Greece - sites and 'road trip'

Atissue123 · 2023-04-15T20:40:56+00:00

Has anyone done a tour type thing of major sites in Greece with DC's? I am looking at doing this at May/June, DC's will be 11 and 8 and are both interested in the history of Greece / myths etc. Just wondering if anyone has done this sort of trip and could recommend where to visit. My initial idea was something like Athens - Thessalonki and stop at a few places on the way, finish with a couple of days on the coast. We have travelled a lot to Greece but usually to more beach / island destinations but as a child I travelled there a lot by car with my parents so I suppose i know it relatively well just not the best sites to head for on a trip like this.

Velvetbee · 15/04/2023 21:53

I went with college for Classical Civilisation A level. Delphi was really beautiful, covered in Spring flowers and Olympia was interesting.

Hobbesmanc · 16/04/2023 07:24

I'd deffo recommend the tombs at Vergina near Thessaloniki. It's an amazing museum with the preserved tombs of the family of Alexander the Great. Stunning artefacts. Also if you're feeling energetic,you can travel on to Mount Olympus. It's a fairly manageable trek through stunning scenery.

AnnaMagnani · 16/04/2023 09:13

We did Northern Greece and I'd suggest it has everything you want.

Started in Thessaloniki which is fab, then picked up a hire car. Would not recommend driving in Thessaloniki but everywhere else was fine. There has been a lot of EU money spent on roads and bridges following the Greek financial crisis and so driving was surprisingly easy.

Then road trip:
Tomb of Philip of Macedon in Vergina, absolute must do.
Historic sites at Dion and Pella - lots of original sites of myths, next to Mount Olympus
Museum at Larissa - really well done on the history of ancient Greece and absolutely nobody there
Across country to the monasteries at Meteora (you definitely need to be energetic for this!)
Into the mountains for Metsovo - warning, drive is 'scenic' by which I mean tortuous road up side of a cliff. We didn't get to see the view as we did the whole thing in thick fog, when the fog lifted we felt a bit sick.
Then back to Thessaloniki via the waterfall at Edessa

You are also very much in the footsteps of St Paul if this interests you, we came across a few American religious tour groups who were retracing his journeys.

Lots of opportunity for beach from Thessaloniki and boat trips to Mount Athos.

Didn't feel we had missed out by not going to Athens (DH has been before) but have earmarked it for another holiday.

There was so much history - ancient Greece, myths, Ottomans, early Christianity, it was just great. And the food was amazing.

princesspenny · 16/04/2023 09:23

You could base yourself near Thessaloniki and take trips west to the archaeological sites in Vergina and Pella , and east to Philippoi and Kavala.

Ancient Stageira near Olympiada is a stunning site and is on the way from Thessaloniki to Halkidiki - if you were planning some beach time it doesn't get better than Halkidiki

TreesAtSea · 16/04/2023 09:42

As an alternative to northern Greece, how about Athens followed by a trip round the Peloponnese? Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nafplio, Olympia. I'd also second PP suggestion of Delphi - absolutely beautiful.

WuTangGran · 16/04/2023 09:45

How about a few days in Athens then fly to Crete? Lots of stuff there to explore.

AnnaMagnani · 16/04/2023 09:47

TreesAtSea · 16/04/2023 09:42

As an alternative to northern Greece, how about Athens followed by a trip round the Peloponnese? Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Nafplio, Olympia. I'd also second PP suggestion of Delphi - absolutely beautiful.

That's the holiday we are planning now!

TreesAtSea · 16/04/2023 09:52

AnnaMagnani · 16/04/2023 09:47

That's the holiday we are planning now!

Show quote history

I hope you have a wonderful trip! It was decades ago that I was there but I still remember it all fondly.

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 16/04/2023 11:34

We looked at doing something similar, but ended up doing Athens instead, and booked private guides to Delphi and the Temple of Poseidon instead. Had a brilliant time. Flew to Crete, visited Knossos Palace then lazed by the pool for a few days!

midsomermurderess · 16/04/2023 12:16

AnnaMagnani · 16/04/2023 09:13

We did Northern Greece and I'd suggest it has everything you want.

Started in Thessaloniki which is fab, then picked up a hire car. Would not recommend driving in Thessaloniki but everywhere else was fine. There has been a lot of EU money spent on roads and bridges following the Greek financial crisis and so driving was surprisingly easy.

Then road trip:
Tomb of Philip of Macedon in Vergina, absolute must do.
Historic sites at Dion and Pella - lots of original sites of myths, next to Mount Olympus
Museum at Larissa - really well done on the history of ancient Greece and absolutely nobody there
Across country to the monasteries at Meteora (you definitely need to be energetic for this!)
Into the mountains for Metsovo - warning, drive is 'scenic' by which I mean tortuous road up side of a cliff. We didn't get to see the view as we did the whole thing in thick fog, when the fog lifted we felt a bit sick.
Then back to Thessaloniki via the waterfall at Edessa

You are also very much in the footsteps of St Paul if this interests you, we came across a few American religious tour groups who were retracing his journeys.

Lots of opportunity for beach from Thessaloniki and boat trips to Mount Athos.

Didn't feel we had missed out by not going to Athens (DH has been before) but have earmarked it for another holiday.

There was so much history - ancient Greece, myths, Ottomans, early Christianity, it was just great. And the food was amazing.

How long did that take you, @AnnaMagnani ? It sounds like a marvellous trip. I have been looking at Epirus. Starting in Preveza, up to Ioannina, Zagori, Meteora and back to Parga for a day or two swimming.

AnnaMagnani · 16/04/2023 12:39

@midsomermurderess I think it was a fortnight, might have been a bit less as DH started at a conference (so many of our holidays are based on places either of us goes to a conference)

Meteora is amazing. It is the most touristy place by far as there are loads of people visiting the monasteries. It's a very energetic walk up to each of them but I was v unfit and still managed. When you arrive they tell you 'skirt' and you get given a highly unflattering wrap around thing to wear on the site.

We stayed in Kastraki and it was just stunning.

midsomermurderess · 16/04/2023 12:41

A fortnight sounds perfect. Right, going to start doing some research.

Padamae · 16/04/2023 13:13

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AnnaMagnani · 16/04/2023 13:28

@Padamae that looks amazing!

For itineraries we tend to look at a cultural travel provider eg Martin Randall and basically copy/adjust it to what we want.

Bitter experience has told us that we take longer than their suggested itineraries as:

We aren't on a guided tour so take ages as we want to see everything, not just the highlights
We don't have a coach driver so the person driving tends to get a bit knackered