takemewithu

I'm planning our trip to Greece in October. Would like see Napflio, Mycanae, Epidaurus and Olympia and planning to rent a car. The plan ( for now ) is to take the bus from Athens to Naplfio where we will base ourselves for 4 nights, then rent a car in Napflio to explore the nearby cities I mentioned. Is Napflio a good base for exploring the nearby areas ? The plan is as follows:

Athens for 3 nites, include day trip to Delphi
Napflio for 4 nites
Olympia for 1 nite
Monamvassia for 1 nite
Santorini for 1-2 nites
Athens 2 nites, day trip to Hydra

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and input.

jamikins

Nafplio is a fantastic base! We spent 4 nights there in 2011 and loved it!

Here are some photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gir...7627669385061/

jamikins

I wouldn't split up you time in Athens, I would head to Nafplio right away and put all your Athens time together.

Also, have you looked at the logistics of getting to Santorini? I am not sure it's worth it for 1 night. You wouldn't even have a full day there.

Also two nights gives you 1 full day...so your full day at the end in Athens would be eaten by your day trip...

Frances

Also interested in this as we are headed there in May. Our target is Kithira but after returning from there we 'll have time in the Peloponnese.
I'll me watching your responses.

takemewithu

Thanks jamikins for your input. We prefer to fly into Santorini if there's a convenient Aegean flight from monamvassia. So maybe 3 nights in Santorini before heading back to Athens? I like the idea of going straight to Napflio as soon as we arrive in ATH airport. But I think flights from the US on United and the Star Alliance partners arrive somewhere in the late afternoons or early evenings, around 5'ish so I'm not sure if we can head straight to Napflio as soon as we arrive. That would be ideal if we can do that.

Thanks for sharing your pictures in Napflio. Nice pictures you got!

clausar

Monemvasia is a tiny village. nearest airport is in Kalamata, but there are no flights to Santorini from there.
You would have to go back to Athens in oder to fly to Santorini.

I wouldn't recommend a daytrip to Olympia from Nafplio.

TexasAggie

Nafplio is a lovey base for the Argolis prefecture of the Peloponnese. Be sure to see Tiryns and Nemea in addition to Mycenae, Epidauros, and the town itself. You can stop to see Corinth/AcroCorinth and/or Isthmia on the drive down from Athens.
I would not do Olympia as a daytrip from Nafplio. You have to cut across Arcadia (mountainous) to get there and it's a long drive. If you drive through the gorge, it's quite scenic. Olympia has two excellent museums and the large site itself. I think it merits at least one full day. We have thrice stayed at the BW Hotel Europa, owned by a local family, and really liked it. Their restaurant serves only locally grown food and in the evenings when the weather is nice, you can eat outdoors with views over the beautiful countryside and rabbits hopping about at your feet. Depending on your route as you swing NW from Monemvassia, you could try to see one of the following: Ancient Messene or Vassae. Pylos is also a great sight but I believe it's too far out of the way

takemewithu

TexasAggie, thanks for the suggestions. I am very interested in seeing Nemea. Is this the biblical town? While reading up and researching on the Peloponnese, I did not come across this town, so thanks so much for mentioning it. Btw, where is Nemea in relation to Napflio, I'm guessing either northeast or northwest of Napflio?

Ok, it's looking like we might be driving from Athens through the Corinthian canal vs taking the bus and picking up rental car in Napflio. Which also means that me might have to stay one night in Athens upon arrival, depending on what time our flight gets in. I haven't booked our flights but checking UAL online, it seems we might be arriving sometime in the late afternoon/early evening.

Regarding Olympia, I agree it seems like there's a lot to see in there than can be done in a half day. We probably should leave Napflio in the morning to get there by lunch and spend the night there and drive out in the early afternoon, after lunch. Or is 2 nights in Olympia too much? Thanks for the Hotel Europa suggestion, I'll check it out.

jamikins

We also loved Nemea!!! It is on the drive from Corinthian canal to Nafplio and makes a wonderful stop!

takemewithu

I found Nemea on the map: it is slightly northwest of Mycenae if coming from Napflio, Revised itin:

Overnight in Athens ( upon arrival from US )
Drive to Napflio with a quick stop at Corinth Canal area ( 4 nights )
- visit Epidauros
- visit Mycenae and Nemea
Drive to Olympia ( 2 nights )

Not sure how to proceed from Olympia: should we drive to Monemvasia via Kardamyli and breakup the long drive here? Then 2 nights in Monemvasia before heading back to Athens. This looks like a super long drive though : = ( Any suggestions?

clausar

The drive from Olympia to Monemvasia will be very long.
Best way is to drive via Kalamata - Gythio to Monemvasia.

If you overnight in Athens and drive on the next morning to Nafplio, after your stop at the Corinth Canal, take the old road scenic road to Nafplio and not the motorway to Tripolis.

This way you can stop in Epidavros, which is on your way.