Athens/Santorini/Naxos or Nafplio/Delphi/Meteora/Athens - need itinerary input

I have been to all the places you are considering.

So you have Santorini for 3 nights at beginning.

Then Delphi 1 night
Meteora 3 nights
Athens 3 nights

First thought is that I would spend 2 nights not 3 in Meteora. There is no way I would ride a bike on those curvy narrow roads with too many cars. We spent 2 nights and saw all but one monastery. And we took a cave hike and it was 2022 and we spent 1/2 day dealing with getting covid tested for flight home.

So seems you are trying to decide between Naxos 3 nights and Nafplio 3 nights. Going to Naxos would require a ferry and then a flight (or another ferry) to Athens. Personally, I would not go to Naxos unless you have at least 4 nights which you could have if shortened time in Meteora. We had 4 nights in Nafplio as well but I think 3 nights would be better in Nafplio than Naxos.

Thanks for your speedy reply, BethFL. It sounds like visiting Naxos would eat up extra time with traveling to and from the island (not to mention the cost). And I appreciate the tip about tight roads with traffic in Meteora. (Too bad there isn't room for a wide bike lane!) Between Nafplio and Naxos, it sounds like you're recommending Nafplio - did I read that right? In that case, I guess it would be best to fly into Athens and then drive to Nafplio?

I can understand why people keep returning to Greece. There are so many varied and beautiful "Greece's" to see. (We keep staring at the white cliffs of Milos...) How hard it is to choose on a first visit.

I think Nafplio is better for a 3 night visit than Naxos. I don’t know if I otherwise would recommend one over the other. I really loved both. Naxos is very different from Santorini. And the mainland is different from the islands. Our first trip to Greece we visited Santorini (3 nights), Naxos (4 nights), Nafplio (4 nights) and Athens (3 nights). On a return trip we visited Crete (11 nights) and Delphi (1 night) and Meteora (1 night).

And I have another trip to Greece all planned out in my head!

So think you will return and pick what you would like most now. Rick Steve’s Greece tv shows have Nafplio and some of the surrounding sites in them. Maybe watch and see how you feel. And find you tube videos of Naxos. Go with what resonates most with you.

You will love whatever you do.

Santorini, Naxos, Nafplio, Delphi, Meteora, Athens ....

I've read many of the Greece forums here but can't find exactly what
I'm asking.

Do you know why?

Because it is obvious that with only 14 days you will not have enough time to go and visit all these places (not to mention Corfu which is totally off the itinerary).

Making a list of places on paper is one thing, being able to go there in a given time is another story. You will have to make choices if you do not want to spend your vacation on ferries, flights, or cars going from one place to another

You have 13 nights in total. Given that you plan 3 nights in Santorini and 3 in Athens (a number of nights that is difficult to reduce), you will have 7 nights left to distribute. What are your priorities among the other places you would like to go?

Going to Naxos only for 2 or 3 nights is nonsense. When you go to an island, the least you can do is plan enough time to visit it. And Naxos, the largest Cyclades island, cannot be visited in 2 days (or even 3)

So, either you remove Nafplio from your itinerary, or Delphi + Meteora or Naxos.

Taking into account the travel times from one place to another, for a first visit to Greece here is a rough choice of what you can do in 2 weeks:

• 3 nights in Athens + 10 nights on 2 islands

or

• 3 nights in Athens + the Peloponnese (partially)

or

• 3 nights in Athens + Delphi + Meteora + Nafplio

Cycling the Meteora is probably a very romantic idea but sorry to bring you back to reality, as almost everywhere in Greece when it comes to cycling, it is a dream that is very likely to turn into a nightmare in real life.

The good news is there is no wrong choice (except trying to do it all). I think the transport logistics will make it clear because you don't want to be spending multiple days in transit when you could be on the ground enjoying Greece.
If you keep Santorini, I would do Nafplio next (easy round trip drive from ATH), but I would save Meteora (and possibly Delphi, too) -for a future trip and instead spend more time in the Peloponnese. Near Stemnitsa, there is a lovely hike you can do to monasteries. It is not as dramatic as Meteora, but we found it a strikingly beautiful area that was easy to cap off our Peloponnese travels there before heading to Athens (I do have Meteora on my list for the next trip I planned right after returning from the Peloponnese!).
The Bradt Guide to the Peloponnese (also their guide to Northern Greece if you go that route) is super helpful.
I suppose an alternative might be to see if there are flights from any of the islands to Thessaloniki, and do northern Greece instead of the Peloponnese, making your way back down to Athens. In that case, the Peloponnese would be your return trip!

Thank you, JoLui and BethFL.

JoLui - We don't so much mind driving (just did a loop of the South of Ireland this past May) as that itself is an experience of a place but do agree that Naxos with so little time isn't a good idea. For better or for worse, I'm stuck on visiting Santorini. I got the idea about biking in Meteora based upon a blog from a Gen Z couple. Apparently they must have thighs - and nerves - of steel! We will definitely drop this from our plans.

BethFL - thanks for the further input. We think we'll go with Plan A minus Naxos.

I very much appreciate both of your help with this.

We don't so much mind driving (just did a loop of the South of Ireland
this past May)

Ireland and Greece are not quite the same when it comes to driving.

Compare these two maps, and guess what will change in the Peloponnese compared to Ireland.

Southern Ireland:

https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=8/52.518/-8.709&layers=P

Peloponnese and Meteora:

https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=8/37.645/22.022&layers=P

We did not find driving to Nafplio or the surrounding area to be difficult. Now further south in the Peloponnese is a different story but that is not what you are proposing to do.

We were surprised, however, by the mountains near Delphi. To give you perspective, there is a ski resort very close to Delphi. The road to Meteora from Delphi is very hilly and twists for quite awhile.

I think Santorini, Nafplio, Delphi, Meteora, and Athens will give you a very nice first trip.

First of all, congratulations on choosing the perfect time to visit Greece -- weather great, warm enough to swim, huge crowds haven't arrived yet, and looong days, more time for your money! Agree with excellent advice so far, to trim your list My "tweaks" are based on bringing "newbies" (knowledgeable history-lovers) on 9 of my 13 visits to Greece and seeing what they most appreciated, plus your expressedinterests. This Tested itinerary really works, for memorable highlights without rushing.

SANTORINI _ MAY 11-12 --- Lilmit your stay to 2 nights (40-44 hours)... you mainly want the Famous Caldera View, not Cruise crowds. Strategy =book flight arriving by noon, allow 2-hr layover, get 1 or 2pm 50min flight to Santo, from hotel enjoy rimside walk, sunset dinner, 8 am next day visit OIA; when mobs invade, leave for Akrotiri, (or Ancient Thira? I loved it). On May 13 take 10:30am Champion-Jet ferry (open back deck for departure view) and by noonish arrive NAXOS

NAXOS - MAY 13-14-15-16-17 -- still short stay, but ticks your entire "wish list". Stay on St George beach adjoining port town, easy walk to attractions; 2nd day advise GOOD all-day KTEL bus tour of scenic/geologic/classical highlights (with noon swim-stop), then rent car 1-2 days for more exploring. Food! Ruins! Fab museum! Walks! Sun May 18 catch 9 or 10am flight (40 mins) to ATH airport

NAFPLIO - May 18-19 20(am) - At ATH 5/18 pick up rental car by noon, fr modern intercity highway (much of it seaside) hop off at Isthmus for Corinth Canal, then 15 mi on , stop at amazing Ancient Nemea. This map shows route - https://tinyurl.com/zekuft9 NAFPLIO by late aft for Greece's TOP sunset. This fab site - http://www.visitnafplio.com/ - your guide to all; THIS is the lovely town you seek! (considered most beautiful Old Town in all Greece). Time's short, so skip Mycenae for nearby Iliad-era gem, TIRYNS. On 5/20 early breakfast, drive East (see map) to EPIDAURUS (ruins r ok but Stunnning theatre is IT), then drive up Coast to Isthmus where you join big intercity highway back to airport by 2-3pm. Taxi or car srvice (flat-fee) to Hotel by 4-5pm.

ATHENS - 20(Nite) 21-22-23 - Plan well, to hit highlight priorities. After Acrop & Acrop Museum, don't miss Nat. Arch museum -- R. Steves hasfree-download Audio tour that helps focus on Top Sights & not get lost in acres of vases. Your geo-guy will love Pnyx and Aeropagus. Last tip from experience: pick departure no earlier than 10 am (1 hr to airport + must be in line 2 hrs ahead) - that way, you can enjoy a celebratory last-night dinner w view of Parthenon. Enjoy!

Details differ of course but this basic itinerary has worked well for many newcomers with your specs/interests.

Thank you again, JoLui, for your input about driving in such mountainous topography - and yours, as well, BethFL. We'll need to think about your varying perspectives on this. Thanks also to valedelphia for your recommendation of an alternative to Meteora and the Brandt Guide. We will look into those. Given how very far north Thessaloniki is, I don't believe that will be an option for us this trip. And thank you very much, janet, for your encouragement about our choice of season and your very detailed itinerary input. Now I'm more confused about which plan to go with than ever, ha ha!

It certainly does make a huge amount of sense not to spend too much time in the "getting there's" and more in just the "being there." What complicates it for us is all of the different places in the world that we'd love to visit and our ticking biological clocks of age/health which will limit how many of these we can get to in the coming years (not to mention cost). I'm just not certain we will actually end up visiting Greece more than once...so......that makes it tough to not long to visit both the islands as well as a far off inland mountainous spiritual place such as Meteora.

We will think and pray and hopefully decide upon what is best - but as many of you have pointed out, we will certainly end up loving the trip regardless.

dd65 .... I was 65 when I first went to Greece (tho I had fallen in love with it at age 17 ... Life got in the Way). My first trip was at retirement and took a month, since I too thought I'd probably never be able to go back. Well guess what -- I went back 12 more times. (altho I didn't go many other places... it was my one priority). So you may well get another bite of the apple ...

Well I may differ some from others because I love Meteora and am willing to be a bit illogical in order to visit.

But yes, you will have to make some decisions with your itinerary in order to not just whizz through. And so much comes down to what you love. For example, my friend loved our 3 nights on Santorini (and may go back) and I would have been fine with 2 (and can’t see a reason to return).

I can’t help you between Naxos and Nafplio, having not been to Naxos yet, but I would personally be willing to give up Nafplion for Delphi and Meteora if forced - but I have been there so that’s not exactly fair. For me it would be 3 nights in Kastraki.

Coming down off the Delphi mountain toward Meteora was nerve-wracking for me, but I was new to mountain driving. I have since done worse and been fine. We just went slow, let the few people we encountered pass, and it was fine.

So go with what your heart wants.

Just to clarify, I was recommending Thessaloniki because it is an hour closer to Meteora, so if you could get a direct flight there from Santorini (Volotea seems to have a direct flight, but it may be seasonal) to get your rental car for Kastriki, and IF you could drop off your rental car at ATH (without a tremendous fee), then you could do a one-way drive taking in Meteora and Delphi en route to Athens, instead of doing a loop up and back. That may be six one way and half a dozen to another, I was just wracking my brain to reduce transit time, which it seems like this could accomplish.
Santorini 3
{pick up car SKG}
Kastriki 3
Delphi 1
Nafplio 3
{drop car ATH}
Athens 3
But I agree with the others--whatever you choose will be great. I tend to not worry if I will be back, but then I happen to often return to the same places anyway!

valedelphia had a good idea - but in 2023, I couldn’t find a one way deal that didn’t double the price of the car. Only you could decide if it’s worth it (sometimes it is). I rented in Ioannina and wanted to return in Thessaloniki, but ended up with round trip Ioannina and taking the bus to Thessaloniki.

That said, I found the busses very nice and convenient, in case that make life easier.

Thanks for the clarification and the creative travel idea, valedelphia, and thank you, TexasTravelMom, for the car info and for validating my travel longings. Time to meditate on all this input.

I'm just reading through now, and wanted to reply with our itinerary from 2018. We enjoyed it thoroughly!

Sunday May 13, 2018 – JFK Depart 5pm

Monday May 14, 2018

Land ATH 9:40am
George’s Taxi to Cape Sounion, return for flight to Naxos
ATH 16:00 Depart to Naxos 17:35 Land JNX 18:15 Picked up by Pension Sofi

Saturday May 19, 2018 sleep in Kalampaka
Depart to ATH 11:40 Land 12:25
Pick up rental car
Drive to Meteora (4 hrs) via Road to Thebes
Kamena Vourla (1hr 47 min) – Good lunch spot when travelling
2.5 hr to Meteora

Sunday May 20, 2018 sleep in Kalampaka
Monasteries

Monday May 21, 2018 sleep in Delphi
Hosius Lukas (3.5hr) + 40 min to Delphi
Check out Arachova on the way to Delphi
Drive to Delphi

Tuesday May 22, 2018 sleep in Nafplion
Head to Delphi site early (by 8am) Done by 10am
Drive to Nafplion (3.5 hrs)
Stops: Corinth Canal, Sinking Bridge, Medieval fortress Acrocorinth, Nemea

Wednesday May 23, 2018 sleep in Nafplion
Visit Epidavros (40 min ea way)

Friday May 25, 2018 sleep in Hydra
Drive to Metochi (1hr 40 min)
Ferry to Hydra (25 min)

Saturday May 26, 2018 sleep in Athens
Ferry back - 8am
Drive to ATH, via Corinth Canal ( 3hr+20 min coast road+30 min at canal))
1pm - Return car
Taxi to room – 40 min
2:30 pm - Check-in Airbnb
Acropolis, Plaka
Sunday May 27, 2018 sleep in Athens
Ancient Agora, Temple of Hephaestus, Roman Agora, Tower of Winds, Hadrian’s Library…
Monastiraki Flea Market (open 8am-3pm) ouzeria…basement taverna…
Food Tour – Culinary Backstreets (10:30 -4)

Tuesday May 29, 2018 ATH, flight departs at 2:15pm
Feel free to ask any questions:)
P.S. When I typed this out it was in a legible format, but when I look at the Preview it has it all mushed together... so, apologies for the uncontrollable:)

How do you feel about crowds? This is an important consideration. There will be tourist crowds wherever you go, but some places such as Santorini experience severe overcrowding on an almost daily basis.

I loved Athens and Nafplio and did not enjoy Santorini where people seemed to view it as nothing more than a background for pictures and where I was constantly jostling in the crowds.