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Itinerary Help - Retirement Trip for Dad's 1st Europe visit!

Posted by on

I'm planning a retirement trip for my dad November 10-24! I've traveled extensively throughout Europe, but this is my first slower-paced trip (my dad is 68, I'm 38). I know this is slow season, but I'm meeting a friend in Germany afterward for the Christmas markets. My dad also hates high heat and crowds.

We like culture, food, history, markets, water (like rivers, ocean, etc.) and small towns (not into art or wine). We're starting in Venice due to our air miles, but will finish in Greece. My dad really wants to see history, Biblical sites, and explore island/beach life in Greece, but I've been to Santorini in November and it was really quiet. So I'm thinking staying on the mainland will be best? Does the below itinerary look good? Is it too fast? Too slow? Any recommendations?

11/10 - Arrive in Venice
11/11 - Venice
11/12 - Venice (potential day trip to smaller nearby town like Padua)
11/13 - Venice
11/14 - Venice

11/15 - Fly Venice to Athens
11/16 - Athens
11/17 - Athens
11/18 - Athens
11/19 - Drive to Nafplio
11/20 - Nafplio
11/21 - Nafplio (potential day trip to Hydra)
11/22 - Nafplio
11/23 - Drive Nafplio - Athens (stay near airport)
11/24 - depart Athens early morning

Posted by
329 posts

I am sure you'll have a grand time!

I'm older than you but not yet you're dad's age and this tempo would be too slow for me but I'm not you nor your dad; and if you've talked about it with him and he's on board, it sounds great to me! And if you find you need more activity (as I would), you can always add an impromptu day trip-- which can be magical!

Ah Venice! Greece! Wow!

I would research island hopping day trip from Athens! Check out the wealth of advice in the Rick Steves section on Greece on this website. Also, there are many great Greece aficionados on this forum who can give you leads to chase down-- or not!

Happy travels!

Posted by
11731 posts

Have you looked at going directly to Nafplio on arrival in Greece, then a night on Hydra ( vs just a day trip) and finish in Athens?
The same number of hotel moves, but gives you a better experience on Hydra.

Posted by
31 posts

We can spend a night in Hydra. Do you know if any ferries will allow us to take a rental car? I’m not sure what we’d do with the car since there aren’t cars in Hydra.

Posted by
958 posts

Well you were in Santorini in November and it was quiet. So you know the score. Hydra will probably be likewise or even quieter. I was on Elafonisos island in May and it was quiet and less places open, so I suspect that any island trip will be of that nature for your dad.
While in Nafplio, you can easily visit the Epidauras ruins and Mycenae ruins, both being about 30 miles from Nafplio. There is also a castle on the mountain right at Nafplio.

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