Once you arrive in Greece, you will clear passport control and customs. Depending on your connecting flights, it is possible that you might clear passport control for the EU somewhere else in Europe. Passport control is not complicated in Greece, typically. Here are common questions to be prepared to answer:
1. What is the purpose of your visit?
2. When do you depart?
3. Where will you visit?
4. Where will you be staying?
A note on insurance: Third party rental car booking sites often advertise insurance coverage as packaged in the rates. [MORE INFO IN PURCHASED ITINERARY]
A note on directions: Situate your cell phone for international reception. You can purchase a sim card in Greece for very affordable rates. [MORE INFO IN PURCHASED ITINERARY]
Exit the metro station into Monastiraki Square. Turn right toward Hadrian's Library, then right again down a pedestrian lane. Follow this about a block next to restaurants. You will come to the entrance to the Athenian Agora on your left.
Walk the same paths that Socrates, Plato and Aristotle did centuries earlier. Visit the Stoa of Attalus, Socrates' Prison and the Temple of Hephaestus. Make your way up the hill to the Aereopagus.
Visit the Propylaea, Erechtheion and Parthenon. Don't forget to stop by the Odeon and Theater of Dionysius on the way down. Then, backtrack to Mars Hill and back to the Agora. Exit at the same entrance you came in. Turn right toward Antica Restaurant.
Check out of your hotel and drive to Delphi (approximately 2.5 - 3 hours). Be prepared to pay for tolls with EUR coins or choose the lanes with attendants to use a credit card.
Be sure to check out the Delphi Inscription at the exit of the museum, used to date the book of Acts. Stop for a light lunch at the museum snack shop before touring the archaeological site.
Ferry prices are standardized and
multiple websites can be used. We recommend www.ferryhopper.com
for a simplified online experience. Your confirmation will be emailed to you,
but you will need to obtain printed tickets at the port. Levantes Ferries runs
out of the port city of Patras, which is on the west coast of the Peloponnese.
There is a brief stop in Kefalonia at the port of Sami on the way to Pisaeos,
Ithaki. Be sure to book fares for your passengers as well as your vehicle.
Levantes Ferries departs for Sami and then Piseos at 1:00 pm from the northern port. It is wise to aim for arrival at the port by noon. You may consider stopping to top off your gas tank toward the end of your road trip to Patras, since fuel costs on the island are 10-15% higher than the mainland.
When you arrive at the port, park and check in at the kiosk with your reservation to get printed tickets. When the ferry arrives, you will drive your car into the bottom of the ferry according to direction from employees. Then you will walk upstairs to enjoy the scenic journey. There is indoor and outdoor seating as well as a cafe with sandwiches and drinks for purchase.
Once arriving at the port at Ithaca, there is only one way to exit. Follow the road up the mountain and bear to the right at the fork to head toward Vathi on the south side of the island.
Reputed to be the place where Odysseus landed on Ithaca after his epic journey. A nice stopover which is on the way to the School of Homer. About four parking places on the side of the road after the big curve coming out of Vathi.
The archaeological site called Homer’s School is considered the place where the legend of Odysseus, enshrined by Homer, actually took place. This Mycenean structure dates to the earliest of times.
Drive to Stavros and stop at city center, across from the orthodox church. There are several parking spaces in front of the city park. Walk into the small grassy area where you will find a model which displays a reconstruction of the ruins. The signage on the back of the display interprets the various portions of the structure. Next to the reconstruction, you will also find a map of Odysseus’ journey from Troy to Ithaki. After taking this in, you may choose to walk or drive to the archaeological site. The walk is about 30 minutes, mostly with gradual ascent to the site. Once turning off the main road about a third of the way up, the way is quite a scenic with olives groves, wild flowers and views of Afales Bay. Whether you choose to walk or drive, directions are marked well by brown road signs.
There are about four parking places at the site. Proceed an additional 100 feet to the entrance and begin ascending the hill via the zig zag path. You will come to the place where the pathway entered into the fortress.
One of the most adventuresome and picturesque beaches on the island is found just beyond your hotel. Travel toward Skinos beach. Gidaki beach can only be reached by boat or by hike. There are about five parking spaces at Skinos beach. If you don’t get one of the coveted parking spots, you can park a bit down the road at Minimata beach. Walk along the road until you see a sign for Skinos beach. Descend the stairs and then walk through the grassy area above the beach until you reach a gate. Exit and then enter through another gate, where you will begin a mild ascent. This path takes you up and over the mountain, through a piney forest, with stunning views off both sides. The walk is about 30 minutes in total. It does ascend and descend about 500 feet, but is not overly strenuous at all.
Once arriving on the beach, you’ll have almost a kilometer stretched out in front of you to choose a spot to enjoy. In high season, there is a small concession and portion of the beach which is organized. However, for the most part, this beach is very natural and uncrowded. The foot traffic is limited due to the distance and parking. Most of the visitors come and go by boat, without staying for the full day.
Scenic view of serene harbor, enjoyed from the balconies of the rooms. Walking distance to Vathi.
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Olympia
May 3, 2024
Check out of your hotel and drive to the port for the 7:00 am departure. Arriving 30 minutes ahead of departure is very adequate. Catch the ferry to Patras. Upon arrival, drive to Olympia (approximately 1.5 - 2 hours).
Check out of your hotel and drive to Ancient Corinth (note: not in the same location as modern Corinth / approximately 2.5 - 3 hours). If any of the roadside stands are open, treat yourself to some fresh fruit or honey along the way.
Tickets to the archaeological site and museum can be purchased at the entrance kiosk. This museum presents interactive exhibits of artifacts from the mythical periods of Corinthian history through the Roman era.
Hiking on the acrocorinth will take you through a fascinating medieval fortress. On the top, the foundation of the Temple of Aphrodite - for which Corinth is much famed - can be viewed. In the springtime, the wildflowers are picturesque. Closed toe shoes with excellent grip are recommended. Especially at the entrance, the marble is very slippery and on occasion a non-poisonous snake can be seen along the path.
A' hotel with unbeatable view of the Aegean Sea, a private beach and pool for swimming, an all-you-can-eat buffet with Greek cuisine. Just minutes from Ancient Corinth.
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Return
May 5, 2024
Enjoy a casual morning on a suntanner by the pool or a hammock on the beach for exclusive use of King Saron patrons.
Ask for a late check out at the hotel and then drive toward Athens airport (approximately 2 hours). Be prepared to pay for tolls on your route. Turn in your rental car and take the shuttle to the terminal for check-in three hours in advance of your flight.
Resources
The following books may be helpful to you in understanding the significance of some of the places you visit.
Tsevas, Costas and Eric Larsen. Greece:
a Biblical Tour of Greek Historical Sites. AMG Publishers, 2022.
Cochrane, Jane. Walking in the Footsteps of Odysseus: A Practical Guide to the Homeric Paths of Ithaca. Amazon Digital Services, 2022.
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This itinerary has been designed by David Bosworth, Educational Travel Specialist for Greek Bible Tours. David has been helping believers travel to Greece in the footsteps of the apostles since 2004. Greek Bible Tours is a for-profit business which seeks to reinvest revenue in the ongoing work of Christian ministry and outreach in Greece. Thank you for your support.
Greek Bible Tours is committed to experiential learning. As an Educational Travel Specialist, Dr. David E. Bosworth has helped thousands of travelers journey in the footsteps of the apostles.
