The Greek Islands

[peterkro]

bumpity bump!

which greek island would *you* recommend?!

hoping to go to athens for a few days in august/september and then head on to a Greek island for a week afterwards. But my goodness! so much choice! I don't know where to start.

Ideally somewhere that's easy to get around either by public transport or cycling (ha! *has heart attack*) as neither of us can drive, but is also not so small that a week gets dull. And preferably easy to get to from Athens..

nice beaches, some interesting sites, fairly quiet+chilled (is that possible?) and with places to drink without the island being overrun by annoying teenagers!?
thanks

My choice would be Naxos fairly laid back although probably very busy in August.If you don't want the hustle and bustle of the harbour/beaches bit try and find some where to stay in the Kastro (ye olde Venetian part)( only for the fairly mobile,steep narrow lanes no taxis or buses) .It's quite a large island with various parts to visit and bus service is cheapish and regularish.Bike hire easy,tavernas to drink or eat abound and only around the harbour likely to be busy.It's also quite easy to get away from other tourists and explore where the locals hang out,eat and drink.

 

[fakeplasticgirl]

My choice would be Naxos fairly laid back although probably very busy in August.If you don't want the hustle and bustle of the harbour/beaches bit try and find some where to stay in the Kastro (ye olde Venetian part)( only for the fairly mobile,steep narrow lanes no taxis or buses) .It's quite a large island with various parts to visit and bus service is cheapish and regularish.Bike hire easy,tavernas to drink or eat abound and only around the harbour likely to be busy.It's also quite easy to get away from other tourists and explore where the locals hang out,eat and drink.

Thanks! Naxos is on the list. Along with Paros and Syros - so currently narrowed down to three

 

[fakeplasticgirl]

thanks for the recommendations peterkro - have finally got on with it and booked a trip to naxos (and athens) for september

 

[fractionMan]

It was a while ago (2002 I think) and it was a strange holiday as I went with my ex from uni when we knew we were going to split up.

We got a really cheap late allocation on arrival package deal from teletext and ended up in Tsilivi (we were hoping for Alykes or Alikanas). I didn't like the resort as it was all English, egg and Chips and Big Brother on the big screens in the bars every evening The rest of the Island was really nice though. I enjoyed Zakynthos town and due to the shitness of the resort we popped over to the mainland and saw Olympia amongst other trips. I've got good memories of meal somewhere right up at the top of a Zakynthos mountain with spectacular views.

f you go to Zakynthos don't stay in Tsilivi!

I've heard great things about Skiathos from every one who's been there. I mst try it some time

I really wish I'd read this a month ago.

Off to tsilivi in a couple of weeks

 

[Mapped]

I really wish I'd read this a month ago.

Off to tsilivi in a couple of weeks

It's probably a step up from Pontins. Did you get a cheap deal?

You never know, it might have changed in the last 13 years and there will be no shortage of places to get a cocktail. Get a car and explore the island would be my advice.

 

[peterkro]

thanks for the recommendations peterkro - have finally got on with it and booked a trip to naxos (and athens) for september

Hope you have a great time,I'm loath to recommend places because my preferences may be different to others.Still I think it'll be fine,the best restaurants tend to higher up in the Kastro (where a lot of tourists don't venture).If you go inland and to the south a bit you'll come across ordinary islanders who are not very involved in the tourist industry but who on the whole are very welcoming and live the island life to the full.If you want fresh food there is a ships provisioner just behind the main drag who supply cheap local produce.Have fun.

 

[fakeplasticgirl]

Hope you have a great time,I'm loath to recommend places because my preferences may be different to others.Still I think it'll be fine,the best restaurants tend to higher up in the Kastro (where a lot of tourists don't venture).If you go inland and to the south a bit you'll come across ordinary islanders who are not very involved in the tourist industry but who on the whole are very welcoming and live the island life to the full.If you want fresh food there is a ships provisioner just behind the main drag who supply cheap local produce.Have fun.

cheers! Any nearby islands you'd recommend for a day trip?

 

[fractionMan]

It's probably a step up from Pontins. Did you get a cheap deal?

You never know, it might have changed in the last 13 years and there will be no shortage of places to get a cocktail. Get a car and explore the island would be my advice.

It was pretty cheap - we've got 3 days in one part of the island and 4 days in the other. Car is the way forward!

 

[clicker]

It was pretty cheap - we've got 3 days in one part of the island and 4 days in the other. Car is the way forward!

Porto limoni, porto roxa and gerakas all great swim spots if you have a car. Exohora and louha lovely villages inland...again you'd need a car. Bochali
overlooking zante town good place to watch the sun go down. Kampi has fab sunsets. Vassilikos has many beaches to lounge on. I have friends with businesses on the island...tsilivi isbrash and kiss me quick on the main strip but head down to the beach to eat at night and it's lovely...totally different, good tavernas both ends of it and not much more, really under used by tourists who tend to prefer the brash main strip. Where are you staying there and for the other nights? If you don't mind saying?

 

[fractionMan]

Porto limoni, porto roxa and gerakas all great swim spots if you have a car. Exohora and louha lovely villages inland...again you'd need a car. Bochali
overlooking zante town good place to watch the sun go down. Kampi has fab sunsets. Vassilikos has many beaches to lounge on. I have friends with businesses on the island...tsilivi isbrash and kiss me quick on the main strip but head down to the beach to eat at night and it's lovely...totally different, good tavernas both ends of it and not much more, really under used by tourists who tend to prefer the brash main strip. Where are you staying there and for the other nights? If you don't mind saying?

awesome. Thanks for the tips.

I've found gerakas on the map, but can't find the other two

 

[fractionMan]

Porto limoni, porto roxa and gerakas all great swim spots if you have a car. Exohora and louha lovely villages inland...again you'd need a car. Bochali
overlooking zante town good place to watch the sun go down. Kampi has fab sunsets. Vassilikos has many beaches to lounge on. I have friends with businesses on the island...tsilivi isbrash and kiss me quick on the main strip but head down to the beach to eat at night and it's lovely...totally different, good tavernas both ends of it and not much more, really under used by tourists who tend to prefer the brash main strip. Where are you staying there and for the other nights? If you don't mind saying?

We're staying near agios sostis, round the headland from lagnas bay.

When at tsvali we're right at the north end of the beach.

 

[clicker]

We're staying near agios sostis, round the headland from lagnas bay.

When at tsvali we're right at the north end of the beach.

Ag sostis is lovely. Good tavernas for evening both end of beach at tsilivi...very peaceful and a twenty min stroll between the two (both greek owned) one is called the liminaki and can't remember name of other...if you stand on beach looking out to sea its on the far right( my favourite one there). Home cooked grub and friendly owners..nobody seems to venture down there at night...smack in the middle of both is The Lifetime Bar run by brothers and one of the first businesses set up when planes started flying direct to the island, original zakynthian family...excellent place for a drink watching the waves and listening to the cicadas.

 

[fractionMan]

Ag sostis is lovely. Good tavernas for evening both end of beach at tsilivi...very peaceful and a twenty min stroll between the two (both greek owned) one is called the liminaki and can't remember name of other...if you stand on beach looking out to sea its on the far right( my favourite one there). Home cooked grub and friendly owners..nobody seems to venture down there at night...smack in the middle of both is The Lifetime Bar run by brothers and one of the first businesses set up when planes started flying direct to the island, original zakynthian family...excellent place for a drink watching the waves and listening to the cicadas.

Sounds great. We love a good stroll, so that's perfect for us.

 

[clicker]

Sounds great. We love a good stroll, so that's perfect for us.

Also another hidden gem near tsilivi at sunset is tucked around the corner from the tiny harbour..stand on beach looking out to sea you walk left to the harbour then around the headland for 15mins, relax on a sun bed and the sun
sinks behind the mountains ...no roads down there and it'll look like nothing is there..just walk and keep the faith dont think they do food.

 

[clicker]

awesome. Thanks for the tips.

I've found gerakas on the map, but can't find the other two

Google porto roxa zante and porto limoni zante...let me know if no luck and i'll dig out a map.

 

[fractionMan]

Also another hidden gem near tsilivi at sunset is tucked around the corner from the tiny harbour..stand on beach looking out to sea you walk left to the harbour then around the headland for 15mins, relax on a sun bed and the sun
sinks behind the mountains ...no roads down there and it'll look like nothing is there..just walk and keep the faith dont think they do food.

there's two tiny harbours!

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...2!3m1!1s0x136740cadc7b5abf:0x27a074dbe04c2ad1

 

[fractionMan]

Google porto roxa zante and porto limoni zante...let me know if no luck and i'll dig out a map.

do you mean Porto Limnionas?

 

[clicker]

do you mean Porto Limnionas?

Yes thats it...not good for non swimmers but paradise for swimmers. Tsilivi only has one tiny harbour.