William_Baroo

My wife and I may be able to visit Greece in November. My Greece experience is confined to a few days in Athens plus a ferry ride from Brindisi to Patras.

Apart from Athens, what are some good locations for a couple to visit? We have no interest in beaches or bars. We like historical sites, museums, good food, and good scenery. I'm thinking maybe Crete.

It seems like all the travel sites and videos push little islands for people who like to get drunk, dance in clubs, and lie on the sand.

Heimdall

November is well out of high season for islands, while the mainland doesn’t have a season as such. One place that would tick all the boxes is Nafplio in the Peloponnese, about two hours drive from Athens. If you are flying into Athens and hire a car at the airport you don’t even have to drive into the city.

http://www.visitnafplio.com/

Since you are travelling off season, ignore what you have read about parties and drunks on small islands. That doesn’t happen in November. Crete would be the best choice if you really want an island, but Nafplio is on the sea coast, and has more archaeological sites in that Argolis region than any island, and would be livelier than Crete.

KarenWoo

I agree with Heimdall regarding Nafplio. We stayed there for 5 nights in May 2022. Nafplio is a very pretty seaside town with a fortress on a hill, a harbor, seaside promenade, and great restaurants. There are numerous archaeological sites in this area. One of my favorites is Mystras, Byzantine ruins about a 1 3/4 hour drive from Nafplio and well worth the drive. I would go back there in a heartbeat. We also enjoyed Epidaurus (especially the theater) and Mycenae. But there are many more. The drive is very easy along a highway. About 2 hours from the Athens airport.

There are some small churches in Nafplio you can visit. We followed the walking tour in our Michelin Green Guide. If you wish, you can click on my name to read my trip report from May 2022.

travelerjan

"It seems like all the travel sites and videos push little islands for people who like to get drunk, dance in clubs, and lie on the sand."

Precisely why intelligent people don't count on travel sites & videos -- they are promotional -- to lure you and your money in, not to enrich your experience but enrich their profits.

Instead, you need to do REal Research -- Either in Reliable well-known Guide books (try ROUGH GUIDES to GREECE) and (if you are allergic to books) large comprehensive websites with lots of texts, not just "eye candy." The link given you for NAFPLIO is Pure Gold ... it's NONprofessional, created and run by an "expat" who's lived in Nafplio for 20+ years and knows it better than people who were born there. CLICK every LINK... it will tell you about everything to see & do, and eat and walk... and NO promotional ballyhoo.

Nafplio is considered THE most beautiful Old Town in ALL of Greece ... gorgeous Venetian architecture (it was under rule of venice for centuries, amazing lay out (streets turn into steps to the top of a cliff), and its seafront with canopied cafes offer what I consider THE Most glorious sunsets in Greece... and if it gets chilly in November, these cafes hav clear plastic side panels to ward off the breezes, Perfect. Nafplio is a favorite weekend getaway for savvy Athenians, so there are tres chic boutiques ...and a vibrant night life year round -- cultural scene fall/winter with museums, music, theatre, nearby university etc. AND a positive Wealth of Major Archeological site -- Mycenae, Epidaurus, Tiryns, Asine, Nemea... the list goes on. Oh and did I mention wonderful small tavernas with savory local cuisine, and some of the best wines in Greece.

It feels a world away from Athens, but is just 2.5 hours on the most modern highway in Greece for 2/3 of way, then quiet road thru olive groves and orchards to the town. If you want to rent a car at airport, we "old hands" recommend http://www.athens-carrental.com/ for excellent rates/service/reviews. OR you can take an intercity KTEL bus (modern/comfortable/reserved seats).. and then, after several days exploring Old Town & vicinit y can rent a car loically for some of the ancient sites.


If you're lucky enough to get a room there, ask for a front balcony at Hotel Agamemnon -- BEST location in town, right at the seafront, and surprising moderate prices. A small boutique family-run pension Omorf Poli nearby is also delightful. FOr a little photo-album by another Nafpliophile --

Flickr Slideshows (Photostreams)

William_Baroo

Thank you for all the help.