I am 66 and my husband is 71. We don't particularly want to drive in Greece, although we are both good drivers and my husband drove a public transit bus for 12 years before retiring. We have 3 weeks in Greece, starting in Athens, then fly to Santorini then fly or take ferry to Naxos then back to Athens then on to the big peninsula, taking train trip along north coast, winding down to Nafplios for a few days, maybe take a trip to Hydra, and return via Athens. Question: what are the pros and cons of using public bus service? I hear that the bus schedules are not always reliable. How hard is it to carry on a small rolling suitcase (the sixe allowed for aircraft carry on bag)--or do the buses have separate storage for luggage?
Posted by
NH (USA)
1157 posts
Bus service can be very good in many places or limited in others, especially on islands and off-season.
There is very good bus service from Athens to Nafplio and is probably best recommended if you don't want to rent a car out of Athens. However, renting a car in Greece is easy and most companies are honest and will give you a good deal, depending on time of year you are traveling.
If you decide on taking a bus to Nafplio it's rather easy and convenient on clean and modern buses. Probably about 2+ hours to get there. Once in Nafplio rent a car and you'll be able to explore the Argolis Peninsula and beyond. While there is good bus service out of Nafplio a car will give you more options and freedom to go anywhere for as long as you want and stop anywhere along the road for photo ops, archeological sites, small villages, etc.
There is luggage storage on many buses for luggage and there is over-head storage for carry-on bags on the bus itself.
No problems with the buses in Greece, in fact it's convenient, less stressful and very inexpensive if you don't want to rent a car but you will be limited on where you can go, times of day and if you want the more out-of-the-way and more traditional areas of Greece then a rental will provide that.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, US
1005 posts
I agree that bus service between Athens and Napflio is good. However, I think it can be very frustrating to connect places on the Peloponnese via the bus. Each region has their own bus company and they don't even coordinate transfers very well, so you may end up waiting three hours for a bus at a transfer point like Tripoli. Many of the schedules are in Greek only, which adds to the confusion. Here is a website that discusses some of the pros and cons. Yes, Greek drivers are crazy, but on the Peloponnese you won't have much city driving, so I say rent a car for that part of your trip.
Posted by
Brighton, UK
1388 posts
We're both in our sixties and have travelled quite a bit on the Peloponnes by bus. The two previous responses are right: the buses are reliable and comfortable but connections aren't always as smooth as you might hope.
Broadly though we really like it and you feel much more part of the country than if you are in a car.
On your specific question about luggage all buses have a storage area and the driver or conductor will stow your bag in the appropriate compartment for your stop.
We've written up the Athens to Nafplio trip in some detail. Note that coming back from Nafplio into Athens the bus makes a stop at the Eleonas metro station. It's worth getting off here: you avoid traffic coming into the centre and the metro line takes you straight up to Monastiraki, Syntagma or on to the airport.
http://www.greekramblings.org.uk/Nafplio_getting_there.html
Have a good trip.
Alan
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3320 posts
You have been given good information here. I have traveled 2 ways in the Peloponnese -- in a car when with others, and by bus when "solo." What I do not understand well is the the description "on to the big peninsula, taking train trip along north coast, winding down to Nafplio (no "s") for a few days". What train trip??? THere is a limited train service, I think to Corinth and a bit beyond, but .... to Patras?? And why?? The best way is a KTEL bus direct to Nafplio ... then you can take local busses to nearby ancient sites like Mycenae & Epidaurus (if u are lucky, there MAY be a local excursion that combines both in 1 day -- otherwise the local bus schedule limits you to one per day.
When i read someone saying "I hear" -- I always inquire, from whom?? Hearsay so often is unreliable. In a country where things don't always go as planned the intercity KTEL bus system is a happy exception ... they are on time, clean, reserved seats, A/C ... if only the US offered this nationwide (not just via Megabus)!
I do wonder about your plan regarding Hydra. After Naxos, Hydra would be a letdown. R Steves always promotes Hydra because it's either in his group tours or an add-on, and it's covered in his book whereas no other islands are. But I wouldn't devote a day to it if I were you.... it's a walk around a picturesque harbor, take a donkey ride, buy some pistachios... and that's it. Instead, after your Naxos stay, add on the extra 1-days there... and go to lovely Antiparos! You can stay there for 1 night, then take the (thus shorter) ferry back to mainland. It has SO much to offer and can be enjoyed in just 1-2 days... here's a photo sampling: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632126687570/ A good hotel across a little bay from the tiny port is Sunday Hotel ... also Mike's Place.