Itinerary Help/Suggestions Please

Renting a car the day of arrival after a night of no sleep in foreign land is not recommended. There is no room for error here.

It’s only a 2 hour drive to Nafplio. We’ve done much worse on previous trips to Europe. Last year we flew to Venice, took a bus to the train station to catch a train to Florence, and then rented a car and drove to our first destination 2 hours away. So a 2 hour drive after a 9 hour direct flight won’t be a problem.

Where are you coming from? if you have just finished a transatlantic flight jet lag can be significant. On one of our trips we arrived in the morning and decided to rent a car and drive to Nafplio. We had to stop 3 times at gas stations with restaurants for coffee during that drive. Be aware that jet lag can be a problem. Also keep in mind that you will be on the National road for the first hour or so where you will get your first lesson in driving in Greece. Greeks drive very fast on the national highway and they will be passing your small rental car rather quickly.
When we arrived in Nafplio we did not drive the car again for 2 days until we recovered from jet lag. Nafplio is a great place for your first stop. We always stay in the old town where you can get a great introduction to Greece.

For Delphi we arrived at mid day, found a hotel and visited the museum and had a relaxing time. Our hotel had a view down the mountainside all the way to the gulf. Next morning we arrived at the gate at opening and we had the site with about 50 people for the first couple of hours. By the time the tour bus crowds arrived we were at the top and had a leisurely walk back to the gate.

You might not need 2 nights in Delphi.
You might want to head to Corinth where you can visit the canal and for a real treat visit Biblical Ancient Corinth then find the mighty fortress at nearby Acrocorinth.
Here are some images.
Nafplio https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157632094108982
Nafplio 2024 https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72177720319228274

Delphi and Meteora https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157698930270992

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

Whether you should pick up the car when you arrive on an overnight flight really depends on how you personally feel. I’ve done it multiple times with no issue - once flew into Milan and then drove to near Monaco. I also fly the overnight flights from the US west coast and drive home from the airport through morning rush hour traffic. So if you find that you generally feel pretty good and can drive safely then go for it!

I suggest staying in Delphi so you’ll be close to the ruins but you could stay elsewhere and effectively make a day trip to Delphi if that works better with the rest of your route. I also recommend the Athens Riviera - we decided at the last minute to spend our last day in Greece on a trip the hotel organized to one of the beach clubs. We assumed we’d ride the tram back rather than stay until the hotel bus came back, but it was so nice we stayed all day! The tram looks like it provides convenient transportation into central Athens.

Good luck with the trip!

We’re thinking of stopping in Corinth on the way to Delphi from Nafplio, so we won’t get to Delphi until mid-day. Figured we would spend a 2nd night there since we won’t arrive until later in day 1.

What a weird idea to stay in Glyfada.

It's a kind of suburban riviera in Greek version with buildings, noisy 6-lane avenues and fast food restaurants.

The tram from Syntagma Square (line T6) does not go directly to Glyfada. Once at the end of the T6 line you will have to change tram lines and take the T7 which runs along the coast.

It's up to you but you will spend almost 2 hours round trip to go to Athens from Glyfada.

Since you want to visit Athens, why don't you stay in Athens? You will have plenty of beautiful beaches near Nafplio

Funny, I’ve heard nothing but great things about Glyfada. I don’t want to stay in the city, prefer the coast. If not Glyfada, what other coastal town would you recommend?

There are definitely people who like buildings, fast food, 6-lane roads by the sea, and spending 1 hour on the tram to go downtown. That's for sure! But not me :)

I don't see any other coastal town within an hour of public transport. The part west of Piraeus is industrial

But if I understand correctly you are not looking for something Greek and natural but more in the style of a Miami seaside resort ? In that case Vouliagmeni is for you. But you will have to take a bus in addition to the 2 trams.

JoLui, so let me see if I understand you. Are you suggesting the only way to get an “authentic Greece experience” is to stay in Athens and if I was to stay outside of the city I might as well just go to Miami Beach?

There are several ways to get a Greek experience.

The one you are talking about looks like this:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/JZGVhCgnnofwqLMi8

Or this:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/VnWpaQ3Zpq1ofPCj6

Notice the similarities with:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3tAirJNZxLJweQJb7

Or:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kr2vRJbgtAHAhwJQ7

Or:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Cw5zDPcwbdJMQjFVA

The Greek experience, which I would call authentic, looks more like this:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/WmoMpmcRgcA4LaMR7

I plan on doing both, ancient sites and coastline, it’s just that I prefer my lodging to be on the coast when possible rather than in a city. BTW, what you call authentic looks like gravel with a small hill in the background. I can find that anywhere. Thanks for your help.

JoLui, if we stay in Athens, what area of the city would you recommend? I’m assuming somewhere central would make sense. Are there areas we should definitely avoid? Since we’ll be traveling with another couple, we would be looking for an apartment with 2 bedrooms.

See this map:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=17ucWjtKLta5sLImJZUjotJu_Gl8cB6I&usp=sharing

All the neighborhoods in the central neighborhood section are ok, they surround the Acropolis hill. The most popular is the Plaka district

You will find plenty of 2 bedroom apartments on the usual platforms, booking.com, Airbnb, etc.

I mainly know apartments for 2 or 3 people max, I can't help you on that.

What do you think of the Kolonaki district? I found a really nice Airbnb there.

Kolonaki is a slightly more upscale district than the others, with embassies and art galleries in its southern part. It's quite nice overall (and rather clean if that's a criterion).
But since it's quite spead out around the Lycabettus Hill, it's better to know in which part of Kolonaki the Airbnb is located.
On the Airbnb map you can probably have a fairly precise location within two blocks.

Depending on the location in Kolokani it can be more or less away from the tourist center and its main sites but only, let's say on average 10 minutes more walking than other neighborhoods.

We went there from time to time for walks, there are some nice bars and an open-air cinema. It's quite quiet, more of an embassy staff and senior executive vibe than groups of tourists on organized tours.

We also wanted to see Hadrian's Reservoir (we sometimes have very specific visiting goals... lol)

https://athensbylocals.com/hadrians-reservoir-on-dexameni-square/

Kolonaki being at the foot of Lycabettus Hill. There is a cable car to access the top from where you have a beautiful view of Athens.

Speaking of hill, know that the streets closest to the hill are very steep, sometimes they are only pedestrian streets with steps. This can also be something to check before booking.

Here is a description of kolonaki from a local:
https://www.thisisathens.org/neighborhoods/kolonaki-locals-guide

About Athens riviera and Kolonaki, I see that on the TA forum you had the same answers as mine from regulars in Athens and even from Athens residents. :))

Any advice as to where to stay in Nafplio or Delphi? In Nafplio we’ll be looking for an Airbnb (4 nights), in Delphi (2 nights) a hotel. Should we stay right in those cities or on the outskirts?

I would suggest you look for your accommodation in Nafplio old town. That is where all the interesting city scape is to be found.

I wouldn't worry about renting a car on the day of arrival. In fact, you should have a little more sleep than many countries since Athens is further away than most of Europe. We have always jumped into a car from the airport and made our way to our destination as much as 4 or 5 hours away. We get acclimated pretty quick.
Matt Barrett has an all-things Greece newsletter and he recommends staying on Poros or Aegina instead of in Athens. It's a quick ferry ride and there is island life at the end of the day.