whimsey

Hi Everyone. I've seen some similar threads on this forum in the past, but as my question is a little different, I figured I'd post my specific issue. I'm planning a trip to Greece this summer with my family - we'll have a few days on the mainland and then some island time. We'll be flying into Athens, and touring the city, at which point we have 2 days in our schedule. I'm hoping to be able to see Delfi and Mycenae. My thought was to rent a car, drive up to Delfi on the first of the two days, then drive back down and see Mycenae and perhaps some of Napflio on the second, before ending up at the airport that night for a flight out.
I'm trying to figure out what makes sense for the best place to spend the night-- is it better to stay in/near Delfi and then drive to Mycenae early in the morning, or to drive to Napflio right after Delfi and spend the night there, or to stop in some town between the two?

I am assuming that retuning to Athens and spending the night there isn't a good idea, as I've seen some past postings discouraging tourists from trying to drive in/out of the city...

I'd appreciate any thoughts on where to stay that night, or other ways to improve my itinerary. I know that this part of the trip will be a bit rushed, but I'd like to see as much as I can in the available time... Thanks in advance for your help.

clausar

If you would like to split the driving, the best option would be an overnight in Athens, which you wanted to avoid... ( parking in the city centre is next to impossible anyway)

If you would drive from Delphi to Nafplio non stop, this would take about 5 hours... you could visit Ancient Corinth, the Corinth Canal and Epidaurus on your way to Nafplio.

But all that driving in one day would be too much.

You could perhaps overnight in Loutraki, a nice town located on the Gulf of Corinth, with a 7 km long pebble beach and a lovely seaside promenade.

Here are some pics from Loutraki and surroundings

https://gr.pinterest.com/search/pins...raki%20Corinth

Loutraki is actually popular among Athenians, with very few foreign visitors.

stanbr

Any chance you can rent the car in the afternoon of one of your last Athens day. You can drive to Delphi in about 3 hours and arrive in the early evening. Stay in the village and then visit the site at opening at 8am. You will have at least tow hours before the tour bus crowds arrive and by then you will be at the top of the site and that will give you an additional hour before the crowds get to you. You can leave then and go to the museum or just head out for Nafplio.

If you try to rent the car in the morning of your first Delphi day you won't get there until 9 or 10 and will be in the swarm of people from the tour buses. After visiting the site in the heat you will probably be pretty tired for that drive down the mountain toward Nafplio.

Olympia Delfi Meteora https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr...7645469717811/
If you get that early start I suggested and depart Delphi by mid afternoon you will have sufficient time to get to Nafplio before dark.
Enjoy the city have a nice dinner wander the old town then get up early the next morning and visit Mycenae. Then head toward Corinth and visit Ancient Corinth and Ancient Nemia and stop at the canal before driving back to the airport for you flight out.
Nafplio and Peloponnese http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr5...7632094108982/

whimsey

I had been a bit worried about getting to Delfi in the middle of the day due to the likely crowds. I can't, unfortunately, leave the night before, as I'm taking advantage of some free hotel nights, which only work out for those days.
I am wondering now, however, if I should maybe rearrange things and head to Mycenae/Naphlion the first day, then head part way up towards Delfi, so I can be at Delfi very early the next morning(I don't mind getting up early to hit the road). I'm guessing that Mycenae isn't likely to be as crowded as Delfi. I'll check out Loutraki- thanks for the suggestion. I would definitely prefer to split the driving into two days if possible, as the 5 hour trip in one shot after a day of sightseeing would likely drive my kids crazy...

clausar

You don't have enough time for both Delphi and Nafplio/Mycenae. It involves too much driving, with only one overnight. On the second day you would have to drive to Delphi, walk allover the site, see the museum and then drive back to Athens.... which imo will be very tiring.. especially if you have kids with you.

stanbr

Yes indeed your second plan is a better one. It is only a 2 hour drive to Nafplio. Again you can stop at Corinth and visit those great sites I mentioned earlier. You might even stay overnight in Corinth take the time to visit if you still have time and energy and then be off early the next morning on the way for. Get an early start and try to beat those bus crowds.
You probably will cross the bridge at Patras to get to Delphi. As I recall its about an hour and a half to to Delphi from Patras.

stanbr

Whoops that sounds like I am disagreeing with clausar. I didn't see his/her post before responding. I was simply working on logistics but it will be a grueling two days but it can be done. Only you know your family's tolerance for driving and visiting sites.

clausar

Yes it could be done, even though it will be rushed...
From Delphi you would have to batrack to Athens and take the Highway to Corinth/Tripolis.

I don't recommend the alternative of driving to the Rion bridge, as the highway Patras - Corinth is under construction, and there will be delays......

mariha2912

Starting from Argolis, a possible overnight near Delphi is Levadia. It is a small chaotic city to be honest, but it is only 40 minutes drive to Delphi or so next morning. And there is a certain area with running water, stone bridges and watermills called Krua Springs and decent taverns around that your children might appreciate.

I don't think visiting Mycenae or Delphi first makes a huge difference in terms of how busy the sites will be. It is true that actually Delphi is the second most visited archeological site in Greece after Athens Acropolis, but while I haven't visit the archeological sites of Argolis for a long time, I know Mycenae is a popular one and I believe there are lots of bus tours departing Athens around 8.30am, arriving Mycynae around 10-10.30am. So although it might be a less busy site than Delphi, it will still be a busy site, especially arriving around this hour.

Are you sure your children can manage and appreciate the visits on said sites? Both are very demanding, not only because there is lots to see and interpret on each, but because geographically the ruins are spread out on hilly landscape, so the sites are physically demanding. Adding the travel logistics and long driving hours, I am not very sure it is a good idea to insist on both areas...

whimsey

Thanks for all of the feedback! Sadly for my children, they've gotten used to long busy days when we're travelling, as I always seem to be trying to fit in as much as possible. They think that is just the way vacations go... The comment regarding the physical demands of both sites is a very good point, however-- I know that they can happily manage one such day, but two in a row could be too much. Delfi is the "must-do" for my wife and I, as we've both wanted to visit for many years; I had added Nafplion because it sounded like a fun place to poke around, and then Mycenae just because it is relatively close by. I'm rethinking the itinerary-- I could certainly drop Mycenae to make things a little less tiring.
Another thing I realized is that I've been going with driving times from Google Maps, as that works well in my area-- I'm wondering if that is leading me to underestimate driving times in Greece. I was figuring on about 2 hours from Athens to Nafplio, about 3.5 hours from Nafplio to Delfi (if done in a straight shot), and about 2.5 hours from Delfi to the Athens airport. Do those figures sound reasonable, or should I factor on longer times from place to place?

clausar

The driving times are correct, but i would calculate a little more time, as you will most possibly take a break here and there.....

travelerjan

I think 2 hrs 20 minutes from ATH to NAFPLIO, if you stare straight ahead, and don't look at any scenery, and if you don't take the 15 minutes to get off the Biggie "interstate" at Isthmia, so you can see the AMAZING teeny-weeny Corinth Canal (SO narrow, SO deep!), and then jump back on (you cannot see it at all from the biggie Hiway...

I would say skip Mycenae ... reallly hot, really tiring, tons of crowds! Kids will get cranky. if you want a Fun Ancient Fortress, Just 10 mins outside of Nafplio, try TIRYNS -- Same giant boulders, not as restored, but NO crowds at all!!! Look it up, print out & take, because little signage. Kids can run around on top of the heights, nobody else around to say no. One time I was there, I was the ONLY visitor. I spent half-and-hour watching a giant crane lifting a rock the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, while an Engineer and an Archeologist argued about where to place it on the wall they were restoring. you can enjoy Tiryns in 30 minutes & move on.... and if you want to see a "Tholos Tomb" like "Agammemnon's Tomb" at Mycenae - look at sign next to Tiryns, follow the road signs for about 4 KM... finally ends in an orange Grove, and you'll find a miniature Tholos, perfect ... and the farmer will glower at you, thinking you are taking fruit! A serendipity.

DELPHI to ATHENS airport -- I would say at LEAST 3 hours.

DRIVE TIMES -- Google is fine in USA and elsewhere that's relatively flat, wih big highways everywhere. You are not in those places. I suggest using Michelin Drive planner http://www.viamichelin.com -- very detailed, shows road in detail, gives fastest, then "most recommended."

mariha2912

If Delphi is a years-long desire for you and your wife, why not to plan for Delphi and surrounding area? I think your children could benefit of a swim down to Itea or Galaxidi after a long sightseen visit on Delphi and you may all benefit by a seaside stroll on those pleasant towns... or kids may enjoy some running around Parnassos fir tree forest and exploring Corycean Cave. You could fit a visit to a Byzantine UNESCO Heritage site, Hosios Loukas Monastery too and a leisure meal in Arachova, a popular winter ski resort in winter but a traditional mountain village on summer too. Or if you are into wines you could head to Argyriou winery on Souvala/Polydrosos village for a visit. Many diverse options to visit Delphi AND have the kids let some steam off... If a scenic town with forts like Nafplio is a must, you could consider drive all the way to Nafpaktos on your return journey, cross the Rio/Antirrio bridge and head back to Athens area through North Peloponnese/Corynth canal, maybe even taking in some of Attica sites before heading to the airport, depending on logisitcs. Attica Zoo Park might be the childrens' reward for dealing with all this sightseen?

Of course I do not suggest trying to check all of those places/activities. You may research a bit and customise a visit taking in whatever suits you.

mariha2912

Just to clarify in case my post was not clear on this point: I meant visiting Nafpaktos instead of Nafplio and taking the North Peloponnese route as you would have go all the way there, not trying to cover Nafplio too on your return journey.

whimsey

Thanks again for all the suggestions! Tiryns does sound like a good alternative to Mycenae if we head towards Nafplio, and I'm checking into the idea of doing Nafpaktos instead of Nafplio. I appreciate the help.