Yoga Retreat in Kythnos, Greece: Travel Guide

Considering our forthcoming Yoga Retreat in Kythnos, Greece?

A little more information, plus practical travel advice

Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Johannesburg to Athens.

You can fly via Dubai with Emirates. This is an excellent choice for Discovery Health members: depending on your status, you may qualify for a discounted fare through Kulula Airlines.

Turkish Airlines also operates flights via Istanbul. South African travellers may wish to look at Travelstart.

Make sure you check the layover duration, as this can range from 2 hours to 18 hours. Fortunately, most airlines will check your luggage through to Athens, so you will not need to collect and recheck it during your stopover.

When making your booking, it is best to allow for one night in Athens, as ferry departures can be quite early. Breaking up the journey before travelling to the island was very helpful. Similarly, consider spending a night or two in Athens after the retreat before travelling home.

Athens travel tips

On arrival in Athens, the airport is roughly an hour from the city by train. A ticket costs 10 euros. It is very straightforward, much like the Gautrain, although the station is a short walk from the airport terminal. You could also take the bus, which costs a little less but may take longer. A taxi costs approximately 50 euros.

Athens has similarities to Johannesburg, with industrial areas alongside beautiful neighbourhoods. There are plenty of street cafés, bars and markets to explore.

Please take care when walking around, particularly after dark.

There is so much to visit in Athens, so do make time to look around if possible.

For instance:

• Acropolis & Museum
• Plaka and Monastiraki
• Churches
• Changing of the guards at Syntagma Square
• Temple of Zeus
• Olympic stadium
• The nightlife is also incredible; my favourites were Noel Bar and A for Athens

I made the mistake of not booking tickets in advance for the Acropolis and other sightseeing attractions. May is fortunately not a particularly busy peak-season month, but do check Trip Advisor.

Pre-booking will save you time, and block bookings can offer some decent discounts.

I stayed at the Athenaeum Grand Hotel. I booked well ahead of time and secured a very good rate through Booking.com. It is a relatively new hotel and sits conveniently between the old city and Piraeus harbour. The hotel provides a complimentary daily shuttle to the Acropolis, and you can also arrange an airport transfer through them. I took the train to Shugyo-Fix station, then either a taxi or a walk of around 2 km will get you to the hotel.

Many hotels listed on Booking.com have special offers, airport connections and shuttles to the old town.

Airbnb.com also offers some very affordable accommodation. It simply depends on the way you prefer to travel.

Smoking is common in Athens, so if you do not smoke, make sure your Airbnb is non-smoking.

The main train stops include Syntagma Square, Acropolis, Monastiraki and Shugyo Fix. These are near the old town, Acropolis attractions and other sites. You may find cheaper accommodation at the port of Piraeus, but you will be much further from the sightseeing areas: at least 30 minutes by taxi.

Athens offers plenty of public-transport options, including taxis, the underground and trams. It is also very easy to travel on foot, as the distances between tube stations are short, much like London or another major European city.

Ferry tickets from Athens to the island can be booked in advance. Athens has two ports: Piraeus and Lavrio. We can only book these nearer the time, as services are less frequent out of season.

Ideally, we would like everybody to take the same ferry ride to the island and back to Athens.

The ferry journey from Athens to Kythnos is delightful and, luckily, not too long: approximately 3 hours. Tickets cost between 16-30 Euros. Remember to bring your own water and snacks for the ferry crossing, as these will be cheaper than buying them onboard.

It is going to be such an adventure - we can hardly wait!

Please note that certain prices mentioned may change depending on inflation rates in Greece.

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