Greece is such a small country -- its total area is about the state of Alabama's -- that you might think it's possible to see much of it in a relatively short visit. Not so. Its mountainous terrain makes distances deceptive. Many desirable destinations are located on islands, requiring many hours of travel back and forth. And so many destinations are desirable. But with special planning, you can get the most out of whatever limited time you have.
The itineraries laid out require from 8 to 16 days on the ground in Greece. (In addition, plan on spending the better part of a day to get to Greece and another day to return home.) The itineraries mix modes of transportation: You'll take buses, trains, cars, ships, and planes. Greek public transportation -- intercity buses and trains -- is now fairly comfortable and reliable. It's also a great way to meet locals. Schedules, however, often meet the needs of workers, not tourists. Although isolating, driving a car provides you with the greatest flexibility. Thousands of travelers choose this option, but make sure you feel comfortable driving a rented car in Greece.
When choosing your jaunt, you have to balance cost with time. Some islands are served only by ship; others, by ship and plane. Because these itineraries include islands, they work best in the summer, May through September. In the off season, the weather is not dependable, many hotels and restaurants close, and airline and ferry schedules to some of these places become extremely limited. The converse of that also applies: The closer to high season you intend to travel, the more imperative it is to make reservations in advance.
All of the itineraries end up in Athens and, in theory, you have 24 hours of leeway to allow for any unanticipated travel delays such as weather, accidents, or strikes. We must admit, though, that Greece keeps its own schedule. On any given day, a museum or archaeological site may be closed without notice. Call in advance to make sure that a destination will be open while you're traveling, and double-check your reservations, especially during special occasions such as Greek Easter week. We strongly advise you to avoid Greek Orthodox Easter; much of Greece shuts down and accommodations and transportation are on overload.
You can also sign up for one of the standard cruises that stop at several of the major islands and occasionally put into the mainland; as these last about 7 days, this would mean sailing off on your first day in Greece and then having only the last day for Athens. Another alternative is to sign up for one of the bus tours, from 3 to 7 days, that visit the major mainland sites. Use the itineraries below, though, if you want to set your own pace and choose what you see. Kalo taxidi (have a good trip)!
