1st week of April trip for son’s graduation have 7 full days to explore. He wants to see the history he has been learning about. Not concerned about weather-glad it will be cooler. & rain doesn’t bother us. His list has Athens and Delhi. Had Olympia but has been suggested due to travel time to/from to swap out.
Looking for suggestions for those that have been there this time of yr please.
I assume you mean Athens (three nights so you have two full days for museums, Parthenon, etc) and Delphi (bus tour from Athens is possible in one long day, or drive and return the next day with one overnight; night 4)... Both of those certainly... Then go to Napflio for two nights and hit Mycenae and Epidovrous. The Byzantine fortress is a long walk up but worth it too. Sit in a seafront cafe and marvel.
Have fun!
@NickB. “The Byzantine fortress is a long walk up but worth it too.”
We drove up and parked. Is that not possible any more?
This is a new posting of yours, griffin, on the same question -- of where to go with your son, given his interests in Classical Greece. I believe I wrote extensivel befodre about how great NAFPLIO is as a base for visiting famous ancient ruins/landmarks. Others here have mentioned the Fortress atop a huge "GIbraltar" type rock - Palamidi. Yes, it's a long tiring upward hike (999 steps) to front entry -- but it's easier, just as much fun, to drive/taxi up the back way, take wonderful pix from on high, then walk DOWN the steps ... My strategy is to send my travel pals that way, while I sit in the lovely cafe at the foot of the step (there's a little waterfall) and read the Guardian, awaiting them.
@janet-my husband and I both use this email as he can’t use his work one so seems we both asked similar question 😁. Everyone is very helpful on this site!
I am with Janet. Use Nafplio as a base and explore from there. You can visit several ancient sites close by. Don't miss ancient Nemia. I know you do not have time for Olympia but Nemia also had sister games just like Olympia. The stadium is still there. Your son can walk through the athletes tunnel and race from 2,000 year old starting blocks. You can visit when you go to Nafplio or when you return to Athens. The site is about 5km from the National highway.
Speaking about fortresses when you pass thorough Corinth you can visit Acrocorinth. The fortress there might be the most impressive one we have ever seen. It has 360 degree views over the countryside.
A walk along the side of the canal might also be interesting. There isa an abandoned machine gun nest, an abandoned rail line and a rail bridge over the canal.
You can do a day trip to Delphi from Nafplio.
Here are a few images.
Nafplio https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157632094108982
Delphi and Meteora https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157698930270992
Corinth Area. https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157711755443483
Messene, which is less known than Olympia, is just as interesting and better preserved. However there is no museum, just the archaeological site.
(I visited both two months ago. We were at most about 12 people in Messene compared to the thousands in Olympia.
Messene is also closer to Nafplio than Olympia (1h30 from Nafplio via Tripoli including 1h10 by motorway).
https://goo.gl/maps/5hDovdE4XMxohbHr9
And since you always have to find places to eat, on the road to Messene, by the side of the road in the village of Ichalia just after leaving the highway, a great grill tavern. At Christo's (Ο ΧΡΗΣΤΟΣ)
I once heard Messini called the best archaeological site that few people go to. I agree with Jo it is an outstanding site.
Here are some images. Just hit the arrow on the right side of the photo. There are 48 more images.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/48834762717/in/album-72157711323535897/
I d reconmend a trip around the Peleponnes Peninsula
We did it with a car
Visited places like
Olympia https://www.griechenland.de/olympia/
Sparta https://www.kastra.eu/castleen.php?kastro=mystras
Epidaurus https://www.griechenland.de/epidauros/
Mykene https://www.griechenland.de/mykene/
Corinth https://www.kastra.eu/castleen.php?kastro=acrocorinth
Canal from Corinth https://www.griechenland.de/kanal-von-korinth/
Delphi https://www.griechenland.de/delphi/
We drove from Athens to Nafplio
with stop in Corinth see the Canal and Akrocorinth drove to Mykene and then to Nafplio where we stayed for the night. ca150 km
Next day we visited Epidauros Theatre 30km east of Nafplio and spent the rest of the in Nafplio.
The following day we drove to Sparta ca120km and visited Mystras Stayed for the night
From Mystras we drove through the Langada gorge? to Kalamata 50 km and on through Kyperissia to Olympia ca 120 km
Spent a few day on the beach near Amalias and drove via Patras (140km from Olympia) to Delphi ca 120 km
From there its ca 200km to Athens airport
