I would like to travel by bus and train in Greece but a couple of guides recommended a car. Which do you prefer? I will tour for three weeks in Sept - Oct. My itinerary: Athens, Corinth, Nafplio, Olympia, Kiakofto-Kalavryta, Meteora. Delphi.
If there are places you particularly loved in Central Geece and Peloponese, please let me know. Thanks.

Although it has been quite a few years since I was last in Greece, I cannot imagine that public transportation has improved sufficently to make it possible to tour Greece comfortably by train and bus. There are almost no trains at all and when I was there, there were precious few buses. You also have to bear in mind that whatever public transportation there is goes to the modern city; the ancient city that interests you can be quite some distance away (e.g., at Corinth).

On the Peloponnese, do not miss Mycenae: at the very least, the Lion Gate and the beehive tomb called, I think, the Tomb of Atreus (a few hundred yards from the main Mycenae site). If you are in Nafplio, you must go to the theatre at Epidaurus. If you are at all interested in early Byzantine architecture and art, try to make it to Mistra with its early churches.

Although I have never been able to do so, I would have loved to visit the Mani at the extremity of the Peloponnese. With three weeks at your disposal, you might easily manage to do so. (The Mani are more of ethnographic than archeological interest.)

Is there any reason why you are not visiting any of the islands? From your itinerary, it would seem that your primary interest is in art and archeology, but Delos (off Mykonos) and Rhodes (Lindos and medieval Rhodes, despite the swarms of tourists) and Santorini (Greek Thera and Minoan Akrotiri) as well as Crete (Knossos and Phaistos, at least, and definitely the museum in Heraklion) are all, to my mind, of great interest.

But the most valuable advice I could give you, I think, would be to visit the National Archeological Museum in Athens in depth; because it holds examples from all the civilizations of ancient Greece, it is an indispensable introduction to the ancient sites themselves. Which is not to say, of course, that you should neglect the Acropolis and other ancient sites in Athens. The Acropolis Museum has been relocated since my last visit to Greece, but its collection is also full of treasures from many of the most important phases of Greek civilization.

Greece, I need hardly say, is the fount of Western civilization and offers incredible riches. I envy you that you will be discovering them for the first time.

Driving in greece outside athens, is much easier than what many think (new highways etc) . also you cannot relly on public transport, since there are only buses that connect cities, so you wont have the opportunity to visit archeological sights and villages which are mainly the must see's in mainland . well its not that difficult to catch a bus from athens and go everywhere . but it will be almost impossible to find another way than by car to go from e.g. a village in the peloponnese to somewhere else than back to athens . my suggestion, so, is dont hesitate to travel by car, at least for places that you will find public transportation not sufficient .

since you are interested in southern/central greece, my suggestions are:

peloponnese
mycanae, epidaurus, olympia (archeologist's delight)
nafplio, monemvasia and the mani region (vathia towers - deep south in particular)
you probably want to travel with the old train from diakofto to kalavryta, never done it but i've heard the best, breathtaking route, although kalavryta is not a really interesting place - except if you are an athenian skier ...

in central greece meteora and delphi (and the museum at delphi) are amazing .
charming towns on your way from northwestern peloponnese to delphi via the rion-antirion bridge are nafpaktos and galaxidi . my favourite places in the area, though, are the pelion peninsula and the zagori or zagorohoria area north of the interesting town of ioannina .

Dear Eloise and Con

Thank you both for such insightful and complete information. The kindness of people on this forum never ceases to amaze me.

Charlie, i definitely suggest you to rent a car!
Also in peloponese, you could visit also Dimitsana and Stemnitsa villages. They're lovely!
I would suggest also Monemvasia. And why not stay one night inside the castle? So romantic...

I would definatley rent a car as another poster said most of the roads are great, the only one we had trouble with was between Kalamata and Sparti when you climb Mt Taygetos but even that road would have been fun if we weren't racing to catch a ferry. If you drive from Delphi over to the peloponese consider stopping in the town of Nafpaktos it's cute and has a nice Venetian castle on the waterfront from there you can take the new bridge to Rio/Patras and start exploring. I too suggest going to Monenvassia it's very beautiful and unusual with some great places to stay in the castle. We also really enjoyed Nafplio and make sure you take the time to see Epidavros. I know you'll have a reat time it's beautiful part of Greece.