r/travel • u/AutoModerator • Feb 27 '20
Advice r/travel Region of the Week: 'Greek Islands'
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u/Daphneishere Feb 27 '20 edited Mar 03 '20
Greek here! My favourite island is Skyros (not to be confused with Syros, which is a different island). Skyros is a relatively big island, located in Aegean Sea. One can go there by airplane from Athens and Thessaloniki all year long, and from Paris during summer, or by ferry boat from Kymi. The landscape is both rocky and green, and is suitable for people who want to relax, eat amazing Greek food and enjoy the lovely beaches, especially families or couples. Night life is almost non existent. The island hasn't been affected by the tourism, and the locals are really friendly and welcoming. There's also a beach, Agios Petros, where one can be nude; although it isn't a nude beach, nudity is accepted. With a little bit of luck, you can spot wild horses, goats and bunnies in the wild. The food is really cheap and tasty (the most tasty I've ever eaten on an island), and some of the local specialties are fava, astakomakaronada (lobster pasta) and goat meat dishes (if one doesn't order lobster pasta, 30€ is more than enough for 2 people). Also, it's the only place where Skyrian horses exist, which is an ancient Greek breed, and they are basically pony-sized horses. I also recommend going horseback riding, which costs around 40€ per person, and the duration is 3-4 hours. I also suggest renting a car or a bike, because there are amazing places all over the island, even though there are buses. Favourite beaches: Kalamitsa, Agios Petros, Kalogria. Favourite restaurants: Agios Petros, O Pappous Ke Ego, O Mylos Tou Mpalampani.
EDIT: We went horseback riding through the forests and ended up at a lovely beach. I definitely recommend it, especially on a cloudy day. Our instructor was Manolis, and we found out about him by pure luck, he had put up some handmade signs on the road to Agios Petros. You can find him either by the phone number stated on the signs, or his number is too on trip advisor if you search for "Apaloosa horse riding club"
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u/loocheez Mar 03 '20
How can we to skyros from Athens ? Very limited fights go there.
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u/Daphneishere Mar 03 '20
That's true, the flights are indeed limited. There's another way, by car and ferry boat. If you already plan on renting a car, that may be even better. You can drive to Kymi, which is located on another island (Evia, but no worries, it's accessible by a bridge) and getting there should take less than 3 hours. From there, there are some days with one connection to Skyros, only an evening one, and others with an early afternoon connection and the evening one. Taking the afternoon one when going to Skyros, and the evening one when returning is my suggestion. Because the company belongs to the municipality, the ferry tickets are really cheap, 72€ for a round trip (2 people and a car). You can expect to be there in less than 2 hours, and if you do that, book your tickets in advance to be sure that you will get on the ferry. And there's a nice touch when you arrive at Skyros: A cafe located right next to the harbour plays really loud, so that people on the ferry boat can hear it too, the introduction of "Thus spoke Zarathustra" by Strauss.
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u/palkiajack Canadian/American Mar 05 '20
they are basically pony-sized horses
So just... ponies?
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u/Daphneishere Mar 05 '20
No. Anatomically they are horses. A pony's anatomy is different than a horse's, it's not just the size. They are small sized horses.
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u/palkiajack Canadian/American Mar 05 '20 edited Mar 05 '20
Under 14.2 hands is a pony. Above is a horse. That's the definition.
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u/hangingsocks Feb 27 '20
Avoid Mykonos and Santorini and any other island that a cruise ship goes too. It is too crowded, will be over priced and there just isn't much of the true Greek experience on those islands. My favorite island is Tinos, but there are do many to choose from and each island has it's own ficus and specialties. Do some research and go to the lesser known islands. When booking the ferries, don't bother reserving seats because Greeks don't care about that and they will just sit anywhere. Book your ferry tickets as far in advance as possible. The prices rise the closer you get to departure. Mid July through Aug the high season on the islands and the prices for hotels, ferry and car rentals will be at the highest and the islands will be busier because this is when the Greeks vacation to the islands so I always avoid that time of year. Best time is late May/June or early September.
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u/richandbrilliant Feb 28 '20
Alright the first sentence just isn't fair - yes, Santorini and Mykonos are by far the most popular and therefore most crowded and expensive. But that doesn't mean they should be avoided at all cost. They still offer great experiences, restaurants, etc. Not every tourist hates tourists - some of us recognise that if were in a crowd, we're part of it
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u/hangingsocks Feb 28 '20
I think people don't realize all the other islands have so much to offer and they go to these two islands and think they saw Greek islands. Last time I went I took my family to Tinos and then because I have a teenager and she likes more energy, we did Paros. Which is reminiscent of Mykonos 20 years ago. For clubbing and partying, sure Mykonos is great. I just wouldn't say it is a great family island. Maybe I was too harsh but it is only because I want people to get out to the islands they haven't heard of.
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u/Radulno Feb 28 '20
Santorini is kind of especially breathtaking though. I wouldn't pass it up even if yes it's overcrowded. Mykonos I agree though except if you want a "party nightlife island" I guess
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u/CreedFromScranton Feb 27 '20
I'm going to a wedding on Mykonos toward the end of September. Are there any activities that are more low key that you know of? I'm interested in cliff jumping but people don't really post their spots.
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u/hangingsocks Feb 27 '20
I have been to Mykonos a couple of times, but I couldn't tell you where to cliff dive. End of September should be a quieter time and Greeks are very friendly people. I don't think you will have a problem once you get there when you ask around. Since you will be there off season, the locals won't be as burned out as in high season. Rent a car/scooter and explore away from the crowds. A lot of the roads to beaches/cliffs are dirt and bumpy so if you know you want to get to obscure places, make sure to rent a car that can handle the adventure. Sorry I didn't have more info for you. Enjoy the wedding. I was there for a wedding once and the church had been rented to two different couples for the same day/time. My friends had to bribe the priest with the biggest offer to be able to win the church. Gotta love the Greeks....
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u/lenaag Mar 02 '20 edited Mar 02 '20
Bottom line: Greek people avoid Santorini.
And from another post here:
When we were in Athens, we had this conversation multiple times:
Athenian: Where will you go next?
Me: Santorini...
A: Oooohh. (very very disappointed tone)
me: and then Naxos.
A: Oh, you'll love Naxos!!
Sure, sure, you may hear a lot of this from Greek people. But what do they actually know? Most of people that say these things about Mykonos or Santorini haven't actually been there.
As a Greek myself, I had been warned very strongly against going to these islands!
I can actually write a book about all this lol! I mean come on, people that call Athens their home and they commute to their jobs, find Santorini disappointing? Because it is crowded, they say? Athenians say that, right? Santorini, which has SOME easily avoidable, peak times full of beautiful people in a gorgeous setting, so everyone should avoid at all costs all the time! That's actually amusing. A badly laid-out island, they say, that is about 25km from end to end!
"My island is better than yours" is a national sport here in Greece. People play a lot of it. They just can't accept that people can cross the Atlantic and stick to Mykonos and Santorini.
Tinos for example especially is the island of choice of many Greeks recently, but it has nowhere near the nice beaches, the beautiful old town or the beautiful international crowds. It's just a choice out of necessity, because it is close by boat to Athens, after the financial crisis. Before the crisis, affluent Greeks didn't seem to appreciate the "authenticity" of Tinos. So that an American who crosses the Antlantic is advised to take a ferry ride to Tinos to discover said authenticity... OK. Maybe for Europeans it might suit better.
Mykonos is so much more than a party island. In fact, if in late June there is a place with more beautiful crowds and scenery, as what you see each night in the old town, anywhere, I would really like to know. I find it a little too crowded for full season (end of July - August) to be honest, some trusted friends love the vibe though.
Oh, just pick any hotel with 9+ ratings on booking, especially in Santorini filter by worst and say, that's not something interesting. You don't even have to pay full season price to see these islands, although Mykonos definitely is way different when it is not beach season.
Having said that there quite a few islands with their strong points also. I do have a preference for islands that don't advertise themselves as the ones you will never see fun ever, because they tend to gather... well that kind of crowds. They can still be beautiful, with nice beaches, restaurants etc. You can say that in most islands, most people can find their nice spots to hang out in. And it is true, depending on the season, most of the most busy islands show signs of less than ideal management. That's because they actually have had times of excellent management that set the bar so high and made them as famous. So, even for people who like these islands and keep coming back, there might be times of mild disappointments. Still, their strong points are... quite strong. So perhaps, one could search a little to find information about a specific island and season.
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u/JBinYYC Mar 10 '20
Sure, sure, you may hear a lot of this from Greek people. But what do they actually know? Most of people that say these things about Mykonos or Santorini haven't actually been there.
My take (since that was my post you quoted from) wasn't that they hadn't been or didn't like those islands, but that 90% (purely made up statistic!) of visitors stick to those two islands and go nowhere else, when there are hundreds of amazing islands that don't get anywhere near the traffic those two islands get.
That was my first trip to Greece, so I felt I should do the things Greece is most notable for. If/when I go back, I'd like to explore more of the offbeat places and less touristy areas.
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Mar 03 '20 edited Aug 21 '21
[deleted]
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u/lenaag Mar 03 '20 edited Mar 03 '20
All my Greek and half-Greek friends the same. We all avoid it if we can.
I have friends Greek and half-Greek who do the opposite, though! Or at least admit that not going there might be due to budget reasons or that they feel too old or that indeed these places feel less authentic than they used to. They don't go as far as not asking for a budget or actually proposing to someone with a jet lag to go through pitcuresque Pireaus or Rafina ports or the JMK as a crossover to Mykonos port to catch the ferry to Tinos... That sounds a bit strange. Maybe for people with random Greek friends, but random overseas travellers? JMK gates in Athens airport has some of the most exciting people I have ever seen in an airport...All gathered together for a short flight over gorgeous Greek Archipelago, at an airport already full of people ready to go to their island of choice. Ibiza people are a close second.
I haven't been to Tinos for ten years now, I have heard people raving about it ... riiiiight when Greek people left Mykonos for financial reasons mostly and... it is clear when you are on a ferry who goes to Tinos and who goes elsewhere and it is correct, people need to make a little research and find what suits them. You never actually have to go to a less fun place, plenty of people keep going to Mykonos, until... they no longer go anywhere...
OK, we are saying the same thing with different words. There are different islands. In my view Tinos though... Better beaches in more than a few other islands, all over Greece. Way better old towns too. I mean, there are at least 10, off the top of my head. Mykonos, Naxos, Syros, Rhodes, Skiathos, Corfu, Chania, Rethymno, Agios Nikolaos, Koufonissia, Spetses, Hydra and of course the Caldera Santorini on its own league. The only plus seems to be Athenians going on a hype about this place, and if enough people feel good about being in a certain place, then that place is indeed, full of happy people. Greeks have this ability to create rumors and myths. Pictures of different beaches, landscapes and old towns speak for themselves. This guy is asking for advice to try a mediterannean beach, he has seen let's say the Atlantic, and... a Tinos beach is worth the trip? Well... Not to mention another suggestion to go through the landmass all the way to Kymi as an option to another island, that I have heard other trusted good reviews about, indeed, though? But all this land trip? Who has the time for that? I mean, given that all the driving doesn't take you through much of a landscape, in the middle of summer also.
And ... You've been to Santorini and never were carried away by people coming from literally the other edge of the world and just showing that it was so worth it? You have never come across that? A cliff full of excited Indians, Californians, Chinese, and the odd Arab princess? Not something you see on just any island. It is true though, all these places have their moments and the vibe is not always the best... Depends. Really depends. Not even cruise ships are always a bad thing. There was a huge wonderful party one night in Mykonos that took most of the outdoor bars in old town and the next day there was not, because that one random cruise ship had left. So in Mykonos you've been once in the nineties and once more recently and you just avoid, avoid...
Having said that, last summer I have heard rave reviews from trusted Greek friends about Amorgos as an off the beaten path, not spoiled destination, without an airport. Also Milos rarely disappoints. I haven't been to these two, Milos has been on my bucket list for a long time, but I keep coming back to the classics, after spending more than once looking for that one alternative island that surpasses the classics on all main areas... I have found none! Mykonos, great beaches all packed next to one another and a great old town and picturesque, you can also find cheap flights and wonderful accomodation Quite good islands, yes, there are quite a lot. But these things are in the eye of the beholder I guess. And every summer I spend some days in some "alternative" destination that my Greek friends go on about because someone else convinced them to try... I am old enough now to know not to try that much. Or ask for many, many questions before even trying.
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u/McG0788 Feb 27 '20
Going to Kalymnos in a few weeks for a climbing trip. Any other must see / do recommendations for the area?
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u/lenaag Feb 27 '20 edited Feb 27 '20
You can play with the ferry routes and see if you can fit another island as a day trip, maybe. I don't know that area, but I plan to do a weekend on Kos-Kalymnos-Symi when the opportunity arises and it is doable on a weekend from Athens, going by plane to Kos in this case. Ferries are infrequent in low season though and very occasionally there might be disruptions low season, when there are high winds.
https://travel.viva.gr/en/ferries
Source: I am an Athenian, know many islands big and small, and decided I can't do all of them in my lifetime, there is maybe reason not to, but... I just love discovering and I don't mind not being in high season always, I know the vibe more or less and what to expect. Some islands are indeed quiet in low season. Seems like Kalymnos offers more reasons for a visit. Some other islands are worth spending time for hikes and relaxing and just enjoying spring days and scenery. Also, recently there is some high-end accommodation for unbeatable prices in some cases. In shoulder season, you will probably see some renovations and some businesses not yet open.
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u/dongazine_supplies Feb 28 '20
My piece of advice is not recommending a specific island(s) but to reassure you that the people whose jobs it is to handle tourists (ferry ticket agents, hotel clerks) speak English, so it's actually quite feasible to go in there without much of a plan or with a complex plan of your own to hop islands constantly.
I went with a cruise because I was scared it would be too much hassle to handle all this stuff myself as a non-native and was disappointed when I got there to realize I didn't need to do it that way, I could have just booked my own ferries.
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u/joepyeweed Mar 02 '20
Coronavirus permitting, my wife and I are planning on visiting Elafanosisos Island as part of a driving tour of the Peloponnese this May. We want to spend a full day or two at the beach on the island before we get back on the road.
Any tips, warnings or suggestions on where to stay?
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u/JBinYYC Feb 27 '20
When we were in Athens, we had this conversation multiple times:
Athenian: Where will you go next?
Me: Santorini...
A: Oooohh. (very very disappointed tone)
me: and then Naxos.
A: Oh, you'll love Naxos!!
And they were right. We decided on Santorini because that's what you see in nearly every single picture of Greece. It always looks so romantic, with the white and blue on the cliffs overlooking the sea. In reality, it's horribly overcrowded, it isn't laid out well (it's a long, narrow island, so towns are laid out in row rather than a square.) It's dirty (at the end of the season at least), and the people who work there are exhausted (end of season again). One person said he was working 12 hour days without a day off since May, and this was in September. Most of the people working there are not locals, they're seasonal workers who live elsewhere. Everyone was pleasant and helpful, but you could see the exhaustion. I'm glad that I went at least once, but I would never go back again. It felt like a tourist destination, rather than foreign country full of interesting things to discover.
Our next stop was Naxos. I asked our travel agent where she would want to go if she was on a beach vacation, and this was her suggestion. We absolutely loved it! You can sit in the square and drink coffee and people watch, or go down to the waterfront for drinks and dinner at sunset. There's a 13th century castle that's still occupied. You can wander through the narrow cobblestone streets filled with little shops and cafes and cats. And there are cats everywhere! We never left the main town, since this was the end of our vacation and we really just needed to rest and relax by then. I would love to go back here and spend more time!
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u/paynestaker United States Mar 10 '20
We stayed in Naxos for a few days last year. Spent a whole day on a chartered sailboat for like $75 (food and beer/wine included) just sailing around to various snorkeling spots. Another day we took a short ferry to Paros and visited a lovely little winery. I would ABSOLUTELY go back to Naxos. It was probably my favorite spot on the trip.
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u/lenaag Feb 27 '20
It's dirty (at the end of the season at least),
That really only happened in places in 2018 though? Around the same time, other ever-clean places had issues with people littering, Venice was not doing nicely for example. But councils stepped up almost everywhere and hopefully those times are in the past.
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u/JBinYYC Feb 27 '20
This was about 4-5 years ago, the year that Greece first had their financial difficulty. I think it was just a matter of too many people in a too small of an area. I'm sure it gets all cleaned and repainted in the off season.
Athens may have actually been dirtier, but because it's a big city, it's more expected.
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u/jsksksksk Feb 27 '20
advice for going to crete
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u/Daphneishere Feb 28 '20
Crete is a huuuuge island. Have you already selected a place or are you looking for suggestions?
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u/onelittleworld Chicagoland, USA Mar 02 '20
Crete is a huuuuge island.
This part bears repeating. Other Greek islands are just that... islands. Crete is more like a landmass with mountains, deep gorges, rugged coasts, beautiful beaches, large towns, and everything in between.
Also, your lengthy write-up is mostly spot-on. Nice job!
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u/Daphneishere Mar 02 '20
Thank you!
Exactly, last time I stayed there for 2 months and still there are tons of things left to do, see and experience. Crete is unique and lovely.
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u/jsksksksk Feb 29 '20
looking for suggestions
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u/Daphneishere Mar 01 '20
There are so many places to see, so it would be best if you stayed 7-10 days at least. My suggestion would be to fly to Chania, which is a lovely city. You can start there and rent a car, and experience Crete from west to east. I have to point out that the roads aren't very safe and Cretans drive carelessly, but that only means that you have to be careful and not scared. Then you can visit Elafonissi (deer island), which is about 1.5 hour away, where you can enjoy pink/white sand and turquise waters. Also Balos lagoon is nearby, and is also lovely. And if you like hiking, visiting Samaria Gorge is a must. Around there is Sfakia, from where you can get to another island, Gavdos, which is a great place, and also there is the southernmost point in Europe. Then getting to Rethymno, which is also a lovely city. After that is Heraklion, the biggest a busiest city on Crete. The archaeological museum there is one of my favourite in Greece, filled with Minoan artifacts. Also there is a place with the best gyros I've ever had in Greece, the restaurant is called Hovoli, don't miss it if you go there. Then visiting Knossos is an absolute must, you can see the remains of the palace, and its findings are exhibited at the archaeological museum, so combining those 2 visits would be great. But, beware of the weather conditions. If you visit it during August, you will definitely need tons of sunscreen, a hat, and water, as there isn't any shade and temperatures are around 35°C (I did that when I was 22, with a boyfriend who was constantly complaining about the heat and sun, and almost had a heart attack and almost broke up on site). Matala beach is famous because of the caves there, and isn't much far away from Heraklion. Then, even more to the east, is Agios Nikolaos, a nice town. Not too far away is Richtis Gorge, where you can hike and there's also a lovely waterfall. And really east is Vai, Europe's largest palmgrove. From there, you can take a flight from Sitia to Athens, and then back home. Of course all these are suggestions, you can do it without a car, although it would definitely help. Or you can always stay at one place.
Please be aware of the weather conditions, summer in Crete is really hot, so choose a period that is suitable for you. Also the food is amazing, and you're definitely going to get drunk drinking raki/tsikoudia.
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u/Memento_Mori_ Mar 08 '20
Spent 5 nights in Chania a couple years ago. Echoing the other response, Balos, Elafonnissi, Samaria Gorge are awesome. The town itself is nice too, highly recommend!
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u/leojg Feb 28 '20
I spend 1 week in paros last november and was one of the best places I have been. I'm planning on visiting more islands on my next trip to greece(probably in a couple of years).
The best thing for me was getting lost deep into de island, I rented a scooter for 4 days and just started to drive on a random direction, de deeper you get into the island, the rougher the roads get, which is part of the fun actually :D
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u/Pegs072818 Mar 04 '20
We do the same on every island we visit. We rent an ATV and just explore - no destination in mind. We stop at villages on the way, swim at beaches we find in our path. It's such an adventure.
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u/northstarjackson Mar 07 '20
Paros is great. We got stuck there during the off-season for a few days when the ferries shut down about 8 years ago.
Anyway, had the island to ourselves.. make sure to rent an ATV and just explore. It's a tiny island and it's impossible to get lost.
There's a somewhat hidden beach/bar on the opposite side of the island from the ferry dock. Absolutely worth it.
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u/BadAdviceBryce Mar 03 '20
1st solo trip to Greece in May 2020. I was planning on flying from the US into Athens and then connect to Santorini. My plan is 2 days in Santorini —> 2 days in Milos —> 2 days in Athens, then depart the next afternoon. Milos looks amazing online, but has anyone been there and can you give me tips / fun things to do? I’m looking for water activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving. Any particular Greek island fits the bill?
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u/Howling_IntoTheVoid Mar 08 '20
Visit Sarakiniko in Milos. It's nicknamed Moon Beach and you'll see why!
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u/Conscious_Tea Feb 27 '20
My husband and I picked Páros for our honeymoon. We head out there in May! We picked it because it’s not too expensive or touristy. It has the classic white buildings and a lot to do (coffee shops, bars, restaurants, beaches, museums, hiking, etc.) It’s close to other islands also. We plan to take day trips to Naxos and Antiparos which are quick ferry rides. We’re only staying for 9 days but we will have plenty to do. We avoided Mykonos and Santorini because most of our research said they were expensive and busy.
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u/leojg Feb 28 '20
I didn't take the ferry to Antiparos but went to the dock itself, I think it was something like 2 euro each way and 15 minutes to cross, really cheap.
The Parokia museum is small but worth visiting, and there are also a bunch of ruins scattered around the island.
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u/Pegs072818 Mar 04 '20
We were in Paros last summer! Beautiful island, amazing Cycladic architecture. If you have time, definitely try Antiparos. We rented an ATV and drove around both islands. The landscape and villages are to die for.
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u/WeDidItOurWay Mar 05 '20
We loved our time in Paros. We spent 4 days there and it was the perfect amount of time. We were there in September, but I'm sure May will be amazing too, with not too many tourists.
If you need some help planning your trip, you can check out our blog: https://wediditourway.com/best-things-to-do-in-paros-for-couples-in-september/
We also went to Naxos, which is a super short trip from there. It was perfect! Make sure you do a sailing trip there. We loved our day trip with Xanemo Sailing. It's a smaller sailboat than others, so it's not overcrowded. The couple who runs it is the sweetest!
Hope you guys have an amazing honeymoon!
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u/Conscious_Tea Mar 06 '20
Wow. This is amazing! We will definitely be using your blog as a guide when we go! Thank you so so much!
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u/USTravelWorld Mar 03 '20
Been to Greece many times, wonderful landscapes... highly recommend anyone to visit if they have the chance.
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u/BUT_WHY_MALE_M0DELS Mar 05 '20
Going to Greece for 10 days at the end of October. I was planning on splitting it between Athens and Santorini, but after reading these comments about Santorini, I might change it. I know I'll be past busy season (most hotels don't seem to even be open in November), but is there any island recommendations for places with the best weather/attractions the last week of October?
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u/lenaag Mar 05 '20 edited Mar 05 '20
It's actually a great time for Santorini, because really, most of the time that you hear negative impressions about it is about the overpriced rooms (which most people who can afford it and can actually afford anywhere in high season still leave excellent reviews, feel free to check them) anyway, you get way less crowds and affordable prices for rooms.
Most other islands are way past the shoulder season even. They get their vacation time.
On Santorini the best place low season is Fira, the main town, more things to do. You will find quite a few closed shops.
A more lively town that time of the year and with some amazing accommodation is old town Chania in Crete. You can get a seafront room with amazing comfort and design. There are nice restaurants.
I've been to Santorini low season and plan to do it again and again and I don't know personally about Chania, it's just a feel I get from watching the prices and the amenities, it's one of my hobbies.
Other people might suggest to try places locals prefer in the colder months, so mostly not islands, such as Nafplion, Meteora and Dephi.
It is not rare to get some hours of rain during that season, it is quite rare to have continuous rain, in general you will find something to do for these hours, in a nice room in the Caldera you will be more exposed maybe, but it is worth it just for the attractive prices and the comforts of the room itself.
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u/BUT_WHY_MALE_M0DELS Mar 06 '20
I saw that prices dropped dramatically during october. I didn't choose that time period because of the prices, just happened to fall into alignment. Thank you for your suggestions. I will definitely look more into them. I appreciate you.
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u/panache123 16 countries Mar 05 '20
I've only been to one - Santorini, for 5 nights. We stayed in Fira. We spent a few hours walking to Oia one day, that was fantastic. It's crowded (particularly at sunset in Oia), but it's a brilliant place all the same. I had zero expectation, probably as a result of opinions of it that I'd read on Reddit, but it surprised me in the best way possible. I loved it!
We went to Paris and London in the same trip, and I didn't find it to be outrageously expensive. I also don't associate crowded and expensive with 'not worth visiting'.
The beaches are nothing special. Food is brilliant. Enjoyed our time at restaurants like Pelekanos, Black Rock and LOVED Catch Bar. I assume they're 'touristy', but whatever... fantastic. Santo Wines is a nice place, fantastic view. Food is very average. Wine ok.
We went out on a private Catamaran one day and sailed around for a few hours. Had a fantastic meal on the boat. Gorgeous waters.
Enjoyed my time and would go back again!
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u/mylovertotoro Mar 11 '20
some friends an I were planning a trip to Italy and Greece (Rome/Florence/Athens/Santorini) for late May but it's looking like Italy might not be an option. Now we're thinking of pivoting to 3 days in Athens, 3 days in Sicily and 4 days in Santorini. Any other Greek Islands worth a few days?
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u/Phantazein Mar 02 '20
This summer I will be spending a week on the mainland and a week between Santorini and Mykonos. Pretty cliche, I know.
Any of the islands near Athens worth a day trip? I built in a couple flex days at the end of our time on the mainland and was thinking of doing a day trip on one of those days. Are any of the islands worth it? I would probably want something less touristy because the rest of our trip we are going to be doing super touristy things. If not I will probably use that time to explore less touristy parts of Athens and maybe make a trip out to Sounion or towards Mycenae.
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u/Pegs072818 Mar 04 '20
Greek here...
Favorite islands are Zakynthos and Chios.
I have a soft spot for Chios - I got married there in 2018. My husband is from there. The island is so diverse. Each village carries its own story, its own history. Some of my favorite villages are Pyrgoi, Anavatos, Kardamyla, and Armolia. Rent a car and take a day or two to drive through all of these villages. Visit the Mastic Museum. Walk the main port and eat authentic loukoumades. Everyone is friendly. Definitely recommend a trip here.
Zakynthos is another favorite of mine. The sheer beauty of it gets me every time. The contrast of the green mountains with the aqua waters. I love the Ionian side of Greece for this reason. The Aegean islands (where Chios is) are much drier. I would recommend doing a daily tour of the secret caves, Navagio Shipwreck beach, and discovering lesser known areas of the island. Some beaches I loved were Limnionas, Banana Beach, and Porto Vromi.
Bottom line - anywhere you visit in Greece is beautiful. There is so much culture, natural beauty, and adventure to be discovered. Mykonos and Santorini are nice to say you went but venture into lesser known islands and especially the mainland (Athens, Thessaloniki, Kalamata, Parga, Nafplio). You won't be disappointed!
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u/Kimbly67 Mar 04 '20
We do plan to island hop, thanks for all of the previous suggestions; too many to choose from! What I wonder is, during our few days in Athens, what should we do?
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u/lenaag Mar 05 '20 edited Mar 05 '20
The nice parts of Athens and unique in a western city, are areas around the Acropolis, that resemble a cluster of villages and pedestrian areas with some ancient ruins and nature thrown in. You can discover on foot, find picturesque settings with steps and bougainvillias or more central pedestrian streets with souvernir shops. Some rooftop cafes are also photogenic and unique. Night and day, you get a different feel in these streets. At night, Psyrri area is more lively. Not to miss but usually crowded, is Adrianou area, also lysiou area is quite nice and the pedestrian path around the Acropolis, a stop in Arios Pagos is worth it. There is even an unspoilt island old town, Anafiotika, similar towns now on the islands have been modernised and lost their original feel.
This is just a setting to be with your company to enjoy walking a little. Avoid weekends, if possible, it can get too crowded, although some people actually enjoy that. Weekday mornings tend to be nicer, although some summer days can be really warm. If you get on top of the Acropolis, you really need to keep this in mind, there is not shade there.
In Athens you will see some bad parts and some sketchy neighborhoods, do a little search about that. It tends to get better in recent years. I mean, it is a lot cleaner than it used to be, for example. Though, some of the abandonment that went on for a while, in some places, left some room for expression and youth, and creativity, you can say? I think we are still out there, hopefully going to keep what is nice from all of this.
I think Akti to Iliou as a seafront area merits a visit, especially Bolivar beach bar, you have traffic to go to that place, there is a tourist bus from what I saw, not sure I recommend it, you get better views. Generally the tourist bus in Athens is not really worth it, as in other cities, because the best parts of Athens are pedestrian areas you won't see from the bus and the bus actually probably only goes through traffic most of the time. Taxis are normally cheap, but taxi drivers are notorious for trying to get more from tourists. You have way better beaches on the islands, that Athens beach though has the city vibe. Not a must see, just a suggestion if you would like to try something on the beach front.
In general, Athens is really different from the islands, it has its moments that merit a visit, not too long ago a few people actually recommended to skip Athens, you can have really nice moments in Athens in general though.
You might consider even checking another nearby island, as a back-up plan, if you find yourself having a spare day in Athens. Though other, Cyclades islands are more well known for a reason.
So enjoy my city, having traveled a bit, I think the pedestrian parts are quite worth it. There are things to do better, hopefully...
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u/rward978 Mar 09 '20
New to this subreddit but so excited to learn and share my knowledge with you all!! Seitan leimami beach in Crete !!!! 15 min hike each way but unreal views !! Was determined to jump off rocks into the Mediterranean during my vacation and was able to that there successfully.
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u/jaymar01 Mar 09 '20 edited Mar 09 '20
If there's ever a summer to visit the Greek islands...this is it.
The cruise industry will be on the front-line of the CoronaVirus casualties, with massive cutbacks in sailings.
As such, Mediterrantean/Aegean Sea destinations like Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Ephesus, Venice and Dubrovnik will be quiet, peaceful, civilized and not overrun by thousands of cruise ship day-trippers.
Enjoy the Greek islands like they were back in the 1970's
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u/Ourglobetrotting- Mar 11 '20
Hello, we lived as expats in Germany and loved to travel to Venice. Its a great location with tons of history. Click Here For Venice
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u/PeakedinKindergarten Mar 04 '20
I went to Turkey a summer ago and went to the greek island KOS. It was so beautiful and delicious food.
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u/kephxo Mar 10 '20
Me and my friends we are going to Thessalonique and Athènes this summer and we are trying to find some interesting places to visit there (especially thessalonique) thoughts ?
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Mar 10 '20
Supposed to go to Santorini in May... Should I be worried with all this coronavirus stuff that it may be cancelled?
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u/Reppiz Feb 27 '20
Santorini, is overcrowded and over priced but it is equally breathtaking. Go take a look for a few nights. Don’t spend 2 weeks there but by no means avoid it. Go all out tourist and rent a quad and explore a winery (argyros) and a few beaches stop at a bakery for a picnic. Go clap at the sunset like an idiot and then never do it again. Maybe hike between the two towns. That being said spend 2-3 weeks in Crete and just relax and explore.