Hi, Everyone,
My husband, daughter and I are going to stay three nights in Athens in February and then only have five days with a rental car to see what we most should see. For sure, we want to go to Nafplio for a couple of nights on one end or another, but where else? I've been wanting to go to Peloponnese but Delphi and Meteora are also very tempting. Which is best and most efficient, considering we don't want to spend ALL our time in the car. We like a beautiful drive, but we also like being out of the car. We already have bookings in Athens and then close to the Athens airport for our flight out, returning the car that morning, so that isn't a complication. Please help.
Posted by
5316 posts
I see it as three options: five days in the Peloponnese (we did 10 and could have doubled it), Delphi and Nafplio, or Delphi-Meteora plus something else in the north.
I found the Bradt Guides to the Peloponnese and Northern Greece invaluable (successful Peloponnese trip, one planned for the north but not yet taken)
Tough decision, but any would be great and you have a nice plan. I only would not try to combine all three that you mentioned. I found Google Maps pretty reliable, so maybe play around with some options to see what looks appealing.
I just noticed your trip is February, so hopefully someone else can advise on that. I'd be wary of some of the roads we drove, so you might want to play it somewhat spontaneous with weather.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3434 posts
You don't have time for Meteora ... go to the library & rent a good video about it. You could manage Dellphi, if you are strategic about it. ( Remember! in Winter many sites close at 3 PM).
• DAY 1 - Drive up 2-5pm, quick check-in, sunset dinner. Be at ruins 8:30 sharp, then Museum by 10. Leave area by 11,.. use this map for route to Nafplio & back to Athens airport - https://tinyurl.com/zekuft9 (clilck & it gets huuuge)
• DAY 2 - Drive back to "Fork in Road" (Elefsina) turn RIGHt on Big intercity highway. Cross Corinth Canal (dont stop), stop at ANCIENT NEMEA by 1:30, then find lunch in village of Nemea. Drive S 30 mins to Nafplio, check into hotel explore town, lovely sunset.
• DAY 3 & 4 - So Much to See!! MYCENAE can take 4+ hours... consider instead ANCIENT TIRYNS (no museum, but same massive huge-boulder architecture, & right by road,only 10 mins outside Nafplio). Devote at least half a day to exploring fab Old town lanes, its small but superb arch. museum, the parapet of Acronafplia, AND Palamidi (drive up back way)
• DAY 5 - check out, drive E across "thumb" of PElops to ANCIENT EPIDAURUS... acres of ruins but Main thing is stunning theatre!! Then drive E to seashore, maybe get lunch by water, drive up & Exit at ISthmus to take pix of Canal from Old Bridge, then jump onto BIggie highway back to ATHENS t (remember to turn LEFT at Elefsina for bypass back to Airport).
Posted by
Atlanta, GA area (USA)
119 posts
I’d vote for Meteora and Delphi with a stop at Karpenissi in between but I’m probably prejudiced because that’s what we did. It was July, so the ski resorts above Karpenissi were closed, but in February you might be able to tell your friends you went skiing in Greece!
The other recommendations above all look good too; I’m sure you’ll enjoy whatever you do. Good luck!