Hey guys,
First timers in Greece and looking to enjoy a babymoon! Looking to going to Greece end of April/early May. Wanted to get your opinion/recommendations for this trip...
Would love to visit Meteora, Nfaplio, and Crete in 12 days. Is this too much? Was thinking...
Day 1: Arrive at Athens
Day 2: rent car from Athens airport followed by going to Meteora. Spent 3 days (2 nights)
Day 3: Meteora
Day 4: Meteora
Day 5: Nfaplio
Day 6: Nfaplio
Day 7: Crete
Day 8: Crete
Day 9: Crete
Day 10: Crete
Day 11: Crete
Is all of this doable? Do you think we should skip Nfaplio and just stick to Meteora, Athens, and Crete?
Let me know what you guys think! Thanks!

Am having trouble understanding your itinerary. You need to list where you are spending the night, and recognize that two nights in a place gets you one full day, three nights gets you two days. Please clarify.

I saved some time by taking a night boat to Crete.

That’s a tough one! Nafplio is only 2hrs by road from Athens, so a fairly easy trip. I once had a chance to visit Meteora but passed it up, regretting it ever since. You don’t seem to have allocated much time for Athens either. if something has to give, flip a coin, or better yet try to add a few days to the trip.

I'd choose either Meteora or Nafplio if you have your heart set on Crete. What is the flight situation--can you fly home from Crete or do you need to come back Athens. Needs more detail on your transport options.
Or, save Crete and explore the Peloponnese--you'll practically have it to yourself and it is full of things to see and beautiful landscapes.

Gotcha, ok I am sorry for the lack of information.
I am actually stuck between planning a road trip with crete or just do a road trip between Thessaloniki and Athens. I am stuck on choosing between the 2. Because it is the first week of May that we may go, is it worth to go to Crete? Or should we just stick to the mainland Greece (road trip between Athens to Thessaloniki)?

If you recommended to forgo Crete....should we do Pelopenese road trip or Athens to thessaloniki? I am sorry for my indecisiveness but wanted to get your thoughts! Thanks!

It is not beach season either way--unless you like really cold water--so I don't know how to answer that. In May, you can still enjoy the main sights of Crete--the Minoan ruins at Heraklion and the city of Chania.
I'd personally rather drive around than add a long ferry ride or extra flights to a trip, but it just depends on what you wanted to see. If you are more interested in Meteora, there are some beautiful and interesting places to stop as you head north--Delphi, the Pelion peninsula. The Bradt books are really good for the Greek mainland.
If you want to get in a little monastery action on the Peloponnese, there is a rally beautiful one with a hike near Stemnitsa.

Thanks Yorkshire! So do you think we should go to the Peloponnese or go up north to Thessaloniki?

I don't think it matters what I think, it only matters what you want to see! Either would be great--I went to the Peloponnese and then immediately planned a trip for the next year to the north (unfortunately covid cancelled that and I have not made it back yet). The Peloponnese does have a very high concentration of sites--Epidaurus, Mycene, Mystras, Messene, Olympia, Nemea, Nafplio.

Adding to what yorkshire listed in the Peloponnese, Monemvasia and the Mani Peninsula. You could spend a month in the Peloponnese and not see everything.

Ok...so were set on definitly wanting to visit Meteora and the Pelopennese. Is it possible to fly into Athens (from NY) then take a rental car directly from the airport to Delphi? On the way to Meteora I was thinking we can stop by Delphi and then see Delphi the next day. Then we can make our trek to Meteora. Thoughts?

After spending 3 nights and 2 full days in Meteora, then we would travel to Nafplio and work our way through the Pelopenese there. Should we just stay in Nafplio as our base in the Pelopenese and then just drive to our desired locations, like Monemvasia, Mani, Mystras? Or should we actively try to go down south and stay in at Limeni? Thank you guys.!

Yes, it’s definitely possible to rent a car at the airport and drive straight to Delphi, as long as you aren’t too tired and jet lagged from the flight. Nafplio is a good base for sights in that area, but not for anything further afield. A night at Monemvasia might be interesting, but I don’t know that area. Limeni is one of several seaside villages in Laconia, along with Stoupa and Kardamyli, both popular resorts.

If you are traveling from the US, your body and head will hurt too much from jet lag to drive 4-5 hours on roads with Greek signs.

Why don’t you take an overnight train tour to Meteora? There are some that include a sunset hike and morning hike, it that’s your interest. The coach tours include Delphi on the way. That cuts out a day in Meteora and gives you an extra day for Nafplio to sightsee historic sights and enjoy coastal walks. Another option is to move Meteora to the end of your trip.

Nafplio and Chania are similar. Look into Monemvasia or a Cycladic island for more variety,