I’d like to start by thanking all the contributors to this forum as their knowledge is invaluable in planning a Greece vacation.
My wife and I are planning a return trip to Naxos and the Peloponnese in May 2026. We are both active, in our 60s, and love to spend the day exploring, hiking and enjoying Greece cuisine. We will rent a car for several days to explore Naxos, and then again to travel around the Peloponnese.
In late-April / early-May 2025 we had a bit of a whirlwind 18-day trip that really captured our interest in archeological and historical sites, and exploring Greek towns and culture. For that trip we arrived in Athens from Montreal, then flew on to Santorini for 4 nights. Returned to Athens and picked up a car and drove to Kalambaka for 2 nights and visited 3 monasteries. After which we visited Delphi (stayed 1 night), then drove to Nafplio for 3 nights and toured Mycenae and Epidavros. After Nafplio we drove to Monemvasi for 1 night, then 3 nights in Kardamyli (stopping in Mystras on the way), before returning to Athens for 2 nights. It was a fabulous trip, although our itinerary was much too ambitious and a lot of driving. For our 2026 trip we will slow down, do less and experience more.
I’d appreciate comments and suggestions on our 2026 itinerary. The itinerary is based on the experiences of our 2025 trip and guide books (Rough Guides, Blue Guide, Rick Steves and Lonely Planet).
Day 1 – Arrive in Athens after overnight flight from Montreal, fly to Naxos. Sleep Naxos
Day 2 – Explore Naxos town. Pick up rental car in evening. Sleep Naxos
Day 3 – Explore area around Sangri and Chalkio (e.g., temple of Demeter, Apaliros Castle). Sleep Naxos
Day 4 – Car trip to Filoti and Aparanthos. Hike in area. Sleep Naxos
Day 5 – Visit west coast beaches. Return car. Sleep Naxos
Day 6 – Fly to Athens and pick up rental car. Drive to Dimitsana, with a stop in Corinth area. Sleep Dimitsana
Day 7 – Hike Lousios Gorge (see monasteries). Sleep Dimitsana
Day 8 – Explore hill towns (e.g., Stemnitsa, Langadia, and Vytina). Sleep Dimitsana
Day 9 – Drive to Messene, with stops in Karytaina and/or ancient Gortys. Sleep Messene
Day 10 – See ancient Messene. Drive to Pylos. Sleep Pylos
Day 11 – Sightsee Pylos area (e.g., Neo Kastro, Nestor's Place, Voidokilia beach, etc.). Sleep Pylos
Day 12 – Sightsee Pylos area. Sleep Pylos
Day 13 – Drive to Koroni, sightsee Methoni on the way. Sleep Koroni
Day 14 – Sightsee Koroni area (e.g., Finikounda, etc.). Sleep Koroni
Day 15 – Sightsee Koroni area. Sleep Koroni
Day 16 – Drive to Athens, with a stop in Corinth area (e.g., ancient Corinth, Nemea, Acrocorinth). Sleep Athens
Day 17 – Sightsee Athens. Sleep Athens
Day 18 – Depart Athens for Montreal
We’re trying to find the sweet spot between staying in one location more nights and then making day trips from there, or moving to another town and have shorter days trips. For example, staying more nights in Pylos and use it as a base, or using Koroni as our base with trip to Pylos, etc.
As we haven’t yet book flights are itinerary is flexible (duration and nights in each town).
A couple of additional questions.
Given that we plan to visit Ancient Messene and maybe Ancient Nema,
is it redundant to also visit Olympia? Both Risk Steves’ and Rough
Guide think highly an Olympia visit, and Blue Guides devotes 30 pages
to Olympia. (Note that in Rick Steves’ November 2025 Greece edition
he has down graded Olympia from “try hard to see” to “worthwhile”.)Is it worth making a detour travelling from Dimitsana to Messene and
visiting the Archaeological Site at Bassae (which will making for a
very long day)?For a stop on the way to Athens from Koroni, would
you suggest visiting Ancient Nema, Acrocorinth, or Ancient Corinth?
They each look very interesting