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d_kakavouli

Active member
I am trying to plan my trip to Greece, and I am curious if people can share their recent experiences. I am considering visiting these places when I do go:

1. Athens
2. Santorini
3. Milos (Saw some pics and the island seems enchanting!)
4. I am wondering if I should also include Mykonos or not?
5. Not sure if I should add another destination?

I should addd that I am planning on only spending about two weeks in Greece for this trip. My goal is to get a nice overview.
 
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I am trying to plan my trip to Greece, and I am curious if people can share their recent experiences. I am considering visiting these places when I do go:

1. Athens
2. Santorini
3. Milos (Saw some pics and the island seems enchanting!)
4. I am wondering if I should also include Mykonos or not?
5. Not sure if I should add another destination?

I should addd that I am planning on only spending about two weeks in Greece for this trip. My goal is to get a nice overview.
Three destinations in two weeks time, is plenty. I think that your first three choices are good. You don’t want to spend all of your time “in transit”; also taking into account your arrival and departure days.

I would choose either Santorini or Mykonos. They are beautiful, but very expensive and crowded. Mykonos has become more of a party place so your decision depends on what you’d most like to do. Milos will be “discovered” soon, but right now I would highly recommend it.

If you do decide to add a 4th place to get an overview, I would recommend looking at a different island group outside of the Cycladic Islands so that you can experience the distinct differences among the groups. For example, Corfu (Ionian Islands) has a totally different ambience, European/Venetian. To add more places though in different island groups, will surely necessitate domestic flights because ferry transfers take time and can be adversely affected by high seas.

If time really becomes an issue, you can always do the islands of Santorini and Milos, and allocate one day in Athens to a day trip (via hydrofoil) to one of the Saronic Gulf islands like Aegina or Hydra. Hope this helps!
 
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Three destinations in two weeks time, is plenty. I think that your first three choices are good. You don’t want to spend all of your time “in transit”; also taking into account your arrival and departure days.
That is a really good point! I have had trips where I tried to do too much, and right when I would get settled into a place, it's time to move on to the next place. It got exhausting and I felt like I was doing more traveling than experiencing. I would recommend if she wants to do all the destinations on the list, two weeks isn't enough time.
 
Thank you, all, for chiming in! I think I might eliminate Milos from the list. If I do that, do you think a week might be enough? Also, I think it does makes sense to eliminate either Santorini or Mykonos from the list. I can't really do a longer trip this time around, but I agree, I don't want to try to do too much. In looking at my original list, it does look like I'd be taking on a bit too much.
 
Based on what you’ve said and your time constraints, my personal opinion would be to visit Athens, Santorini and Milos (both in the same island group so that transportation via the Seajets will be easy) and skip Mykonos. I’d fly from Athens to Santorini, take a ferry to Milos and fly back to Athens a day before your international flight home. Milos has stunning beaches and is not quite yet on the Cycladic Islands mass tourism radar. That would be a very special two week Greek holiday. Be sure to read up on what is most special to see and do so that you can maximize your time in each place.
 
Greece is not all about islands, although in the summer you would not want to miss swimming in the sea. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling the mainland and seeing the countryside. It was beautiful, reminded me a lot of California countryside with much agriculture, (so many olive trees!) as well as mountains and sea to view. Athens, Delphi and Meteora were amazing to see and then to drive up into the little ski villages was a whole new take on the country. I always try to do 3 weeks so I can travel a bit and then spend a week on an island chilling. I would avoid places like Mykonos, beautiful to see but not what I go to Greece for. I've traveled the Ionian islands and the Sporades, opposite side of the mainland and they are all spectacular. Kalo taxidi.
 
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This is some great information - thank you - I think I may have been trying to do too much, and possibly not focusing on the right activities. You have given me a lot to think about! I love the idea of maybe staying in ONE spot. Seems like there's a lot to do in Athens and the surrounding area alone if it is a shorter trip? I think I need to really decide how long I can stay in Greece and go from there. I thought 2 weeks, but maybe not... I might want to stay longer.
 
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I am trying to plan my trip to Greece, and I am curious if people can share their recent experiences. I am considering visiting these places when I do go:

1. Athens
2. Santorini
3. Milos (Saw some pics and the island seems enchanting!)
4. I am wondering if I should also include Mykonos or not?
5. Not sure if I should add another destination?

I should addd that I am planning on only spending about two weeks in Greece for this trip. My goal is to get a nice overview.
I would really recommend to visit Mykonos too!
 

Is Greece easy to travel around without renting a car?

I’m trying to figure out whether it’s realistic to travel around Greece without renting a car. I’d prefer not to drive if I can avoid it, especially since I’m not familiar with the roads, parking, or driving customs there.

For those who have traveled around Greece using public transportation, how easy was it? I know there are buses, ferries, taxis, and domestic flights, but I’m wondering how practical they are once you get outside the main tourist areas. Did you ever feel limited by not having a car?

I’m also curious whether it makes sense to rely on public transportation for most of the trip and just rent a car for a day or two when needed. Are there certain types of places that are especially difficult to reach without one?

I’d love to hear from anyone who has done a Greece trip mostly or entirely without driving.

First Time Tips to Greece

I've been fortunate enough to visit Greece quite a few times over the years, and recently a friend asked me for advice before their very first trip. It surprised me how difficult it was to answer!

Once you've traveled somewhere often, you start taking a lot of things for granted. I'm not sure what the most helpful tips would be for someone experiencing Greece for the first time.

If you were helping a first-time visitor, what advice would you give? I'm thinking about practical things, cultural etiquette, transportation, money, restaurants, pacing an itinerary, or even little things you wish someone had told you before your first visit.

What are the biggest mistakes first-time visitors make, and what are some experiences you think every newcomer should have? I'd love to pass along some advice from people with firsthand experience.

Which Greek island feels the least touristy in the summer?

I know that July and August are busy almost everywhere in Greece, especially on the more famous islands, but I’m curious about places that still feel relatively local and relaxed even during peak season.

I’m not necessarily looking for somewhere completely empty. I’d just love an island where you can still find traditional villages, local tavernas, quieter beaches, and a slower pace without feeling like the entire island is built around tourism.

Have you visited an island in the summer that still felt authentic and not overly crowded? I’d especially be interested in places where locals still seem to set the rhythm of daily life rather than visitors.

Which island would you recommend, and what made it feel less touristy to you? Was it the beaches, villages, restaurants, fewer cruise ships, or just the overall atmosphere?

Best Way to Get a Car Service to JFK Airport Before a Flight to Greece?

Hi everyone, I'm flying out of JFK next month for a trip to Greece and trying to figure out the best way to get to the airport without the usual stress. My flight leaves early in the morning, and I don't want to deal with parking for two weeks or ask a family member to drive me at 4 a.m. I've been looking into booking a car service to JFK Airport instead of a rideshare, mainly because international flights need more buffer time, and I'd rather have a proper chauffeur waiting curbside than risk a driver cancelling at the last minute with all my luggage in tow. A friend of mine recently used Blue Nile Livery for a JFK run and said her chauffeur showed up early, helped load the bags, and tracked the flight the whole way, so she suggested I try them for this trip too.
I'm still trying to figure out whether it's worth booking the chauffeur service a few days in advance or if that's overkill for a domestic pickup, whether a sedan is fine or if an SUV is smarter given how much luggage most of us end up hauling back and forth to Greece, and if anyone has had a chauffeur reroute or adjust pickup timing because of a flight delay before an international departure. For those of you who fly out of JFK often for trips back to Greece, what's worked best for you, and is there a chauffeur service you'd genuinely recommend for an early morning run like this? Any tips appreciated!

A Greek Architect’s Guide to Choosing a Professional CT Limo Service

I’m originally from Greece and work as an architect, and due to a recent job rotation, I’ve relocated to Connecticut for corporate projects. Since I’m still getting familiar with the area, I’ve been researching reliable CT limo service options for business travel, airport transfers, and professional meetings. I’ve noticed there are several technical factors people often overlook, such as fleet maintenance standards, chauffeur training, proper licensing, insurance coverage, and real-time ride tracking, all of which seem important for safety and reliability. I came across Wood Black Car Service during my comparisons, which piqued my curiosity about how different companies manage their operations behind the scenes. For those who regularly use limousine services in Connecticut, what features or standards do you think matter most when choosing a truly professional provider?
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