Itinerary advice for 1st timers to Greece - Paros or Naxos/Nafplio/Athens?

Do not skip Nafplio!

You can rent a car at the airport or take a taxi to bus station. There are no buses from the airport to Nafplio.

Naxos, Nafplio, and Athens are very different from each other. I think as a first time visitor that is an advantage. I would keep Nafplio for that reason. We climbed the 999 steps of the Palamidi fortress and it was the favorite site of several of our group. Charming town and beautiful sea but very different architecturally than Cycladic islands. It also is less touristy, although there are plenty of tourists. I think there are more tourists from Athens as English was not as commonly spoken as on the islands or even in the tourist areas of Athens.

About transport to Nafplio (1) CAR: rental from AIrport is easy -- and u go on the most modern intercity highway, no stops at all until after the Corinth Canal. (2) BUS - Intercity (KTEL) bus terminal at Kifissou Street has Nafplio express busses hourly on the half-hour; takes 2.5 hrs, modern v. clean busses, comfy upholstered reserved seats w footrests, A/c, all classes of people take KTEL busses all over greece, prompt & efficient. From Airport you can taxi (50?E) about 45 mins or x93bus, (6E) about 60 minutes... which u choose depends on your timing, if u are trying to make a certain KTEL bus; it's good to reach Kifissou terminal at least 15-20 mins before bus departs. Tickets sold right beside the bus, which is stationed right at the Terminal exit door. If u get tix on LH side, best view of sea en route. IN NAFPLIO; you could rent a car there to get to Mycenae, Epidaurus etc in one day. REmember -- to drive, u need to get Intl. Driving Permit -- available in 20 mins from any AAA office i US, similar in Canada.

Sounds good, but don't miss the New Acropolis Museum in Athens. Do all three floors, it will take you three hours, but it is worth it.

Thank you everyone!

Update on our trip:
Decided on Paros straight from Athens airport - staying 4 days - taking boat trip to Antiparos for 1 day and exploring the island the other days. Have booked 2 places for now - Parika and Naousa. The hotel in Parika has a pool the other one doesn't. Does anyone have a preference for where to stay? Wasn't planning to rent a car - but use the bus or taxis.

Monday - fly back to Athens and staying for 1 night (do some sightseeing in the afternoon/night) then Tuesday taking the Chat Tour to Mycenae, Nauplia & Epidaurus then Wednesday come back to Athens and stay 3 nights (almost 3 days).

Really excited and thanks for this forum for all the great tips.

I'd keep the one with a pool ... because Naoussa has a v. smallish beach & you have to know the bus situation to get to others. Busses in Paros come out from Parikia like fingers on a hand & only 1 or 2 links between fingers. As this excellent guide to Paros Beaches says -- http://www.greekisland.co.uk/paros/paros.htm -- there's no bus service from Naoussa to good beaches. However it tells how to get to beaches most easily. IF u stay in parikia, easier to bus out to beach like piso Livadi o East side.... OR in high season you can get a quick "Caique" goes every half-hour or so from harbor 15 minute to KRIOS, fine sandy beach ... my choice. The nearest beach to Parikia, just 300-400 meters walking north is Livadi, but mediocre, frankly.

The pool is a special plus when you've spent the day doing something else, such as trip t o Antiparos & want a dip before dinner.

I can highly recommend Stelia Mare Boutique Hotel in Naoussa. It is really special and would have been five times the price in California.Small with a lovely pool and outstanding service and the best breaksfasts we have ever had in Europe. It's a five minute walk to the Moraitis Winery which was very nice and a seven minute shortcut walk into town. We would take the fun water taxi to Kolimpythres Beach where beach umbrellas and chairs for two were available for 10 euros. There are also water taxis to Monastiri. We loved the Greek beaches and water but they are more like Italian (but the water is much cleaner and a perfect temperature and crystal clear) not like Hawaii's wide open beaches. We were however there in early September so I don't know how crowded they would be in July

We liked Naoussa much more than Parikea, smaller, nice beaches and are so glad we stayed in Naoussa. Most hotels there had pools although we swan in the Aegean.

Thank you - I looked for a hotel in Naousa with a pool as an alternative. I am going to keep our base there.