6 days in Peloponnese
 

Will be leaving end of August for Greece. We have a total of 6 full days for the Peloponnese. We will be spending 2 days in Nafplio and then thinking of heading to Monemvasia for one night stopping at Mystras on the way. Originally was planning to see Olympia but decided it would be too much driving. Any suggestions for rest of the time? We would like sometime for nice beaches, quaint villages and beautiful scenery. Did read about a beautiful gorge drive on Fodor's near Monemvasia thru town of Kosos and Leonidias..

We spent six days in the Peloponnese last year. After Nafplio, we spent our time at Mystras, Monemvasia and the Mani Peninsula and really enjoyed all of it. It was in a different season (late March), but here is the trip report in case it is useful in any way:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...r-go-ms-go.cfm

ms_go, thank you I enjoyed your trip report and photos! Now just wish I was going in spring to see the beautiful flowers.

Yes, that Gorge drive (do it by daylight!) wold bring you over to the bay of Argos again, and to the road along the water ... there you will find a plethora of nice beaches and seaside villages that are enjoyed almost entirely by GREEK families... look on any good detailed map, pay attention to places with "Paralia" in the title = seaside. Then on the way back to Argos, you could stop at LERNA -- an ancient site that is PRE-Iliad... about 3000 BC, had a tile roof.

PS: as you go up from Argos toward the Big Red Hi-way (E65), there's an amazing "wine-station" where poeple drive up & fill gallon jugs with Nemean wine, the best in the Pelops! Also, just half a mile the other side of the highway, you can make up for missing Olympia by stopping at ANOTHER Sacred Games Site that was almost as famous in ancient times -- NEMEA. It has a stadium, a theatre, a museum, a temple... everything but tour-bus crowds! And every 4 years, it now has an "amateur" Games with 10,000 people. You can see it all in less than an hour... enjoy!

" ... thinking of heading to Monemvasia for one night stopping at Mystras on the way ... "

Alternatively, consider leaving Nafplio and driving south along they coast towards Leonidas, then crossing to the west via the mountain road. Scenery all the way can be quite spectacular, including a monastery in the mountains, literally cut into side of a cliff. This same mtn road eventually passes through the village of Kosmas. This makes for a rather full day of driving, to Monemvasia.

Then, could still visit Mystras on the way *out* of Monemvasia.

The central Arkadian villages of Dimitsena, Stemnitsa, Karytina, and the adjacent Lousios River gorge, are also worthy of a detour or overnight stay, IMHO.

(note, english spellings vary, further searches should try all the common variations)

I would stay in Aeropolis with your extra days - there are plenty of daytrips that can be done from there - especially with a car.

2 x Nafplio
1 x Monemvasia/Mystras
3 x Aeropolis - you can check out Vathia/Mani Peninsula, Gythio, Dirous Caves, the Langada Pass

The Peloponnese is packed with things to do, you'll have no trouble filling your time.

Have fun,
Naxos