Footloose in Greece (not the musical)

July 10, 2016 7:06 AM

We're spending a week with friends in Athens towards the end of August. Coordination breakdown means that we have three days left in Athens after they leave and we're not sure what the best thing to do is.

We will probably already have visited Delphi, and I think we'd like to spend the time near a beach. I was considering Aegina. Does anyone have another idea? We'll be free from August 26 and we have a flight at 11pm the 29th.

posted by bwonder2 to Travel & Transportation (5 answers total)

How about Cape Sounion - about 2 hours out of Athens by bus. It has beautiful beaches, places for watersports and the ancient Temple of Poseidon. Some of the resort hotels there are expensive but there are very cheap apartments available in the area.
posted by essexjan at 11:27 AM on July 10, 2016 [1 favorite]

The Cape Sounion Sunset Apartments have one apartment left for 26-29 August for $281 on Booking.com.
posted by essexjan at 11:31 AM on July 10, 2016

Nafplion is a gorgeous options that is a little under 2hrs drive from Athens. While you are there, you can check out the Palamidi Castle or take a day trip to the ruins at Mycenae. You can swim at a nice, but very rocky, beach below the Palamidi.

It wasn't warm enough to swim when I was at Aegina but it was a fun little island to tool around. We rented mopeds and had a blast for a day trip.
posted by nanhey at 12:12 PM on July 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

I second the suggestion of Nafplio. It's a fantastic walkable little town and you can explore a lot of it in 2 days.
posted by ajayb at 5:23 PM on July 10, 2016

Nafplio is a good idea. I am also a big fan of Kea in the stone's-throw-from-Athens category, about an hour by boat from Lavrio.
posted by Dr Dracator at 11:37 PM on July 10, 2016