Couples first trip to Greece - Are we squeezing in too much?

You’re covering some destinations that my husband and I needed our first 2 trips as a couple to visit. We took 10 days for Trip #1, April 2018, landing in Athens on “our” Easter, Hydra island for a day and 2 nights, then making our way thru the Peloponnese over several days, Orthodox Easter in Kalamata, then up thru Olympia and Delphi, then finishing in Athens for last 3 nights. That was more rushed than we usually do anymore, but we drove through, and stayed in, a lot of the Peloponnese. A taste for 3 or 4 days would be worthwhile, unless you did want more time on fabulous Crete.

Trip #2 was all Crete, and 2 whole weeks, September 2019. We needed every bit of that time, starting in Iraklio, then driving east and south, to the southeastern tip at Kato Zakros, then west as far as Hania. If you’re into Minoan sites, there are tons there. If you’re into hiking gorges, that’s a quintessential Cretan experience, and lots of gorges from which to choose.

My first comment is -- why didn't you ask some questions first?? Or some research to realize about THE Most important holiday of entire year... when as u say all the key things will be closed! NOOt only museums, but all knds of other things including favorite restaurants. ALso, You could go to services at a church, b ut otherwise you won't be part of the celebration in Athens, as you might b e elsewhere in GReece. What a waste! You can fix it, and build a MUCH better trip & experience but you are going to have to be willing to change, and rethink things.

Here is what all "GReece vets" on these forums would recommend (and not "off the cuff" but based on successful trips we have planned and done ourselves, and planned for others: I'll just sketch out an itinerary -- room-booking can come after yoo have nailed down the logistics.

THIs is based on you flying in late afternoon on April 23 -- if you are arriving by midmorning April 23, bump everyithing a day early. First, cancel your AirBnB & get a room for ONE Night in central ATH... we can advise on that:

APR 23 -- (arr late aftenoon) Take a nap, find somewhere to eat... then Go to any Athens Church @ 10 pm...
APR 24 -- GEt a Flight to CHANIA CREte -- Aegean has seats on THREE Flights (8:05, 13:05 (1:05pm) or 1800 6pm). IT will cost u aout €100 ea for Flex-comfort (basic fare w one bag; 50 min fllight. WHen u book a hotel, you'll write ahead and find out where touroists can celebrate EAster -- you might get invited to somewhere special! CHania will be SO festive, and they 're friendly!
APR 25 - Explore area (musuems will be closed) ...lots of other options
APR 26 - 27- 28 - car rental, explore Crete last night in Heraklion
APR 29 - 9AM FErry to SANTORINI (arr 11 am) -- Ferries are not yet daily so if you wanted to leave crete earlier you would have to fly back to AThens & then change planes & fly to Santorini. (the challeng of traeling off- season)

APR 29 -30 SANTORINII -
MAY 1 - AM FLIGht to ATH< rent car, drive to delphi (see part -- close 3 pm? winter hours?)
MAY 2 - Delphi 8-10 am -- Drive partway back, over Corinth Canal to NAFPLIO by 2 pm Night in NAFPLIO
MAY 3 - Nafplio area (Amazing - see http://www.visitnafplio.com
MAY 4 - Drive to Epidaurus en route back to ATH By 1-2 pm, Athens SIghtseeing
MAY 4 - 5 - 6 ATHENS
MAY 7 Fly home

.... you don't have time for Kardamyl or any of that stuff. If you want to do that, you'll have too skip Crete. If this appeals at all, then go book those flights to CHANIA -- No RIsk, because everything is changeable without penalty. If this does not appeal, at least cancel your Athens airbnb & go straight to Delphi on arrival, and then go to Nafplioi & parts ofo Peloponnese .... and What you do NOT WAnt to do is hang around Athens when everything's closed, and every Athenian who can, has left town to go to a village & roast a lamb. You'll feel like the people nobody invited to the party.

Janet has a great itinerary.

I don't have any insight into the holiday, but I would choose islands or mainland for a trip of this length with your goals in mind. I don't think you can do both justice in one trip. I would not go all the way to Crete for just a few days.
I did a lot of hiking in the Peloponnese. I think you might be underestimating drive times--it takes along time to get to and from there. It depends on what you mean by highlights of course, but you'd be better served by staying near Nafplio if you want to see archaeological sites, except Messene on the east end.
Can you change the airbnb?

The Big Saturday before Orthodox Easter Sunday, we made our way, just 2 or 3 blocks from our apartment in Kalamata, to the plaza outside the main Cathedral in the city. We had our own candles, and it was a big gathering. Five minutes past midnight, everybody was heading home.

Next day, on our way to Archaea Olympia for the night, we passed through a tiny village, where a small restaurant happened to be open, and we had a fabulous roast lamb lunch. We didn’t have a specific plan for any pre-arranged Easter meal, so we maybe just lucked out.

On our drive to Nafplio, after taking the ferry from Hydra island back to the Peloponnese mainland, we first stopped at Nemea. That was a real treat - temple remains, wonderful small museum, and best of all, an olympic-type stadium, in better shape than the one in Olympia, and with a unique tunnel where athletes entered. You can run your own 50 yard dash from the starting blocks!

You like to hike, you must do the Oia to Thira (or reverse) hike. Spectacular, I think it is around 7 miles+. I'm not sure $100 will get you a cadera view, but maybe in April it will.. As Val mentioned, things are far apart on the Peloponnese. Once you get South of Nafplio or Sparta the roads start to meander and narrow, and you have to do switchbacks. The views are great, but it's tough to do it quickly.