Hi, I'm new to this site and am hoping that you can help me with a little advice, I realise that this may well be personal opinion, but I would value the opinion of those who have experience of several greek islands.
We picked Greece as we have an interest in the traditional Greek style, taverna's and the historic buildings and area's. We have little interest in very touristy places but realise that resorts always become commercialised in time and we expect this.
a quiet holiday would suit us, with probably half board at a reasonable hotel, the ability to walk into the town, hire a car or quad bike etc, but an area with a few places of historical interests, ruins / old buildings etc.
Is there any particular Greek island that springs to mind that you might be able to suggest to me for consideration ?
'any' help would be most appreciated
Paul
Crete has probably the most archaeology of all the Islands, including the splendid Knossos and the Iraklion Museum but you may find that you prefer something a little smaller and quieter, in which case I would suggest Thassos. Plenty of tavernas as well and only a 6 mile ferry ride from Kavala. A main road around the Island (bus trip?) with several smaller villages and the remains of the ancient town and theatre to investigate.
I might well have returned there this Spring if I were not off to join several other old ruins of my aquaintance in Symi but will be going back to Crete in October. I do hope the Minotaur hasn't escaped from the Maze by then.
Your requirements are pretty much in line with our own. In recent years we have found Patmos, Naxos and Lesvos to have good areas to suit. We also loved the Pelion region and parts of the Peloponesse should not be missed, in particular Monemvassia and Naplion areas. Even the touristy islands have some great historic sites like Rhodes old town. Crete has some of the best and worst resorts in Greece, avoid Malia and the area just west of Chania and there are still some very 'Greek' areas. Have a look at brochures from Greek Sun or Sunvil for the type of places you are looking for, good companies but not the cheapest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chania
This is the sort of back-street scene that I like
http://www.anastasia-apartments.com/AnastasiaFrame.htm
I stayed a few miles west of Crete and found no problem in eating in tavernas with few other tourists in sight. Not to mention beaches to myself. Loved it.
You've got the Paphos area of Cyprus with the mosaics and just up the road Aphrodites Pool. From Cyprus, through Louis Lines, you can do an excursion to Cairo with its Pyramids, The Sphynx, Papyrus factory and Tutan Kamun museum.On Santorini there's the villages of Akrotiri and Oia plus the volcano out in Thira bay, many people gather in Thira for the spectacular sunsets. With Zante(Zakynthos) you can take an overnight trip to Athens and also make your own way to Kefalonia(Captain Karellis mandolin), we stayed in Alykanas.
I have been going to Greece for 30 years plus, and if you are interested in archaeological sites then I would recommend Crete, especially for Knossos (like going to Egypt and not seeing the Pyramids) there is an abundance of sites in Crete, however I agree with rdv avoid places like Malia, in Northern Crete full of 18-30's and nightclubs, I suggest for a laid back holiday Plakias, Myrthos, and Aghia Galini all on the south coast much prettier and certainly quieter. Of course you could always go to the Greek mainland to Mt Olympus outside Athens the museum there is awesome with some of the greatest treasures that have been found in Greece, and the Acropolis.Wherever you choose to go I'm sure you will have a lovely time.
a fair few archaeological sites on Kos as well the most famous is the Asplenium nr kos town
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