Greece 2.0 revised September itinerary Crete/Nafplio/Athens
Apr 11th, 2023, 06:24 AM
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Greece 2.0 revised September itinerary Crete/Nafplio/Athens
We were able to use ff miles to book flight to Chania, arriving at 1:35pm on a Sunday, mid September. We leave from Athens 10 days later, on a Wednesday. Based on some input from earlier thread, this is the basic itinerary:
Crete - 5 nts
Napflio - 3 nts
Athens - 2 nts
I'm thinking in Crete, we spend 1st 3 nights in Chania, then change to another location(s). Definitely want to visit Knossos, and if we fly out of Heraklion (to Athens), we would probably stay in that area for the last night. I noticed there seems to be a decent bus system in Crete. Will we need a car or can we manage with the bus for some or all of the time? We are fine with driving and will definitely have a car when we fly to Athens to drive to Nafplio. Will return car back at airport before going to Athens hotel.
As far as hotels, I'm looking at Aetoma Hotel in Nafplio, any thoughts on this? Last time in Athens we stayed at InnAthens, which we really liked so will probably stay there again. While there last time, we never did get inside the church across the street (The Sotira Lykodimou Church, the largest surviving Byzantine church in Athens and supposedly quite beautiful). The one time it was open, we had just arrived and rushed off to lunch. Little did we know, that it would be locked every other time we checked. I still regret not peeking inside when we had the opportunity.
I'm thinking we'd like to stay near the old city when in Chania, but near parking if we're to have a car there (I see that it's pedestrian only in parts) . Any hotel recommendations? Apartments are fine, trying to keep night cost between $100-200. I'm a bang for the buck traveler but location, quiet and cleanliness are very important. Don't need beachfront, pool or breakfast (assuming cafes nearby). I am now researching exactly what day trips we'll do while in Crete. We don't plan on any long beach days, but would like to see some of the more picturesque ones. I love ruins and old towns with windy little streets and interesting architecture. We don't mind walking, as we are city people and walk all the time.
Crete - 5 nts
Napflio - 3 nts
Athens - 2 nts
I'm thinking in Crete, we spend 1st 3 nights in Chania, then change to another location(s). Definitely want to visit Knossos, and if we fly out of Heraklion (to Athens), we would probably stay in that area for the last night. I noticed there seems to be a decent bus system in Crete. Will we need a car or can we manage with the bus for some or all of the time? We are fine with driving and will definitely have a car when we fly to Athens to drive to Nafplio. Will return car back at airport before going to Athens hotel.
As far as hotels, I'm looking at Aetoma Hotel in Nafplio, any thoughts on this? Last time in Athens we stayed at InnAthens, which we really liked so will probably stay there again. While there last time, we never did get inside the church across the street (The Sotira Lykodimou Church, the largest surviving Byzantine church in Athens and supposedly quite beautiful). The one time it was open, we had just arrived and rushed off to lunch. Little did we know, that it would be locked every other time we checked. I still regret not peeking inside when we had the opportunity.
I'm thinking we'd like to stay near the old city when in Chania, but near parking if we're to have a car there (I see that it's pedestrian only in parts) . Any hotel recommendations? Apartments are fine, trying to keep night cost between $100-200. I'm a bang for the buck traveler but location, quiet and cleanliness are very important. Don't need beachfront, pool or breakfast (assuming cafes nearby). I am now researching exactly what day trips we'll do while in Crete. We don't plan on any long beach days, but would like to see some of the more picturesque ones. I love ruins and old towns with windy little streets and interesting architecture. We don't mind walking, as we are city people and walk all the time.
Apr 11th, 2023, 07:03 AM
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From Chania, you can do the following day trips by public transport (touristic lines):
Kissamos - Balos/Gramvousa boat
Kissamos - Falassarna
Kissamos - Elafonissi Beach
Samaria Gorge hike.
Buses from Chania to Rethymno - iraklio are very frequent.
If you are interested in History, Knossos and the archeological museum of Iraklio are musts. For more, go to Malia or Phaistos. The Minoan architecture in Crete is older than and very different from the classical Greek one. You will not see the same around Nafplio: Mycene, Epidavros, Tyrins, etc.
My preferred hotel at Chania is the Porto Veneziano.
BTW: Buses between Nafplio and Athens are very frequent. Bus X93 runs directly from the airport to the Peloponissos bus station from where Nafplio bound buses start. There are buses from Piraeus to the Peloponissos bus station too (bus 420), but as they start far away from the Crete ferry pier, it's easier to go from the latter by taxi directly to the Peloponissos bus station.
Kissamos - Balos/Gramvousa boat
Kissamos - Falassarna
Kissamos - Elafonissi Beach
Samaria Gorge hike.
Buses from Chania to Rethymno - iraklio are very frequent.
If you are interested in History, Knossos and the archeological museum of Iraklio are musts. For more, go to Malia or Phaistos. The Minoan architecture in Crete is older than and very different from the classical Greek one. You will not see the same around Nafplio: Mycene, Epidavros, Tyrins, etc.
My preferred hotel at Chania is the Porto Veneziano.
BTW: Buses between Nafplio and Athens are very frequent. Bus X93 runs directly from the airport to the Peloponissos bus station from where Nafplio bound buses start. There are buses from Piraeus to the Peloponissos bus station too (bus 420), but as they start far away from the Crete ferry pier, it's easier to go from the latter by taxi directly to the Peloponissos bus station.
Apr 11th, 2023, 08:50 AM
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Your itinerary is looking good.... and for CRETE, I think you might do well on public transit, or with just a one-day car rental.. For the short NAFPLIO visit, I think car rental will simplify things & enable seeing some key things without local-transit delays. But first things first:
CHANIA HOTELS -- Porto Veneziano is a well-reviewed modern hotel at the Eastern end of Old Town HArbour .. also think it has an elevator, important for some. I've really lilked staying on the no-cars flagstone lane just West ofthe Harbour, THeotokopoulu Street (see this map -- https://www.explorecrete.com/crete-m...chania-old.jpg) ... it's just a few yards up from the harbour view, but very serene at night. A place I really liked, right at the seaward end, is Hotel Palazzo https://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/palazzo-old-town-chania -- Sounds like a big hotel (and it is now owned by a group) but its really an updated beautiful Venetian mansion with 12 rooms; ask for a front-balcony room (it also has a roof terrace). A cute little place next door, https://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/her...ios.en-gb.html -- has just 3 units, also balconies w sea view.
CHANIA/AREA ACTIVITIES -- Exploring Old Town will take at least your first full day - here, thanks to Fodorite & ace photog "Stanbr" are pix of Chania & Western Crete delights -
CHANIA HOTELS -- Porto Veneziano is a well-reviewed modern hotel at the Eastern end of Old Town HArbour .. also think it has an elevator, important for some. I've really lilked staying on the no-cars flagstone lane just West ofthe Harbour, THeotokopoulu Street (see this map -- https://www.explorecrete.com/crete-m...chania-old.jpg) ... it's just a few yards up from the harbour view, but very serene at night. A place I really liked, right at the seaward end, is Hotel Palazzo https://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/palazzo-old-town-chania -- Sounds like a big hotel (and it is now owned by a group) but its really an updated beautiful Venetian mansion with 12 rooms; ask for a front-balcony room (it also has a roof terrace). A cute little place next door, https://www.booking.com/hotel/gr/her...ios.en-gb.html -- has just 3 units, also balconies w sea view.
CHANIA/AREA ACTIVITIES -- Exploring Old Town will take at least your first full day - here, thanks to Fodorite & ace photog "Stanbr" are pix of Chania & Western Crete delights -
REMAINING 2 DAYS -- Doing this by public transit would avoid the horrendous experience of traffic and confusing 1 way streets of Concrete Canyons of Heraklion/Iraklion. I'd suggest a noon bus (2 hrs)it runs all along North Coast, terminal right at Heraklion Port. Visible from there (a €6 taxi?) are some seafront Hotels, I recommend moderate HOTEL KRONOS; try to get seafront balcony. From there u can walk to ARc. Museum, w Stunning Treasures from Knossos -- really enables greater appreciation of the ruins. From Hotel, evening stroll out on Causeway to another FAB Fortezza, enjoy dinner at seafront; Ippocampus a great choice. For Knossos, key thing is to avoid cruise-ship crowds! Online links will show how many ships that day. Your best bet is to get there at opening time -- 8 or 8:30, or else after 2 pm, when cruise mobs are marched away. The local bus too Knossos is down by port, takes about 30 minutes. With prep, you can D-I-Y the site but licensed guides are by entry for hire. There are other overloooked highlights in Heraklion - these walks will lead you to some. https://www.heraklion.gr/en/visitor/walking-town I'm sure other Fodorites will have better ideas!
DEPARTURE DAY -- try for an early flight (& save money too!) to ATH - for a car rental & your NAFPLIO Adventure ... (to be continued)
