Comments (8)

1. 

   Stefany says

   Should we book ferry tickets in advance for Santorini? How early should we arrive at the port (Piraeus?) before our ferry departs? We’re planning 3 or 4 nights in Athens before leaving. Is this too long? Lots of questions, thanks for your time.

   Stefany.

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     David says

     Hi Stefany. Whether to buy ferry tickets in advance depends on a couple of factors. 1. what time of year you’ll be traveling . The ferries (and the islands) are busiest in July and August. Ferries will never sell out outside of these two months. 2. What type of ferry you’re traveling on. The large conventional-looking ferries very rarely sell out and for all but the very busiest weekends you’ll be fine buying at the port just before you board. But the high speed catamarans and flying dolphins will occasionally be full and have no available tickets, so for these you should book at least a few days in advance. 3. Are you a walk-on or do you have a vehicle. If you’re traveling with a car you should always book in advance.

     Plan to arrive at the port about one hour or 90 minutes before your ferry will depart. If you’ll need to buy tickets add another hour onto that.

     1 or 2 days is usually enough for most travelers to see the highlights. But a traveler with a love of Greek history, food, or culture could easily fill 3 or 4 days. Athens is very hot in July and August so if you’re there during a heat wave you’ll be wishing you caught the first ferry out.

     Hope that helps. Good luck.

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2. 

   frank says

   What’s the best area of Athens to stay? We’d like a nice place but not spend a fortune. We’ll have 2 nights in Athens before taking a ferry to Mykonos. Should we stay near the ferry departure port? I’d like to eat some authentic Greek food, any suggestions?

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     David says

     The Plaka is the funnest area of Athens to stay in. It’s very close to the Acropolis and some of the other top attractions. If your stay is short it’s the best use of time. When looking for an authentic Greek restaurant wander away from the Plaka area towards the northwest (through the Psyrri neighborhood and beyond) and you’ll see a bunch of non-touristy eateries. Do not stay at the ferry port (Piraeus) as it has nothing of interest and is not an attractive area (unless you plan to leave from Rafina which is a nice little town). Good luck.

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3. 

   Fitzy says

   What are the differences between the different neighborhoods you mention in Athens? Syntagma, Omonia, Plaka. They all look very close on the map. Are they basically the same? Can I see the Archeological Museum and the Parthenon in one day?

   Thankyou.

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     David says

     They are close to each other (about a 10 or 12 minute walk apart) and form a off-kilter triangle. But they are very different. The Plaka is the center of the tourist district in Athens. It sits just below the Acropolis and has some sites of its own. It’s fun to walk around and is very pedestrian friendly. Syntagma is also touristy but in a functional way with restaurants, shops, pharmacies, money changers, and banks. Omonia is gritty and not very touristy though there are some budget and mid-range hotels scattered about it. All 3 have subway stops nearby.

     You can see the Archeological Museum and Parthenon in one day. Probably best to start with the Parthenon as it gets very hot on the Acropolis mid-day and afternoon. Get there as early as you can. The Acropolis opens at 8am and closes at 7pm. Try to get to the ticket booth 5 or 10 minutes before 8am. The Archeological Museum will likely see a slight lull in visitors in the afternoon, say between 2pm and 4pm, so that’s a good time to visit.

     Reply
4. 

   marwan k says

   hi david we are planning a trip to greece, we are 7 adults and 2 childern, can you please recommend an island that is chilled, friendly, with nice beaches and good night life? and of course not very expensive.

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     David says

     Hi Marwan. Naxos is one of my favorite Greek islands and it has a great mix of things to see and do, great beaches (that are very kid friendly), and interesting towns and villages to explore. It also has some good nightlife in the main town of Chora. (Not nightlife like Santorini or Mykonos but still pretty good.) Book early if you’re visiting in July and August. Good luck.

     Reply