.

This is a great report from someone who spent a week on the mainland. Its focused on food but its has some info that might help you plan:


https://www.hungryonion.org/t/a-week...thens/40118/36

If you land at ATH at 3pm, you will never catch a ferry that leaves from Lavrio at 5.30
May be your flight is somewhat delayed. In any case you will have to wait for your luggage.
So count to leave the airport around 4pm.
You can then walk to the train and metro station, take the next available OSE or metro train to Piraeus and arrive there around 6pm, sleep at Port Square Hotel (in front of metro/railway) and leave the port the following morning:
to Aegina at 8.20, gate E8, reachable on foot
to Angistri at 8.30, gate E8, reachable on foot
to Poros - Hydra at 9.00, gate E9 reachable on foot

If you want to go to Andros - Tinos, leave ATH at 16.30 by free AVRA-Hotel shuttle https://www.hotelavra.gr/
sleep there and leave Rafina the following morning at 7.30

For Kea, you can go by taxi from ATH to Makropoulo, catch there the Lavrio bound bus and sleep in a B&B close to the port.
Leave Lavrion the following morning by 8.30 ferry (almost daily).

Beach hotels:
there are tons of beach hotels in the area, but for me, October wouldn't be beach season in Attica. I would rather go to Rhodos or Cyprus.
Beach resorts of easy reach from Athens and Piraeus: Vouliagmeni, Varkiza
of easy reach from Lavrio: Cape Sounion
of easy reach from Rafina: Rafina, Nea Makri

I would want to be within easy reach of Athens airport for the return flight home. So if you have your first night near Athens you have three nights for an island. But if you focus on the mainland you have the possibility of five nights in one place. How much do you want to move around?

that's good to know---i was using ferries.gr for timetables , but it might change plans if can rely on later ferries. Thanks

Great, will be sure to read your report. Seems to be a lot of love for Nafplio in the replies---there appear to be some nice villas for rent outside the town so that's an option. Obviously a car rental will be vital

Great, thanks!

There's a lot you can see in and around Nafplio by using buses.

I had a rental car, but if it helps, the section of my trip report on Nafplio and surrounds begins with post # 137:
With Gratitude for a Glorious Solo Month in Greece

great info there thanks! Sounds like we should focus on the mainland---messy otherwise and not making most of time if staying at port for early morning ferry. Return flight is 130 pm so return ferry would be stressful too! But thanks a lot for all that info, helps clear up what's feasible really

Ideally remain in the one location----sounds like renting a car the way to go--so probably rent a nice villa on the mainland within reach of a town. Can use the car to explore beaches, villages etc in the area. Currently looking at Nafplio for a rough location as many here have recommended it

We were posting at the same time! See post # 14.

Nafplio is NOT close to Athens

That would seem to depend on one's definition of "close." It's less than 2 hours, well within the range specified by the OP.

Hi. Yea 2-3 hours drive from Athens airport is OK.