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We are arriving in Athens on Aug 14, have to return Aug 22-23. I know it will be really hot but the kids (teenagers) wanted to see greek history. I am looking for advice as to where else to go apart from Athens in that time period?
I did think of spending 4 days in Athens and 3 days in Lake Como but not sure if it is worth the hassle?Please suggest what we can do with the 7-8 days? We mainly want to see greek history then some relaxation on the beach/lake.
I have not booked the return flight yet but the prices are the same from most of Europe (To Vancouver).
Thanks in advance.
Hi @Boi,
You can easily spend a week in Athens and barely scratch the surface!
I agree it would be a lot of work doing Italy as well, and it will probably be very hot for travelling.
From Athens you have plenty of coastal choices, e.g. Marathon and Sounion areas have beaches and even more history, or you can take a ferry to one of the islands. There was a discussion about some of these recently here, and there are plenty of internet guides, e.g.
https://www.highheelsandabackpack.com/islands-close-to-athens/
The temple at Cape Sounion is in a stunning setting and well worth a visit, though traffic can be absolutely horrendous!
Viator and Get Your Guide offer a variety of guided tours which can be convenient for seeing some of the major sites when you have a limited amount of time.
For sure there’s enough to see and do for a week in Athens. But if you’ve had your fill of the amazing Acropolis Museum, the huge Agora, and have been horrified by the crowds at the Acropolis, etc. then there is plenty to see in the Peloponnese. Our favourites were Mystras, Messene and Mycenae. We didn’t get a chance to see Epidaurus but we did go to Olympia and were underwhelmed.
Personally, I’d give Athens a couple of days to see the Parthenon and museums, Agora and Parliament etc. it’s been a long time since I’ve been to Cape Sounion, but was beautiful. Then head to the Peloponnesus area. It can be as busy or as quiet as you wish. Try to visit Epidavros, Mycenae, Tyryns, Monemvasia & Corinth. Then there are the small beach towns that are tucked away and not busy. Public transport is decent if you don’t want to drive.
Naxos has great beaches, plenty of ferries and flights from Athens.
Couldn’t imagine doing a Greek history trip without going to Delphi. Doable as a day trip by bus if you aren’t driving, but better to stay overnight.
Do not go to Italy. Plenty to see and do in Athens.
If you really want a beach or water go over towards to Astor Beach (Four Seasons is a lovely property if you can stomach the rates) Lake Vouliagmeni way. Vouliagmeni beach isn’t too bad either to be fair.
It’s hot but found it quite relaxing
Don’t know how old you or your kids are but either might enjoy a night out at Bolivar Beach Club.
Flivos Marina was nice for a Sunday stroll / drink.
Noo Naxos is not of any interest at all Shhh
The best Greek ruins are ………. on Sicily !
but if you really want Athens,
then Delphi, Epidavros, Marathon and sunset at Sounion;
Napflion for a nice beach with a later castleWorst time of the year for holidays in Greece as virtually all Greeks are on holiday.
15 August is the peak of the greek holidays and a major bank holiday. Athens empty, islands packed to the brim.
Well then isn’t it the best time to visit Athens?
Was there last year and it was bliss from a traffic perspective while still not “empty”
We were in Athens and the Peloponnese August last year and all was fine. Beach towns were busy, but not crazy and we found plenty of places to stay, eat and relax. People say the same about Italy in August. In tourist locations, people are always ready to take your money even on public holidays.
I’m not referring to August as a whole but rather the 15th August holiday and surrounding days.
Was in Athens on exactly those days and it was great for walking round / doing some touristy things 🙂
BTW if you’re gluten free I recommend Greek stories.
There is no better time to visit Athens than mid August. It will be quieter and better for you to enjoy. Spend a couple of days around the historic places there.
Take a day trip or overnight stay in Delphi and then visit a few places in Peloponnese. There is so much history around all those places and you can also relax on the beach.Oh yes and how good is Naxos is best to remain a secret!
Was in Athens on exactly those days and it was great for walking round / doing some touristy things 🙂
Can’t argue with that. It’s a different city. 🙂
As others have said, it doesn’t make sense to cram both Italy and Greece into such a short trip. Greece has more than enough options for a few relaxing days.
Your most obvious options from Athens are:
– The islands close to Athens (Poros, Hydra, etc), or somewhere in the Peloponnese peninsula on the Argolic or Saronic gulfs, much of which can be accessed by a short high-speed ferry trip. These places are very Greek in character, but can get very crowded with Athenians in high summer.
– Somewhere in the Cyclades – a 30 minute flight or 4-5 hours by ferry. This is picture-postcard Greece, with blue and white cubic houses clustered in ancient labyrinthine towns, turquoise beaches and humble tavernas set on the beach under shady tamarisk trees. I would personally second the recommendations given for Naxos, but each island has a very different character and you need to know what you’re looking for.
Other islands – the Dodecanese, Ionian, Crete, etc, have their charms, but are unnecessarily far away. Many of these are Italianate and, for better or worse, look very different from the Cyclades.
What do you want from your relaxation? Is your ideal day spent on a sun lounger beside a pool in a luxury resort? Or, like me, would you prefer stretch out your towel on a quiet stretch of pristine sand? Do you want sophisticated international cuisine, or (again like me), would you prefer traditional Greek dishes slowly cooked to tender perfection in the oven? Your perfect island will be driven by those choices, as few can appeal to all tastes.
Thank you all for the wonderful advice, we will stay in Greece (Athens and surroundings).
Any recommendations on hotels?
While on holiday we enjoy local cuisine, definitely not international.
Do you have any hotel status, do you want a pool, do you prefer five star?
If you must have a hotel, then perhaps the Divani Caravel (approx £2,800 for 8 nights in a family suite). However you may well find better value, not to mention more space, if you take one of the many lovely city centre apartments available in August
We stayed in one of the COCO-MAT hotels and really enjoyed it. It wasn’t overly cheap last August €290 per night). Airbnb is a good suggestion and Greece doesn’t seem overly anti-Airbnb. Getting around with taxis is very cheap so don’t fret too much about location.
Just jumping on the back of this post, are there direct flights to Naxos, or is it a fly via somewhere else destination, and then arrive by ferry?
No direct flights from London. Take an internal flight or a ferry from Athens.
Just jumping on the back of this post, are there direct flights to Naxos, or is it a fly via somewhere else destination, and then arrive by ferry?
Either fly via Athens with Aegean/Olympic Air or take a taxi/bus to the nearest port (Rafina) and sail from there to Naxos (roughly 3.30-4h via fast seajet).
My suggestion if you’re going to Naxos from Athens is to fly one way and ferry the other – Blue Star Ferries rather than the fast jets as they have outside space. Blue Star depart from Piraeus.
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