Greece
 

Headed to Europe for the first time over Labor Day. We leave from Athens on a cruise to the following ports: Ports: Athens (Piraeus), Greece | Mykonos, Greece | Kusadasi, Turkey (for Ephesus) | Santorini, Greece | Naples, Italy (for Capri & Pompeii) | Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

We will be in Athens for about 3 days before the we depart. Any specific recommendations for Athens? Any must do activities in any of the ports?

Unfortunately we will have to leave straight from the ship to the airport when we get to Rome.

Thanks

Sounds like you are going to have a good time, a very good time.

Just a rumor I heard when I was planning to fly into Athens: You have to reserve a cab 24 hrs. in advance? Dunno if it's true.

I had planned to rent a car and drive to Croatia, but ending up renting in Venice instead.......Sounds like a great cruise...

I can recommend side trip to Cape Sounion, south of Athens. Very romantic, far away from the big city and great vistas of the sea and a well preserved Posidon temple on the southern tip of Attica:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1374737120.jpg

You can get a regular service bus from Athens down to Cape Sumion-aim to be there during sunset for what Americans call a photo oppurtunity.
Santorini is very steeply hilly so hope you are fit

I did a similar trip a few years ago only I booked different ferries to go from one port to the next and could stay a few days at each destination. Since you only have a few hours at each place I would suggest to focus on 1-2 things at each place:

- Athens: Do visit the Acropolis. It is a nice climb and the place is just unbelievable. then you can walk around the traditional Plaka neighbourhood at the feet of the Acropolis and enjoy the Greek restaurants and scenic area

- Mykonos: Walk around the port and visit the souvenir shops and Greek restaurants. There are more counterfeit goods in those shops than in Canal Street in NYC. If you want to go to the beach take a cab to Paradise Beach to watch drunken italians partying hard. Fun to see

- Santorini: See the volcanic area from Fira and, if possible, the sunset (together with half the tourists in the island). For a local attraction you may want to take the donkey to climb the path from the harbour to the city. Also there are boat trips to the volcanic areas including a suset cruise

- Naples: Either Capri or Pompeii are great day trips. If you have to choose I'd do Pompeii since Capri is very similar to the Greek islands you have already visited and Pompeii is an opportunity to walk around a Roman city as it was in Roman times, simply amazing. You do not need to see Naples itself except maybe for the castle near the harbour

- Rome: To many things to see, too little time. Colosseum, Roman forum, Vatican city (no shorts allowed inside St. Peter's), Pantheon, Fontana di Trevi, Spanish Steps (the ones in rodeo Drive are a copy of these). Just walk around and enjoy the view (and the food!!!)

If you want to discuss your plans send me a PM and I will give you more details.

And Ephesus . . . . Unfortunately, the buses from the cruise ships all arrive at the same time (around 10am) at the upper lot & disgorge the horde. Yes, that is a solid mass of people all of the way down to the library.

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We arrived at 9am before the cruise bus arrival & we had the site & the theater to ourselves . . . The acoustics were so good that I could talk to my wife below in a normal voice.

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Do pay extra & see the Terraced houses - the shed-like structure on the left in the 1st photo.

Ian

the museum in town(in Ephesus) is less busy.
small museum, but worth it.
stay away from carpet shops.

All very true - especially the carpet shop advice. :D

Btw the best restaurant we found in the town beside Ephesus (Selçuk) was the Edjer Restaurant. Say hello to Hassan (the son who will serve you), sit outside for lunch & watch the storks nesting on the aqueduct ruins.

Ian

That was exactly my experience at Mykonos and Santorini. We could tell when a cruise ship had arrived and when it was departing just by looking at how many people were crowding the streets...

Great advice so far.

Crowds like that are the one thing I'm not looking forward to about the cruise. We are on Princess at least so hopefully it will be a bit more upscale.

Any other specific Athens tips?

I never took a cruise. But the cruise bus crowds would scare me away. Is there anyway you could get of the boat as early as possible and get a taxi to the shore sites? Then you might have a jump on the bus crowds.

I am interested as well.

I just booked Athens for a couple - Crete for 7 nights (several places - with car) - ferry to Santorini (Imerovigli - which I hope will be tamer than Fira or Oia)-Athens for another - for next June.

Ian

Of course, you have to take the Acropolis trip. But there is also a day tour possible to Salamis island, off Piraeus, Athens. A quaint island, famous for the ancient greek battle of Salamis. But then, you will see other greek islands later. I would stick with Athens since you have only 3 days there.

Don't fret Fira even in the middle of summer. For the sunset all the tourists seem to evacuate to Oia to see the sunset. It is supposedly the thing to do. I staid back in Fira, located a beautiful terrace bar overlooking the caldera with the smoking volcano center islands in a distance and the beautiful sea way down below. Very quiet, away from the tourist crowds on the rim, with very tasteful jazz music in the background. And the terrace was practically empty with only a couple of other parties there. I spent almost 3 hours there, just enjoying the scene. I will never forget it. But that was in 1996. I don't know whether that scene has changed dramatically.

All the travel forums tell the same tale. And I have seen it in person. Every site in the Med that is within 1 hour of a cruise ship port, is inundated from 10am until around 4pm. As an independent traveler, you just have to work around this or dive into the fray. Just follow the umbrella . . .

Por: Santorini I have covered. I blew our usual budget & bought this view for 4 days:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1374880138.jpg

Ian

All good suggestions

In general the Greeks are friendly and generous although some Taxi drivers are dishonest so use caution.
The Gypsies, Albanians and African immigrants have a reputation for being thieves. The fake designer label stuff they sell is rubbish.
I'm sure they're not all bad but again just be aware.

And like always be careful when travelling overseas. Don't wear flashy jewellery and only have enough money in your wallet for that day. (the hotel safe is a good place to store valuables)

The Trannys come out at night and they are a site to behold. (Think Greek men dressed as women :eek::eek::eek:)

If you get in trouble, the cops will help although they may be further motived with a small bribe.

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The newish subway in Athens is interesting. You can see parts of the "old city" through glass walls. When it was excavated a lot was discovered and preserved.
Of course the Acropolis and surrounding area is certainly worth a look but there are many ancient sites throughout the city. It's also a great place to just walk around but not alone.

Zakynthos Greece

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1375178543.jpg

In Athens, the public transportation system is pretty good. There's a line from the port into town and another one from the airport that takes you right to Syntagma Square, the city's central square. No need for a taxi, in my view.

In Santorini, right, the town ebbs and flows with tourists from the ships that call there. We stayed three nights at a hotel called the Homeric Poem, had a view of the caldera, and its sunsets, to die for, and had a great time exploring the town before and after the cruise ships.

You might want to consider renting a scooter to explore Santorini. That's fun. Also, the shops in Santorini, and everywhere else, are filled with almost identical tourist junk. Except for one place. Try to find a shop called the Handy Jewelry Studio on kind of a back street behind the old covent right in the middle of Santorini, kind of to the left on the main pedestrian walkway as you come up from the ships. Beautiful stuff at reasonable prices and a very interesting and personable artist.

If you're a glutton for punishment, you can read a good deal more about this on my blog, The California Files, here:

The California Files: Greece, Part Four

Greek public transport.......
The worst place to be standing at a bus stop is where the bus door comes to a halt and I was young and strong... that was 40 years ago & I doubt it has improved.