Monday, March 13, 2023

2023 Greek Isles

 

Day 0 - Travel Day


  • flight to Rome, Italy
  • transfer to Civitavecchia


Day 1 - Sea Day






Day 2 - Santorini, Greece (1pm to 10pm)







Note: Arrive by tender - My understanding is that those with excursion booked through the cruise line will be tendered to Athinios (new port) with bus access. Others will be tendered to the Santorini old port close to Fira.  

  • tender to Old Port
  • take cable car (6€) up from the port to Fira
  • sightsee in Fira
  • walk part of the Fira-to-Oia Trail to the town of Imerovigli
  • out to Skaros Rock (total walk about 1 hr, 3km)
  • walk back or take a bus (1.6€ cash only) from Imerovigli to avoid walking the same trail back.
  • Fira to Skara Rock Map

Alternatives: 
  • Water taxi from the Old Port to Oia, negotiate at the tender pier, should include shuttle from bottom of the hill to Oia, and shuttle bus back to Fira, 35€ to 40€, may or may not include cable car at Fira to Old Port for tendering back to ship
  • Norwegian excursion: Charming Oia & Winery, 4hours, $99  (no longer available)


Day 3 - Athens, Greece (7am to 6pm)






Note: Port is in Piraeus, not too far from Athens

  • Metro Green line Piraeus to Monastiraki to the north (OR Acropolis (green to blue to red line) to the south), metro ticket 1.2€ one way
  • Central ' Varvakios' Markets
  • Monastiraki Flea Market at Monastraki Metro Station
  • Walk through Plaka District to the south entrance near Acropolis Museum
  • walk up to Acropolis (20€ admission)
  • Parthenon, Erechtheion and Acropolis
  • Possible: Acropolis Museum, 15€ admission
  • Possible:Temple of Athena Nike
  • metro back from nearest metro station at the time
  • Athens Maps

Alternatives:


Day 4 - Mykonos, Greece (7am to 4pm)






  • Little Venice (40 min walk along the shore from terminal)
  • Matoyianni Street
  • The Windmills next to Little Venice
  • Rarity Gallery in Little Venice (Kalogera 20 - 22, Mikonos 846 00, Greece) - free admission
  • Mykonos Walking Map



Day 5 - Olympia, Greece (9am to 6pm)







Note: Port is at Katacolon, 33km from Olympia


Alternatives:



Day 6 - Corfu, Greece (7am to 3pm)





  • Corfu Old Town
  • Touristic Market of Corfu Old Town
  • Church of Saint Spiridon - across from market
  • Casa Parlante: Admission 8€
  • Old Fortress Corfu 3€
  • Corfu Wallking Map



Day 7 - Catania, Italy (8am to 5pm)





  • Piazza del Duomo
  • Fontan dell'Amenano (in Piazza del Duomo)
  • Basilica Catedrale Sant'Agata V.M. Catania (at Piazza del Duomo)
  • Chiesa della Badia di Sant'Agata (north across the street from the Basilica)
  • A'Piscaria Mercato del Pesce (next to Piazza del Duomo)
  • Via Etnea
  • Giardino Bellini (15min walk on Via Etnea north of Piazza Duomo)
  • Monastero dei Benedettini (10 min walk west of Piazza del Duomo)
  • Teatro Massimo Bellini - Piazza Vincenzo Bellini (northeast of Piazza del Duomo within the same block)
  • Parco Archeologico Greco Romano di Catania (just west of Piazza del Duomo) - 6€
  • Catania Walking Map

Alternatives


Day 8 - Salerno, Italy (6am to 4pm)





  • Villa Comunale - park near terminal
  • Lungomare di Salerno - waterfront
  • Duomo di Salerno (in town close to cruise terminal)
  • Giardino della Minerva - 10 min walk from terminal, for view
  • Via dei Mercanti - shopping street
  • Castello di Arechi - castle ruin, 30 min from base of hill, which is 25 min from the terminial
  • Medieval Aqueduct - end of Via Merchanti, turn north on Via Velia
  • Salerno Walking Map

Alternative:
  • Norwegian Excursion: Pompeii On Your Own, USD $49 - 4 1/2 hours, visit Archaeological Park of Herculaneum (with admission) (no longer available)



Day 9 - Florence/Pisa, Italy (9am to 830pm)






Note: Port is in Livorno, 90 km from Florence, 25 km from Pisa

  • Norwegian Excursion: Florence & Pisa On Your Own US$169 - 10 hours (3 1/2 hours free time in Florence) (no longer available)
  • Pisa - Leaning Tower of Pisa
  • Florence - Piazza del Duomo
  • Florence - Piazza della Signoria
  • Florence - Gallerie Degli Uffizi
  • Florence - Basilica of Santa Croce
  • Florence - Ponte Vecchio - next to Piazza della Signoria
  • Florence - Piazzale Michelangelo
  • Florence - Galleria dell'Accademia - Sculpture of David
  • Florence - Mercato Centrale - 10 min from Duomo
  • Florence Attractions

  • Livrono - Cattedrale di San Francesco
  • Livrono - Via Grande
  • Livrono - Monumento Dei Quattro Mori
  • Livrono - Fortezza Vecchia
  • Livrono - Chiesa Santa Caterina
  • Livrono - Venezia Nuova
  • Livrono - Fortezza Nuova
  • Livrono - Piazza della Republica
  • Livrono - Mercato Centrale
  • Livrono Walking Map

Alternative:


Day 10 - Rome, Italy (6am)






Note: Port is in Civitavecchia (78 km from Rome)
  • transfer to Rome
  • flight from Rome