Posts by Paul79

I’ve had my accommodation in Athens booked for ages... Before I left, everyone painted Greece as a tourist hell in July—crowded sites and unbearable heat. Honestly, we’ve been here for a week and I haven’t seen any crowds anywhere! The sites are far from overrun; we’ve never had to queue! As for the heat, sure, it’s hot, but we generally visit during the hottest hours, and it’s totally manageable—especially since it’s so easy to find shade 🙂

OK, got it—I’ll check that out... Thanks so much for the clear info.

Hi, I need to take a ferry to Sifnos on 17/07 at 7:15 AM, departing from Piraeus. I’ll be staying in Athens near Omonia station, and the metro goes directly to Piraeus. How early should I arrive at the port to make sure I don’t miss the ferry? Is the metro station far from the port? Are the signs to find the right ferry clear? I can’t figure out if the first metro is at 5:30 or 6:30 AM? Because if it’s 6:30, it’s a no-go—I’ll have to arrange a taxi or shuttle... I’m not sure how to handle this early ferry. Any advice would be super helpful! Thanks

You know, I’ve driven all across South America in a camper van, and they’re pretty familiar with tolls there too! But here’s the thing... whether you’re in France, Greece, Colombia, Indonesia, or the US, I don’t know any country where you’ve got 100% network coverage everywhere! And as for road signs... unfortunately, I’ve turned into a basic *Homo sapiens 2.0* from 2025 who does everything on their phone and has lost some of those simple instincts. Guess that’s just evolution, huh? 😕

Hi there,

Thanks for the feedback... I was talking about 4G because it’s enough for GPS, and in France, 5G is definitely not available everywhere yet!

We really have to face the facts... today, France is lagging behind the rest of Europe. 😎

But if I end up in the middle of nowhere with no signal to guide me, I’ll be complaining at you, Elenista! 😉[;]

Hi there,

I’m landing in Athens on Sunday, July 6th at 6:30 PM, picking up my rental car at the airport, and heading straight to Nafplio to spend the night.

Do I have enough time to get there and grab dinner? Until what time can I easily find places to eat without any issues?

Another question: I’m thinking of using Waze or Google Maps for directions. Is 4G coverage well-developed, or is it optimistic to count on having service along the way?

Thanks

Thanks so much for these tips. I don’t think I’ll be stacking up too many sites either... my daughters will be keen to do a bit of shopping! It seems there’s a nice market to check out—is it worth it?

Hi, Thanks, but I’ve already picked a campsite with a pool and slide in Kalambaka. In Kastraki, there’s no availability for accommodation with a pool at my dates—or at least not within a reasonable budget. I always try to have a beach or pool for after sightseeing... with temps hitting 30–40°C and two kids, it feels essential... Do we *have* to book the entries in advance?

Thanks Elenista!

For Meteora, I’m spending 2 nights there, so 1 full day to visit + a pool break in the mid-afternoon, and still time to visit more the next morning before heading to Athens... I’m thinking of visiting 2 or 3 monasteries, and I’ve heard there are caves too?

About the pass, I’m surprised the site still exists! My 13-year-old daughter won’t have to pay, right? Should I book just one ticket? Is there a site to book all the tickets for Athens in advance? I don’t want to end up in a massive queue or find everything sold out...

For the Cyclades, got it—I’ll book in advance...

Two more questions... Are 10-year-olds allowed to sit in the front seat of a car? Are the electrical outlets the same as in France?

Thanks! !

Hi there,

I’m spending 2 days in Athens in July with my two daughters, aged 10 and 13, during our Greek trip. I’ve seen there’s a multi-day pass for all the major sites in Athens. Is it worth it? I’d love to know if there are any must-see spots (we’ll obviously do the Acropolis, even if it seems like a hassle) and any places to avoid?

I’m also visiting Meteora for 1 to 2 days... which monasteries and caves should we prioritize?

Finally, a few days on Sifnos and Serifos. Should I book a car in advance, or is it easy and quick to rent one when we arrive by ferry?

Thanks for your tips! 😎

I need to book a ferry for my return from Sifnos the day before my flight back. I’ve booked accommodation at ARTEMI. I’m torn between: - a ferry arriving at 4 PM in Lavrio with a free shuttle to the airport from the port for 168 € (for 3 people) - a ferry arriving at 8 PM in Piraeus for 90 €. Is it worth just adding a taxi from the airport to Artemi, or is it better to take the cheaper option arriving in Piraeus and then a taxi from Piraeus to my accommodation? I’m also wondering if arriving at 8 PM the night before my departure is cutting it too close? If the ferry is delayed, can I take another one? My flight isn’t until 10 AM the next day, so I do have some time... Thanks for your advice

Hi there, I’m planning to wrap up my 3 weeks in Greece with 4 nights on Serifos before a final night in Athens. I’m torn between staying in Faros or near the port in Livadakia... or somewhere else! I’m looking for an authentic spot with a nice beach nearby but still with little restaurants, shops, etc. Something where my daughters and I can enjoy pleasant evenings with a bit of life around us! Any advice—or even a place to stay—that won’t break the bank, obviously! Thanks

Sorry if my reply seems a bit blunt, but I’m really looking for constructive criticism with alternative suggestions—without changing my whole itinerary...

Yes, it’s my first trip to Greece, but maybe my only one... I don’t know. I just know there are 200 countries in the world, and I don’t necessarily want to go back to the same place 10 times! And since I generally prefer Asia and Oceania, I might not return to Greece...

Thanks so much for all this info! Olympia seems like a stop my daughters will be excited about, especially just a year after the Paris Olympics! 😉 It’s a detour, but not a round trip since we’re heading to Delphi next... Speaking of which, is Delphi really worth it? I’m on the fence about Amorgos... It seems really crowded, but after watching *The Big Blue* 30 times in my youth, seeing that famous wreck is calling to me! 🙂 Is the island nice?

Awesome! Another great tip, thanks so much! What’s the best way to find accommodations... Airbnb? Booking?

Okay, so in the end, nothing in my itinerary works for you guys?

I know Greece is super touristy... I’ll just have to put up with the idiots who, like me, take their vacations in July because it’s school holidays! I’m not going to skip places just because there’s nothing to see under the pretext that there’s no one there...

My daughters and I have traveled some of the most remote places on the planet, and we love it, but we can’t always go to the other side of the world!

As for Santorini, the image is so well-known that we’d regret not seeing it. We’ll go there, take our photo like sheep, and leave... the most important thing is knowing what to expect, so we won’t be disappointed... it’ll be packed with tourists, we’ll laugh about it, and it won’t kill us. By the way, thanks to Elenista for the behind-the-scenes photos 😉 And thanks for the ferry schedule site—it’ll be super handy! !

Honestly, thank you so much for all this info!

I’ll take your advice and head straight to Nafplio—this way, we won’t have to change accommodations as often—and I’ll definitely skip Mystras. At some point, I know my girls will prefer hitting the beach or the pool over seeing more Greek columns! 😉 As for the islands, I was wondering if it’s realistic to go from Athens to Santorini for a visit and then head back to sleep on Folegandros? Do ferries run day and night? On that note, is there some kind of inter-island ferry pass system?

Hello, I’ll be in Greece with my two daughters, aged 10 and 13, from July 6th to 27th. I’ve planned a route that seems fairly coherent, but I’d love to hear your thoughts:

J1 – Arrive in Athens in the afternoon and head straight to Corinth for the night J2 – Relax (beach) and visit Corinth or nearby – night in Corinth J3 – Mycenae + Epidaurus + Nafplio – night in Nafplio J4 – Mystras + Olympia – night in Olympia J5 – Delphi – night in Delphi J6 – Meteora (monasteries and more) – night in Kalambaka J7 – Meteora (nature walk) – night in Athens J8 – Explore Athens – night in Athens J9 – Explore Athens – night in Athens J10 – Ferry to Santorini + visit – night in Santorini J11 – Amorgos or another island – night in Amorgos J12 – Amorgos or another island – night in Amorgos J13 – Amorgos or another island – night in Amorgos J14 – Naxos – night in Naxos J15 – Naxos – night in Naxos J16 – Naxos – night in Naxos J17 – Paros – night in Paros J18 – Paros – night in Paros J19 – Paros – night in Paros J20 – Paros – night in Paros J21 – Ferry from Paros to Athens (is this possible?) – night in Athens J22 – Departure late morning

I’d like to know if there’s a town in the Peloponnese where we can stay and visit everything from there—I’d prefer not to change hotels every night. Are there any stops I can skip? Any must-see additions? I’d love to find pools or beaches to cool off at the end of the day—with the heat and the kids, we’ll need to refresh after sightseeing! For the Cyclades, I’m thinking of spending just an afternoon and evening in Santorini before moving on. I’m looking for authentic, quiet, beautiful islands with few tourists and nice beaches. Should I book all our rooms before leaving, or can we improvise a little? Thanks for your tips!

I'm sure I'll start on the mainland and in Athens and finish up in the islands! It's clear that I'd rather end with some relaxation on the beach, peace, and nature after a bit of exploring for sightseeing... after the effort, the comfort! I can easily return to the mainland 24 or 48 hours before my return flight, depending on the schedule.

Hello,

Thanks so much for all this info! I hadn’t thought about starting in the Peloponnese and ending in Athens—that’s a great idea! But what would be the most logical first stop? Given that I’d really like to make it to Meteora, which I’m super excited to see...