AboutDenny Expertise Greece on a budget, The Islands, Mainland, Athens and its burbs. For the basics on getting around...maybe I can help...I go there yearly and you can`t be as cheap as me .
Experience Worked & lived in Athens area for 5 years. (78-83 Was AFRS Radio Announcer (Denny West)at the time. Last visit: Mar/Sep 2005. Last time in Europe, June
2008 (Spain & Germany).
Organizations Janesville Library (I have a card)
Publications Stars & Stripes
Education/Credentials I have a BS degree from UTSA, guess that means I can expound on just about anything ?
Awards and Honors USAF Broadcasting's 'Thomas Jefferson Award'
Past/Present Clients I am NOT a travel salesperson.
We (3 adults age 40) are planning to do Greece in 2010. We arrive in Athens 2010/06/20 @ 13h30. Our plans are to travel to Skopols, and do the Islands on that side (approx 4 nights). I could not find any flights from Skiathos / Volos, apparently Olympic Air closed down. Maybe another operator I don't know about? What would you suggest we do. Maybe stay over in Athens and only depart the next day or should we push it in the red and travel to Skiathos / Volos. Can you travel from one of these islands to Mykonos?
We plant to do the Island around Mykonos as well (5 nights). So far we have accommodation in Mykonos. I came across Aegean Air who have flights from Athens to Mykonos (a bit expensive if converted to my currency). Are there other operators? Or would you rather suggest a ferry from Athens to Mykonos. We fly out of Athens 2010/06/30.
If time permit, we would like to stay a day or two in Athens. Do not matter if it's in the beginning, middle or end of our visit.
Denny, I would appreciate ANY suggestions / ideas / advice from your side. I don't know the country therefore need a experts advice. Would like to minimize travel time and off course have to stick to a tight budget.
Thanks
Anton
Cape Town, South Africa
ANSWER: Yiasou Anton, Thanks for the question,
First let me give you a site to go to that should be great at helping you
with questions you may have about all-things-Greek (and expecially ATHENS)
= www.athensguide.com/practicalinfo =
Site is free and no logging in or other BS ... Just browse to the subject matter
you want and klik on it and browse ... Ferrys/bus/train/taxi transit schedules and costs
for anything going OUT of and INTO ATHENS.
Olympic airlines is in FLUX at the moment ... undergoing changes ... going to be called
Olympic Airways and under new management. Might be reason for 'phone' difficulties.
Should be cleared up soon.
I know that their is a flight or two a day out of the airport to Skiathos and other Sporades
islands but not much else. I advise people to go by BUS to VOLOS and then go from there
to Whichever island you are wanting to go to. There are several sailings per day.
The trip to VOLOS is about 4-hours on the BUS (see Athensguide site for info).
Price about 20-euro each way. Ferrys out of VOLOS are under 20 euro and length depends on
where you are headed ... (IE: SKOPOLOS [slow ferry] is 3.5 hours, costs about 18-euro, 2 per
day; NO reservation needed. Buy ticket at waterfront when you get there. FAST BOAT to SKOPOLOS:
cost is under 30-euro, takes less then 2-hours; and there are 3-per day. Reservation IS
needed ... www.hellenicseaways.gr is the site for tickets ahead of time. (Not my cup of
tea ...to expensive for the amount of time saved, reservations mean you 'GOT' to be there, assigned seat, not as roomy, and often can be a bumpy ride ...reserving on-line is not the
easiest or safest thing to do...but hey, up to you.)
There is NO regularly scheduled ferry out of the Sporades to Mykonos. Forget that ... AND
the plane too!
Return to Volos or Agio Kostantinos (a little PORT village to the south of Volos) get on
BUS at either location and return to Athens.
Try to get a lodging in downtown Athens as you can explore on foot to almost any of the sites
you wish to see. (ie: Acropolis, flea market, Hadrians Arch and Roman Ruins, Changing of
Guard in Syntagma platiea, even walkable to the base of Lycabbitos Hill to get on the Finicula
ride to the top for the view and coffee of icecream.
From Syntagma or Monastiraki you can also METRO to the PORT of Piraeus for 1-euro in 30-min.
Then FERRY out to Mykonos in 6-hours for 25-euro on the SLOW BOAT (car ferries)that leave in
the morning at 0725 (buy ticket at the port when you get there for about 25-euro) =OR= you
can reserve ahead of time =again= and take the FLYING DOLPHIN or CAT or HYDRAFOIL or SUPERFERRY
out to MYKONOS in 3-hours for between 38 & 48 euro. Once again, the site on 'ATHENS' will
have info on departure times etc in the FERRY SCHEDULE section.
Around MYKONOS by ferry ... NAXOS, PAROS, IOS and SANTORINI are the islands most traveled.
But palces like Tinos and Amorgos are very nice as well and less traveled.
NAXOS has great beache-villages on the far side...just a 30-min bus ride from the port...the
port is lined with souvineer shops ... get out of there ASAP!
PAROS has two ports...the main one which, if not waiting for a ferry someplace, is best seen
from a distance... NAOUSSA is the other port, and it is far more interesting with less of a
mad, chaotic scene. Kind of 'upscale' however.
IOS is splendid if you want to "Drink and party" ... if SO...YOU have come to the right place.
Gialos is the port, the Hora (city) is up on the top of a hill and then there is the BEACH!
median age of IOS during "the season" is about 20.
SANTORINI is for 30's on up, upscale and awesome...it is also another FAST BOAT reservation
from Mykonos. Ferry leaves about 2 in the afternoon, costs about 30-euro and takes about
2.5 hours to get there. From the arrival to the cliffs to the sunsets, the Akrotiri dig and
spas, the old village of THERA, Santorini IS the place to be. If you don't reserve you can
still get there on the slow boats but you will have to go by way of PAROS, then stay overnite
probably and continue on to Santorini (THIRA) the following day. = There is a chance you
can do it in one day however...but since you want to see PAROS anyway, why not go that route.
Cost for the 2-ferrys will be arout 30-euro altogether. 3-hours each.
Any island in Greece is just fine...some are more popular then others because of the 'nite-life'.
and the beaces (rock diving, snorkling opportunities etc) ... MYKONOS is all of that and more.
Santorini is it's beauty really, NAXOS is camping and great beaches, IOS is the drinking scene.
PAROS is the nite life and it is a HUB of ferry-boat activity with ferrys going to and coming from all over. HYDRA is for poets and writers, lots of religious happenings on TINOS...
But all the islands have wonderful tavernas, greek music, lots of beautiful beaches and
warm temperatures so you really can't go wrong whereever you elect to go. Sometimes LESS
can be more.
Three people can get by on 150-euro a day if you like to eat, drink and go to
clubs. If you want beach/bus and not much in way of food and drink (besides water) 3 can
get by for 50-euro a day. [Lodging extra.]
Calh taxiedi
Denny
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Denny / Yiasou Denny (Hope I got it right)
First of all I want to thank you for the time spend in compiling such a comprehensive reply much appreciated. If we can only meet you somewhere in Greece, I would like to show some South African appreciation for your kindness. SA wines are the best !!! (Dont know if your are a local)
I feel much better now with you involved planning our stunning Greece getaway!
Our itinerary is as follows:
2010/06/20. Arrive in Athen @ 13h30. Depart to Athens down town.
Suggestions on how to travel from Athens Airport to downtown Athens?
2010/06/21. Spend a day there doing what you suggested - Flea market, Hadrians Arch and Roman Ruins, Changing of Guard in Syntagma platiea, even walkable to the base of Lycabbitos Hill to get on the Finicula ride to the top for the view and coffee of icecream.
Will above mentioned excursions be open / accessible on a Monday?
What would be the must see / done excursions for one day?
Any suggestion on where we could overnight for mentioned two days in Athens down town?
Suggestion on how to return from downtown Athens to where we should take the bus to Agrio Kostantinos / Volos Shiathos?
2010/06/22. Travel form Athens to Agio Kostantinos or Volos to Skiathos.
Is this executable?
2010/06/23. Spend the day in Skiathos
Suggestions on where to overnight for mentioned two day in Skiathos?
What would be the must see / done excursions for one day?
2010/06/24. Depart from Skiathos (per ferry) to Skopolos.
2010/06/25. Spend the day in Skopolos
Any suggestion on where we could overnight for mentioned two days in Skopolos?
Suggestions in excursions / must dos for that day?
2010/06/26. Depart from Skopolos Skiathos Volos / Agio Kostantinos Athens Mykonos
Is this executable? We are prepared to spend a whole day in traveling from Skopolus to Mykonos because our accommodaton is set and we have 6 days / 7 nights available to spend in / around Mykomos.
So far this is it. Before I plan the rest of our Mykonos say, I would like to run the above mentioned by you.
Looking forward to your reply.
Calh taxiedi
Anton
ANSWER: Yiasou again Anton, = FOLLOW UP = 3
Be sure to use that site I gave you ...
www.athensguide.com/practicalinfo
as it will have alot of the answers you asked about.
THIS IS FOLLOW UP 3 ...
From SKOPOLOS you can (if you want to) by pass Skiathos and go directly to
Volos, Ag. Kostantinos, or Thessaloniki all in the same time and cost framework.
Then you can get to Athens. I would say the very best you can hope is to get to
Athens in the early afternoon. Or perhaps you could leave late in the day and
Get to Athens late in the evening and then go to PIRAEUS and wait the remainder
of the nite for the early morning ferrys (IE: 0725 to Mykonos)...25-euro about.
(a six hour trip).
BUT ... here is another hope at getting to MYKONOS the same day ... should you be able
to get the 0630 Ferry out of Skopolos (2-hours to VOLOS)...you could then add an hour
for transfer & wait time in Volos BUS STATION and then 4-hours on the bus to Athens.
Putting you into Athens with any luck at 1330-1400 hours.
Now, Anything going to MYKONOS from PIRAEUS after 1330 hours is RARE Sooooo,
You go to the OTHER port of Athens: "RAFINA". Take the BUS from the place you are dropped off
in Athens to the AIRPORT (3.2 euro), Then catch the ATHENS-AIRPORT / RAFINA BUS (every 40-min)
(3.2 euro) leaves from the ARRIVAL area where all the other buses are parked.
Takes about 40-min from Airport to Rafina and you should be able to easily make the FERRY for Mykonos in the late afternoon. These FERRYs leave anywhere between 1700 and 2000 daily.
(20-euro +) 4 hours +. Now the main problem you are going to have with this attempt at
Mykonos is that almost all the these RAFINA ferrys require RESERVATIONS, and for you
traveling at the busiest time of year to the busiest island (Mykonos), the chance of getting
one of those ferrys without a reservation is not likely. I would say the best thing to do
would be to go to a tour agency in Skopolos when you arrive and try to get one of those
ferrys at that time, as you will then have a day/date in mind.
(here are the names of 2 of the agencies that are very helpful: BUDGET TRAVEL: THALPOS
TRAVEL AGENCY (24240-22-947), help with everything from Transport to catching Octopi!
LEMONIS TRAVEL: (24270-22-363)great for those Ag. Kostantinos & Thessalonika ferrys.
location is along the waterfront.
Names of ferry companies out of RAFINA. SUPER FERRY II, THEOLOGOS P., PINELOPI A.
All of this information in in the site I mentioned above ... what was that site ????
= www.athensguide.com/practicalinfo (then go to the ferryschedule section)
Hope all this helps ... Who knows ... IF I am in Greece next June I may be able to
help you thru the rough parts ...
We had a few lovely days in Cape Town, 30 degrees. Summer has arrived. As I mentioned in my previous response, here comes the million questions. I know most probable all the answers will be on the website. I started reading up, however there is so much info, it will take time.
On our arrival, 2010/06/20, in Athens, we decided to take the bus (outside gate 4/5, arrival section) from the airport to Syntagma (X95). I have obtained accommodation @ Hotel Metropolis for 2 nights. Looks quite straight forward to get to the station to the hotel.
2010/06/21 Corinth / Korinthos by bus.
Do I have to take the bus (X95) from Syntagma to the airport and then to Kifissou st (Terminal A)?
Same route on our return? (Korinthos Airport Syntagma)
Do I understand you correct in saying that above mention excursion will take up the whole day?
What would you suggest we do / visit at night
You mentioned something about a flea market?
Is it safe to wonder around at night?
2010/06/22 Athens to Skiathos
Take bus (x95) from Syntagma to Airport to Liossion St (x93, terminal B). Is this correct?
Board bus (9h30, 11h00, 12h00) and travel to Volos. Will take 4.5 hours. (24.70 euro)
At Volos, we take a slow ferry to Skiathos.
2010/06/22 25
Important. Book ferry from Rafina Mykonos (2010/06/26) and Mykonos to Piraeus (2010/07/02). Any referrals to where we can do this?
We have decided to base ourselves @ Skiathos for the following 4 days. We will ferry to Skopolos and back
Accommodation so far @ Villa Maria
I have seemed to miss the schedule for ferrys departing from Volos to Skiathos as well as from Skiathos Skopolos. Please direct me to where they are.
2010/06/26 Skiathos to Mykonos
Take earliest ferry from Skiathos to Volos
Take the bus from Volos to Athens (4.5 hours, 24.70 euro)
Take bus from Liossion St (terminal B) where we were dropped off, to the Airport
Take the Athens Airport / Rafina bus departing from the arrival area (every 40 min)
Choose between the following two ferrys to go to Mykonos (Theologos, daily 17h30 or Superferry II, Saturday 16h00). Will take about 4 hours. Taking time into consideration, which one of the 2 should I pre-book?
2010/06/26 2010/07/01
Use Mykonos as a base and travel amongst the islands. Still in planning stage.
2010/07/02
Mykonos to Piraeus Will probable have to make a booking due to time constraints
Piraeus Airport (bus X96), every 20 minutes
Depart from Athens Airport to Paris / Casablanca
How long do you think it will take to travel from Mykonos to Athens Airport?
Wow, what a moth full, hope I got it right. If you have any suggestions, please advise so.
General
I read a review somewhere and people were complaining of wasps? Any truth in this?
We will be making use of the bus service a lot, do you suggest we buy a weekly ticked for 10 euro? I presume train and busses can be taken during this week (Athens Volos Athens excluded).
I notised, slow ferry schedules are available on a weekly base. Can I presume the schedules are more or less the same each week with minor changes?
Looking forward to hear from you
A
Answer Yiasou Anton,
Well if I got this right your first achual Question
is about transport to & from Corinth.
If you are in ATHENS downtown area and want to get to that bus terminal 'A'
it would be out of the way and time consuming to go back to the airport.
etc etc ...
instead you can go to OMONIA Square (which is one stop on the metro
from Syntagma - or - you can walk it, it is about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile
on THE MAIN street from Syntagma.(just ask anyone "Signomi, Po eni Omonia,
para kalo?" [Excuse me, where is Omonia, please?]
OMONIA, at corner of ZINONAS & MENANDROU Streets. BUS 051, every 15-min.
1-euro. Takes you to 100-Kifissou st. (about 40-min). You can buy KTEL
BUS tickets in Omonia square at #2 Vilara St.
If you leave early in the morning you can get there and back and still see
the ancient sites of Corinth including the canal in 6 to 7 hours.
IE: Dept 0800, return by 1500.
FLEA MARKET in Athens is just a few min walk off Syntagma (the center of
it is MONASTIRAKI metro)...it is very safe and one of the premier places
to visit in Athens. It lies between the Acropolis and Syntagma/Omonia.
Good place to visit at nite!...'PSIRI' off of Monastiraki is another
nite time adventure. Also PANGRATI (however, Pangrati is not quite walking
distance as part of it is uphill), and a great place for the evening is
GLYFADA (the beach scene of Athens) You can get there by TRAM from
Syntagma. (sounds like you should get a 24-hour metro/bus/tram pass
available in Syntagma metro station for about 3 euro).
SAFETY FACTOR: Safer they most US cities after dark, thats for sure...
Don't know abour S.Africa. But I would say under normal conditions
"VERY SAFE".
From ATHENS Downtown...out of way to go to airport and then to
Terminal 'B' ... It would be more convenient to go to AMALIAS AVE
in front of the National Gardens. A short walk from Syntagma station.
Get the #024 BUS, 1-euro, every 20-min. OR if you happen to be closer
to OMONIA square, you can catch the same bus on PANAPISTIMIOU Street
in Omonia square. Take the #024 (about 40-min) to PRAKTORIA BUS STATION
(terminal "B").
Call the tourist office in VOLOS (24210-20-273) for departure TIMES
and prices to Skiathos. I am thinking that the NO RESERVE ferries
leave in morning and 'early afternoon' and that the FLYING DOLPHIN
(reservation needed) leaves in the late pm...after 1700.
MYKONOS TO PIRAEUS you should not need any referrals (however BLUE STAR FERRIES
#22890-28-240 is a good one).
RAFINA TO MYKONOS ... Referrals..BLUE STAR FERRIES: #22940-23-561,
Rafina Tours: #22-700' Hellas Flying Dolphin: #22-292.
Volos - Skiathos - Skopolos: Referrals: 22410-21-626. or www.hellenicseaways.gr
(these vessels leave thruout the day but I do not have the exact dept times.)
Rafina to Mykonos: Pre book the SUPERFERRY. Not nexessary to pre-book the other one.
(just BUY and BOARD).
Estimate travel time MYKONOS to ATHENS AIRPORT ... 7-hours on the slow
ferrys. 4:30 hours on the Flying Dolphin.
WASPS: Yes there are wasps or yellow jackets or just plane little bees
and they really enjoy joining you for breakfast or lunch in the outdoor
air. OK to shoo them but don't get them too pissed off.
BUS/TRAM/METRO passes ... Yes, I think you should, save you some headaches
later. Specially if you intend to use these methods of transport.
SCHEDULES = FERRYS 0ut of Athens ... YES, the schedules change very little from
week to week, especially true when you will be there = JUNE =
What is good on June 1st will be true also in July and August.
I would surely watch Euro changes ... usually the Euro drops a bit in the
winter months ... at the moment against the US-dollar it is VERY HIGH (Bad)
around 1.5 to 1. Those that were going to Greece in June of this year (2009)
got screwed if they did not buy lots of euros in January when the price was
1.25. So watch for changes against your currency in S. Africa.
