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Which would be a better vacation - Sicily & Rome or Athens and the Greek Islands?

I've always wanted to go to Greece and the Greek Islands but now reading about Sicily it seems like you could get a real good flavor of Greece because they have a lot of ancient Greek ruins. The Sicily package I'm looking at would include 2 days in Rome. I am most interested in the ruins and like active vacations. I would spend a maximum of 2 - half days at the beach and don't care to relax any more than that. Will have 12-14 days total. Robert hit on something that is key for me. I don't like to waste my time traveling and prefer seeing as much as I can in one area. When I went to Hawaii I spent the whole 10 days on one Island and the last time I went to Europe I spent most of my time in Paris. Even in the states when I go on vacation, I like to spend the entire week in one place. I don't like to waste time packing, unpacking, checking in and out and driving.

Public Comments

1. I've never been to the Greek islands or Sicily but i have been to Rome, and it was one of the best cities I have ever been to, I definitely recommend seeing Rome.
2. I've seen Athens & the Greek islands from Discovery Channel's Globe Trekker and I must say they are beautiful... Stick to your firs option.
3. i hear Baghdad is a nice vacation destination
4. What a fine choice. Rome has even more than Athens for the tourist; the Greek islands and Sicily are very comparable, and the islands are much more varied but less rich in night life. beaches are about equal. The reason i would advise the Sicily and Rome over Athens and the islands has t do with your short time-frame. As wonderful as the islands are, the ferry schedule is difficult to master and occasionally unreliable; the other route is a popular one and probably less likely to get interrupted. Unless you're a Grecophile with extensive historical knowledge as I am, I 'd suggest that you should choose by what you CAN do best in your two weeks.
5. have it this way: if you visit China Town in NY it does not mean you have seen China !!! you want to see Greece and Greek islands - you are welcome to come to Greece ! no flavor tastes like it has to - unless tasted at home
6. Athens and the Greek islands. Once you try it, you will do it again and again.
7. First of all, you can't lose with either trip. BUT...Robert D. is right. You might be hassled trying to visit more than one Greek island (and you would certainly have to to get the proper variety) I lived in Rome for 2 years. There is more to see than you can imagine.
8. i have never been to Greece but i have been to Rome and Sicily...many times... Rome is a busy city kinda like new york but with Italians... Sicily is a paradise... get off the beaten path and there are gorgeous beaches and scenery and you can't get a bad meal even if you tried... don't buy jewelry in Rome ...it's a tourist trap and its much cheaper in Sicily... almost everything is..