Best time and way to do Greece?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just did a family Greece trip in June with hs & college age kids. Who’s traveling in your group? While I loved Santorini, I wouldn’t stay there for half your nights unless you really want to relax and watch beautiful sunsets (and have a plentiful budget). We booked Aegean Air for island flights — pay a little more for flexible flights and it’s really easy to change online. 3 or 4 flights per day. Athens can easily be 1-2 full days. Delphi is a good day trip but we skipped it mostly because we did Santorini and Crete - and that was plenty and perfect.

PP here-- it is JUST the husband and I!!! That is part of why we are leaning towards a slower pace. Our 8 & 5 year old will be at home with grandparents. We did Italy like 7 years ago, and jumped around a lot, which was nice to see so much, but, left us kind of ragged by the end. There is so much to see in Greece, and it does pain me to devote our trip to just Santorini and Athens, but, we are hoping to restore/recharge a bit with this trip.

Then Santorini should be perfect for you to relax. Be sure to do the caldera hike and have lunch in Oia. In Athens, you can spend much of a day doing the Acropolis Tour and New Museum. There are so many cool neighborhoods and great food in Athens, I’d personally skip the full day that Delphi takes (I’m a minority — but so much ruins!). The changing of the guards was unexpectedly fun to see. (Especially if you’ve seen the change at Buckingham Palace).

PP here--thanks. Thoughts on where to stay in Santorini? Torn between securing a place with a view in Imerovigli or Oia, or, a place in Megalochori with no view, but, a rental car included and nice space and just counting on catching the views at dinner, etc.

I am still working on my itinerary but in my research, you have to stay on the Caldera with a view! Otherwise you could be anywhere. I found the best deals in iveromigli and it’s walking distance to Fira.

[Anonymous]

Following. I am torn about this.Want to do the Peloponesian Peninsula and Hydra per Rick Steves OR two islands. Can't really do both over 10-12 days. One DC blogger mom just got back from Naxos and Paros (after Athens). Gorgeous. For advance 'study', FYI National Geographic has a Greek mythology podcast for kids that's very popular.

[Anonymous]

We went in May several years and it was lovely. We did Athens, Crete, and Santorini. Highly recommend Crete. It is such a neat island. Chania was ruled by both the Venetians and the Ottomans so it has this interesting christian/muslim crossover to its history. The city itself feels like old Europe and it's just gorgeous. You can drive around the island of Crete and explore its beaches and olive groves. Crete feels more off the beaten path and not as overrun with tourists. Santorini is the opposite--full of cruise ship tourists and the like, but still beautiful and worth visiting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just did a family Greece trip in June with hs & college age kids. Who’s traveling in your group? While I loved Santorini, I wouldn’t stay there for half your nights unless you really want to relax and watch beautiful sunsets (and have a plentiful budget). We booked Aegean Air for island flights — pay a little more for flexible flights and it’s really easy to change online. 3 or 4 flights per day. Athens can easily be 1-2 full days. Delphi is a good day trip but we skipped it mostly because we did Santorini and Crete - and that was plenty and perfect.

PP here-- it is JUST the husband and I!!! That is part of why we are leaning towards a slower pace. Our 8 & 5 year old will be at home with grandparents. We did Italy like 7 years ago, and jumped around a lot, which was nice to see so much, but, left us kind of ragged by the end. There is so much to see in Greece, and it does pain me to devote our trip to just Santorini and Athens, but, we are hoping to restore/recharge a bit with this trip.

Then Santorini should be perfect for you to relax. Be sure to do the caldera hike and have lunch in Oia. In Athens, you can spend much of a day doing the Acropolis Tour and New Museum. There are so many cool neighborhoods and great food in Athens, I’d personally skip the full day that Delphi takes (I’m a minority — but so much ruins!). The changing of the guards was unexpectedly fun to see. (Especially if you’ve seen the change at Buckingham Palace).

PP here--thanks. Thoughts on where to stay in Santorini? Torn between securing a place with a view in Imerovigli or Oia, or, a place in Megalochori with no view, but, a rental car included and nice space and just counting on catching the views at dinner, etc.

I am still working on my itinerary but in my research, you have to stay on the Caldera with a view! Otherwise you could be anywhere. I found the best deals in iveromigli and it’s walking distance to Fira.

NP here. I second staying on the Caldera and securing a gorgeous view from your room. That Caldera view will stay with you forever and you'll want to look at it as much as you can.
We visited over 10 years ago and I still dream about it.

[Anonymous]

Ugh…..Santorini and Mykonos are just overrun with tourists. I’d avoid at all costs, especially during July and August.

[Anonymous]

Greece literally has hundreds of islands. Santorini is overrun with tourists and IG influencers now, and Mykonos is overrated. So many gorgeous islands -- Lesbos, Spetses, Corfu, Lefkada, Naxos, Zakynthos, Milos on and on. The Peloponnese has some of the most gorgeous beaches - look up Costa Navarino. You could also go north toward Thessaloniki and visit Halkidiki. Breathtaking

May and Sept. are lovely and less crowded, and less expensive but tough with kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just did a family Greece trip in June with hs & college age kids. Who’s traveling in your group? While I loved Santorini, I wouldn’t stay there for half your nights unless you really want to relax and watch beautiful sunsets (and have a plentiful budget). We booked Aegean Air for island flights — pay a little more for flexible flights and it’s really easy to change online. 3 or 4 flights per day. Athens can easily be 1-2 full days. Delphi is a good day trip but we skipped it mostly because we did Santorini and Crete - and that was plenty and perfect.

PP here-- it is JUST the husband and I!!! That is part of why we are leaning towards a slower pace. Our 8 & 5 year old will be at home with grandparents. We did Italy like 7 years ago, and jumped around a lot, which was nice to see so much, but, left us kind of ragged by the end. There is so much to see in Greece, and it does pain me to devote our trip to just Santorini and Athens, but, we are hoping to restore/recharge a bit with this trip.

Then Santorini should be perfect for you to relax. Be sure to do the caldera hike and have lunch in Oia. In Athens, you can spend much of a day doing the Acropolis Tour and New Museum. There are so many cool neighborhoods and great food in Athens, I’d personally skip the full day that Delphi takes (I’m a minority — but so much ruins!). The changing of the guards was unexpectedly fun to see. (Especially if you’ve seen the change at Buckingham Palace).

PP here--thanks. Thoughts on where to stay in Santorini? Torn between securing a place with a view in Imerovigli or Oia, or, a place in Megalochori with no view, but, a rental car included and nice space and just counting on catching the views at dinner, etc.

I would do almost anything for a view if “relaxing” is what I’m looking for. Also, we were just in Oia in June. We had a half day private tour. The tour guide took us to all the perfect instagram pic places in Oia and then basically said in one hour, , a cruise ship will disembark (on this beautiful tiny city carved in a caldera) and 4000 people will be walking these tiny sidewalks. It was shockingly unpleasant. I was desperate to visit Santorini, am so thankful to have experienced it, and sadly, don’t think we’ll ever be back. Not sure If other towns get the cruise ships too. We also did Crete and loved Chania - it seemed unspoiled and authentic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just did a family Greece trip in June with hs & college age kids. Who’s traveling in your group? While I loved Santorini, I wouldn’t stay there for half your nights unless you really want to relax and watch beautiful sunsets (and have a plentiful budget). We booked Aegean Air for island flights — pay a little more for flexible flights and it’s really easy to change online. 3 or 4 flights per day. Athens can easily be 1-2 full days. Delphi is a good day trip but we skipped it mostly because we did Santorini and Crete - and that was plenty and perfect.

PP here-- it is JUST the husband and I!!! That is part of why we are leaning towards a slower pace. Our 8 & 5 year old will be at home with grandparents. We did Italy like 7 years ago, and jumped around a lot, which was nice to see so much, but, left us kind of ragged by the end. There is so much to see in Greece, and it does pain me to devote our trip to just Santorini and Athens, but, we are hoping to restore/recharge a bit with this trip.

Then Santorini should be perfect for you to relax. Be sure to do the caldera hike and have lunch in Oia. In Athens, you can spend much of a day doing the Acropolis Tour and New Museum. There are so many cool neighborhoods and great food in Athens, I’d personally skip the full day that Delphi takes (I’m a minority — but so much ruins!). The changing of the guards was unexpectedly fun to see. (Especially if you’ve seen the change at Buckingham Palace).

PP here--thanks. Thoughts on where to stay in Santorini? Torn between securing a place with a view in Imerovigli or Oia, or, a place in Megalochori with no view, but, a rental car included and nice space and just counting on catching the views at dinner, etc.

I am still working on my itinerary but in my research, you have to stay on the Caldera with a view! Otherwise you could be anywhere. I found the best deals in iveromigli and it’s walking distance to Fira.

OP, not sure if you have kids, but we were just in Santorini and many hotels have rules that do not allow kids to stay there (on the caldera). Make sure you double check. We ran into two different families who had that problem.

[Anonymous]

Giving this a bump. Anyone go lately?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Giving this a bump. Anyone go lately?

We went in April last year. It was still hot and way too sunny when we climbed to the Parthenon, but other than that day at that place it was great weather.

Not a great time to swim in the ocean, but the ocean was beautiful to look at nevertheless.

[Anonymous]

We went in April (ten years ago though) and remember it being too cold to swim but everything was pretty to look at. Went to Athens, Santorini and Naxos ( really liked Naxos- especially for walking). Would probably recommend Early June with kids and September/early Oct no kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh…..Santorini and Mykonos are just overrun with tourists. I’d avoid at all costs, especially during July and August.

Those are where I went 15 years ago in mid September. Not too crowded!

[Anonymous]

PP here--thanks. Thoughts on where to stay in Santorini? Torn between securing a place with a view in Imerovigli or Oia, or, a place in Megalochori with no view, but, a rental car included and nice space and just counting on catching the views at dinner, etc.

NP. We stayed in Imerovigli and thought it was perfect. We had an amazing view at a fantastic hotel and were walking distance to plenty of restaurants.