Rick_EMT

During my planned 2 week Greece tour next May, I want to visit Mycenae, Nafplio, and Epidavros. Should I rent a car in Athens and drive myself? Or take one of the escorted bus tours (2-day with overnight in Nafplio).

Itinerary is Mycenae, overnight in Nafplio, next day Nafplio, Epidavros, and return to Athens.

I am realtively adventurous, can follow maps, and read/transliterate Greek.

Costs? Car rental company in Athens?

Thanks!!

Rick in Maryland

tom_h

For just 2 days in Nafplio, the hassle & overhead to rent a car seems too much.

The Athens metropolitan roads are often gridlocked, are a maze of 1-way streets, and are as crooked as a dog's hind leg. It once took me 5 minutes to walk from my Athens hotel (Electra Palace) to a car rental place on Syngrou Ave, and 30 minutes to figure out how to drive back to the hotel!

If you were needing a car for 4-5 days or more, than I would say go for it.

flanneruk

I just use Holiday Autos.

Athens is a bit busy, but no more difficult to drive through than London or Paris. If you're one of those feckless souls who come onto this board so often, whining about the difficulty of driving in a real city - then go out to the airport and pick a car up there.

It's a painless, unexotic (and dual-alphabet) motorway from the airport, bypassing Athens, across the Corinthian Canal and into the Argolid: there's a turnoff a few miles from Mycenae. Nauplion and Epidaurus are a hop skip and jump away.

The alternative to this is two days on a bus with people lacking the characteristics you attribute to yourself, and a guide tailoring his spiel (and choice of places to eat) to that common denominator.

Personally, I'd rather spend the time walking through leech-infested swamp.

Hans

I'd really prefer to see these places on my own pace than following a guided tour.

tom_h

and of course there's a 3rd, intermediate way ... public transport (bus) to Nafplio and rent a car there for a couple days.