Hi there. I want to find a bus route that goes from Istanbul to Athens. Rome 2 Rio says its a 15 hour trip, problem is it doesnt provide any further information on HOW to bloody do it.
All info would be helpful.
Thanks guys.
Imagine you've already seen the major sights. What's the one thing that would make you book another trip to Greece tomorrow? Not a landmark-just one experience, place, food or feeling.
Hi everyone!
My family and I are planning a trip to Greece from September 26th to October 4th. We will be flying in and out of Athens, and we are traveling with our 18-month-old toddler.
Since we are traveling with a young child, we want to keep things relatively slow and low-stress. We are looking to split our time between Athens and one nearby island that is easy to reach and navigate.
Here are our main constraints and questions:
No car rental: We will rely entirely on public transport, ferries, walking (with a stroller/carrier), and the occasional taxi. So, we need an island where the main town/beaches are easily accessible without a car.
Toddler-friendly: We’d love an island with sandy beaches, calm waters, and a stroller-friendly main town.
Swimming weather: Is the sea temperature still warm enough for swimming (and for a toddler) during late September/early October?
Island recommendations: Which island fits this description best? We were thinking about Aegina, Agistri, or maybe Poros/Hydra due to their proximity to Athens, but we are open to Cyclades like Naxos or Paros if the ferry ride isn't too brutal for a toddler.
Our rough idea:
2-3 days in Athens (mostly historical center, Plaka, Acropolis museum).
5-6 days on an island to relax and enjoy the beach.
Any itinerary suggestions, island recommendations, or general tips for navigating Athens and the islands with a stroller and a toddler would be highly appreciated!
Thank you so much!
Me (23m) and my gf(23f) have an opportunity to fly to Santorini for a week, from 14 of september.
We know there might be better options, but we came across this very cheap deal that includes flights and a 4-star hotel plus breakfast in Fira.
What we wanna ask is whether or not we would have fun for a full week there?
We like beaches very much and taking walks and trekking to find nice places in nature environment. Water sports are also something we would love doing if it exists there.
We love good food and the Greek culture too, but the question is whether there are enough things to do there for us to go through seven days.
it feels like every tiktok or video i see about what to do there has like "heres what to do 7 days there" and then continues to say only sunsets, cruise and walking to places with a view which is nice but isnt really something that can fill more then 2 days i mean
Me (23m) and my gf(23f) have an opportunity to fly to Santorini for a week, from 14 of september.
We know there might be better options, but we came across this very cheap deal that includes flights and a 4-star hotel plus breakfast in Fira.
What we wanna ask is whether or not we would have fun for a full week there?
We like beaches very much and taking walks and trekking to find nice places in nature environment. Water sports are also something we would love doing if it exists there.
We love good food and the Greek culture too, but the question is whether there are enough things to do there for us to go through seven days.
it feels like every tiktok or video i see about what to do there has like "heres what to do 7 days there" and then continues to say only sunsets, cruise and walking to places with a view which is nice but isnt really something that can fill more then 2 days i mean
19M from Netherlands I will spend 2 extra weeks in Greece after an international competition, im thinking to visit some of these places
Kalamata/Kyparissia, Neda Waterfalls, Polylimnio Waterfalls, Athens, Meteora/Kastraki, Ioannina, Zagori, Papigo/Aristi, Voidomatis River, Vikos Gorge,Mount Olympus
Also planning to meet new people,
How outgoing is the Greek people ?
And where can I find communities for hikes and some hostels or volunteer work, got any advice please?
My husband and I have booked Greece for August 2026 and we’ve currently got 11-16 in milos and 16-21 in Naxos, we’ve impulsively booked a hotel in Paros for 16-21 and now we’ve got to decide which to cancel. We’re 30&32 and it’ll be my husbands birthday while we’re there (also our 11th anniversary while in milos!) so it needs to be a memorable trip and special. We aren’t drinkers so nightlife isn’t a big thing for us. We like water sports, touristy things, good food (meat for my husband). Can anyone help a super indecisive person make a choice!? Thanks ☺️
I’ve stayed around Santorini a few times and wanted to mention Emporio for anyone planning a trip and looking for something different from Oia or Fira.
Emporio is on the south side of the island and one of the larger traditional villages. The highlight is the Kastelli — a medieval fortified village within the village, with maze-like alleyways, low arched passages, and houses built into each other as a defensive structure.
It has the same whitewashed aesthetic you’d expect from Santorini, but the layout and atmosphere feel far more raw and lived-in than the curated streets of Oia or Fira.
What I like about it:
*It feels more local and residential than Oia or Fira — actual people live here year-round.
*There are family-run cafes, bakeries, and tavernas scattered around the village, nothing fancy.
*Perissa Beach and Vlychada Beach are both a short drive or bus ride away.
*Bus connections are decent, so you can get around the island without renting a car.
*The hill above the village has old windmills, a hilltop church, and open views toward the southern coastline.
It’s not the place to stay if you want caldera views right outside your door, and nightlife is minimal compared to Fira. But if you want a quieter base and a more authentic side of Santorini, it’s worth considering.
Hi everyone!
I'm planning my first trip to Greece during the second half of September, and I'd love to get some advice from locals and people who have visited before.
I'm traveling on a pretty tight budget, so I'll mainly be relying on public transportation. My idea is to spend part of the trip exploring Athens and part relaxing at the beach, so I'm looking for recommendations on pretty much everything!
A few questions I have:
- Is public transport reliable and affordable for getting around Athens and reaching the beaches?
- I'm thinking of staying in Nea Smyrni, close to bus or tram stops, so I can easily reach both the city center and the coast. Does that sound like a good idea?
- Which beaches are the best to visit without renting a car? Also, I've heard that some beach bars offer free sunbeds and umbrellas if you buy food or drinks. Is that actually common, or is it more of a myth?
- What are the must-see attractions, and are there any hidden gems that tourists often miss?
- Any recommendations for affordable restaurants, cafés, bakeries, or street food?
- Are there any scams or tourist traps I should be aware of?
- Any other tips for saving money while still making the most of the trip?
I'd really appreciate any advice or personal experiences. Thanks in advance!
Planning a 1-week girls trip to Greece from 25 July to 1 August for 29-year-olds and would love recommendations.
We’re looking for a beautiful beaches and great nightlife - preferably until late as we like to go out.
Flying out from the UAE to Athens - we will need transport suggestions I.e ferry or by plane to the islands recommended.
We’ve already ruled out Mykonos, Paros, and Ios as we have been - Ios was lovely but the age bracket was too young for night life.
Open to itinerary suggestions!!! ☺️☺️☺️
Hola, estamos preparando una semana para visitar tres islas desdel 27 de julio al 5 de Agosto. Salimos de Atenas y regresamos el 5 de agosto. Queremos ir a Paros y Milos, y hacer una visita (máximo una noche) a Santorini. Somos 8 personas. Aprovecho para pedirles ayuda:
¿Qué logística de viaje recomiendan? Estamos abiertos a cambios de destino si es mejor.
Muchas gracias
Hi guys,
Im going to Santorini and will be staying in imerovigli in the first week of July.
Is it worth renting a car/quad bike for the travel? Or is the bus better due to its cheapness?
Thank you.
Kind regards
Hi there, i am travelling through greek islands at the moment, and now sitting at the beach, and noticing the americans are the loudest here. I even tested it in the water, like standing between two groups and even got nearer the greeks (with children) and even though let say 4 meter away from the greeks snd like 15 meter away from the americans, i could still hear the americans better. In the restaurant two rows behind me, i felt like sitting with them on the same table could follow the entire conversation (not on purpose). I mean you can easily distinguish the talking loud through the nose, dont know how to explain it differently 😅
Today on the beach next to us was a couple, and we were like, wow finally some quiet americans, but no, they were english. I mean even the italians were not that loud.
Why do americans have to be so loud? Dont you know about some privacy or normal speaking tone? 😅😂
I mean we all want to enjoy the vacation and get some rest. Dont understand me wrong, i know few americans, my basketball coach is american, nice and polite, but on the beach or in restaurants just so loud.
Hi everyone, I'll be in Athens from July 27 to August 1. I've already been here once, i visited the acropolis, museums etc. I really enjoy cultural, archeological and historical stuff, and i'm a student of cultural heritage in Venice. Since it will be my second time here, i was looking to do something different, so I'm open for suggestions. I'd really like to see a play, something that recalls historical accuracy, it would be awesome if it's in some archeological site. i would like to know if there are any lesser known archeological sites near Athens. I was planning to visit also the Saronic Islands, so if you have any suggestion on how to get there or where to buy ferry tickets without being scammed would be great!
In a nutshell, whatever suggestion you have about anything, please tell me!
(i'm gonna travel using public transport, but i'm open to rent a car for a few days if needed)
Landed in Athens at around 1230 pm. Took us 1hr and 5 mins for immigration.
Main information for the KTEL bus.
There's nothing written anywhere. After exiting arrivals look for ARRIVAL GATE 5. Exit from there. Cross two streets and take a right. Keep walking till you see the orange board for the bus stop.
Remember if you have big bags , bags are not allowed on the bus. You have to open the trunk below the bus by yourself. The storage space is very less. Only 3-4 big bags can come. So be first in placing your bags down. Bus timetables are not given. We got the bus at 14:00 hrs
With my girl insistent in bringing 4 wheel luggage (lol) - that make it difficult to visit the islands because of the size of her luggage, I’ve identified four hotels in Corfu to Athens to Thessaloniki to Halkidiki to Zakynthos as the places to consider
Since our trip in late July is 8 days, it appears to be best to stay in two cities, with tours from those cities
Athens to Corfu appears to have culture
Halkidiki appears to have some crime and dirtiness issues
Zakybthoa ans Thessaloniki appears to not as well known hence minimal crowds/expensive prices in pleased such as Santorini
Cinsidering staying in Athens first to go first and last to leave her large luggage to visit the islands
Looking forward to beautiful/romantic/isolated beaches, great cuisine, local vibe and historical culture
Thoughts
Can it be done without stressing out? Flying in and out of Athens. 2 adults/2 teens. Should we start with Delphi and end with Athens or Start with Athens and end with Nafplio? We also want to fit in a sunset at the Temple of Poseidon and swim at Lake Vouliagmeni. Planning to rent a car.