Ultimate 3 Days in Greece Itinerary: Athens, Nafplio, and Hydra

Traveled in May 2018

While Mykonos and Santorini are stunning, a visit to Greece can be so much more if you explore hidden gems like Hydra and Nafplio, where you’ll discover authentic charm, rich history, and breathtaking beauty without the crowds. Mykonos and Santorini are beautiful, but they take longer to travel to and are often packed with tourists and tourist prices. You don’t want to spend your hard earned vacation time from work and/or parenting feeling hassled by the crowds around you. You want space. And serenity. A break from the chaos. And that’s where these hidden gems in Greece that are slightly off the beaten path come in. This 3 day Greece itinerary starts in Athens and takes day trips to Nafplio and Hydra. The beaches and views in Nafplio and Hydra are just as beautiful, but with fewer crowds. And fewer crowds means you can actually enjoy that stunning slice of beach in peace, instead of elbowing for space with the tourist masses. Bookmark this Greece itinerary if you’re ready to adopt a more relaxed pace in this Greek paradise!

3 Days in Greece Itinerary

When to Go

Greece can get HOT in the summer so I would recommend visiting in the shoulder season, either spring or fall. Since most of the activities are outdoors, high temperatures can drain your energy pretty quickly. We traveled in late May and temperatures were still sweltering. Early May and late September might be good times to visit for better weather, fewer crowds, and better prices.

How to Get There

The international airport in Greece is in Athens (airport code ATH). Make sure you are booking a ticket to Athens, Greece and not Athens, Georgia! This short trip to Greece would be a great addition to a trip to Croatia or Italy. Or, if you want to take it slow, extend your time in Greece and spend some time overnight in Nafplio and/or Hydra rather than visiting as a day trip. Either way, you won’t regret adopting a more relaxed pace of life for a couple days on this Greek vacation!

Booking tip: certain flight searches like Kayak, Skyscanner, or Google flights allow you to set price trackers that will alert you when the price of your flight changes. I never book a flight without tracking prices first because there is no better feeling than snagging a good deal! And if you book your flights with a travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire card (use my referral for bonus points!), the card usually includes some travel insurance protections (like lost luggage reimbursements, trip delay reimbursements, or trip cancellation insurance) to save you the cost of buying extra travel insurance.

Bonus Booking tip: sign your kiddo up for frequent flyer accounts with airlines to start earning airline miles for them! Most airline miles do not expire for minors so your kiddo will thank you later.

Where to Stay in Athens

For this Greece itinerary, you will be staying 4 nights in Athens. Yay, no packing and unpacking every day! For a quick visit like this, I would recommend staying in the Plaka neighborhood. Plaka is the old town located in the center of everything you would want to see in Athens. The ancient sites are steps away, and you are also surrounded by shops and restaurants. Plaka is bordered by Monastiraki, Syntagma, and the Acropolis. Most of the streets in this neighborhood are pedestrianized, so it is very walkable. Plaka is in the heart of the tourist area, so it is pretty safe. (Although as usual in a tourist area you still do need to be mindful of your belongings and be on the alert for pickpockets).

Accommodations that are “in the old town but on a quiet side street” are my jam, and the area of Makrigianni (also known as South Plaka) is exactly that. It is just south of the Plaka district – a calmer oasis next to the hubbub. These days I prefer to stay in apartments for more space and the convenience of a kitchen.

Apartment Rentals in Plaka

This bright 1 bedroom apartment in the South Plaka (or Makrigianni neighborhood) is nicely decorated and has enough space for a couple.

For more space, this nicely renovated 2 bedroom apartment in South Plaka is a great choice for a group traveling together.

If these rentals have already been snatched up, then you can find other VRBO rentals in Plaka here.

Aparthotels in Plaka

For those who want apartment living but prefer the ease of having a front desk, an aparthotel is a great compromise. These apartments and studios are run by hotels. Check in is at the front desk and you have the accessibility of front desk staff for assistance. But once you have the keys to the apartment, you have the privacy and independence of staying in a home rental.

AVA Hotel & Suites

The AVA Hotel & Suites has a variety of 1 bedroom and studio suites with a kitchenette, and some even have views of the Acropolis.

Hotels in Plaka

Electra Palace Athens

If you prefer to stay in a hotel, the Electra Palace Athens is a nice splurge with a pool that has Acropolis views. It is located more in the center of Plaka, but still on a quiet corner.

Electra Hotel

For slightly lower rates, see if there are any deals for their sister hotel, the Electra Hotel. The Electra Hotel is located closer to Syntagma Square.

A for Athens Hotel

To be closer to Monastiraki, the A for Athens Hotel is in a great location and has dramatic nighttime views of the Acropolis from its rooftop bar.

For more hotel options in Plaka, check out these choices.

How to Get Around

We relied completely on public transportation for this trip. You could rent a car, but you would only use it for your day to Nafplio. Both the boat to Hydra and the bus to Nafplio are direct and drop you pretty much in the center of town.

Show Me the Money

Greece is part of the European Union, so the currency used is the Euro. Credit cards were widely accepted, so we mostly relied on our no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card. We use the Chase Sapphire Reserve card (use my referral for bonus points!). Always choose to pay in the local currency rather than USD for a better exchange rate. We did withdraw a small amount of Euros after we arrived just in case. If withdrawing any cash, look for ATMS run by the local banks and always choose to withdraw the amount in Euros rather than USD for a better exchange rate.

Saving tip: to avoid ATM fees (from the foreign bank and your bank), look for a checking account that offers ATM fee reimbursements. I can personally recommend the Schwab investors checking account and the Betterment checking account for this purpose.

How to Stay Connected

Because we took this trip before e-sims were commonly used, we bought tourist prepaid sim cards for our cell phones during this trip. Orange and Vodaphone are two popular cell phone companies in Europe that sell prepaid tourist sim cards that can be used throughout Europe.

However, if traveling again we would definitely use an e-sim from Airalo.

If you have an unlocked phone, then you can either purchase a prepaid sim card or you can use an e-sim. The e-sim is the cheapest way to get international cell phone data. We had a great experience using Airalo to purchase an e-sim on our trip to Canada and Switzerland. The downside is that you only have data and no phone service when using Airalo e-sims, so it’s a good option if you don’t anticipate needing to make phone calls. You can also top up as you go, and it is really affordable. The Airalo website has great tutorials and I also watched this Youtube video for more installation tips. We usually start the installation process at home to load the e-sim into our phones, and then once we land at our destination we turn off our US e-sim and turn on the international e-sim.

Airalo offers local e-sims for specific countries or regional e-sims for all of Europe. For this Greece itinerary, you could either buy just the Greece e-sim, or get the regional Europe e-sim if traveling to multiple countries.

3 Days in Greece Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Activity	Sleep In
0	Arrive in Athens	Athens
1	Ancient Agora and Acropolis Anafiotika and Syntagma Square.	Athens
2	Day trip to Nafplio	Athens
3	Day trip to Hydra	Athens
4	Fly home or visit Croatia

Day 0: Arrive in Athens

To get from the Athens airport to the Plaka area, you can take the bus, the metro, or a taxi. The cheapest option is the bus, Express bus #X95, which takes about an hour and stops near Syntagma Square. The metro is the blue line (line 3), which takes about 45 minutes and stops at the Syntagma (near Plaka) and Acropolis (near South Plaka) metro stations. The taxi from the airport to the city center is usually a fixed rate. Look up what the fixed rate should be before you go to avoid getting ripped off.

For dinner with a view, make reservations for the rooftop dining at Strofi Athenian Restaurant, which has romantic views of the floodlit Acropolis to enjoy with your first classic Greek dinner. Or, if you just want drinks with a view, go to the rooftop bar at the A for Athens Hotel for some cocktails and small bites with Acropolis views.

Day 1: Explore Athens

Acropolis and Ancient Agora

Start the morning at the Acropolis to try to beat the tour groups and the heat (or go in the late afternoon). The path up to the Acropolis is steep and slippery, so make sure you pack the sensible shoes and bring plenty of water. Buy tickets online here at the official site, where you will have to select a specific date and time to visit the Acropolis. If visiting the other ancient sites (like the Ancient Agora and Roman Agora), get the combo ticket. The other sites do not require timed entry, only the Acropolis.

The highlight of the Acropolis is the Parthenon. The Porch of the Caryatids is another photogenic spot, with 6 maiden statues acting as the columns for the balcony. Don’t forget to enjoy the view of Athens below after exploring the ruins.

To get to the Ancient Agora from the Acropolis, turn right at the exit.

After the Ancient Agora, head towards Monastiraki for lunch at Souvlaki Row or walk a little further to the delicious hole-in-the-wall Kosta Souvlaki. We thought the gyros at Kosta Souvlaki were more delicious, but the seating options and atmosphere at Souvalaki Row was better. For a sweet treat nearby, get loukomades at Lukumades.

Anafiotika

After lunch, walk past the Library of Hadrian and the Roman Forum to Anafiotika. Anafiotika is another photogenic corner of Athens. The whitewashed homes here were originally built by people from the island of Anafi, so walking around here feels like you have been transported to one of the Cycladic islands.

Syntagma Square

Syntagma Square is home to the Parliament building and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Soldiers of the Greek army, with their pompom shoes, guard the tombs. The popular changing of the guard happens 5 minutes before the top of each hour. For an ice cream, baklava, and pastry break, stop by Konstantinidis nearby.

Dinner options: Xenios Zeus or Filema

Day 2: Day Trip to Nafplio

The bus to Nafplio takes about 2.5 hours. The bus leaves from Kifissou (Terminal A) bus station. It is easiest to take a taxi there from the city center (look up what the rate should be to avoid getting overcharged). The timetable is available here. “ATHINA – FICHTI* (MIKINES), ARGOS, NAFPLIO” is the timetable from Athens to Nafplio and “NAFPLIO – FICHTI* (MIKINES) ISTHMOS, ATHINA” is the timetable from Nafplio to Athens. No online tickets were available when we traveled, but we just bought tickets at the bus station 30 minutes before departure. The bus station in Nafplio is right in between the old town and the new town.

Palamidi Fortress

For amazing views of Naplio and the Aegean, take a taxi up to the Palamidi Fortress. You can also walk to the fortress, but it’s 999 steps up the mountain, so unless you’re looking for a work out it makes more sense to taxi up there and walk down. There is an entrance fee, but it’s usually not very crowded so can just buy tickets when you get there. Although there are many fortresses and bastions to wander around at the top of the fortress, the best preserved one is the St. Andrew’s Bastion.

Nafplio Old Town

One of the best things to do in Nafplio is to wander around the old town and just enjoy the scenery. The pace is slower here, and it’s a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of Athens. The old town is full of little shops tucked away in picturesque lanes to explore. For a sweet snack, get a gelato at Antica Gelateria di Roma. (I know gelato is not Greek, but when would you say no to good gelato, where ever you are? It’s not as random as it sounds – Nafplio was once occupied by the Venetians, so this gelato is legit.) Making your way towards the water, make sure to walk part of the Bouboulinas Promenade for sparkling views of the water. There are also many fish restaurants along Bouboulinas if you are hungry for lunch.

Arvanitia Beach

Spend the afternoon lazing around on the beach. Arvanitia Beach is closest to the old town. To get there, follow Bouboulinas Promenade until it turns into Akti Miaouli promenade and continuing following the shoreline path until you reach Arvanitia Beach (about 10 minute walk). Arvanitia Beach can be crowded in the summer because of its proximity to the old town.

Karathona Beach

For a quieter beach, walk 30 minutes more along the seafront lane to Karathona Beach. Karathona Beach is a more sandy beach and it has shallow water, so it’s better for actually going into the water. Make sure to save enough time for walking back to the bus station in time to catch the bus back to Athens at the end of the afternoon. The last bus back to Athens is usually around 8:30pm, so make sure not to miss the last bus!

Day 3: Day Trip to Hydra

The ferry from Athens to Hydra takes 1.5-2 hours. The ferries depart from the port at Piraeus. To get to Piraeus from the city center, take the green line (line 1) to the Piraeus metro station. After exiting the metro station from the side door, look for the escalator to the pedestrian bridge. Walk across the pedestrian bridge towards the water, which will lead to gates E6 and E7 of the port. The ferry to Hydra usually leaves from gate E8, to the left. Arrive at least 30 minutes before the ferry is scheduled to leave to make sure you can find the gate. Buy round trip tickets ahead of time online at the Hellenic Seaways website because they can sell out.

Hydra’s harbor (where the ferry docks) is right in the center of town, so it’s easy to get off the ferry and start exploring right away. Hydra is completely car free (they use donkeys instead) and very walkable.

Hydra Old Town

The main thing to “do” in Hydra is just have a wander. Walk along the harbor and up into the old town, enjoying the views and the stores along the way. For a sweet snack, look for Flora’s Pastry Shop for homemade ice cream, baklava, or galaktoboureko.

Kaminia

For a picturesque coastal stroll, walk to the harbor of Kaminia which has a nice little beach. To get there, follow the flat coastal path for about 15 minutes. Even this hike alone is worth it because this path has beautiful sea views to enjoy while you’re walking. For lunch with a view, stop at Kodylenia’s Taverna at the top of Kaminia’s harbor for some fresh seafood with views of the harbor while you eat. The beach at Kaminia is small, but pretty.

Vlychos Beach

For a quieter beach, walk another 10 minutes or so to Vlychos Beach. To get there, walk past the beach at Kaminia using the donkey path that climbs up the cliff. Vlychos Beach is more of a pebble beach, and they have umbrellas and lounge chairs available for rental. During peak season there are shuttle boats that go between Vlychos and Hydra, but otherwise you can walk about 30 minutes back to Hydra. Make sure to save enough time for the walk back to Hydra so you don’t miss your ferry back to Athens!

Continue the coastal fun by pairing this trip to Greece with a visit to the sparkling waters in Croatia!

Or for more travels in Europe with amazing food and coastal views, check out our Northern Spain and Portugal Itinerary to start planning your next adventure!