I am planning a trip to mainland Greece for next sprint (April), to be done by public transportation. Here is my first stab at an itinerary. Any other comments, suggestions or ideas are appreciated!

Day 1 - Arrive Athens (4 nights)
Day 2-4 - three full days seeing Athens
Day 5 - Travel by bus to Delphi (2 nights)
Day 6 - See Delphi and Area
Day 7 - Travel Delphi to Nafpaktos (one night) by bus.
Day 8 - Bus to Diakofto (two nights)
Day 10 - Take the cog railway to Kalavrita and back.
Day 11 - Travel by train to Nafplio (5 nights)
Day 11-14 - Four full days doing day trips to vaarious sites and seeing Nafplio
Day 15 - By ferry to Hydra (2 nights)
Day 16 - Hydra
Day 17 - Ferry back to Athens(1 night).


I keep wondering if I should add Olympia in. It seems out of the way by transit. Is there any way to get from Kalavrita to Olympia by bus? The ktel website is not very helpful with this. That might make for an interesting routing if possible. If I were to add a couple of nights in Olympia, what would you cut to do so?

Is there any advantage to doing the whole trip in reverse? Is it best to see Athens first, or last?

Thanks!

My day numbering got messed up, it should be the cog railway on day 9 and the train to Nafplio on day 10. We fly home on day 18.

I would do Athens first,right enough.
2 days might be enough freeing up a day for Olympia?
Sorry I cannot comment on busses as we had a car.

Hi! All depends where you are flying from. If like we did you are coming from oversees, i.e. a long flight, I would do it in reverse. We were very glad to spend our first couple of days in Poros (only a one hour boat ride from Athens) to get rid of the jetlag and relax. By the time we visited Athens at the end of our trip, we were more in shape! By the way, spending a day or two in Poros in a good idea. It's a lovely island, just 5 minutes from the Peloponnese, and about a 1h30 hour drive from Nafplio... For more info, please read my trip report!

Jojonana - yes, very long haul flight for us (coming from Vancouver). We never do well on our first day in Europe, which is why I gave Athens 4 nights. Maybe I could add an extra day to Hydra if we do it in reverse. I will also check out Poros (very close to Hydra) and maybe stay there instead.

I read your trip report, which I hadn't seen before, it sounds like you had a great time - thanks!

ttt!