Hello
We have a total of 4 days in Athens (excluding travel, and this is not our first time visiting Athens) - we would like to spend 2 days exploring Athens again and we have two extra days so was thinking of driving to Olympia and spending it there before flying out from Athens? But i've been reading online and it many blogs/ posts says to pick Delphi over Olympia - so a little confused. Thoughts please?
Thank you.
Simran
Both sites are very worthwhile to visit and it would be very difficult to choose between them.
Visit Delphi this trip but make sure you visit Olympia next time as it is quite far from Athens.
Delphi or Olympia, it mainly depends on whether you are interested in the cult of Apollo, or Dionysus or Zeus. :))
Olympia is a loooong drive for a day trip. Exactly what are the dates? And what have you read about either site? Research will help you decide what interests YOU most. If you happen to be in Greece at the end of May this year, you are VERY lucky - because you can see a Revival of an ancient Greek "Sacred Games" -- NEMEA -- less than 2 hours away from Athens.
The Ancient Nemea site is just over the Corinth Canal about 20 KM on the main road into the Pelopponese (See this map - https://tinyurl.com/zekuft9 -- cllick & it gets huuuge & you navigate using side-slides). A "runner-up Games site" to Ollympia during Classical Times, NEMEA was buried for more than 1500 years, but carefullly excavated, and authentically restored in the past 30+ years. Greeks themselves brought about the Revival of the Games, every 4 years, http://nemeangames.org/ May 29-30 2024, is the 8th Revival, attracting thousands of conttestants of all ages from around the world. The events and ceremonies follow traditional customs and is a thrilling spectacle .Even if your Greek visit is earlier, or afterward, there will be plenty of atmosphere and festivity surrounding this event.
If it's Olympia it won't be a day trip we will stay two nights. It's all based on my 11 year old he's the one who needs to pick -because he into Percy Jackson.!!
You should prepare him that the famous sites are not like they are in the books... and there are not statues of all the heroes around ... mostly ruins & columns.
If you plan to have a car why not do a 'loop' trip and spend one night at/near each?
450 miles spread over 3 days seems manageable.
If you are committed to just one, then for me it's a coin toss. I know nothing of 'Percy Jackson', so whether one place might be more meaningful than the other for your son is beyond me.
Good luck!
Thanks all for the responses. I think he's looked at it all online so he knows to expect columns and ruins. :)
