Greece Trip Wrap-Up

I just returned from my trip to Greece and wanted to share my itinerary and a few reflections.

My route was:

Athens (2) > Meteora (2) > Delphi (1) > Nafplio (2) > Drepana (1) > Monemvasia (2) > Kardamyli (3) > Loutraki (1) > Santorini (4) > Folegandros (2) > Athens (2)

Looking back, if I did this again, I would spend one less night each in Kardamyli, Santorini, and Folegandros to free up three days for other locations. I rented a Toyota Yaris Cross and drove about 2,000 km through the north and the Peloponnese. Despite the mountainous terrain and many hairpin turns, the roads were in great condition and the drive was surprisingly stress-free.

I was incredibly lucky with the weather; temperatures were ideal, and while rain seemed to follow me, it only actually caught up with me during my final stay in Athens. I also noticed that by the time I reached Folegandros, the season was winding down and many hotels and restaurants were already closing.

The most critical decision I made was returning to Athens two days earlier than planned based on some reviews I'd read. It saved my trip—ferries were suspended the day after I arrived from Folegandros, and if I had stuck to my original plan, I would have missed my flight home.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience that provided some great lessons for future planning!

Hi! Planning for our honeymoon next May and hoping to do Italy & Greece. I know this is a Greece page but including the Italy part in case anyone here happens to have done that too or have any insight hehe.

Rome - 4.5 days/4 nights (leaving on 5th day)

Amalfi Coast - 4 nights
Pompeii Day Trip - stop on the way down would make most sense logistically but then luggage..

Santorini - 4 nights

Naxos - 5 nights
Paros or Mykonos Day Trip

Athens - 2 nights (fine with just 1 sightseeing day)

Please let me know if this seems like a good itinerary! And are the ferries running regularly mid-late May?

*Context: We like a mix of adventure & relaxation. Neither one of us likes to just sit around all day but with it being vacation & our honeymoon we probably should make some time to relax lol but we love things like cooking classes, animal experiences (interacting with animals ethically), food tours, ATV'ing, zip lining, etc.

Feel free to share if you have any must-see spots, fun things to do, or favorite restaurants! :)

Hey everyone!
I’m a woman from Australia and I’ve recently been accepted to volunteer at a cat sanctuary in Athens from 7–21 December! I applied on a whim because I absolutely adore animals, and now that I’ve actually been accepted, I’m trying to figure out whether I should go haha.

I’ve never been to Greece before, and I’ll be travelling solo. Accommodation and food are provided by the organisation, so that’s one less thing to worry about!
I’d love to hear from locals or anyone who’s travelled to Athens, particularly in December.

What’s Athens like in winter? Is December a good time to visit?

How safe is Athens for a young woman travelling alone?
Any recommendations for things to see, do or eat during my free time?

Is public transport relatively easy to navigate?

Has anyone volunteered with animal rescues or sanctuaries in Athens before?

I’m honestly pretty excited (and slightly terrified) at the prospect of spontaneously flying halfway across the world to look after cats 😂
Would love any tips or personal experiences. Thanks so much! ❤️

I have been reading a lot of questions on how to avoid tourists while visiting Greek islands. This is a very legit question but then I see travellers that have already picked the most touristic islands Greece has to offer. Wanna have an authentic experience without having do deal with huge crowds and possibly overpay? PICK A RANDOM ISLAND. All inhabited islands have infrastructure- places to stay, stunning beaches and still a lot of tourism. Greece has hundreds of islands, stop going to Santorini - Mykonos - Rhodes especially if what you want to experience is beaches and food. That’s my honest suggestion as a Greek who has visited lots of them. An extra tip is the further away you are from Athens - the better.

Edit: thank you everyone. My American mind apparently could not comprehend genuine hospitality compared to "the normal" here in the United States.

Loving our stay so far in Athens and heading to Santorini next. Noticed that the when we have gone out to eat it we will be finished and after sitting for awhile I'll eventually flag our server over to ask to pay and leave.

Is there an etiquette I need to be aware of or it's just an expectation that folks usually sit for awhile after their meal?

We are taking our first trip to Greece next September! We have 14 days and we’re flying into Athens. We definitely will be going to Crete, but I’m struggling with a second island. We will be travelling with our two children (4,7). I love adventure (hikes, caves, animals) and also love beaches and swimming. I’ve looked into Corfu, Paros, Naxos, or Zakynthos. Any input? I’d like to be able to take the ferry to the next island if possible. We plan to stay in a resorty hotel verse airbnb if that makes any difference.

Also, how long did you think I need for each island? If we have enough time we could do a third island but I was thinking 6 nights on each.

Hi everyone! 👋
We’re currently traveling through Greece by car and will be staying in Athens. We’d love some local tips and advice on a few things:
1. Authentic Food Markets in Athens
We’re looking for local food markets (not tourist traps) where we can buy great olives, real feta, olive oil, and other fresh regional products. We really want to taste and experience the authentic side of Greece. Any specific markets or neighborhood laiki agora (farmers' markets) you’d recommend?
2. Public Transport & Uber/Taxi with a Small Dog
Our car will be parked for the duration of our stay in Athens, so we'll be relying on walking and public transport.
We are traveling with a small Maltipoo dog (we don't have a hard carrier with us).
Are there any strict rules or issues taking a small dog on the Athens Metro, buses, or streetcars without a carrier?
How dog-friendly are Uber / FREENOW / regular taxis in Athens?
3. Quick Pomegranate Question 🍎
While driving through Greece, we’ve noticed so many pomegranate trees full of ripe fruits that no one seems to be picking. If we pick a couple of pomegranates off trees near the road or in public areas, is that acceptable, or could it cause any issues/offend someone?
Thanks a lot in advance for your help!

I am planning a trip next summer. Looking at Amorgos, Folegandros, Sifnos, and Astypalea. Any suggestions of sites I should use to find a book good accommodation?

I have a work trip in Athens in late October. My spouse will be joining me and we are planning to spend an extra day in Athens after the meeting before renting a car to explore the Peloponnese area. We are looking for a more relaxed pace and would like input on the following plan. The beginning of the trip and departure date are fixed. Days 5-11 are flexible. We are interested in a little history and architecture, good food/drinks, and scenic views. The Mani peninsula has also been recommended, but I don't want to be too rushed. Would you skip or condense something else in favor of the Mani peninsula? If so, any recommendations for a base in Mani?

Day 1: arrival in Athens around noon, half day in Athens

Days 2-4: I will have meetings with evening meals/social events, including a visit to the Acropolis. Spouse will have time to explore.

Day 5: Additional day in Athens for me to see highlights, although we could move on this day

Day 6: Drive to Nafplion with stop in Corinth in route.

Day 7-8: Stay in Nafplion. Day trip to Mycenae and Epidurus. Day in Nafplion and/or nearby area, possibly a 1/2 day catamaran cruise.

Day 9: Drive to Monemvasia. Stop in Mystras and Sparti in route.

Day 10: Stay in Monemvasia

Day 11: Return to Athens

Day 12: Morning departure from Athens

I have been to Greece over summer multiple times, both the mainland and the islands, and I love it. Next year I would like to visit an island in the eastern Aegean, either in the Dodecanese or the North-Eastern Aegean. The only island I have visited in that area is Kos, when I was a young man, and I wouldn't go back.

I generally tend to avoid touristy and heavily developed destinations, especially in high season, so Rhodes, for example, is not an option for me. I don't want to go to a Greek island and see plenty of sushi restaurants, if you know what I mean. It makes no sense to me.

One of my main priorities is the beauty of the sea and the quality of the snorkelling. I love crystal-clear water, rocky seabeds and marine life, and I much prefer wild, unspoilt coves to beaches lined with rows of sunbeds and umbrellas. I'm happy to hike or take a difficult route to reach a beach if that means finding somewhere more secluded and pristine.

I should add that I'm probably quite hard to impress when it comes to beaches and snorkelling, as I've already explored some of the best spots in the Mediterranean. So I'm not simply looking for a pretty Greek island: I want somewhere that genuinely stands out for its underwater scenery, water clarity and beautiful, relatively untouched coastline.

Which island would you recommend for a two-week holiday in August? I'm open to both the Dodecanese and the North-Eastern Aegean. I'd particularly appreciate recommendations based on first-hand experience, including specific snorkelling spots, wild beaches and how crowded they get in August.

Although I wish I had time for both, I think I can only choose one. We are a group of two 60ish couples who are interested in historical sites and will be seeing all of the major attractions in Athens and the Nafplio area before heading to Crete. We have 6 days on Crete and hope to see Knossos, the sites in and around Rethymnon then head to Chania for a few days. We will have a rental car. Appreciate any advice.

I'm planning a trip to Greece during the Easter holidays next year. The dates are from 25th of March to 4th of April. We are a group of eight adults and one six-year-old boy. We want to spend a few days in Athens and then hop onto one of the islands. We cannot decide between Santorini, Naxos and Crete. We want to visit Santorini for obvious reasons, but we don't know if it is a good idea to visit the island with a child, especially because of the steep stairs and the cliffs and the general terrain of the island. So looking for suggestions on what a good itinerary would look like.

Hey everyone!

I'm looking for hostel recommendations in Athens! My main priority is finding a place where it's easy to meet new people.

One hostel that caught my eye is YellowSquare Hostel. Hostelworld shows that there are currently over 100 travelers staying there, which is quite a lot! However, what puts me off a bit is how massive the place seems. It almost looks more like a hostel factory than a cozy, social hostel. Has anyone stayed there and can share their experience?

Another option I've been looking at is Baloo Hostel. I really like the look of it, and judging by the website, it seems to have a more personal and welcoming atmosphere. On the other hand, there seem to be fewer travelers staying there.

Has anyone been to either of these hostels? Or do you have any other recommendations for a social hostel in Athens where it's easy to meet fellow travelers?

Here’s what I currently have for our May Greece trip:
2 days in Athens
4 days in Mykonos
4 days in Santorini

I’ve heard soooo many great things about Naxos though, so now I’m intrigued. Should I replace one of these places? We do really want to go to Santorini to end our honeymoon with some luxury R&R (I know it’s touristy but it’s a dream!)

2 days in Athens
2 days in Naxos
3 days in Mykonos
3 days in Santorini

^would something like this work?

I am looking at booking a trip to Athens and Santorini in mid-April 2027 and was wondering what other people’s experience was?

I am just worried that everything (ie. shops and restaurants) will be closed. I am not worried about the night scene and am okay with smaller crowds and ~20° weather. The trip would be 4 adults (2 in their 20s and 2 in their 60s, all mobile).

Thank you for any advice and suggestions!

Hello! How is Sifnos right now? I like it when there are fewer tourists, but I still want some life. I was in Antiparos last week and the main town was a ghost town in the evening. What can I expect in Kamares and Apollonia ?

Hi Everyone!

My soon to be wife and I, would be travelling to Greece for our honeymoon from 30 October to 11 November

Before going further, I would like to state that unfortunately this is the only time we have for the travel. My fiancé really wants to travel to Crete and Oia, but I have heard people saying that the time is not right for these places.

Our itinerary is as follows:

(1) Athens (4 days)

(2) Crete (5 days - covering both sides)

(3) Oia (1-2 days) and then back to crete to relax for half a day before heading to athens for our flight back.

Some things I wanted help with:

1. It seems ferries between Crete and Oia are not operational during that time. Would flights be safe?

2. Talks of rains and things being closed. We like beaches and historical sites, so we would be looking forward to those things. Do you think it would be doable?

Unfortunately, it seems my fiancé went ahead and already booked the hotels. If it seems like we cannot enjoy our time in Crete and Oia owing to the weather and travel difficulties, I will see if we can cancel and refund these. Otherwise, I am also okay to let these go.

I would like to preface that I really want to ensure that my fiancé enjoys this vacation. She absolutely wants to go to these places but, if it becomes hectic and problematic for us, she would also not like that. Hence, I am reaching out to you lovely people!

Many thanks in advance!

Did any one experience this? Tried getting my vehicle pumped yesterday and the meter in the vehicle did not move at all, still got charged €15 for it (the price on the machine was moving normally). Tried at another station later in the day for €30 and it filled up half a tank.

tried it again today and the same thing happened at another station.

can someone share how to avoid this?

Getting mud straight up pumped into my vehicle

I’ll be attending a conference near Paralia (about a 30-minute walk from the center). The organizers originally offered a station pickup, but I opted to fly into Thessaloniki a day early so I can stay in a hostel and explore for a few days before and after the event.

Since I skipped the organized pickup, what is my best option to travel from Thessaloniki down to Paralia, and then back again?

For context, I am a university student on a budget and will be one-bagging the trip. Any advice on public transport, and how to pay and book them would be greatly appreciated.

i do have my drivers lisence but only got it less than a year ago so from what i have found renting a car would be tricky?

Thanks!

I’m travelling solo in Athens and have already checked out most of the major tourist spots — the Acropolis, Plaka, Ermou Street, Anafiotika, the National Garden, and Syntagma Square to see the Parliament.

I’m looking for something fun to do for the rest of the day, and honestly, it would be nice to meet some fellow travellers instead of exploring alone all day!

Anyone else travelling solo and feeling like grabbing lunch together, wandering around the city, or just hanging out for a few hours?

I’m planning to hike up Mount Lycabettus this evening for sunset, so you’re more than welcome to join me for that too!

And if you have any recommendations for interesting things to do solo in Athens, I’m all ears!

Feel free to DM me if you’re interested.

Visiting Corfu late July, perfect time for those wonderful Summer Milky Way vistas. I wonder, is there a peaceful corner of the island with great, undisturbed, DARK Southerly views or shall I break the bank to go all the way down to Antipaxos? The light pollution maps I am reading are not so great but finding an accommodation on Antipaxos at down to Earth prices is about impossible.