How To Travel Around Greece By Coach

Greece is a beautiful country and although many people choose one or two beaches to visit there is a lot to be said for travelling around the country. There are 6000 islands and islets that help to form the whole of Greece as well as the mainland. Of all these islands around 227 are inhabited. Obviously you cannot visit all of them in one holiday or maybe even one lifetime but there are ways to maximise your visit to Greece.

The beautiful islands of Greece

Greece is lucky to have an abundance of beautiful islands and maybe no other place in the world has so many islands open to and capable of catering to tourists. Greece attracts visitors from around the world to see these wonderful places with fantastic sun and historical towns & cities. The Ionian Islands or ‘seven islands’ are lush and green. The best time to visit Greece is spring (mid April to mid June) and the autumn; from September to mid October.

What can you do on the Greek islands?

You can swim the Blue Caves on Zante, then go and visit the beautiful white beaches of Porto Katsiki and the beaches of Aegina. For the more active, you could climb around the castles on Corfu and Kythera and explore the waterfalls and caves on Kefalonia and Kythera. Back on Zakynthos (or Zante) you can look out for monk seals and loggerhead turtles. Zante is one of the few places in the world to see loggerhead turtles hatch.

Santorini is also a very pretty island and was created by a large volcanic eruption which then formed a big lagoon in the centre of the island. Crete is the largest Greek island and has some wonderful archaeological sites from ancient times. There are great beaches and superb scenery ranging from mountains and deep gorges to lush valleys. You can take a boat from the port of Nidri on Lefkada and enjoy an island tour. This will let you stop at the vast Papanikolis cave on Meganissi. It is said that the massive Papanikolis submarine would hide in the cave here after missions during World War II. The cave is named after the submarine.

Getting off the beaten track

Greece is an inexpensive country compared to other European holiday destinations. It becomes even cheaper when you decide to go off the beaten path. For this you could consider hiring a private mini bus. This may sound a bit stressful but by hiring a bus with a driver you and your family or friends can travel around Greece mainland without getting behind the wheel. A local, knowledgeable, professional driver can help you to see more of Greece than the average traveller.

Making an island your base

Alternatively why not use one island as a base? Aegina island could be the perfect spot to arrive for your holiday. It is only a short trip from Piraeus on the mainland. You could then explore the island and stay there as your basecamp so to speak while travelling off to the various islands around Aegina. Agistri, Poros & Hydra and the Peloponnese islands are all accessible from here.

Look online for coach hire so you can get around without having to worry about driving yourself. This takes away the worry of insurance or having an accident while travelling abroad. You could be picked up at the airport on the mainland and brought to the island or use a mini bus to embark on a day tour once you have settled into your Aegina accommodation.

What does Aegina have to offer?

One of the beautiful things about Aegina is that it is the opposite of some other Greek holiday destinations. It does not have a McDonalds, you won’t see signs advertising British pubs and fry up breakfasts. The island attracts Greek couples and families on the weekend which makes it a much more authentic visit than going to the party islands. You can get around easily and exploring Aegina by motorbike is easily done.Getting back to Athens.

If you are travelling from Piraeus to Athens to fly home or continue your journey then you can buy a ferry ticket from a travel agency then cross back to Piraeus from Aegina. Once in Piraeus go to the Metro near the port and purchase a ticket to Athens. The Metro is the cheapest way to get there. If you have time then try to explore Piraeus as this town has a lot more to offer than it might seem at first.

Summary

Greece has a lot to offer for the history buff, the nature lover, the independent backpacker, or families wanting a relaxing beach holiday. By hiring a private coach or bus you could see so much more of the country than the average visitor but whatever you choose be sure to enjoy the beautiful weather, people and food of Greece.