BootsnAll Travel Community

My roommate and I are planning a trip to Europe next summer, and want to make a stop in Greece. I've never been there and would like some advice on where to go. We're both Anthropology majors, so someplace near an archaeological site and/or a good museum would be preferable, also somewhere that is not too touristy.

Thanks!

If you're like 99.9999999% of the travelling world, you're going to Athens whether you want to or not your first day or so. You have your choice of sites from the Acropolis, Agora, busses to Delphi and Olympia. Or head south to the Pelopponesse. I didn't see it personally but I hear Nafplio is supposed to be gorgeous. I saw Kalamata and Pylos. Unfortunately, I saw Kalamata closed up for the winter, maybe springtime it will be a bit more active.
Definitely don't miss Kalambaka/Kastraki/Meteora. The monasteries at the top of the HUGE rocks are not to be missed. I stayed at the Koka Roka Arthur in Kalambaka and was really taken well cared of.
If you head further north to Thessaloniki, you'll be at another hub where you can take busses to Litohoro/Mount Olympus, Volos and even hit an island or two. If you guys are archeology nuts, I really don't think you can go wrong with Greece. There's so much over there that you could spend a lifetime digging through it. Just don't *really* dig around there though. I'm thinking you'd probably need some official papers before you go taking marble and other stuff from the sites.

Kalispera!

Great advice, boneman.
Most of the best archaeological sites are on the mainland rather than the islands, though the islands also have their moments; Aegina, Thasos, Samothraki, Santorini, Crete and Rhodes etc. all have impressive archaeological sites too, but all these islands, with the exception of Samothraki, absolutely swarm in the summer.
I think Mycaenae en route to Epidaurus is a beautiful journey, and, like boneman, I would heartily recommend the Pelopponese and Greek Macedonia as being among the best places to stay if you're an archaeology nut, because you have fanstastic scenery allied with the ruins.
Like boneman, I advise you not to become a tomb-raider, frieze-shifter or light-fingered artefact-wallah. The authorities do not take kindly to archaeological theft.
Enjoy the glory.

Agree with the above. I spent three non-stop days checking out old sites in Athens and could have spent more. It is amazing...and just packed with stuff.

If you are going to Greece in the summer, it is gonna be touristy me thinks. Pretty hard to avoid unless you go off season or to some remote island.

Epona,
I am from PA, used to use Epona as my screenname, was an anthropology major, and studied in Rome.
I'm sorry for diverting the thread, I just thought that was too weird.
Anyway, I second the Meteora vote. It's incredible. And the museaum in Athens is supposed to be incredible (it was closed when I was there). You shouldn't really not go to Athens if you're looking for archaeological sites, but the city itself is - um - ugly and smoggy and crowded (Sorry, any Athens lovers!)
Oh, and Delphi is not too far away from there. I really liked it.

I quite enjoyed the Northern part of Greece (generally known as Mazedonia - the home of Alexander the Grat...not to be confused with the country named Mazedonia). It's less touristy in general but still gets a buzz in summer. Good camping, Meteora is worth the trip (although I recommend to stay a night, so that you have the area for yourself early morning, as the tourists are shipped in the bus loads).

Here something to read and look at:
My travel log from Northern Greece and Turkey

Well Epona,

Hello, i am an archeology Student currently living in Greece. If you are wicked into archeology everywhere in greece you will find something historical and fitted to your likes. For me The Minoan Civ is my favorite so i am living on Crete doing an excavation. I think if Minoan Life plays to you like come to crete because of all the different sites like Knossos and Gournia and Mochlas and many others. Also if your a young college student who like me splits time travelling between research, digs and FUN I CAN TELL YOU NO GREATER HOSTEL/CHILL HANG OUT THEN PLAKIAS CRETE. They have a youth hostel there that is the best in the world. you can hang out, eat out, hike out to waterfalls, or even go swimming in the greatest beach i have ever been on. if you want to check out my blog about my travels so far in crete! Good luck.

Be Wll, MP

Shameless PLUG
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/sailor08/

Thanks for the info! We won't have all that much time in Greece, so it looks like we're probably going to Athens, and then trying to get somewhere a little less crowded. Thanks for all the suggestions!

burbledunken - That is really weird. You didn't go to Penn State did you?

**Bump**

I've never been to Athens -- but will be there for several days next month.

Assume that I will see the Big Obvious Things in the city. Tell me what else I should check out -- anything that is interesting, off the beaten track, etc. I like unique museums, little Mom & Pop cafes, and photo opportunities.

Thank ye kindly.

i hate athens

but ios and crete are great!

Check this out for some ideas:

Greece Travel Guide

I'd say to stay away from the big destinations and instead head to the smallish islands like Evia or Kea.

Check the Cities & Regions page on that site I gave you

I like the idea of visiting the small islands, too because I want to meet local people who don't depend on tourist cash to make a living. But how easy/difficult is it to reach some of these places? The only place I've looked into is Santorini so far. Although it sounds wonderful and we'll probably spend some time there, it's not ALL that we want to experience in Greece.

it's really easy to reach most of them b/c they are pretty much so close to Athens that the locals do flock there but not the foreign tourists.

here's a list of them and even how to get to the islands:

Top 5 Secret Greek Islands

There are both local flights and ferries to get to the islands and although some of them are really tiny, there is enough accommodation to allow you to stay for cpl of days.

Enjoy!

I've been there twice last year (in athens).
I bought a 12 Euros ticket . In fact it was a compilation of 12 tickets binded together. The biggest one was ment for visiting Acropolis (pantheon, erechteon, etc). All other locations are placed arround acropolis , most of them being accessible from Plaka and Monastiraki (nice districts, souvenirs, restaurants, etc). One of the most impressive location is Temple of the Olympian Zeus. Other Locations: Adrian's Library (ruins), a museum, (shame on me I forgot it's name) where many arceological items from the roman era are put on display, near that museum is the temple of Poseidon (almost intact). In my opinion 2 or 3 days are enough to visit all 12 locations.

Unfortunatelly, Acropolis (the temple complex up on the hill) can be visited only once). They ut your ticket in such way that you cannot visit twice that location. Here i will descib how i did to visit acropolis the next day . I climbed the hill using other entrance (from the amphiteatre) and i told them tat i was lost from my group , that I've just visited acropolis (in fact i visited it a day ago), and I do not know where my group is, if it is up there or they left. The guards were very polite and allowed me to pass.

All suggestions so must do your own planning! I, too, though, hated Athens! I mean, I had to go, for the history of it, and appreciated certain things for what they were, but what an unfriendly city! That being said, the islands were amazing. I did Mykonos which I found less than impressive and way touristy, even off season, but Naxos, just a bit further south, was one of my favorite places in the world. Amazing history, beautiful scenery, its really cheap, the food is the freshest most amazing food in Greece I think, the people so wonderful....it was the quinessential small greek island but not overwhelmed with tourists but with locals. Great beaches, great driving scenery on mopeds, and again, the best food! And people!

For an anthro major Santorini is awesome and I loved it but it was a bit pricey and touristy, and I hear Crete is great. But dont miss Naxos if you can....it is a gem that is so overlooked! And travel from Athens to the islands is both inexpensive (at least during partial off season) and very easy.

Have so much fun!