3 day drive--delphi and what else?
 

I'm traveling in October with my wife, sister/brother-in-law. After 2 nights in Athens we want to rent a car to drive for 3 days/3 nights---thinking we should see Delphi---but then what? it seems we don't have enough time then to see Olypmia, other major sites. Are Galaxidi and Nafpaktos interesting enough sites? We'd probably want to stay in one spot taking day trips ( Delphi etc). Or, should we skip Delphi and go to Nafplion, Mycenae, Epidauros? Any ideas and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Olympia is only a 4-5 hr drive from Delphi ... you'd have plenty of time to visit and stay overnight.

The preferred route would be Delphi - Itea - Galaxidi - Antirio/Rio bridge - Patra - Olympia.

Galaxidi is a very cute seaside town that would make for a great 2 hour leisurely lunch, but is not worth an overnight on such a short trip.

From Olympia you could return to Athens via the "Mountain Road" and perhaps spend a 3rd night in Dimitsena or Stemnitsa (charming Arcadian mountain villages).

Nafplion and environs are equally charming.

Whereas Olympia and Delphi villages are overly touristy and a bit tacky, the Venetian "old town" part of Nafplion is lovely, with many nice tavernas, cafes, shops, architecture, nearby archaelogical sites, and seaside vistas.

I'd be hardpressed to choose between one itinerary *OR* the other.

My own biases lean toward Nafplion. On my trip last year I spent 1 night in Olympia, but chose 3 nights in Nafplion, and 4-5 nights would have been quite OK with *me*.

Tom---thanks for your thoughts--very helpful. Hard from this distance to get a sense of what is realistic in travels. so I'll give a bit more thought to Nafplion---as you, and other guidebooks, seem to sing its praises.

I'd go for Nafplio and Mycenae, they are on the same route and the most interesting in the area!

Assuming you're interested in classical Greece, the question of Delphi vs Mycenae/Epidauros is a hard one, but Delphi is probably more fundamental.

Nafpaktos is very pleasant with nice beaches and mostly Greek tourists. The main drawback is the horrible traffic from the National Highway, which goes right through the center of town, but otherwise it's peaceful. (There was supposedly a bypass road planned to handle that traffic but I don't think it was ever done.)

It's true that Olympia and Delphi VILLAGES are tacky and touristy, but the sites and museums at both places are absolutely five star world class. The tourist development of the villages is no reason not to go, since you don't go there to see the villages.