Airport to Piraeus to Nafplio

Hi, Dee! Congrats on discovering Greece after retirement .... but be very careful! It can become addictive (I started only in my 60s and have been to greece 12 times so far!).

GETTING TO /FROM NAFPLIO -- I think you may have been misinformed ... as far as I know there has been no ferry service to Nafplio for many years ... and even cruise lines only have a few routes that stop there. BUS is the way to go... and they are excellent. The intercity Bus Network (KTEL) has reserved-seat modern busses with convenient schedules. The KTEL bus to Nafplio leaves from Kifissou St. Terminal http://www.athensguide.com/practicalinfo/busschedulesA.htm It goes hourly on the half-hour. takes 2.5 hours to reach Nafplio, and costs €13. To reach the terminal, you take the X93 bus at the curb outside the Airport building; tickets are sold at a nearby counter and are €3 for seniors. It takes about 60-70 mins. In October, the airport will not be crowded so if your plane arrives on time, you should be at the curb before 5:30. However If you want to make the 6:30pm KTEL bus, you should pop for a taxi, and get him to hurry. Otherwise take the x93 settle for the 7:30 (19:30) KTEL bus. Yes, you'll arrive in Nafplio late, but the PLUS side is, you'll awaken in a beautiful town by the water, not grimy, trafficky Pireaus. Here's a photo-album treat of Nafplio https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632094108982/

WHERE TO STAY/WHAT TO DO - The BEST-ever Nafplio website is http://www.visitnafplio.com - it's NONcommercial, created by a Scandinavian Expat, do click on Every link... activities, beaches, cafes etc et cet. Since u are on your own, it's a good idea to stay in a small family-run place with friendly helpful owners. Omorfo Poli is one; I can suggest others. Do devote at Least 1 full day just to exploring Nafplio... the walking is super, don't miss the walk around the point at water's edge. And yes, y ou CAN get to Mycenae and Epidaurus on local bus, it just takes longer; the busses aren't scheduled so that you can do both in 1 day. But you have time, and you'll enjoy every day of it.

GOING BACK -- since you will be going directly to the airport, there's a handy short-cut I only learned on my 3rd Nafplio trip. At the Nafplio bus station you buy your return ticket for ELEONAS. It is just on the west fringe of Athens, and is I think almost the only stop of the express KTEL bus to Athens. Don't worry y ou'll miss it; a LOT of people get out here, & the driver gets out to retrieve their luggage from the compartment underneath. Right by the bus stop is the Entry to the BLUE LINE METRO station ... just follow the crowd down the escalator. Have some coins ready to buy a ticket at a machine (but there is a window also). You can get an EXPRESS train direct to Airport -- just be sure the train has a picture of a plane on it. SO convenient, and no bus station fuss.

If you want more info, send me a PM ... I'm a great fan of Nafplio, fine place to start your Greek adventure!

Just to add a bit more detail to Janet’s excellent summary. Once you are at the bus station there is a big hall, with lots of separate booths selling tickets to all the different destinations. These are marked clearly on the front of the booths.

Slightly confusingly this isn't where Nafplio tickets are sold. You need to go out into the main body of the station, walking between the shops and café, and bear across to your left through the row of taxis. After a short distance you’ll see a ticket office on your right, with the buses parked outside it. If you get lost, go back to the main hall where there is an information point, or ask someone – most people speak some English and will be helpful. If you are coming back directly to Athens it is worth getting a return ticket. This is cheaper than two singles. If you don't know exactly when you will be coming back you can get an open ended return. You then book a seat for your return at the ticket office in Nafplio.

I agree Nafplio is a great place for a first time visit.

Alan

Thank you very much for your comments.

Actually, the visitnafplio.com site indicates that one can reach the town by ferry.

TRAVEL TO NAFPLIO BY FERRY: PIREUS - ERMIONI or PORTO HELI
There is a ferry (3.5 hours) and express ferry (2 hours) from Piraeus to both Ermioni and Porto Heli, via the Saronic islands. From Ermioni and Porto Heli you can catch the bus to Nafplio.

It appears that, from Ermioni, one must go to Kranidi and, from there, to Nafplio. I can find the bus schedule from Kranidi to Nafplio, but not from Ermioni to Kranidi (although there apparently is one). In another thread someone suggested that one could maybe take a taxi to Kranidi. Has anyone taken the bus from Ermioni to Nafplio? I would love to hear about your experience.

Maybe I'm making things more difficult, but I just think I might enjoy the ferry more. I'm not sure I want to take the bus immediately to Nafplio upon my arrival in Athens. My flight is scheduled to arrive at 4:40 (16:40) after 17 hours of travel from the States, and I don't think I want to spend another three or four hours traveling. My thought was to get out of the city asap - hence the plan to take the bus directly to Piraeus (where I have booked a very nice hotel 1/2 mile from the port) and, from there, the ferry the next day. However, if I can find a hotel near the Kifissou St. Terminal in Athens, it might be better to spend the night in Athens and then head out for Nafplio the next morning. I'll research and try to find possible hotels.

I had planned on returning to Athens the day before my flight to Santorini and staying in a hotel near the Acropolis. That would give me a full day for sightseeing prior to my departure the next evening. Even if I take the ferry to Nafplio, I could return to Athens by bus. Does anyone know which connections I would need to get to the area near the Acropolis?

Many thanks!

Dee

You won’t find a hotel near the bus terminal but a taxi from the centre will cost about 15 euros.

Going via Ermioni is a long way round but is possible as you describe if you fancy the sea journey.

We did the Ermioni to Nafplio trip by bus about five years ago. As you say we went via Kranidi and, I think from memory, there were three or four buses a day from Ermioni to Kranidi. We got one at around 10.30.

There is a very small bus station which is right by the flying dolphin docking point. The only bus that went direct from Kranidi to Nafplio at that stage was at 14.30. This was in March and I imagine an October timetable would be similar. For all the other buses you needed to change in Argos.

The scenery on the journey was pleasant enough but I don’t remember it as being particularly interesting. Having said that we spend a lot of time in Greece and I’m sure I’d have found it interesting if it had been my first trip.

Have fun.

Alan

Hi again Dee ... I can see you have a picture in your mind about a wished-for experience getting to Nafplio, but I do have to share from my own experiences, to propose options. Here are some reasons I think you should reconsider:
• The route you propose will cut a Full Day off your time in Nafplio .... a day filled with transfers, and waiting for transportation.
• Furthermore, Piraeus is NOT a relaxing and lovely place to spend an evening, unless you go waaay off the waterfront.
• Plus walking even 1/2 mile from hotel to ferry pier. pulling a rolling bag, is no fun there, with crowded & often cracked sidewalks, crossing a street with roaring traffic etc.
• Ferry to Ermioni = 2.5 hours (same time as KTEL bus), PLUS hours & hours & 2 busses to get to Nafplio late afternoon.
• Finally, that ferry will NOT be a fun sea voyage. It's not a big ferry with open decks. It's a small hydrofoil, NO deck, u are stuck inside in an assigned seat, and salt-encrusted windows don't even offer a clear view.

Here's an option that may find more favor with you:
• On exiting Airport building, it's just a 10-minute ride to cute St. Thomas B & B - http://www.stay-in-athens.com - nestled in an olive grove, 3 lovely rooms (Single in Oct = €55), Even a pool for a refreshing dip before sunset (October in Greece, the water's warm). When you book, you can have hosts arrange transport to/from airport (at far less than if you arranged), and also have a light meal brought in, if the cafe next door isn't open. A wonderful way to get over that 17-hour plane ordeal!
• Next AM from Airport, if you take the X93 by 8 am you can make the 9:30 KTEL bus, and at 12 Noon you'll step off in Nafplio ... after a scenic ride (ask for a seat on LH side), along the Saronic Bay and -- after leaving the big modern highway -- through rolling hills, olive groves, orange orchards, vineyards, little villages... a restful entry through a fertile Greek valley to the sea.

For that 1 day before your flight to Santorini, I have my own preferences of where to stay, but in order to get the best advice, you need to provide more info - specifically, your budget range. To orient you, this map is terrific - click & it gets huuuge -- http://www.orangesmile.com/destinations/img/athens-map-big.jpg .
• I myself like the area just South of the Acropolis, near the New Acropolis Museum (Red-boxed #24 on map)just steps from the South Entrance to Acropolis area. Look at Hotel Phillipos, Hotel Airotel Parthenon, Hotel Hera, Hotel Herodion (or my Budget Gem, Hotel Phaedra). This has less traffic, is more serene, lovely walk along the pedestrianized promenade there.
• The most convenient if you want to take the X95 Express bus back to Airport would be the Syntagma Square area, though this comes with a Lot Lot of traffic. Depending on your budget you could look at Hotels Cypria, Astor, Central, Achilleas, Best Western Amazon. Go to booking.com, plug in your date, then click on google map to see all available hotels, and WHERE they are.
• To get TO a hotel in Central Athens from the Kifissou KTEL Terminal, a taxi is the best bet (about €15). To get to Airport, frankly I prefer the X95 bus (every 20-25 minutes 24/7 from Syntagma Square). From the South Acropolis hotels I listed, you can take a €5 taxi to Syntagma Square and that x95 bus, or, as I do, take a 15-minute easy stroll up Amalias avenue. You CAN take the Metro if you enjoy crowds and bustle, and the worry of guarding your daybag from possible pick-pockets. You can also take a flat-rate taxi €38. Your choice.

Thank you, Janet. I think you've provided a great alternative to my plan. I'm going to see about booking the place you've mentioned for my arrival in Athens. I really appreciate your advice and will check out the other resources you've mentioned.

Glad to help! If by chance St. Thomas B & B is full (tell Janet that Janet from PHilly sends you), there are 2 other local places close to the Airport that may do. Hotel Pantheon (50€single offseason) is a close taxi ride .. and Hotel Peris, more modest, but offers a free shuttle ride to/from. But St. Th is the choice, if available.

St Thomas just confirmed availability, and I booked Hotel Phaedra upon my return. Thanks again.