Continuing Greece trip preparations: the itinerary

Hi Béatrice,

Olympia is really far from Nafplio. You won’t be able to leave in the morning and return in the evening—you’ll need to stay overnight in Olympia. 7 or 8 nights on Milos might be a bit much. Consider heading to Kimolos, which is right next door, or Sifnos instead.

You *can* fly back from Milos—there’s only one airline that operates the route, so you don’t have much choice. But make sure you leave enough time between your flight from Milos and your return flight to France. The best option is to book the entire Milos-to-France ticket via Athens with Aegean. That way, you’ll be fully covered if there are any issues, and your luggage will be checked through. That won’t be the case if you book the Milos-Athens and Athens-France flights separately.

Elenitsa

Good evening

You can skip Olympia, and your route is perfect as it is. It’s too much driving just to spend a single day there. Alternatively, if you really want to visit Olympia and also want to include an island, you’ve got Lefkada, Zakynthos, or Kefalonia, which are "in the direction of Olympia." We managed to visit Lefkada because the island is easily accessible by car without needing a ferry. And we loved it—there are plenty of activities to do and some beautiful beaches.

I’ve detailed my trip to Lefkada at this link if you’d like to get some ideas.

Hi there,

Then heading off for 7/8 nights in Milos (so hard to choose an island). I’m thinking of flying from Athens with Olympic Air.

For 7 or 8 nights, I’d lean more toward the ferry than the plane. They’re a big part of the Greek travel experience. Like Elenitsa said: allow plenty of time to get back to Athens.

Catherine

Hi there,

If you're really set on Olympia (which I totally get), I’d give you the same advice as Elenitsa: spend a night there before heading back to Athens. Plus, depending on your schedule, it’ll let you visit the site either first thing in the morning or at the end of the day, so you can avoid the crowds of tourists who arrive by boat.

Hi everyone, Thanks to all of you for your replies—they’ve helped us fine-tune our upcoming trip: - 1 night in Olympia - 3 in Nafplio - 3 in Athens - 7 nights in Milos so we can spend a day on other islands - 1 night near Athens airport before flying back to France Flight with VOLOTEA from Bilbao I still need to look for accommodations on Booking (hotels with breakfast, free cancellation, and a kitchenette) and plan the activities. Is the Monastiraki neighborhood a good place to stay in Athens, close to the sights? Is it possible to spend a day in Santorini from Milos? I can’t find ferry schedules yet, but I guess it’s too early? Thanks for everything

Hi,

Is the Monastiraki neighborhood a good place to stay in Athens, close to the sights?

It’s very central. As for “good,” it depends on what you’re looking for. It’s a pretty touristy area, quite similar to Plaka. It’s convenient if you need to catch a ferry at Piraeus, since there’s a metro station on the direct line.

Catherine

Thanks so much for your reply! Do you have any suggestions for neighborhoods to stay in Athens that are close to the sights?

Hi there,

In Olympia, we rented virtual reality glasses (from olympiabackintime, in town) and really enjoyed them during our visit to the site. We got one pair for two people, so the 3 hours we had were a bit tight since we had to share the glasses each time. I have no affiliation with this company ;) but I found the info by browsing online and thought it was a great tip.

Hi Béatrice,

Thank you so much for your reply. Do you have any ideas for neighborhoods to stay in Athens that are close to the sights?

It really depends on what kind of vibe you like and what you mean by "close to the sights" [;)] When I go to Athens, I stay in Exarchia, which I love for its alternative atmosphere (though you do have to put up with seeing police around to keep its less government-friendly residents in check). It’s near the university, close to the old archaeological museum, and about a 15/20-minute walk from Syntagma. Otherwise, for something much more upscale and also fairly central, there’s Kolonaki, at the foot of Lycabettus Hill. Or, if you want to be really close to the Acropolis but away from the chaos of Plaka and Monastiraki, there are the two neighborhoods of Makrygianni and Koukaki. Personally, I find them a bit impersonal (that’s where my company puts me up for work trips—gorgeous hotels with terraces and Parthenon views).

Catherine

PS: If you’re tired of the chaos of the Greek capital, an interesting visit is the First Cemetery of Athens, a remarkable open-air museum of funerary sculpture in a leafy park.