Self drive trip
 

Will arrive Athens (short 2 hr. flight from Cairo) on June 8th at 1:30 pm. Had planned to rent car with GPS and do self drive taking in Corinth Canal, Epidaurus, Nafplio, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi, Kalambaka, Meteora Monastaries before returning rental car in Athens and then spending 3 nights in Athens before heading out to the islands. We have 29 nights total set aside for this trip. Flying home July 7th.

My question is should we get the rental car and start out right away? I had thought 6 nights for the self drive. Is that feasible? If we start out right away don't think we can make it to Naflio for the night. Would we be able to get to Epidaurus?

I think it took about 2 and a half hours from ATH to Napflion, mostly on good highways.

Hi,
Yes 6 nights is very doable for what you want to see. Not only can you drive to Naphilo the first night you can take in the Corinth canal on the way. Have a great trip.

Yipper

You seem to have lots of time for your trip but I think that 6 days for the driving portion of the holiday is way too short. From Nauplion to Olympia is at least a 4 hour drive and that presumes you will not see anything on the way where you want to stop.
Nauplion alone can take 2 nights. Your plan misses Ancient Tiyrns, Ancient Corinth and Ancient Nemia as well. Have you considered Mystras at Sparti, that is well worth a half day.
You will need to compromise, either add extra days to your trip or just rush through everything and be satisfied with a few pictures that say we were there.
We took 10 days to just do the southwestern portion of the Peloponnese and we still need to go back to see stuff we missed.
While Greece may seem to be small on the map it takes much more time to drive around than one would imagine. One day from Nauplion to Monemvassia with stops, we averaged 22 kilometers an hour for a 200 km trip.
Here are some pictures of just the first part of your trip.
http://travel.webshots.com/album/570747214TsFWOw
Have fun planning

Corinth Canal, ancient Corinth, Epidaurus. ON somewhere in ?
Visit ancient theater, etc. in Epidaurus. Drive to Nafplio. ON ?
Napflio. ON ?
Mycenae, Olympia. ON in Olympia-possibly Olympia Asty Hotel.
Olympia, Delphi. ON Delphi-possibly Amalia Hotel.
Delphi, Kalambaka. ON Kalambaka-possibly Edelweiss Hotel.
Meteora Monastaries. Return to Athens via Thermopyle. This is the part I'm most unsure of. Can we take the early morning guided tour of the monasteries and arrive back to airport to drop off rental car that same evening? I know there is a lot we will not see but with my husband finally retiring we can come back to Greece and stay in Crete at our friends' home at any time.

Out of 29 nights I need 9 nights for Mykonos, Santorini, and Rhodes. At least 7 nights in Crete-staying with friends who have a home there. Probably 3 nights for Athens sightseeing and 1 night near airport before heading home. That leaves 9 nights for the self drive if necessary but we would rather spend more time with our friends in Crete if possible.
Could we do the self drive in 7 nights, leaving us with 9 in Crete??

Well I still think you woll be spending a lot of time in the car and not too much time actually visiting the sites.
For the islands if you do 9 nights Mykonos, Santorini and Rhodes. These islands are connected by ferry. From Mykonos to Santorini will take virtually a full day when you include checking out of the hotel and checking in at the next island. Santorini to Rhodes will be the same amount of time although you might be able to catch an overnight ferry which will give you a bit more time on Rhodes. Essentially you only have 2 days on each of these islands. Again you will barley have time to settle in before you are on your way again. Since you intend to come back to Greece why not slow down, choose one Island say Santorini for 3 nights ( you can fly direct from Athens) then put the extra time into the Peloponnese and Crete.
The ferry hop Santorini to Crete will only take half a day so that would be a much more efficient plan.

I agree, slow down & make this trip more than a drive by. The Peloponnese has way more than you mention, will you be returning there again? My friends did a 17 day tour this year of just the Peloponnese & didn't see it all, I've LIVED here for over 4 years & still have some to see!
I don't expect you to see every site/sight, but you could make much more of it. Take a look at the Corinth canal en route to Nafplio, base youself there for several days to save so much checking in/out of accommodations, & do trips to Epidavros, Mycenae, Nemea, Tyrins & Ancient Corinth, as well as seeing Nafplio itself. I would try to include Monemvassia as well if there won't be another trip to the Peloponnese.
Do try & fit in Mystras on the way east, maybe followed by Ancient Messini, then work your way north to Olympia. On to Delphi from there, then north to Meteora.
I also agree that 3 islands + your required time in Crete is too much. If you intend coming back to your friends on Crete I would leave Santorini & Mykonos until another visit, when they will be the only places to combine with your Crete visit & easily done via ferries from Crete, making your way back to Athens. See the mainland & Rhodes this time.
The alternative is to only see the Peloponnese part of the mainland & save the north for another trip.
I can't emphasise enough that less is more when exploring Greece, never underestimate driving times, nor the time required to see each site properly.

So it would be better to drive straight to Nafplio, only stopping briefly at the Corinth Canal. Stay at Nafplio 3/4 nights and do day trips to Ancient Corinth, Epidaurus, and Mycenae. Any recommendations as to lodging in Nafplio? Then proceed on to Olympia-ancient temples, palestra, workshop of sculptor Phedias and arch. museum and to Delphi with overnight in Delphi at Amalia Hotel. Next day early morning-sights in Delphi and drive to Kalambaka with overnight in Kalambaka at Edelweiss. Next morning would be for the guided tour of the Meteora Monasteries. Then head back to Athens.

That is a much better plan, more relaxed and more time to explore. If you are going back to Ancient Corinth on a day trip I would suggest you skip the canal that first day and do Mycenae, Ancient Corinth Ancient Nemia and the canal all on the day trip.
There are lots of good hotels in Nauplion however for us we always look for one in the old town area. We once stayed int eh new city and while cheaper just did not measure up to the atmosphere in the old town. We stayed at Pension Eleni which is high up in the town. Well priced and no more than a 100 meter walk to the car parking. Hotel Leto is right next door and most of its rooms have sea view. Both these are tourist class hotels in the 60 to 70 euro range. There are lots of good hotels where can pay a whole lot more.

Hi chris, I have to agree with others that less is more. We stayed in Naufplion for 5 days, visited Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Corinth then drove up to Delphi for two days - one to drive and the second to visit the ancient site. That was very doable but a week to visit less sites than you propose. You don't have to forsake Delphi if you allow 2 days for it. I really think it is an important site to visit as well as the others I mentioned. Also, I would do more of Athens first - the Acropolis, museums and Plaka will ground you for your other sightseeing. Don't miss the National Museum and the new Acropolis Museum.
The islands - 9 nights for Mykonos, Santorini, and Rhodes is an island hopping itinerary. I think you should drop one island to make for more lasting memories.
I don't know how you like to travel but you have enough time to really enjoy fewer places rather than rushing from one to another. One of the things we love about Greece is getting to know a place and the people. We stayed in a wonderful small hotel on a side street in Naufplion. I'll try to locate the name and let you know. Enjoy the planning!

Loved, loved, loved the monestaries at Meteora! One of the best parts of my trip to Greece.

Thanks everyone.

Days 1-3 Athens straight to Nafplio-3 nights, hotel to be decided-would like view of Palamidi or the bay-around $200 USD per night if possible. Day trips from there to Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus.

Day 4 On to Olympia via Tripoli on national road. Sightseeing and overnight Olympia Asty Hotel. Next am finish sightseeing Olympia and on to Delphi via Rio.

Days 5-6 Delphi with 2 nights at the Amalia Hotel. Sightseeing Delphi.

Days 7-8 Kalambaka with 2 nights at Edelweiss. Tour Meteora Monasteries.

Day 9 am Head back to Athens. Drop off rental car.

Nights 9-11 Athens with 3 nighnts at the Hotel Attalos. Sightseeing.

That gives us 8 nights to do self drive and 3 nights in Athens before heading out to the islands.

Now that's a good trip plan, congratulations.
Don't forget to give us a trip report when you get back.