WHERE?

WHEN?

I went in mid-April and the weather was perfect! I know you should avoid August because of the temperature and the crowd. The best months are April-May and September-October

WHAT TO PACK?

Good shoes
Sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen
A bag that closed well. Be aware of pickpockets
A reusable water bottle
A book, something to draw, anything to just chill if you want to take the time
Beach equipment: swimsuit, towel, if you have a wetsuit may be a good idea, snorkeling kit
I always recommend to take your running gear

TIPS:

Take some cash, a lot of places are only cash, some taxis do not accept cards, and for public transport, it’s easier
Outside of Athens, the best is to rent a car. Uber/taxis are an option but it is not that easy outside of the main cities.

WHAT TO DO?

Athens in 1-2 days:

Have a look at my blog article “A day in Athens”

1 hour car drive:

Lake Vouliagmeni:

For a relaxing day. The lake enjoys a delightful climate, with water temperatures ranging from 22°C to 29°C throughout the year. It is a bit expensive( €16 on weekdays, €19 on weekends) so I would say go to spend the day, read, swim, and relax. Ideally, avoid the weekend.

Temple of Poseidon:

Beautiful! I would go around lunchtime, have a bite, relax, and swim on Paralia Souniou, then have a coffee at the Naos Cafe. After this, enjoy the afternoon lights and the sunset at the temple. You can have a nice walk around with a lot of flowers once you enter the premises. Same, ideally avoid the weekend. To go there, you can grab a taxi (super expensive), a private tour (expensive), one of the bus options, or public transport (the last one leaves at 20h the temple so you might miss the sunset). Make sure to check the timetable. To book a cab once there is almost impossible.

The East Coast / 1-2 hours car drive:

Anavyssos

A beautiful walk along the coast and a gorgeous beach! I could not find the name but it is so peaceful and perfect for a swim! There is a panoramic view from the Agios Nikolaos Chapel.

I highly recommend staying at Lida Garden, it was so beautiful and peaceful and Penelope is just adorable.

THE Rhamnous Archaeological Site

What a beautiful spot! You can really feel the vibe of the ancient city, and the views are precious.

The Penteli Marble Quarry

Impressive! The marble of the Parthenon comes from there. A real jump in the history of the greek architecture.

SHINIAS Beach

A perfect spot to relax and swim all day. Have lunch, chill, and rent paddle boards at Moraitis Beach.

Trail from Farmamoo to Rapentosa

There was a special vibe during this hike. You feel like protected by the mountains, and the views are amazing. You also pass by a waterfall, such a peaceful spot. Then have lunch at Farmamoo, an adorable farm with animals and so many flowers!

The Ambracian Gulf / 3-4 hours drive North-West

With some friends, we went to the Ambracian Gulf, and it was gorgeous!

We stayed in the adorable village of Vonitsa, at the SeaFront Stone Suites. You have a lot of restaurants in the village or by the gulf, you have a beautiful Venetian Castle and you can rent boats to explore the gulf. We met with the iSea team for a boat tour to see dolphins, turtles, rays, Albatros, Cormoran, etc! Magical.

We also went for dinner to Preveza, and it was adorable! I would go to spend the day.

What about a yoga and hiking retreat?

Have a look at my blog article “Yoga and hiking retreat in Greece” with Nefeli Nine.

Other:

I did not have time but if I had added a few days more I would have headed to:

Meteroa: it looks magical
Mount Olympus National Park: what an iconic place and ideally you can climb it!
There are so many hiking options in the region! If you want more info, I recommend contacting Stephanie, she organizes Yoga and Hiking retreats but also private tours, including thinking ones!
Email: Steph@NefeliNine.com
Call: +30 697 418 4632
For sure: the islands. For 1-3 days, I am not sure you should add a flight, there are options accessible by ferry. The easiest one is Aegina, but if you have at least 2 full days, I would head to Hydra. You can also do island hopping for the day, but it’s expensive and intense.

Some nice spots to have food and chill:

Moraitis Beach: a perfect spot to chill on the beach, have good/healthy food, rent a paddle, etc
Farmamoo: what a peaceful space, PERFECT for children
Fish Tavern Sesi: the spot is great and they have veggie/vegan options. Please spare the poor calamari, shrimps, etc

If you are looking for someone to organize a private tour for you and your friends/family, reach out to Steph!
Email: Steph@NefeliNine.com
Call: +30 697 418 4632