visit greece in one week
It's interesting:"Look at them sitting there. If they were any happier we’d have to throw a net over them. And just look at that contented smile on Paul’s face. It’s that same look I’d see when I’d find him late at night in the kitchen finishing off the chocolate cake… or just having won a poker hand with a pair of threes. Until we met Linda, we thought you were bluffing, Paul. But you really are holding aces. Linda, he didn’t tell you that he was a diplomat or an oil magnate or some such thing, did he? Good, good, just checking."
Greece covers a massive area of land in the southern European Union and is a country rich in tradition and steeped in a deep history. That said, it is a perfect place for your next European adventure. Seeing Greece in a week requires advanced planning. In a perfect world, you’-d have unlimited time and unlimited access to this wonderful place, but one week is about all we have time for when it comes to a vacation. Here’-s spend a busy and fantastic week on mainland Greece. (This itinerary experiences only the land portion of Greece, leaving an island-hopping tour for your next Greek adventure.)
Instructions
1
Book hotels. The below itinerary puts you in many different cities, so you’-re going to need to book several hotels. Though it may be possible to find a hotel upon arrival, this is not recommended, as Greece is a busy tourist destination and many of the smaller towns have limited accommodations.
2
Rent a car. The below itinerary assumes you’-ll be doing your own driving. While booking whole-day excursions from your hotel is a possibility, it won’-t allow you the flexibility that driving yourself will. Also, excursions will always bring you back to Athens and this trip assumes that you’-ll be road tripping it the entire week. Driving in Greece isn’-t difficult, but make sure you know the basics behind the signs, as Greek is a relatively difficult language to understand. Also be sure that the company you rent from has a kiosk at the airport to make your pickup and transfer easy.
3
Arrive in Athens. Once you’-ve arrived and settled into your hotel, head to Syntagma Square and catch the changing of the guards. Then head over to the Plaka. The Plaka is a small area in the city center, home to shops and cafes. There are a ton of tourist-trap type shops selling cheap trinkets, but the handful of authentic sandal companies and clothing stores are worth the trip. Pull up a seat at an outdoor cafe and enjoy a Greek coffee, a thick and heavy drink appreciated by the locals.
4
Explore Athens. Athens is an amazing city, but if you hit the big monuments, you’-ll be okay just spending two days here. The Parthenon at the Acropolis is an obvious must see. Get there early to avoid the crowds and make sure to take a few of your guidebook pages along to get the full history behind this awesome monument. If you still have time in the morning, visit the Temple of Zeus, Lycabettus Hill and Panathenaic Stadium.
5
Head to the sea. In the afternoon, after you’-ve explored the Parthenon, head south to the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. Book an excursion through your hotel or take your rental car. If you drive, get a map and detailed instructions from your hotel. The Temple of Poseidon is home to the famous engraved signature of the poet Lord Byron and offers incredible views of the Aegean. Bring a picnic and stay for sunset before heading back to Athens.
6
Start your road trip. Get on the road and head toward Olympia. Olympia is about a 5-hour drive from Athens, but you'll want to stop several times along the way, so plan on arriving in Olympia around nightfall. Stop before crossing the Corinth Canal to see where the Ionian and Aegean Seas are joined by this long man-made structure. Once in Olympia, go to town and find a restaurant and try some ouzo, a traditional Greek liquor. Then head to bed early for a busy next day.
7
Visit Olympia. Olympia is a relatively small town, home to the original Olympic Stadium. The excavation site at Ancient Olympia has been remarkably excavated and offers a wonderful history of the old city and its rich past. Take your time, wonder around and don’-t forget to visit the museum.
8
Eat a gyro. If you’-re a fan of Greek food, than Greece will likely be your little bit of heaven. The food here is heavy and olive oil is as common as water, so don’-t be surprised if your stomach takes time adjusting, because once it does you’-ll be in Greek heaven. Taste the must-haves--black olives, feta cheese and olive oil--and don’-t be afraid to eat from the street vendors, who will offer the most authentic and delicious dishes in Greece.
9
Visit Nafpaktos. Between Olympia and Delphi, you’-ll cross the Rio-Antirio Bridge that brings you off of the Peloponnese Peninsula. The bridge was built for the 2004 Olympics and it may be worth your while to stop here to check out the 15-minute video and climb up to the bridge's site deck and check out the views. Once across the bridge, you’-ll happen into a little beach town called Nafpaktos, a Mediterranean gem. Park your car and head into the maze of tiny cobblestone streets and the long and beautiful beach front. Take your time here- shop, eat, relax and soak in a little moment of peace before continuing toward Delphi.
10
Visit Delphi. Delphi is one of the most magnificent excavation sites in all of Greece and sits high up in the mountains to offer you breathtaking views. Bring walking shoes as there is a bit of an uphill hike. Don’-t leave without checking out the museum.
11
Go further north toward the Monasteries at Meteroa. Meteora may arguably be the coolest place in Greece and should not, by any circumstances, be missed. Meteora is a community of monasteries in the mountains above Kalambaka and will set your mind ablaze. Meteora means “-floating in mid air”- and that’-s exactly what these monasteries are doing. Take a guided tour to get the full history behind these amazing structures and bring lots of extra film and batteries for all the pictures you’-re bound to take.
12
Drive back to Athens to catch your flight out. Kalambaka is between 3 and 4 hours from Athens (230 miles) depending on traffic, so give yourself adequate time and plan on the worst case scenario to avoid missing your flight.
Tips &- Warnings
Bring a long skirt for use in monasteries and churches. Most places will have some to borrow, but you’-ll never be sure how often they’-re washed and how many people have worn them.
As with any other travel, be aware of your surroundings and watch out for pickpockets.
Tags: your hotel, back Athens, below itinerary, from Athens, from your, from your hotel, full historySource: www.ehow.com
