Greece 7 days on the ground

After landing in Athens you could rent a car and drive up to Meteora (2-3 nights) and then swing back down through Delphi (1 night) before dropping the car and then taking the train into central Athens (4-5 nights). From Athens you could take the subway down to the port at Piraeus and do a day trip via ferry to one of the Saronic Islands.

Jean See my PM on this topic.

Hi Janet,

I can't find your PM. Sorry.

I don't understand Kevin's plan since you have only seven full days in Greece. I'd suggest Athens and at least an overnight at Delphi. Don't know how long to get to Meteora and back or how long to stay there, so I can't help you with that. I'd give Athens at least three full days. Another day might be a trip to Aegina or Hydra for an island experience. I think Olympia and Crete are out of reach for a trip this long, sorry.

Or, whatever Janet says. ;-) Hope you can find her PM.

Ok, so family has decided to skip Olympia. So it looks like Athens, Delphi & either Meterora or Nafplio. Realistically it is probably easier to go to Nafplio because it is closer. I am still open to any suggestions. THank you all.

Jean -- Mea culpa, mea culpa. The PM reply was sitting on my desktop, unsent. Try again!

Jean

The rock outcrops of Meteora are certainly spectacular but, if you have to choose, I'd always opt for Nafplio. It's a beautiful town with a huge fortress which certainly appeals to the teenage boy in me :-)

With a car you can visit Mycenae and Epidavrus. It also fits the not rushing around aim: fro. Delphi you can push on and cross onto the Peloponnese via the Rio-Antirio bridge thus avoiding backtracking.

On the way back up from Nafplio it's worth detouring slightly to take in the two sites at Corinth. The Roman site is interesting but the older fortress above it - Acrocorinth - is spectacular. Walk far enough up and you can see both ends of the Corinth Canal.

Have a great trip. March is a great time to be in Greece: quieter and cool enough to do the sites comfortably.

Alan

Alan,

How long of a drive is it from Nafplion across to the bridge, would that be about 4+ hours?

I was rethinking our plan last night. Here is what I have come up with:

Arrive March 26th afternoon. March 26th &27th Athens
28th-30th sleep Nafplion. 28th drive to Nafplion explore old town. 29th & 30th Explore Mycenae and Epidavrus spend more time in Nafplion.
31st drive to Delphi, stop at ancient Corinth. Do Museum in Delphi & sleep Delphi.
April 1st. Visit Delphi early before crowds & then head back to Athens in the afternoon. Sleep in Athens
April 2nd fly home

Does this seem like enough time especially in Athens?

Thanks for all your help.

I know you'll be tired, but I'd recommend picking up your car at the Athens airport and driving to Napflio directly upon reaching Athens. After the 3 nights there and a night in Delphi, return the car to the Athens airport and take the metro into Athens so you have 3 nights (2 full days) there.

Saving all of Athens until the end has several advantages. First, you're not backtracking in and out of the city, checking in and out of hotels. Second, on March 31, you'll be rested and eager to spend a full, busy day visiting the Acropolis and the other sights of Athens. Then on April 1, you'll have a whole free day to relax from all your adventures and make a day trip to the nearby island of Aegina. That will give you the experience of riding a ferry and wandering around a beautiful Greek island. A great way to end your trip.

Charlene,

I like your idea of heading straight out of Athens. My problem is I'm having a very difficult time finding a desirable/affordable hotel March 31-April 2nd in Athens. It seems things are really filling up, which I didn't expect this time of year. Do you or anyone else have suggestions for hotels for a family in Athens?

THanks.

I'm assuming you have checked AirB&B and all of the hotels listed in other recent threads in this forum?

If none of that works, I recommend contacting the hotels directly. Sometimes they have available rooms that don't show up on a booking site (i.e. booking.com). Or they may have other hotels to recommend to you.

I just went to Booking dot com and punched in your dates with two adults and two children and there are lots of apartments available.
Since you did not give us a budget I searched least expensive first. I found one apartment not very far from the Acropolis museum in Koukaki. Its called Diovounioti.
There are still choices out there you just need to do a search.

to STanbr -- I was in touch w. Jean and we found an amazing 2 br apt about ONE block from Acrop. Museum for $112 a nights!!!! Am SO envious!

BTW, just to help others who want to find places Near the acropolis quickly -- I rely on a terrific filter on booking. com -- I've condensed its lengthy link to a tiny URL - http://tinyurl.com/heq6edp

How does this wonderful time-saver? Here's the Secret:
• Booking.com has a Filter option for Athens called "Landmarks": you click this & there's a pulldown menu
• you choose "Acropolis." Input your dates. You get a list based on distance from Acropolis. --- Example: i just now put in Dates of Sept. 17 - Sept 20 -- and heading said 571 properties found.
• You can sort by Stars/Lowest price/ etc. OR - Genius!! -- by Distance from Landmark!! Starting at .1 miles ...
• Scroll down till you find a really good close location, with the price and good reviews that you want. Besides saving time to get the best option, this helps avoid pitfalls like unknowingly choosing a grungy area.
NOTE -- sorting this way seems to bring up many new options of Apartments near Acropolis, often better buys than a hotel; a reflection of the AirBnb phenomenon??

Everybody -- bookmark this ...

Thank you all for your insights.

I am finalizing our itinerary & I was wondering if there is anything worth seeing between Eleusis & Thebes? I am thinking there is not since the 2 guide books I have fail to mention anything. We are trying to pepper our drive to Delphi with interesting spots along the way.

Thanks again.

Lonely Planet is advertising 2-, 3-. and 4- day tours that include all of your sites. Prices start at 194/3 days. Well worth having the guides , the transport, the accommodations, and someone else's efficient plan.

No, Jean. Athens - Delphi is only 3 hour drive, So Eleusis to Thebes is less than 1 hour, and Thebes to Delphi ditto.