Greece with kids itinerary feedback (October)

Athens is worth way more than two nights! Yes, spend two nights in Delphi. Do not miss Corinth, Epidavros or Mycenae. These places are the highlights of ancient Greece,
Stops between Delphi and Napflio? Corinth, Epidavros, and Mycenae!!

Athens deserves a minimum of 2 days with three better. There's more to Athens than just the tourist sites

Most people recommend spending at least 1 night in Delphi so you can get to the site early the next morning to avoid the crowds.
Two would be better.

Nafplio is a great option as it's a great base to explore nearby World Class archeological sites. However, there's far more to the Argolis than just Nafplio. You could spend days in the area and not see it all. Lots of other smaller sites, sea side villages, mountains, beaches, off the beaten track areas and lots more.

I've been to the Argolis region three times and find it has a lot to offer than people think. In fact I would recommend skipping Delphi and spent you entire stay in the Argolis.

However, if Delphi is a must no problem with that.

Driving for the most part if fine. I haven't driven to Delphi but I've driven all over the Argolis and once away from Nafplio it's easy driving to most areas.

I would recommend some type of navigation system. I use Google Maps and it makes a difference in how to get somewhere.

You can check the best website for Nafplio below:

https://www.visitnafplio.com/

Or check out my photos/videos of the Argolis here:

https://tinyurl.com/39mm5ys6

I would spend three nights in Athens to get the two nights. There is a lot to see and I would guess your pace will be slower with younger kids.

We spent one night in Delphi and thought it was enough. We saw the site on the late afternoon/early evening on first day. The next morning we went to the museum. We went early-actually before breakfast and had breakfast afterwards. There really isn’t more to see.

We spent four nights in Nafplio with our young adult children. We loved it. We were there in early June and it was like 95 degrees. So we got up early and went site seeing and then went to the beach in the afternoon. There is a town beach called Arvanitia that is pebble that we enjoyed and we also really liked Karathona beach which is about a 30 minute walk from Arvanitia. It is a beautiful walk but can also drive there. It is more sandy. We also went to Tolo beach but didn’t like it as well. We were there in 2018 so things may have changed but there were no changing rooms or bathrooms (except in beach bars) and it had a fair amount of litter.

If you go to Nafplio, do take your kids to Nemea. It was one of the four places the Olympic Games rotated among (Olympia being another location). There is a stadium where the kids can race and in a different site reconstructed ruins and a very kid friendly museum. My crew liked it much better than Mycanae because the latter is mostly rocks. They did like Epidaurus and the Palamidi fortress was several people’s favorite thing in Greece.

The driving is fine. The most difficult part is one stretch near Delphi which is quite mountainous. But as long as you are there in day light, I would not be concerned.

THinking about the kids' interests, AND travel time, and having planned trips for many families like yours, I would totally go with the recommend about Skipping Delphi & concentrating on Aathens/ Nafplio area... especially since yours is such a short trip. The Many Reasons include:
• DELPHI is a looong drive (3.5 miles each way) and really is most appreciated by adults with deep knowledge of classical Greece, not "Percy Kiddies". By contrast, NAFPLIO is an easy pleasant drive on modern divided highway -- only 2 1/2 hrs nonstop (tho I do have some suggested stops). Nafplio itself is a wonderland for kids -- A Huge Fortresss atop a "mountain" plus Castle walls & parapets looming over Old town & a Fort in the water! And it's at the tip of a peninsula, so it can feel like an island. PLUS, important with Oct. weather uncertainties., plenty to do if there's rain. Here is the superb Noncommercial website that tells ALL -- exactly how to get there -- what to see - do - eat - where to stay - http://www.visitnafplio.com/ and a photo album of highlight of Old TOwn & surrounding famous ancient sites - http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632094108982/\ Study it Before you go!!

Here are my tested suggestions:

• ATHENS - Day 2: Percy Jackson AM TOur sounds good. Acropolis Museum has nice glassed-in terrace cafe for lunch; you can use it even if not doing museum. IF you decide on Museum, ask at desk for audio guides, which they claim now to offer. NOTE: for the klids sake you might go to TOP floor first, because it has Very good 20-min video (cartoon & live action) that dramatically shows turbulent history of Parthenon. Then work your way down Day 3: ?? The Syntagma Guards Exchange (hourly on the Hour) ?? Kotsana Museum of Ancient Greek Technology - fascinating mechanisms! Also National Gardens by Parliament? NOTE: while still in ATH, study this superb noncommercial website - http://www.visitnafplio.com/

• NAFPLIO & AREA - DAY 1 -- Leave - Taxi/car service (€40 flat rate) to ATH Airport pick up car - this google map - https://tinyurl.com/ysbmwn4d - shows route & possible stop driving to/from. Road bypasses athens, no stops Till AFTER corinth Canal 15 miles -- I rec. 1-hour stop at ANCIENT NEMEA.... the "runner-up Games Site" to Olympia" ruined colums, and terrific authentically restored Stadium where kids can run from racing-blocks 2400 years old! (Visit Nafplio gives Details!) - from there a 30 min drive to Nafplio....in time to browse Old town before sunset. DAY 2 -- Fab small museum in Main Square has the world's ONly exisiting Odyssey-era Warrior Armor!! Afterwards, find elevator IIN cliffside (see visit-N) up to tower & parapet... great views. Before sundown, loical playground at edge of Old Town is great kid fun. Day 3 -- Palamidi "mountain FOrtress" -- tip: you cn drive UP back way, one parent, plus kids, can walk DOWN the 999 steps; other parent drives car back & awaits them in cafe at foot of stairs. do you want an Iliad FORT without crowds? TIRYNS is right on road, just outside Nafplio -- HUGE boulders the size of Volkswagens, great climb to lofty views, NO tour busses. DAY 4 - early start -- drive across "THumb" of Peloponnse (see map) to Anacient EPidaurus!! Forget the acres of rocks, just go to Stunning Theatre - World's most Perfect Acoustic Arena, 15,000 seats. Send kids to top row so they can hear whispers from onstage. Drive onward to shore & Up toward ISTHMUS, the town of Corinith Canal. Take a few mins to walk out on Old Bridge (scary) & look down (so deep!) & take pix. Then connect to biggie highway back to airport. IF this is your last night before homebound flight -- consider staying at HOTEL AVRA. It has free shuttle (IF you book it at same time as reserving rooms) just 20 mins away, in Rafina. nice town square nearby for final dinner, then shuttle back to airport for flight.

Ah, while I wasa compiling my wordy reply, Beth did it much more succinctly... but I feel better because I added some links.

Not much to add to the great info already provided. However I do not think anyone suggested when you are in Corinth to visit Acrocorinth. It has a massive fortress with 360 degree views over the countryside (thats probably why they built it there.) Its close to Ancient Corinth but well worth a stop and the bonus it is a drive up fortress and you can park at the gate.
Some additional photos for you.
Nafplio 2024 https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72177720319228274

Corinth Area. https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157711755443483

Stanbr, I agree that ANcient Corinth is absolutely fabulous, I reluctantly left it off the list only because this family's visit is SO cruelly short, and even with eliminating Delphi, the schedule was getting SO packed for only 7 days.