SWT Tours: Senior Women's Travel: Athens and Greek Island Hopping

Contemporary Athens can compete with any of the world’s capitals. It is sophisticated, lively and stylish. And the big bonus is the reality of the magnificence of the Acropolis that inspires wonder at the heritage of classical Greece. Our tour includes Santorini, the most beautiful of all the Greek Islands, and a one-day cruise to three islands: Aegina, Poros, and Hydra.

…ACROPOLIS SEMINAR…in depth look at the Acropolis and its archaeological history, its architecture and the role of religion. Extensive renovations of the Acropolis Museum were completed in 2010. By all accounts, the museum is an incredible achievement.

…CLASSICAL TO MODERN ATHENS ARCHITECTURAL WALK…another private tour. We start at Syntagma Square and the Greek parliament building, then on to Omonia Square and the Plaka, ending at the Hilton Hotel, a 20th century modernist showpiece and perhaps the place to have a relaxing cocktail before returning to our hotel.

…IN SANTORINI, Akritori, a settlement covered in volcanic ash after volcanic eruption about 1500 bc, is open after years of being closed for renovation. …In Santorini, we dine at what Frommer calls the best restaurant in Santorini and perhaps in all of Greece.

Day 1
Arrive in Athens and transfer on your own to our hotel, just a short walk from Constitution Square. We can arrange for you to be picked up at the airport by a private limo service that we use (cost not included in tour price).

Late afternoon orientation walk around Athens center, and its fashionable Kolonaki neighborhood.

Day 2
…Two comprehensive walking tours that are essentially private tours as the tour company has a maximum of 6 people

After a relaxing lunch … Classical to Modern Architecture Architectural Walk… time to be determined with tour operator.

Day 3
Early morning departure for one-day cruise to 3 islands: Aegina, Hydra, and Poros.

The island of Aegina was a total surprise to me. It’s a gem. See the Temple of Afala, one of the best preserved temples of the 5th century BC. It ranks in importance with the Parthenon and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. We also stop at the Byzantine monastery of Saint Nectarios, impressive and beautiful. Aegina is also a center for pistachios; try delicious pistachio ice cream or buy a jar of honey with pistachios.

Hydra with its picturesque harbor, is what everyone expects a Greek island to look like. Wander away from the harbor and its excellent shops to see even more of Greek island architecture.

Poros, tiny and hilly, a brief stop, gives us another view of Greek island living.

There’s lunch on board, and you have your only chance to see a performance of Greek folk dancing.

Transfer to Piraeus and departure for the beautiful island of Santorini, a four-hour high speed ferry ride. Our hotel is right in the center of Fira, convenient to shopping and many restaurants, with stunning views of the sea. There’s a pool at the hotel and most important, it’s on level ground so we don’t have to navigate the scenic but treacherous hills to reach our hotel.

Dinner included in tour price at the rowdy, small, crowded tavern, Uncle Nickolai.

Day 5
Morning trip to Ia, a major town on Santorini, the site of world famous sunsets. Its beauty and shops for browsing or buying make it a perfect 10.

3:30 pm- 8pm Afternoon sunset cruise on a sailing vessel. Visit volcano (climb to top)or wait for your athletic friends down below). Hot springs, where many people take a brief swim, are a short distance from the boat.

Wine and snacks while you watch the legendary sunset over Ia, all the while listening to the music from a live saxophone player.

If the sea is rough, and that is always a possibility, the cruise will be cancelled.

Day 6
Sightseeing bus tour (5-½ hours) visiting Museum of Prehistoric Fira with fascinating archaeological artifacts, wine tasting at a winery, black pebble beach at Perissa for lunch, and a swim, if you want. (The excavations at Akritori, a city covered by lava, was closed in 2006 for renovations.)

Dinner at Selene…Frommer proclaims this restaurant “the best in Santorini and one of the best in Greece. If you have only one meal in Santorini, eat at Silene’s.”

The evening starts with a glass of wine, then a visit to the Folklore Museum where we will see an exhibit of agricultural products. Next a gourmet dinner at Selene upstairs, her fine dining restaurant. We enjoy a 4 course dinner and miniardise. Included in tour price.

Day 7
Depart for Piraeus and instead of returning to Athens, we overnight in the suburban town of Kifissia.. It gives you a brief look at an upscale Greek suburb comparable to Southampton or La Jolla. Time to walk around the town before you have dinner.

Cost
$3,475 (USD) includes hotel (single occupancy, no single supplement), all breakfasts, lunch on the cruise ship (comparable to a dinner), 4 dinners, all activities outlined in itinerary.

Price does not include airfare to and from Greece, airport transfers, lunches, 2 dinners (one dinner in Santorini and the your final dinner), wine and alcoholic beverages, coffee stops, personal expenses. We can arrange transfers to and from airport with a reliable driver who we have used for years.

Christina, my fun loving and travel obsessed Greek friend, lives in the fashionable suburb Of Kifisia , just 20 kilomethers from Athens . She travels the world with aplomb , is very savvy in every aspect of travel and is our unofficial go-to person on all things Greek.

“The new Acropolis museum is a MUST visit. If you have the time, visit the Museum twice, once during the day and once in the evening, when the museum Is lit in a special way giving it a luminous beauty. When you leave the museum, take The paved street in front through Thission with all its renovated neo-classical Buildings. End up at the beginning of Pandrosou Street with ancient ruins on one Side and lots of small restaurants on the other.

I like to eat at Kouti (the box ) Its menu is written in chidren’s books, the bread is brought to you in old tin boxes. It’s a fun place.”

Many thanks, Christina, we will follow your route on our visit to the Acropolis Museum. Christina also recommends the rooftop restaurant of the Electra Hotel where “you think you Can raise your arm and touch the Acropolis.” A restaurant with a view of the Acropolis is one of my favorite memories of dining in Athens. There are many restaurants where you can dine and enjoy a fabulous view of the Acropolis.

STEFANIA SANTORINI SECRETS: Stefania is my greek friend who lives in new york city and has a small house on The beach at Ia not far from Fira, the largest town on Santorini. She shared her favorite Santorini restaurants, only one is listed in the guide books. It’s Taverna Nikolas, small and always crowded with locals and tourists. No menu…the food Just keeps coming. And Stefania led me to discover what looks like a great restaurant to enjoy dinner and a cooking demonstration.

GLORIOUS GREECE

Athens and Santorini Plus One Day 3 Island Tour