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Athens-Delphi-Nafplio driving itinerary help

Athens-Delphi-Nafplio driving itinerary help

Old Feb 20th, 2013, 07:19 AM
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Athens-Delphi-Nafplio driving itinerary help

We arrive in Athens around May 6 (after Easter) on our first trip to Greece. Have about 2 weeks total time. Two older adults. Will spend 2-3 days in Athens. I then plan to rent a car and drive to Delphi, perhaps spending one night to see it in the a.m. without tour crowds. We want to then drive to Nafplio, basing ourselves there for 5-6 days before heading to Ermioni/Hydra and possibly Poros. Will end up in Piraeus to drive back to Athens airport.

I am looking for suggestions about best routes and possible stops/side trips along the way, along with estimate driving times from place to place. We are mostly interested in "real" Greece and some (but not too much) archaeology. Thanks.
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Old Feb 22nd, 2013, 06:33 AM
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The trip from Athens to Delphi takes about three hours.
A usual trip from there,that you might wanna consider, is a trip to Meteora (which is a wonderful place to visit and where you can admire the true treasures of Greek nature ). In Nafplio you can visit Palamidi Castle, from where you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view! You can check out http://www.petas.gr for cheap ferry tickets on your way to Hydra. While in Athens if you should have any time at your disposal, visit the Acropolis Museum http://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en and take a walk at the surrounding area.

Hope you 'll have a wonderful time!
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Old Feb 22nd, 2013, 09:10 AM
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I recommend you contact http://www.AutoEurope.com Assuming you are in the US you can talk to them on their 800 line... they specialize in Europe so know what to do. Tell them you want to pick up your car in Athens (others may tell you to go all the way out to the airport... this is not needed and well out of the way) at either Budget or Avis on Amalias near where it turns into Syngrou. You then have a straight shot down Syngrou... take the ramp onto the highway for Piraeus then follow signs for Larissa and the National Road E75. Exit for Elefsina. You can do this soon after starting north and take the old highway or go further north and take the E94 toll road. have coins or small bills handy and use the manned booths. This avoids the crowded and boring National Road and sends you north through Thebes. It's a much less busy route, I enjoyed both the road and the scenery.

Heading for Nafplio I think I might try the bridge at Patras... it's an engineering marvel.

If you can figure out how to work it into your itinerary I'd really try to take Annies advice above and include Meteora. I've missed it on both trips to Greece. ;^(

You should have a great time around Nafplio with Mycenae, Tiryns, Epidaurus and Nemea all within easy reach. I enjoyed the coast drive from Epidaurus to Corinth... take a quick detour from looking at the canal and go to Isthmia and see the sinking bridge. It's not ancient but it's unique! Also, as you drive to Epidaurus from Nafplio, keep an eye out for the Mycenaen bridge. It's just off the modern road...

A few other points about Greek driving:

- You MUST get an IDP to drive in Greece
- You will be expected to put 2 wheels onto a paved shoulder to
let a faster vehicle get past. A slower car pulling right means you can pass him, not that he's turning.
- Keep as far to the right in your lane as practicable on curves and crests of hills... you may meet a car that's passing even in these dangerous spots.
- Stay alert! Greek drivers are, uh, enthusiastic! See all those little roadside memorials? Those are for people who weren't alert enough! ;^(
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Old Feb 22nd, 2013, 09:11 AM
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I meant to mention... use http://www.viamichelin.com and/or Google maps to estimate driving times. Add on extra time for rest stops, lunch stops and stops to look at amazing things you might come across! ;^)
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Old Feb 22nd, 2013, 01:22 PM
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You could go Delfi->Kalabaka->Patra->Ancient Corinth->Corinth Canal->Isthmia Beach->Nafplio.

If that's too much just swing by Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth, and Isthmia on your way to Nafplio. I know "real" Greek people who said their favorite place to go was the Corinth area : )
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Old Feb 22nd, 2013, 01:57 PM
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lulu

Corinth is an ugly modern city.... the area is nicer than the city...... As i have suggested in your post it is better to visit Loutraki, the Vouliagmeni Lake with Heraion Temple and the lighthouse, or the mountainous villages of the Corinth and Achaia prefectures......

I also love the old road that connects Patras with Corinth, it passes through many nice coastal villages full of orange and lemon trees.

The itinerary you suggested should be :

Athens - Meteora ( with a stop at Thermopyles and Kammena Vourla on the way) -Delphi - Patra etc....
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Old Feb 22nd, 2013, 02:29 PM
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I absolutely loved Meteora and Delphi, and Ancient Corinth. Actually there was nothing I didn't like about Greece, except having my throat close up after one bite of Baklava.
We had a driver and he was very good, but we occasionally came around a curve and there were sheep or goats in the road, with a herder. Just be aware of that and take curves cautiously.
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Old Feb 24th, 2013, 12:57 AM
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I am always sad when people have flexibility of a car hire, a few days on their disposal, yet they allow only one night in Delphi before rushing elsewhere...
I strongly believe that on May, you could spend at least 2-3 nights in the area without getting bored...
On your way from Athens on an afternoon, you could maybe get into Livadia town and enjoy some refreshment in the Piges Krias area. Livadia is a rather ungly city but this area is very nice to spend a couple of hours and relax, lots of artificial watermills and waterfalls, you may want to google/youtube and links such as this will come up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_xpvTZjOeo
Then returning to your original route, sortly before Arahova, you can make a detour to Hosios Loukas Monastery or allow a visit during next day or something. It is an UNESCO Heritage site and although it gets more known to foreign visitors nowadays, it is still not hugely discovered.
http://www.osiosloukas.gr/ Nearby Stiri, Kiriaki and Distomo are traditional small villages that rarely get any visitors. Distomo is known for the 1944 massacre and you will see related monuments around http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distomo_massacre
Only 15 minutes drive before Delphi you will pass through Arahova, which is a favored ski resort in winterm,a rather beautiful quiet mountain village on summer. Quite scenic with many traditional products on sale and very pleasant taverns, shops, cafeterias.
http://www.travel-to-arachova.com/

From Delphi you could always spend a visit to Chrisso and enjoy an ouzo or a dinner in a typical Greek tavern by the square, dominated by its large plane tree, or head to Amfissa which has a small archeological museum, many churches, a ruined fort at the top and some traditional neiborhoods where till a few decades ago traditional proffesions where taking place, for example people producing ropes, bells for sheep and goats, or animal fures for ware (there is still one guy dealing with this, I think he mostly works on animal skin and making "papirus" type things...) etc.
You can visit a sleeepy but pleasant enough sea side town only 17 kms from Delphi too (A couple of decent beaches there and a small archeological dig) or by pass and go to Galaxidi, about 35kms from Delphi, a very scenic sea side town with great shipmaking tradition. A naval museum is available, there are a couple of beaches, but its strong point is its small fishing harnbour and its architecture with many mansions that used to belong on captains and upscale sailors etc.
http://www.fokida.gr/site/en_US/cate...es/Amfissa.csp
From Delphi through Arahova you may heat up to Mountain Parnassos too, either visit the ski center that will not run by then and have a look, or explore the mountain villages on the other side of the mountain. Agoriani is maybe the most developed right now, but you may drive and check others too
http://www.aroundparnassos.com/agori...os-delphi.html
There are many other options and activities of course, such as Vagoneto, bauxite mine located maybe 1/3 of the middle of the distance Delphi-Meteora http://www.vagonetto.gr/ or hiking part of the ancient path that coincide in many streches with the E4 trekking path http://www.greecetravel.com/hiking/delphi.html http://www.walkingeurope.info/walks/..._descrip/6102/ but I just provide a few pointers here.....
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Old Feb 24th, 2013, 12:59 AM
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You can visit a sleeepy but pleasant enough sea side town only 17 kms from Delphi too (A couple of decent beaches there and a small archeological dig) ITEA that is of course: )
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Old Feb 24th, 2013, 04:18 AM
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This is a great advice Mariha !!!!
There are so many totally unknown places in that area ( even to Greeks...) My family has a house in Inohori ( old name: Kaniani) 20 km from Gravia, between the mountains of Giona and Iti, not far away from Pavliani.... ( but still in Fokis)

This is a part of Greece that looks very much like Switzerland, with lots of snow in the winter.... and without any tourists....
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Old Feb 24th, 2013, 06:42 AM
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Thanks to all of you. As usual, great ADVICE.
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Old Feb 24th, 2013, 08:26 AM
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Also try to include Mystras, the Byzantine city's ruins, near Sparta. Perhaps a day trip from Napflio.
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Old Feb 24th, 2013, 08:37 AM
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Also agree you should go to Meteora!
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Old Apr 5th, 2013, 01:17 AM
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Also agree on Corinth... nothing special for you to visit there.. Though if you pass by, know that the surrounding area is much better than the city itself (agree on that as well)!
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Old Apr 7th, 2013, 01:30 AM
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We plan to travel Athens-Olympia-Delphi, someone advised it is better to do the journey clockwise, as this is the best way to see the scenery on the north side of the Gulf of Corinth. I have a poor head for heights and I worry a little that the road might be a bit scary- maybe I woud be better going the anti clockwise way as the road in that direction is probably not scary. Any advice?

John O'Riordan
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Old Apr 8th, 2013, 11:50 PM
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Clockwise or anti clockwise, doesn't make any difference really, you will pass through the same places.

It could be Athens-Delphi-Galaxidi-Nafpaktos- Rio/Antirrio Bridge - Olympia - Coast road from Patras to Corinth - Athens,
or the other way round, but still would be the same.
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Old Aug 31st, 2013, 02:01 PM
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nhguy...I'm making a similar trip this month. Could you please advise which roads you ultimately traveled between Athens-Delphi-Nafplio and your opinion of the experience.
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Old Aug 31st, 2013, 10:03 PM
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JMBct

There aren't many options for your itinerary.

1. Athens-Kastro ( on the Highway towards Lamia) then Orchomenos - Livadia - Arahova - Delphi. ( calculate 3 hours)

2. Delphi - Itea - Nafpaktos - Rio/Antirrio Bridge - Highway towards Corinth - then highway to Tripoli -Nafplio.
( 4 hrs)

You could also take the old road from Corinth to Epidavros, which is more scenic, but that would make the trip longer)
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Old Sep 1st, 2013, 04:42 AM
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Take the old road to Delphi via Elefsina and Thebes (Thiva)... a much more scenic and interesting drive than going by the National Road. In 2008 I took the former on the way there
and the latter on the way back so I have seen both recently.

The road from Epidaurus to Corinth along the coast was scenic and almost deserted. I'd recommend it too. Do stop at Isthmia at the Corinth Canal and see what happens to the bridge when a boat comes by... ;^)
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Old Mar 2nd, 2015, 07:25 AM
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