louipivac

I'm looking for some help with my itinerary for my family of 4 (kids aged 12 & 7) for this coming April please. Sorry if I'm giving too much information, I don't want to leave anything out you might want to know.

We have ten nights (Arrive Athens airport Sat 8th April 13:30 and depart Athens airport 18th 15:30) in Greece and sticking to the mainland this trip.

In the past our travel with kids has worked well if I can mix a morning of sightseeing with a relaxed afternoon at a park, and most importantly not trying to fit in too much so staying longer in one place. When we travelled Europe with the kids for 13months a few years ago what worked best was 3 days in cities and 7 days in other places. But coming all the way from Australia with only 10 days in Greece followed by 9 days at our families home in rural Croatia before we fly home I'm not sure this formula will do justice to our 10 days in Greece.

Ideally I would like to see Athens, Delphi, Olympia and have enough days in Nafplion to visit the sites in this area (Epidaurus, Mycenae & Thyrins) but I'm concerned with this wish list my kids may revolt.

We enjoy museums (in moderation for the kids), walking including historical sites, parks and gardens and of course relaxing with good food.

It is orthodox Easter on the weekend before we leave and I thought to spend this time in Nap lion.

My itinerary at this point is:
2 days/3 night Athens (Sat-Tues)
Drive to Delphi 2 nights (Tues - Thurs)
Drive to Olympia 1 night (Thurs - Fri)
Drive to Nafplion on good Friday morning for 4 nights (Fri-Tues)
Drive Nafplion to Athens airport for 13.05 flight

My questions please:
1. Would it be better to take days from Nafplion and add to either Delphi or Olympia?
2. Should I drop Olympia and have 5 nights in Nafplion
3. I planned to avoid Easter in Athens, but should I consider reversing the itinerary and arrive in Athens Easter Saturday afternoon?
4. Is there somewhere (village/town) outside Nafplion you would recommend as Nafplion is already booking up quickly at Easter?

I would appreciate any comments or suggestions you may have.

Many thanks
Lou

travelerjan

You have a dilemma that's not easy to solve! All major sights & museums will be closed Easter Sunday AND Easter Monday ... that's the "price" of traveling during your kids' Spring Break from school. I still think you should leave it as it is ... because in Nafplio, being a smaller place, you may be able to hook up with some local celebration of Easter -- and also enjoy the Great Outdoors, beach etc when sites/museums are closed.

Since you are coming all the way from Australia (BTW you should really state this in each thread you post, we shouldn't have to hunt out this fact which affects advice), you'll be tired, right? Hard to get started early on 1st day? Then why not add a day in Athens and snip it off from Delphi? There is SO much to see (for kids too!) in Athens, and really, you can appreciate Delphi in 24 hours.

My Delphi advice is this ... leave by 11 am, 3.5 hr drive. The Museum is open until 1600, last entry is 1530. If you arrive in the area by 1530, stop at Site entry (it is downhill from the village) and go to the Museum. Then you can backtrack a bit farther downhill to the Athena "tholos"( round ruin u see on every poster), it's unfenced, open 24/7. (if you arrive after 1530, save museum for next day). Then drive up to the village, check in hotel,(we liked PAN on main street, back rooms look right down the mountain to the sea). If weather is fine, consider outdoor dinner on a terrace cafe w view; sunset will be nearly 8, but earlier w mountains blocking horizon. Next AM
take the "parapet walk" downhill to site entry at 8 AM. The bus crowds arrive about 10:15, go onto site & then Museum. You might do well to see museum for 30 mins first, then go up into site. Note: stadium is up top and a STEEP climb and nowadays cannot be entered due to rockfalls. You can be ready to leave by 11 am.

You are smart to consider how FAR it is to Olympia and long drive time (Daddy are we THERE yet???) ... and there is an answer ... swap in another wonderful Sacred Games Site that can give your kids the same thrill, but MUCH closer -- ANCIENT NEMEA. When you cross the Corinth Canal, it's just about 10 Km onward, directly off the big intercity highway to the NORTH, just about at the same juncture where one turns SOUTH toward Nafplio.

NEMEA has ruins, a partially reconstructed temple, a small museum and an absolutely wonderful stadium... complete with "athletes tunnel" entry, and starting blocks (!) for ancient races. Authentically uncovered & restored by UC Berkeley, Nemea now every 4 years hosts a "revived games" that attracts thousands to cheer & participate. Here's a link to show the kids - http://nemeangames.org/ancient-nemea...tions-ucb.html ... You can enjoy the site in less than an hour, then cross the big highway & head south to NAFPLIO for an extra night ... and there is SO much there for all 4 of you to explore. The Acronafplia ramparts atop the town, the castle in the harbor, Palamidi fort atop giant hill (drive up back way, walk DOWN).

If you choose this option, instead of going over rio bridge & down west rim of Peloponnese, you'll drive back down from Delphi to the split in the highway at Elefsina, where you take the big road to Pelops.. NOTE: you cannot SEE the Corinth canal from the biggie highway, so you can jump off at exit sign for "Isthmus", do local road to OLD bridge, take pix, then hop back ON the big road... takes all of 15 mins.

As for Nafplio area sights, you can arrange to be most time-efficient IF your gang is early-risers. On day you plan to return to Airport, leave early and head east across the "thumb" of peloponnese "hand" to get to Anc. Epidaurus by 9 am. You can pretty much skip the ruins except for a quick look-see, and focus on the THEATRE. A superb Must-See ...send kids to topmost tier of seats, then whisper from center stage. Magic!!

You are correct, Nafplio places are ALWAYS booked up for Easter because it's a favorite Athenian getaway. If you want a place that's just 15 mins (9km) drive outside of Old Town, here's a place that's on the Edge of Tolo, right next to my favorite "hidden" beach -- http://bungalows-villa-christina-ass...en/aboutus.htm In Nafplio Old Town, check out Pension Nikolaos and Pension Bonne Nuit, both up above Old Town on a high square (with parkng) looking down on town & sea. Of course on all, check Trip Advisor reviews as well as booking.com.

yiassas

A few points here, if you spend Easter in Nafplion do NOT plan on doing anything on the morning you leave for the airport, get a reasonably early start & head straight there. I have been leaving Athens after an Easter break on several occasions & the traffic heading back to the city is manic with many returning so leave plenty of time. Each toll gate looked like one huge car park!
Is there any reason you want to avoid Athens for the Easter weekend? With most sites closed for Easter elsewhere there are still some open on Easter Monday in Athens, as well as the fact there are so many other things to see & do.
I would reverse your itinerary (skip Olympia) & finish in Athens, arriving there on the Friday morning so you can see both the Friday & Saturday celebrations. On Easter Sunday you will usually find places doing traditional Easter food, whole lamb on the spit, kokoretsi etc.
This way you will be going against the traffic, lots of people will be leaving Athens all week, many last minute on the Friday if they've had to work up until then.

RubyTwins

Check out my threads below. I too am traveling that week with two teens too. People have been very helpful with good advice: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...p-570444-2.cfm

We are going to END in Athens because people think SOME things (restaurants) might be open on Easter.

I booked a beautiful house in Nafplio via AirBnB and an apartment in Athens via HomeAwayHome. Still need to deal with my Delphi situation! Two nights? Didn't plan that part well but don't want to lose the houses I did get.

We are doing one night in Hydra and two nights in Meteora. Like you, trying to mix up museums, ruins, and maybe some hikes or outdoor time so I don't get too many eye rolls.

travelerjan

Listen to yiassas she knows exactly whereof she speaks, lives in Athens. I defer to her judgment.

louipivac

Wow thanks very much for the quick and incredibly helpful replies!!

So firstly Olympia is out and we are reversing the itinerary to enjoy Easter Athens, thanks Yiassas!!

Travelerjan, thanks so much for all you amazing advice, I am most grateful!! We have factored in for jet lag, and while I did mention in my post that we are coming from Australia, I forgot to mention we have a 24 hour stopover in Dubai to avoid nighttime flights, so we have only 5h40m flight on the day we arrive. I agree absolutely with your advice to be early risers, we often found on our big trip in 2014 that by leaving our accommodation by 8am we could see the sites without the tour bus crowds.

The plan now looks like this:
Arrive Saturday (15:30) and drive to Nafplion (arrive around 7 or 8pm)
4 nights/3 full days Nafplion (sat-wed)
Wed morning leave Nafplion early, stop at Ancient Nemea (thanks travelerjan) in morning and perhap have lunch in Nafpaktos before arriving around 3 or 4pm...see the Athena Tholos in the evening if I can convince the kids.
2 nights Delphi (We-Fri)
Good Friday morning drive to Athens for 4 nights (fri-Tues)
Tues fly to Dubrovnik

If we stayed the extra night in Nafplion as I would have preferred and just have one night In Delphi we would leave Nafplion Thurs and only have the evening as Good Friday I assume everything will be closed.

Can you advice me where to drop the hire car back, going back to the Airport or somewhere out of the city?

Rubytwins, I think would should get a big minivan and go together, I can't believe it looks like we will be at the same places on the same days a number of times

I've checked out the opening hours of a few places in Athens over Easter:
Acropolis Museum -Good Friday 8-8 Sat 8-8 Sun closed Mon 8-4 (definitely correct as used online ticketing on their website)
National museum - only mentions Easter Sunday closure so open Fri(9-4) Sat and Mon (1-8)
I can't access the official website that will tell me Acropolis opening hours but hoping to go Sat or Mon.

The plan for Easter Sunday is the wander the streets, visit the park and enjoy a long lunch. If you ask our kids the favourite places they have seen it seems always to be the parks.

Travelerjan, if my accommodation choices are now better not going at Easter would you choose to stay right in Nafplion?

Again thanks so much,
Lou

travelerjan

Hurray, hurray! You have a VERY do-able itinerary. I see your problem about Good Friday. Here's a thought about maxing time around Nafplio: Leave the Palimidi adventure until the Morning you leave (Wed), drive up the back way 8 AM for photo-taking from the ramparts. If Krazy Kids want to go DOWN the 999 steps, flip a coin for which parents accompanies them, then the Winner drives car down to cafe at foot of steps, drinks coffee, awaits them (with snacks) Thus you get to Nemea later (noonish) and arrive at Delphi later... and leave the Tholos hike for Thursday afternoon. Also, contributor Mariha, who ives there, says Lots of things to do in Delphi r overlooked.

As for car return, Athens streets will be clogged w. Greeks leaving, my opinion, airport is easiest. A tip: U are required to return car w. full petrol tank or they fill, at stiff $$. Keep eyes peeled en route to airport, there's a petrol station about 10 km out, to "top up" tank more cheaply.

What transport into city? Depends on hotel location. IF it is at all near Syntagma Square, X95 bus right at curb goes every 20 mins, takes same road as taxi ... €6 for adults 1/2 for youth. Metro?? w. 2 kids. too much to keep track of, & also keep constant alert for pickpockets. If hotel is a long walk from Syntagma, Taxi is €38 flat-fee, reasonable for 4 people.

louipivac

Thanks travelerjan, I plan to follow all of your advice. Our apartment in Athens is 350 metres walk from the Acropolis Museum, opposite the park leading to Temple of Olympian Zeus and 1.1km from Syntagma Square so maybe a taxi from the square after catching the bus unless we feel like a walk.

Rubytwins, have you seen the Bungalows at Camping Apollon in Delphi. The kids spotted them on Booking.com and wanted it as something different. Cost us only EUR99 for 2 nights total with breakfast, probably as most people don't go to a camp ground in April ;-) Hope to see you on the road somewhere

thanks again
Lou

travelerjan

THe x95 bus stops at Top of Syntagma Square, at corner of Amalias Avenue -- which your apt. is on .... and it's an easy Downhill walk, 10 minute stroll.

louipivac

A quick update for you..I was finally able to get the details for the Acropolis over Easter and definitely only closed on Easter Sunday thank goodness.

Also my husband has decided, after reading too much online, that he's not driving in Greece. He has driven in France, Croatia and Slovenia but he wants to enjoy this holiday without having to think about what side of the road to drive on. So I have found really affordable transfers Athens Airport to Nafplio and Nafplio to Delphi through a taxi company in Nafplio, but if anyone can suggest a company I haven't booked yet.

Also the bus from Delphi to Athens say it does not operate at Easter, would you think this means Friday-Monday or just the Sunday?

tonib

Athens in Easter (Saturday and Sunday) will be empty, and that is not a bad idea for your family since you will be more comfortable visiting the city. As for the buses on Eastern form Athens to Delphi and back, they fully operate! And 2 nights in Delphi I think maybe are more than OK, except if you need some time to rest.

travelerjan

Hi again -- OK I can understand if husband doesn't want to drive, And congratulations in being able to afford a chauffered alternative. but just suggesting he might get an Intl. Driving Permit before leaving Australia Just in Case a situation arises where driving would really improve the experience, or be necessary due to some unplanned occurrence.

Heimdall

Good idea from travelerjan! I myself prefer not to drive in Greece, but in the past have bought IDPs "just in case". I ended up not using them, but don't regret it because it would be better to have an IDP and not use it than get to Greece and wish you had one. If the Aussie IDPs are good for a year, you may be able to use it on another foreign trip during that time.

louipivac

Thanks so much, perhaps once we are in Nafplio we might get a car to make day trips. He has his IDP as he has driven in Europe before and will drive in Croatia again on this trip.

The taxi (€145) to Nafplio is only about €50 more than the cost of a taxi to bus station (our flight arrives at 15:30 and we would want to catch the soonest bus) plus bus fares for 4 people and the transfer to to Delphi is €225 which is a splurge but for 4 people and saving so much time avoiding the bus journey it's probably worth it. The company has poor ratings on trip advisor, only a couple of reviews generally about them being rude and impatient so I haven't committed to them yet.

mariha2912

Stricktly my opinion: Not having a car is a major disadvantage and puts you in a possition to be tied in in the most touristed sites/activities on each location, without any flexibility to explore a bit further.
I was about to say it is always unfair that people keep suggesting to cut a day out from Delphi. Without a car you could make a point to visit the Angelos and Sikelianos museum, walk around the upper part of town and do a bit of hiking if this is your thing. Or you could walk towards Pavillion direction with the kids, let them decompress on the courts for an hour and take in the views from the near by cliffs. There are people coming here who do not need to rush rush rush so they stay for many days, comsidering part of their trip experience to just take in the ambiance and the landscpape, even if they do not report visiting X site or doing Z activity. This is part of their traveling experience for them.
Having a car you could do so so much more though. From drive up to the mountain for a completely different take of Greece to going by the sea side and have a walk or visit marine time museums... Byzantine churches, mountain caves, fir tree forests, mountain villages, wineries, sea side towns, fishing harbours and much more are no more than an hours drive around Delphi and often much less than that.
Those are not possible to explore without a car or you'll have to be tied up on taxis/buses without flexibility to stop where you wish or not been tied up on timetables and arrangements.
The same applies for all locations you mention, all have much more to often that the major tourist sites.
Just my thoughts.

louipivac

Thanks Mariha, we have already booked our accommodation so it's definitely 4 nights Nafplio, 2 Delphi and 4 Athens, probably the least we have ever stayed anywhere as we like slow travel. Travel with kids we consider a taster and an introduction for when we can come back and explore when they have flown the coop.

I won't commit to transport yet and he might change his mind. I think he finds the thought of Athens airport as his first time on the right hand side of the road for a couple of years a little daunting, while driving in Croatia on familiar roads much less worrying. He didn't drive in Italy either.

yiassas1

Hi, I'm back with a slight change of name Got locked out & only response from Fodors was to register a new account!

I agree your experience will be totally enriched having a car & save lots of time. Also much easier with kids if they want, or need, to stop for a break/toilet & the unexpected photo stops etc. Rent one on arrival, the drive from the airport to Nafplion is on the highway for the most part & bypasses Athens, so not too difficult!
My husband drove for the first time on the 'wrong' side of the road here in Greece (we are Brits) & loved it, roads outside major cities & towns can often be relatively traffic free & we were always getting sidetracked when spotting somewhere to explore en route that we weren't aware of.
You would only need the car for the first part of the trip, on your return from Delphi drive back to the airport to return the car & take public transport or taxi to get into the city, you don't need the car for Athens ( nor would he want that driving experience!)
I can highly recommend http://athens-carrental.com/ as I have several friends use them every year & they deliver & collect from the airport. They have all been pleased with their vehicles & have high praise for their service.

louipivac

Thanks yiassas, I've talked to hubby again about driving and he tells me he is prepared to drive but not straight after the flight from Dubai. So we can get a transfer to Nafplio that evening and I have found car hire that can be collected in Nafplio and returned at Athens Airport on Good Friday.

Which would you consider the easiest route to Delphi?

We came up with an alternative plan yesterday, to skip Delphi, hire a car in Naflio for the time we are there and then catch a ferry from Ermioni to Hydra have two nights there and catch the ferry to Piraeus on Good Friday midmorning. Much less travel and stress but we miss Delphi. Is this worth considering?

louipivac

Thanks so much everyone for all your help. We have just spent some time "driving to Nafplio" on google maps street view and have decided driving in Greece looks no more difficult than driving in Croatia, where we lived for 3 months. So car the whole way it is. Thank you for your patience and good advice.

RubyTwins

louipivac we are driving too even though one of the websites freaked us out and convinced us to rent a bigger car than we normally drive (with side airbags). We drive in Brooklyn and NYC so hoping its not too much worse.