Planning our first trip to Greece

Hi Béatrice

This is just my opinion (it all depends on how you travel), but I find the first week really (really) packed, with sites far apart from each other, so a lot of time spent on the road (I’ve done 2 travel journals (2020 and 2017) that you can find in my profile for the places you want to visit—might give you an idea).

As for the Cyclades, since I’m planning a trip this year, I’m in the same boat as you—I’m struggling to choose

Happy planning

Good evening,

As Muriel mentioned earlier, the first week is packed with too much distance, considering that to get to one of the Cyclades islands, you’ll have to return to Piraeus to catch a ferry.

Regarding the three islands mentioned, Milos is quite large, Sifnos is great for hiking, and Naxos is also fairly big. We usually go to Serifos (half an hour from Sifnos), among other places. The beaches are nice, not too crowded, and no cruise ships. Of course, there are big ferries arriving from Piraeus and other islands, but it doesn’t get too busy when passengers disembark. You can also go hiking there.

Catherine

Hi there,

The first week isn’t coherent with itineraries in both the north and south, and it’s very packed. Meteora requires at least 2 days because the monasteries aren’t all open on the same day. Athens needs 2-3 days for your program, and Nafplio + Mycenae + Epidaurus is also 3 days. Delphi takes a full day to visit.

If you’re visiting an island, plan to do it early in your stay to avoid ferry delays or other unforeseen issues. Save Athens for last. Be careful with car rentals—many agencies don’t allow ferry crossings, so coordinate your rental accordingly...

You can check out our travel journal in Greece, where we visited Athens, Corinth, Nafplio, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Mystras, Olympia, Lefkada, Meteora, and Delphi.

And our budget page if you want to plan your expenses.

Thanks so much! I’ll check out your travel journal.

Thanks so much! We’ll actually be sticking to Nafplio and Delphi, and Meteora will have to wait for next time

Thanks so much! Your travel journal is helping me fine-tune my plans. We’ll start with 2-3 days in Athens, then head to Nafplio for 4 days. We’re still deciding whether to spend a night in Olympia or not. We’re also hesitating over which island to choose: Paros, Naxos, or Sifnos

Your travel journal about Greece is amaziiiiing! I’ll be taking lots of tips from it. Too bad you didn’t do the Cyclades. Thanks again for sharing your adventures like this

Good evening,

As mentioned, your itinerary is too packed for the first week. In Greece, we don’t measure distances in kilometers but in time. Rule out Meteora right away—it’s too far, so you’d lose too much time traveling back and forth. And in June (peak season), the site will be swamped with hundreds of tourist buses. Delphi is also in the opposite direction from the Argolid and will take you at least two days, including the Byzantine monastery of Ossios Loukas.

In Corinth, there’s more than just the canal, which will only take about fifteen minutes for a photo. There’s also ancient Corinth and its lovely Temple of Apollo. You can also head up to Acrocorinth for a stunning view of the gulf.

As for finding a Cycladic island that’s "still a little authentic", "especially without tourists", and "well-served by ferries"—you might as well look for a five-legged sheep, even in June. In any case, avoid the islands you mentioned, which are very popular, except maybe Sifnos, which is beautiful.

I suggest a well-connected island, just two hours from Rafina, that’s managed to keep its charm: Tinos. The advantage of Rafina is that the port is very close to the airport.

It’s up to you to make your choices.

If you decide on Naxos, I invite you to check out my travel journal. We were there off-season, so the beaches—mostly on the southwest side of the island—were empty, not to say deserted, which definitely won’t be the case in June. On the other hand, the interior of this large island is perfect for some amazing hikes or scenic drives.

https://www.myatlas.com/H%C3%A9rodote/des-cyclades-au-dodecanese/t/1155130

I have to admit that Tinos really inspires me and might be just what we're looking for. The port of Rafina is also interesting and could be more convenient than Piraeus. Do you think we can get around Tinos by scooter and explore the whole island, or is a car the better option?

Hi there,

Yes, a scooter is totally doable. The port of Rafina is more convenient if you're heading straight from the airport. If you're leaving from central Athens, Piraeus is still more convenient since you can get there by metro in about 20 minutes.

Hi there!

The advice you’ve been given so far is great.

I’m not sure I’d recommend an island like Naxos if you’re only visiting one. I don’t know Tinos, but after looking into it, I think it’s a really good choice.

I *loved* Milos and really like Paros. That said, Paros is overcrowded and has a lot of nightlife—you’ve got to be into that. It’s also becoming a mini-Mykonos, with rising prices and a changing crowd.

Milos is the favorite island for couples. It’s peaceful, beautiful, and quite natural, with truly typical landscapes. I didn’t love it as much for swimming, though—it’s more for relaxation!

In short, Tinos seems great, but I don’t think Naxos is worth it.

And as mentioned before, reversing the order is a good idea. The stress of rushing back to catch your flight—whether due to ferry delays/cancellations or rough seas making you seasick before flying—isn’t fun. Doing it the other way around gives you more peace of mind! :)

Hi Anna,

It’s not just Milos that’s the favorite island for couples—there are hundreds of islands in Greece, so I don’t think you’ve visited them all yet! :-) And it’s not just the Cyclades, either; there are plenty of other lesser-known islands that are worth the detour. Generally, the less well-known an island is, the harder it is to reach—no airport, for example, and more than 8 hours by boat from Piraeus or another Greek port—and the quieter it’ll be. But even in the Cyclades, some islands closer to the mainland, like Kea, Kythnos, or Andros, are less touristy and really lovely.

Hi there,

I don’t think I implied in my post that Milos is the only island for couples in Greece. I was responding to the original question about Milos, Sifnos, Naxos, and then Paros. If my reply came across that way despite my intentions, I’m sorry, and I confirm that’s definitely not the case!

I even backed up your suggestion about Tinos, haha!

Obviously, I don’t know all the Cyclades islands. I’ve only been there with Greek friends and locals who themselves don’t know all the islands, and I just follow their advice and my budget as a young traveler (Paros was still affordable two years ago…). That’s exactly why I only gave my opinion on the islands I know :)

As you said, there are less accessible and less crowded islands that are just as beautiful. It depends on how much effort we’re willing to put into getting there! But the cheaper islands that are easily accessible inevitably see an increase in visitors every year because we’re all searching for those “lesser-known” islands. And I just want to warn people that the prices on these islands are rising every year to avoid disappointment.

Thanks for correcting my post—it might have sounded different from what I intended (maybe I should avoid replying when I’m half-asleep, haha).

Hi there,

Tinos is an excellent island choice. It’s a beautiful island with plenty to discover. Gorgeous landscapes, great food (including delicious honey). Great choice!

Yeah, unfortunately, the more famous a place gets, the more it pops up on Instagram, and the more people want to go there.

Naturally, that drives prices up and increases the number of tourists! And honestly, prices have really skyrocketed over the past two years :(

Yes, unfortunately, the more famous a place gets, the more it shows up on Instagram, and the more people want to go.

Naturally, that drives prices up and increases the number of tourists! And prices have really skyrocketed over the past two years :(

I’m torn between thinking: that’s a good thing. Corsica manages to limit tourist crowds thanks to its prices. It might be even worse (and ecologically disastrous) if it were cheaper. Plus, it brings more money into local economies.

But at the same time, it’s awful for locals whose cost of living is no longer reflected in those prices...