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5 Day Mainland Greece Itinerary - PLEASE CRITIQUE!

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My husband and I (early 50's) are visiting mainland Greece in Early March (we know it will be chilly). I put together the following itinerary. Please critique it and be brutally honest! What should we see that I left out? What should we skip that I included? Is the timeline reasonable? BTW, we are renting a car. TIA!

3/8
Day 1: Depart Athens early

---- Drive to Corinth (Photo stop to see Isthmia Bridge at Corinth Canal)

---- Drive from Corinth to Epidurus (Visit Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus)

---- Late afternoon, drive from Epidurus to Nafplio and check in to hotel

-----Spend night 1st in Nafplio-----

3/9
Day 2: Nafplio

---- Visit Fortress of Palamidi, Bourtzi Castle, The Akronafplia

---- Explore Old City

---- Drive to Mycenae (Lion Gate, Cyclopean Walls, Palace and the Tomb of Agamemnon)

------Spend 2nd night in Nafplio-----

3/10
Day 3: Depart Nafplio

---- Drive to Nafpaktos (lunch/explore)

---- Drive to Delphi

------Spend 1st night in Delphi------

3/11
Day 4: Delphi

---- Half-day tour Delphi

-------Spend 2nd night in Delphi-------

3/12
Day 5: Depart Delphi

---- Stop in Livadia

-----Drive to Athens Airport for 7:55PM flight-----

Posted by
2458 posts

I'm going to be brutally honest...:))

For me it's pretty doable and reasonable for the few days you have (and compared to some other posts with very unrealistic itineraries)

Posted by
1058 posts

Your itinerary would work.

I didn't rent a car. I saw both Mycenae and Epidavros in one day, using the buses. When i was there it was possible to take the bus fron Nafplio to one place and if you didn't spend too long there, cach a bus back to Nafplio and then do a second afternoon-early evening day trip to the other place.

I only spent one night in Delphi, arriving in approximately the evening, leaving the following afternoon. Are you sure you want two nights in Delphi?

Are you sure you want to skip the archaeology museum in Nafplio? It has the Dendra Panoply. Also if you have time Nefplio has an art museum that might have occupied me for no more than 2 hours.

Posted by
4 posts

Thank you for the feedback Mike L and JoLui. We aren’t really into art museums. We more enjoy exploring cities/villages and eating like locals. Regarding the number of nights in Delphi, is there somewhere else along my route that you suggest a stop over night or anywhere we are already stopping that we should add a night? Maybe Napfaktos? We could also do the journey in reverse order. Thoughts?

Posted by
2458 posts

I don't think there's much difference if you do it in reverse order.

From a "first time driving in Greece as an American" perspective I guess it will be pretty much the same.

There are of course plenty of opportunities to stop for an hour, 4 hours or a night in villages between major tourist sites. That's always where I have the best moments and memories.
But the short time you have and your intention to see major sites will make this kind of stop difficult unless you either improvise or do more research.

As for eating like a local, that means having lunch after 1pm and dinner from 9pm.

You won't see many locals eating in the old town of Nafplio since there are only about 150 permanent residents left.
And consequently in restaurants you will only have tourists like you as neighbors (who can sometimes be Greek tourists)
In Nafplio to find a more local atmosphere you have to go to the "new" part of the city and go for example here

https://maps.app.goo.gl/jCiGud75Psw2ad2XA

Or here:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/13317GS2rJPgNJjy5

It won't necessarily be better but it's more local (and cheaper!) :))

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