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What is your favorite itinerary for a 1 week family trip to Greece?

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dubai_suzie

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If you were to plan the perfect vacation to Greece with kids, what would you recommend? I am looking for something exciting with lots of sightseeing and activities, and of course, the beach! I like to take my sons to some museums and cultural centres because I like to keep them educated and learning even while were traveling. That's actually one of the reasons why I like to visit Greece. So many of my friends like to stay pent up in resorts but I find that its too limiting and it ends up even being a little boring. So if anyone has advice for where I can go for a week with my sons I would really appreciate it!
 
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A week is not nearly enough time to do things in Greece. If I had to spend just 1 week in Greece then I think time would be best spent by staying in Athens and taking day trips to different cities, or going to Crete for a week.
 
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I agree with the previous comments. Spend your time in Athens and you can travel to many Greek islands close by from there or do day trips to sites such as Sounio, Delphi, Nafplio, etc. You can even stay in Athens close to the beach (eg Glyfada) and travel around using public transport. It's fun! The two best museums in Athens are the National Archaeological museum and the Acropolis museum. There is so much to see just in Athens and 1 week is not enough. In my first trip with my family I spent 3 days in Athens then a week in Santorini and a week in Mykonos. I regretted I did not have much time in Athens (I thought I wouldn't like it) that I went back again and again and stayed in Athens for weeks. So much to see and do and so many amazing suburbs, Plaka, Anafiotika, Monastiraki, Psirri, Exarcheia (my personal favourite), Koukaki, Gazi and each one with its own very distinctive character.
 
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Yeah, this seems like your best bet. I would recommend Hydra as a day trip from Athens. Its quiet and will be easy to get to with a bigger group/family.
 
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Hydra is a great suggestion! And just to get everyone in the mood, here is Anna Vissi's music video filmed in Hydra.

 
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You definitely can’t do justice to Crete in a week….and sadly, I would skip Mykonos just because it’s so over-run with the partying crowd. Santorini has astounding beauty, significant archeological digs, villages, and beaches, but for the day or two that you could stay, the airfare and accommodation would be exorbitant. Generally speaking, a week will not give you a lot of time to island-hop, even by plane. You have to consider the time needed to get back to Athens before your international flight.

I would agree with all of the suggestions above - focus on Athens for the museums previously mentioned (depending on your boys’ interest….the Hellenic Motor Museum is also fantastic) historic sites, churches, and outdoor cafe life in the various plateia. The Athens Riviera (from Palio Faliro - Sounion) has a good selection of beaches, cultural and recreational parks etc. We prefer to stay in the city, but the beaches are easily accessible by tram or taxi for a day trip.

In addition to Hydra, a shorter hydrofoil/ferry boat ride will take you to the island of Aegina, where many Greek people escape the summer heat of the city and where you’ll find markets, horse-drawn buggy rides, waterfront cafes, beaches, a museum, and the beautiful Temple of Aphaia.

At 8 years old, our daughter never forgot her first trip to Greece. I think it’s wonderful that you are taking your boys!
 
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Deborah said:
You definitely can’t do justice to Crete in a week….and sadly, I would skip Mykonos just because it’s so over-run with the partying crowd. Santorini has astounding beauty, significant archeological digs, villages, and beaches, but for the day or two that you could stay, the airfare and accommodation would be exorbitant. Generally speaking, a week will not give you a lot of time to island-hop, even by plane. You have to consider the time needed to get back to Athens before your international flight.

I would agree with all of the suggestions above - focus on Athens for the museums previously mentioned (depending on your boys’ interest….the Hellenic Motor Museum is also fantastic) historic sites, churches, and outdoor cafe life in the various plateia. The Athens Riviera (from Palio Faliro - Sounion) has a good selection of beaches, cultural and recreational parks etc. We prefer to stay in the city, but the beaches are easily accessible by tram or taxi for a day trip.

In addition to Hydra, a shorter hydrofoil/ferry boat ride will take you to the island of Aegina, where many Greek people escape the summer heat of the city and where you’ll find markets, horse-drawn buggy rides, waterfront cafes, beaches, a museum, and the beautiful Temple of Aphaia.

At 8 years old, our daughter never forgot her first trip to Greece. I think it’s wonderful that you are taking your boys!
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Good advice!... Definitely give Mykonos a miss!!?, although I lived a very big part of my life there....A week is too short !.. Distance travels are tiring, plan
meticulously!..
 
Hello! I would suggest a nice road trip of Arcadia. About 2 hours away from Athens, you can start with the ancient site of Mycenae, go to fortress town Nafplion, travel from there to the wonderful beaches and fishing villages of Kynouria, visit the traditional town of Leonidio, and in the summer attend the Melitzaz festival dedicated to the local eggplant. You can also visit Tripoli, Levidi, Vytina, Stemnitsa and Dimitsana if you're looking for a winter stay.
 
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Athens would be the easiest for sure. It does have everything you describe, tons of sites to see, area beaches. There's a nice mix of activities, too. There are museums, archaeological sites, shopping, great food... and the beaches aren't far from the center. That's a great place to start. There are also some more extended day trips one could take, like visiting Delphi.
 
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