Driving Route from Athens to Meteora
Aug 26th, 2014, 09:23 AM
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Driving Route from Athens to Meteora
Well I'm back again as I am making final preparations for my 2 week trip to Greece on October 2.
Below is our final itinerary after many changes.
Oct 2 - Depart Texas
Oct 3 - Arrive Athens (3 nights)
Oct 6 - Ferry to Santorini (4 nights)
Oct 10 Fly back to Athens (drive to Meteora)
Oct 10 - One night in Kalambata
Oct 11 - Drive to Napflio (5 nights)
Oct 16 - Drive to Athens (1 night)
Oct 17 - Return to Texas
I am looking for the easiest driving route from Athens to Meteora and from Meteora to Napflio. I've seen many post going the opposite direction so to see one with my exact itinerary would be very helpful.
I know Delphi is in between that drive, so do you think we could pull it off if we leave Meteora around noon. However, I don't want to rush our time in Meteora, but I figured we would arrive in Meteora early afternoon on the 10th and could see a couple of monastaries and then see maybe one or two the very next morning before leaving for Napflio. If it will cause us to arrive in Napflio after dark, this may not be an option. Please let me know if this is feasible.
Once again, thanks for all the input....everyone has been so helpful in my planning.
Below is our final itinerary after many changes.
Oct 2 - Depart Texas
Oct 3 - Arrive Athens (3 nights)
Oct 6 - Ferry to Santorini (4 nights)
Oct 10 Fly back to Athens (drive to Meteora)
Oct 10 - One night in Kalambata
Oct 11 - Drive to Napflio (5 nights)
Oct 16 - Drive to Athens (1 night)
Oct 17 - Return to Texas
I am looking for the easiest driving route from Athens to Meteora and from Meteora to Napflio. I've seen many post going the opposite direction so to see one with my exact itinerary would be very helpful.
I know Delphi is in between that drive, so do you think we could pull it off if we leave Meteora around noon. However, I don't want to rush our time in Meteora, but I figured we would arrive in Meteora early afternoon on the 10th and could see a couple of monastaries and then see maybe one or two the very next morning before leaving for Napflio. If it will cause us to arrive in Napflio after dark, this may not be an option. Please let me know if this is feasible.
Once again, thanks for all the input....everyone has been so helpful in my planning.
Aug 26th, 2014, 09:58 AM
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These days Google Maps Directions will figure it all out for you: http://tinyurl.com/ozsxoln
I recommend that you pick up a car at the airport instead of in Central Athens, which is a nightmare for visiting drivers. Also, be sure to pick up an International Driving Permit from your local AAA office, no test or membership required. Bring 2 passport photos with you to save a few dollars.
I recommend that you pick up a car at the airport instead of in Central Athens, which is a nightmare for visiting drivers. Also, be sure to pick up an International Driving Permit from your local AAA office, no test or membership required. Bring 2 passport photos with you to save a few dollars.
Aug 26th, 2014, 10:00 AM
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I didn't mark the route we took but maybe this will help give you some idea. Even though it's in the other direction the time should be around the same. I don't remember having any difficulties with the drive.
We had a rental car with no GPS and drove from Kalambaka back to Athens airport to drop off the car. We left Kalambaka around 7:30 am, stopped at the King Leonides monument (spent around 30 minutes or so there), stopped to fill up the car with gas and dropped it off at around 1:45 pm at the car rental place-Auto Union-which is a short shuttle ride from the airport. I specifically wanted to stop at the monument so there may be a better route. Hopefully you'll get better info than mine. I can only offer the time it took as I never jotted down the route names, etc. that we took.
Kalambaka/Meteora is stunningly beautiful. We had 2 nights there. We drove there from Delphi. Left around 9:00 am. I didn't note our arrival time but we checked in and went over to Roussanou which was beautiful. The next day was a full day and we did Agios Nikolas Anapafsas, Agois Stephanos, Agia Trida, Varlaam, and Great Meteora. A long day but worth it!
Don't know about getting to Nafplio from Kalambaka as we went there first from Athens.
We had a rental car with no GPS and drove from Kalambaka back to Athens airport to drop off the car. We left Kalambaka around 7:30 am, stopped at the King Leonides monument (spent around 30 minutes or so there), stopped to fill up the car with gas and dropped it off at around 1:45 pm at the car rental place-Auto Union-which is a short shuttle ride from the airport. I specifically wanted to stop at the monument so there may be a better route. Hopefully you'll get better info than mine. I can only offer the time it took as I never jotted down the route names, etc. that we took.
Kalambaka/Meteora is stunningly beautiful. We had 2 nights there. We drove there from Delphi. Left around 9:00 am. I didn't note our arrival time but we checked in and went over to Roussanou which was beautiful. The next day was a full day and we did Agios Nikolas Anapafsas, Agois Stephanos, Agia Trida, Varlaam, and Great Meteora. A long day but worth it!
Don't know about getting to Nafplio from Kalambaka as we went there first from Athens.
Aug 26th, 2014, 03:45 PM
#4
Here is a rental car company in Athens who will drive you out to the highway so you don't have to drive in Athens or go out to the airport for pickup.
http://www.greektravel.com/swift/
I had read about a company that does this quite a while ago but Swift isn't ringing any bells so there may be other companies that do it also. Google it.
http://www.greektravel.com/swift/
I had read about a company that does this quite a while ago but Swift isn't ringing any bells so there may be other companies that do it also. Google it.
Sep 4th, 2014, 08:37 AM
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The drive to Meteora is on a toll road E65. It is two lanes wiht high speeds. You can either stay on E 65 to Larissa or cut off on to E952 which takes you up thorugh country roads. we used both routes this June and both were fine. E 65 is longer but feels like you are really making progress.
One thought though if you have a GPS you need to know that there were at least 7 places called Meteoras in Greece. You need to have proper spelling and the be sure you have the correct Meteora. We found it usefull to program in intermediate locatoins on the route so we were sure we were goiong the correct way. So for Meteora on E952 we programmed in Lamia then Karditsa then Trinkala before Meteroa.
One thought if you can drop one night in Nafplio I would certainly do that to pick up time for a visit to Delphi. There is a lovely village right at Delphi so arrive in the evening after Meteora perhaps visit the museum which is now open till 8 o'clock in the evening and then visit the site before the crowds arrive the next morning.
From Delphi we traveled back to E 65 and went back to Athens then took the National road to Corinth and then down to Nafplio. That took us about 4 hours.
Hear are images of Meteora and Delphi. The first few images are of Olympia so you can ignore them.
Olympia Delfi Meteora https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...7645469717811/
And finally Nafplio and the surrounding archaeological sites.
Nafplio and Peloponnese http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632094108982/
Have a great time.
One thought though if you have a GPS you need to know that there were at least 7 places called Meteoras in Greece. You need to have proper spelling and the be sure you have the correct Meteora. We found it usefull to program in intermediate locatoins on the route so we were sure we were goiong the correct way. So for Meteora on E952 we programmed in Lamia then Karditsa then Trinkala before Meteroa.
One thought if you can drop one night in Nafplio I would certainly do that to pick up time for a visit to Delphi. There is a lovely village right at Delphi so arrive in the evening after Meteora perhaps visit the museum which is now open till 8 o'clock in the evening and then visit the site before the crowds arrive the next morning.
From Delphi we traveled back to E 65 and went back to Athens then took the National road to Corinth and then down to Nafplio. That took us about 4 hours.
Hear are images of Meteora and Delphi. The first few images are of Olympia so you can ignore them.
Olympia Delfi Meteora https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...7645469717811/
And finally Nafplio and the surrounding archaeological sites.
Nafplio and Peloponnese http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632094108982/
Have a great time.
Sep 4th, 2014, 12:28 PM
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nannibray thank you for your kind words.
Adrienne we arrived May 26 and did the Peloponnese and Delphi/Meteora for 10 days. The days were sunny about 25 to 30 degrees. By the end of the trip it was 38 degrees in Late June. That was time for us to go home.
We managed pictures with no one in them because we stayed in Delphi the night before and got an early start in the morning. We virtually had the full site to ourselves until the tour buses started to arrive around 10. We were finished the site by then so went to the Museum which was still relatively empty because all the tour bus people were at the archaeological site.
Worked like a charm and the village is well worth the time to wander around in.
Adrienne we arrived May 26 and did the Peloponnese and Delphi/Meteora for 10 days. The days were sunny about 25 to 30 degrees. By the end of the trip it was 38 degrees in Late June. That was time for us to go home.
We managed pictures with no one in them because we stayed in Delphi the night before and got an early start in the morning. We virtually had the full site to ourselves until the tour buses started to arrive around 10. We were finished the site by then so went to the Museum which was still relatively empty because all the tour bus people were at the archaeological site.
Worked like a charm and the village is well worth the time to wander around in.
Sep 4th, 2014, 02:19 PM
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I first drove in Athens when I was 18. I drove in Athens again in my mid fifties. I don't agree with all the horror stories... parking is the big problem.
Last trip I rented through EconomyCarRentals.com and the car was supplied by Avis on Amelias near the temple of Zeus. It is an easy drive down Syngrou and then follow the sign for the National Road heading north.
When you return you can drop the car in Athens or at the airport and spend the night there.
The most important thing you need to know about driving in Greece is to keep right. The traffic moves fast. When you are on a 2 lane road you will be expected to put 2 wheels on a paved shoulder to allow a faster car to pass. And keep right on curves and hills... you may meet a car passing even in these blind situations. If you keep right all will be well. ;^)
Last trip I rented through EconomyCarRentals.com and the car was supplied by Avis on Amelias near the temple of Zeus. It is an easy drive down Syngrou and then follow the sign for the National Road heading north.
When you return you can drop the car in Athens or at the airport and spend the night there.
The most important thing you need to know about driving in Greece is to keep right. The traffic moves fast. When you are on a 2 lane road you will be expected to put 2 wheels on a paved shoulder to allow a faster car to pass. And keep right on curves and hills... you may meet a car passing even in these blind situations. If you keep right all will be well. ;^)
Sep 6th, 2014, 04:40 AM
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Thanks to everyone. Stanbr your pictures are beautiful.
I would like to pick up the car at the airport as soon as we arrive from Santorini so that we can head straight to Meteora. Is it difficult getting to the main road from the airport? Also in case we are unable to visit Delphi is it necessary to drive back to Athens enroute to Nafplio? Sometime so I believe I read somewhere on this forum that there is a sinking bridge of some sort enroute or near Corinth...that would be cool to see. I may be wrong or not explaining it right but are you all familiar with it? Whoever posted it also had a video of it.
Which car would be a good fit for four people....one being 6'5?
Thanks again!
I would like to pick up the car at the airport as soon as we arrive from Santorini so that we can head straight to Meteora. Is it difficult getting to the main road from the airport? Also in case we are unable to visit Delphi is it necessary to drive back to Athens enroute to Nafplio? Sometime so I believe I read somewhere on this forum that there is a sinking bridge of some sort enroute or near Corinth...that would be cool to see. I may be wrong or not explaining it right but are you all familiar with it? Whoever posted it also had a video of it.
Which car would be a good fit for four people....one being 6'5?
Thanks again!
Sep 10th, 2014, 08:13 AM
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We actually drove the other way from Meteora to Athens then on to Corinth most of it on good 4 lane highways (toll roads) and that worked quite well. The highway system is very good from the airport so as your rental company how to head north to Meteora. It will essentially be toward Korinthos and then take the exit for E65 toll road North.
We decided to stay in Corinth our last night so we would have an easy drive to the Airport and our balcony had a view of the beginning of the Corinth canal. In the morning we just drove keeping the shore line on our right hand side and voila there was the canal and the sinking bridge. Just as we arrived the lights started to flash and we got to watch the whole sinking bridge procedure. Images are in my album Nafplio and the Peloponnese. The canal sequence as the 54th to 62 images.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...7632094108982/
We decided to stay in Corinth our last night so we would have an easy drive to the Airport and our balcony had a view of the beginning of the Corinth canal. In the morning we just drove keeping the shore line on our right hand side and voila there was the canal and the sinking bridge. Just as we arrived the lights started to flash and we got to watch the whole sinking bridge procedure. Images are in my album Nafplio and the Peloponnese. The canal sequence as the 54th to 62 images.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...7632094108982/
Sep 10th, 2014, 11:34 PM
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I suggest you to have a look on viamichelin.com , it rarely fails on driving instructions, its time estimates are somehow optimistic though.
I do not know if you have make booking yet but personaly I would try to swap the Athens/Santorini part of the trip. Maybe you could allocate a domestic flight to Santorini on your arrival day in Greece? You are on the airport anyway and you'll save one session of getting/going there from down town Athens. As jet lag might be an issue, you may not enjoy Athens sightseen so much upon arrival while you can shake jet lag off by relaxing and enjoying the views on Santorini...
I would seriously consider to fly back from Santorini, hire a car, explore mainland and then save Athens for the end of the trip. That way you will not have to be in Athens twice and you will avoid one more packing/unpacking/checking in/out etc session. On my opinion 4 consecutive nights somewhere are always better than 3+1 nights.
I do not know if you have make booking yet but personaly I would try to swap the Athens/Santorini part of the trip. Maybe you could allocate a domestic flight to Santorini on your arrival day in Greece? You are on the airport anyway and you'll save one session of getting/going there from down town Athens. As jet lag might be an issue, you may not enjoy Athens sightseen so much upon arrival while you can shake jet lag off by relaxing and enjoying the views on Santorini...
I would seriously consider to fly back from Santorini, hire a car, explore mainland and then save Athens for the end of the trip. That way you will not have to be in Athens twice and you will avoid one more packing/unpacking/checking in/out etc session. On my opinion 4 consecutive nights somewhere are always better than 3+1 nights.
Sep 11th, 2014, 07:30 AM
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Thanks stanbr for the beautiful pics.
And thanks mariha2912 for your suggestions and map info...will definitely come in handy. I originally wanted to go directly to Santorini but I also wanted to take the ferry to Santorini as I hear the view from the sea is spectacular, but the ferry only run in the morning and my flight arrives at 2:00 pm...bummer! I've already made all hotel reservations and at this point, I don't think I'll be able to get the same rates for Santorini and others if I change now so basically I'm stuck. I convinced myself that yes it will be a little harsh staying in Athens first, but since I will be all hyped up from the flight over and full of anxiety about the trip, I can get that part over with and then start the relaxing phase of the trip.
Could I possibly drive to Napflio from Meteora via the Antirro Bridge or is that completely out of the way. I have not had a chance to scope this out on the map so since I'm inquiring about the directions, thought I would through this in.
Thanks again for everything!
And thanks mariha2912 for your suggestions and map info...will definitely come in handy. I originally wanted to go directly to Santorini but I also wanted to take the ferry to Santorini as I hear the view from the sea is spectacular, but the ferry only run in the morning and my flight arrives at 2:00 pm...bummer! I've already made all hotel reservations and at this point, I don't think I'll be able to get the same rates for Santorini and others if I change now so basically I'm stuck. I convinced myself that yes it will be a little harsh staying in Athens first, but since I will be all hyped up from the flight over and full of anxiety about the trip, I can get that part over with and then start the relaxing phase of the trip.
Could I possibly drive to Napflio from Meteora via the Antirro Bridge or is that completely out of the way. I have not had a chance to scope this out on the map so since I'm inquiring about the directions, thought I would through this in.
Thanks again for everything!
Sep 11th, 2014, 11:06 PM
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I believe route from Meteora to Nafplio through Rio/Antirio translates as about one and a half to two hours more driving that going back to Attica and Corynth area. This is about 8 hours driving non-stop. You will pass near some very beautiful places, but having no time to explore, I can not see the point. Adding an overnight enroute is a different matter.
Personaly I find even the driving through Corynth quite tiring, 6+ hours on the go makes for a loong day, considering you will have drive the opposite direction for 4 hours previous day. You allow only one night for Meteora, so this means maybe some sightseen on morning before departing to Nafplio. Do note that sunset comes around 7pm on your dates though and you may not want to drive on the dark...
Personaly I find even the driving through Corynth quite tiring, 6+ hours on the go makes for a loong day, considering you will have drive the opposite direction for 4 hours previous day. You allow only one night for Meteora, so this means maybe some sightseen on morning before departing to Nafplio. Do note that sunset comes around 7pm on your dates though and you may not want to drive on the dark...
