Please sign in to post.

Greek Itinerary Help: 8 days Early November w/ 12-yr-old

I'll be taking my 12-year-old nephew on his first trip abroad, and was thinking about doing something along the following. We'll be renting a car to keep travel times down a bit. My thoughts:

Day 1: Arrive Athens, drive to Nafplio via Epidaurus Theatre (time allowing).
Day 2: Guided tour at Mycenae, afternoon stroll around Nafplion or the Theater if we missed it;
Day 3: Nafplion Archaeology Museum, Palmidi, travel to Arachova (by way of Patras to avoid backtrack? Other suggestions for a short detour on the way?)
Day 4: Guided tour of Temple of Apollo/Delphi at sunrise, travel to Kastraki/Meteora;
Day 5: Meteora, Day hiking;
Day 6: Drive to Athens (by way of Larissa? Other suggestions for a detour here? Extra time in Meteora?) (stay near acropolis)
Day 7: Athens (stay near acropolis)
Day 8: Athens (sleep near airport)
Day 9: Depart early morning.

In addition to criticism/confirmation of the itinerary, three questions:
(1) Where (within the itinerary) would you pick to take the kid to a busy market? I assume Athens, but perhaps ya'll have some off-the-track insight for a large/raucous experience.
(2) Advice on hiring reputable guides with excellent English. I was thinking Tours by Locals?
(3) Would you recommend forgoing Nafplion or Meteora in favor of Pelion or Mani?

Thank you!!

Posted by
11507 posts

May I suggest that after possibly 20 or more hours of travel( flights etc) that jumping in a rental car on very day of arrival may not be a good plan ! I usually do not get a lot of sleep on plane , so driving in a foriegn country with travel fatigue is not ideal. Perhaps it would be best to put your days in Athen at beginning of trip, leaving just the one night near the airport for your departure flight

Posted by
1419 posts

You don't need to go via Patras on the Nafplio to Arachova leg. Crossing the Gulf via the Rio-Antirio bridge will save you a bit of time and is fairly spectacular.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=rio+antirio&rlz=1C9BKJA_enGB699GB699&hl=en-GB&prmd=imvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwig38fT_JXOAhWJJMAKHY0hC90Q_AUIBygB&biw=768&bih=909#imgdii=ljQg4jq53hhTdM%3A%3Br5XADcPDv5USzM%3A%3Br5XADcPDv5USzM%3A&imgrc=r5XADcPDv5USzM%3A

You might like to stop at Nafpaktos on the north coast of the Gulf. It has a nice little harbour and a large fort above the town.

http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/mainland/escape_to_nafpaktos_and_galaxidi

Galaxidi is the other option. I'm not a great fan but a lot of people like it.

Alan

Posted by
23 posts

Definitely got to Meteora - we just were there last month and it is breathtaking! And take an extra day, if you can - it is really worth it.

As far as lodging goes, I recommend Hotel Kastraki, which is right at the bottom of the trails to the monasteries:

https://www.expedia.ca/Trikala-Hotels-Hotel-Kastraki.h3066905.Hotel-Information?chkin=06/09/2016&chkout=07/09/2016&rm1=a2&hwrqCacheKey=914fe8ab-e35e-48a5-95ef-9c3f72f79d75HWRQ1469713112128&c=1ba93a3f-4a55-43e0-a96f-66d00fb96d62&&exp_dp=77.01&exp_ts=1469713117143&exp_curr=CAD&exp_pg=HSR&langid=4105

And do not skip on Nafplio either - you can probably do 2 sites a day from there.

Happy travels!

Posted by
1446 posts

Just a couple of thoughts. Your ability to drive to Nafplio on your arrival day is totally dependent on your flight arrival time. If its in the afternoon any time past 3 then you probably should go into Athens.

However any time before that you could make that drive. I understand Pats comment about being jet lagged but we have done exactly that. We are full of adrenaline on arrival, that and a couple of cups of strong coffee left us full of energy ( for about 2 hours) before we stopped at a highway rest stop for more coffee. Thus re energized we stopped at Corinth to visit Ancient Nemia. It is just a 5 minute drive north from the turn off to Nafplio. Nemia is not well known ( I think they lack a marketing department) Like Olympia it also hosted the Pan Hellenic games and still has a stadium, a partially restored temple and a very good small museum.

I would suggest you substitute Nemia or Ancient Corinth for Epidavros on this day. The road to Epidavros is hilly and out of the way to Nafplio while Nemia gives you essentially a short drive south to Nafplio.
When you get to Nafplio you will find it is a perfect place to get over jet lag.
All of this is in this album
Nafplio and Peloponnese http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632094108982/

I might respectfully suggest that your nephew is going to enjoy 4 hours of Palimidi fortress more that Epidavros. Every kids imagination is stoked by a middle ages fortress. You can also take a water taxi to Bortuzi Castle in Nafplio bay.

I like your timing for arrival Delphi. Arrive late afternoon and find a hotel. Take this opportunity to visit the museum so you are prepared for the site the next morning. Do get to the site early. That will give you about two hours before the tour bus crowds arrive. Plan to depart around noon. The drive down the mountain side has a few stops including an absolutely stunning village about 20 minutes from Delphi. I wished we had stopped there.

Plan to arrive Meteora in the early evening. The crowds will be gone and the monasteries will be closed but this is a perfect time to scout out the area. You will also have the opportunity for pictures from perfect vantage points. The next day all those vantage points will be gone by tourists and their buses. Good call to stay at Kastraki its right there.
Olympia Delphi Meteora https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157645469717811/

Not such a good call to plan to drive back to Athens that night. Its a 5 hour drive and you will be tired. We stayed the second night just to regain energy before heading back to Athens.
Athens Central market is an experience. It closes by mid afternoon so morning is a good time to arrive. it is huge. It covers a full block plus secondary stores outside. It is 300 meteru or so from the Monastraki metro station. Find the station look for the acropolis and turn your back to it and start walking. It is on Athinas st.
Images in this album
Athens http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632121475515/

Now I am going to suggest something that may get me in trouble. On our first visit to the acropolis we arrived right at opening. There was a tour guide sitting on the steps speaking to her tour. We got in and spent an hour at the Acropolis and left when the crowds arrived. The tour guide still hadn't gotten her group through the entrance.

You plan on having guided tours. Thats good plan but a 12 year old may become frustrated by the pace and info overload. Give it a try but if it doesn't work for you just grab a guide book photocopy the appropriate pages so you can do a self guided tour at your own pace. There are also audio downloads on this web site for some of the more important sites.