Hello. My boyfriend, a Classics major at Columbia Univ, + I, a painter, will be travelling thru the Greek Islands from Istanbul to Athens. We are travelling from June 7-June 27. We have accommodation arranged in Athens from the 24th until we leave. Lesvos is on our list but after that we are open. We will have approximately 10 days to travel through the islands and get to Athens. Any musts? Anyone travel this route before? Know of any places to stay and can we find places to stay after our arrival?
We would be very grateful for any information, suggestions or recommendations.
ladyjlj
1
dianab1
Lesvos is a large island, with great distances, enough to absorb your 10 days, and still not enough to scratch the surface. You could consider staying in Molyvos, Ploumari or even Vatera [which has some interesting areas nearby-Vrissa, Nyfida, Agios Fokas]
but it is not for "island hopping".
Chios [ex Cesme or Izmir] is renowned for its Mastichoria [Masticha villages] and Medieval villages [Anavatos, Aygomena, Pyrgi, Olympia]. You could stay in Ag Fotinis, by the beach, and travel to central Chios for the villages, and visit the Mastichoria nearby. The western beaches are sandy and shallower, but the waters are very cold. Here you could stay the whole of the ten days, combining a visit to either Psara or Oinousses [tiny islands nearby].
Samos can be combined with Ikaria or Patmos. [most likely Patmos as smaller, and easier to get around].
Southern Samos I liked more, there is some greenery and good beaches, although in general not very picturesque, except the 2 villages, Manolates and Vourliotes [my humble opinion..]
If you want to get away from the N.E. Aegean islands, then there are 2 ferries from Samos on 15.6 departing for Mykonos. [www.gtp.gr] this will take you to the heart of the Cyclades, from there you can either stay there for a couple of days [visit Delos etc.,] and then visit Naxos or Paros, easily done with regular ferry routes. There are lots of posts about Naxos and Paros here, just do a search-you could easily spend 2 days in Mykonos, 3 in Naxos [Agios Anna, Prokopios beaches] and Paros-Naoussa, getting a good sample of the Cyclades. You don't need to pre-book, it is still pretty much low season, you will get many offers from the Cyclades island ports - for the other islands mentioned, you may need to head for the first travel agency by each port.
2
crug
One place on the Turkish mainland that I found very interesting was Aphrodisias. Not too many people seem to have it on their list and it was very quiet the day we went in May 07. Nice little theatre and a well reconstructed 2nd century gate as well as a place where you can get the sense of the town and it's surroundings. Well worth a visit if you're going to be in that direction (west from Selcuk near Denizli). Likewise, Priene is also worth the effort.
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
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