Planning a Visit to Athens

Q: I will be in Athens for a meeting in mid December. At that time of the year is there any island that is worth visiting for a few days after the meeting or should one just plan to visit museums? - A. Okreglicki.

A: There is so much to see and do in Athens that you could easily forego a trip to one of the islands, but you will miss out on one of the country's greatest attractions. December is certainly not a great time to visit as it can be cold and rainy, but there should be some warm days as well. Most of the big islands, like Mykonos, Santorini and Crete, are open for business, catering to the many locals and expats who live there. Holidaymakers may be a little thin on the ground, but some actually prefer visiting the islands when it is quiet. If you don't want to travel too far, then the islands close to Athens that are open year-round include Kea, Hydra, Spetses, Poros and Aegina. You can happily spend a day or two, as long as you are not put off by the fact that many of the big resorts and tourist restaurants are closed and the pace of life is quiet. If you are unsure about staying on an island, it may be a good idea to take a one-day island cruise from Athens. One of the better ones takes you to Hydra and then Aegina. The package includes transfers to and from your hotel to the port, the ferry crossings and lunch. After an early morning departure, you will have plenty of time to explore Hydra. In the early afternoon you depart for Aegina and enjoy lunch on board the boat as you pass through the narrow strait separating the Peloponnesian coast from Poros Island. On Aegina you can either join the excursion to the Temple of Aphaiaor or discover the main town by yourself. Finally, you pay a short visit to Poros and then head for Piraeus Port for a transfer back to your hotel. The cost of the package is around 89 Euros (R976). (13/11/11)