Our own car vs. guided tour out of Athens to sites of the Peloponnese

We used George’s Taxi on our trip instead of driving. It was the best money I ever spent on a vacation. Driving didn’t look particularly bad though. It was just nice to get in the back of a Mercedes and look around and not need to know where you were going. Our driver stopped at several places we would have never known about that are not touristy but were wonderful.

We visited the Peloponnese last year and I had no problems. We rented a car at the airport and got right on the highway out towards Corinth. I would not drive in Athens itself and the road from the airport doesn't require driving in town. We primary stuck to the highways, which were not congested. As I recall, road signs were not a problem. We used google maps and one other mapping app, so following the road signs were not always necessary to figure out which route to drive.

We drove from Athens to Nafplio, Monemvasia, Kardamyli, Sparta and Mystras. We did take a tour from Nafplio for Mycenae and Epidauris.

You will need to have an International Drivers Permit. You can get one from AAA for $20. Takes about 10 days to 2 weeks for them to mail it to you after you apply. Take 2 passport photos with you when you submit your application.

I agree with ABrett. Driving is not bad if you are used to it elsewhere in Europe or in congested cities in the US. If you stick to the beltway around Athens, traffic may be heavy but manageable. Once away from the city, traffic is light and roads are good and pretty well marked. On 2 lane highways, always stay near the right as the middle is for passing. An IDP is required to drive and rent a car, along with your license.

We drove everywhere except Athens and Santorini. Easy.

Abrett -- just curious. Were you able to book a day-tour IN Nafplio going to Mycenae and Epidaurus??? They always used to have such a thing, but in recent years, the local travel agencies apparently stopped offereing them. When I asked, on behalf of friend who were coming there, they said there wasnt' enough demand (!!!). Can you give us the good news for this?? It would be VERY helpful for people who are not driving.

Janet,
We booked through Viator before we left. The tour is titled "Half Day Tour in Mycenae and Epidaurus from Nafplio." The driver picked us up at the hotel in Nafplio and took us to both places. This is not one where the "guide" could go into the site itself, so I would call it more hiring a driver than a guide, though he certainly discussed what we would see at each place during our drive. But it got us to the sites with no hassle and then we used the Rick Steves guidebook to help us as we walked through each.
https://www.viator.com/tours/Peloponnese/Half-day-tour-in-Mycenae-and-Epidaurus-from-Nafplio/d4135-7685P5

ALas, I just wrote you a PM about this issue... and here you are answering instantly! I was afraid of that answer -- and I am annoyed with Viator for the rates they charge, claiming it's a "tour" when really it'a a hired car. I've found that Epidaurus can be enjoyed without a guide, because it's mainly about the wonderful theatre.... but unless one has studied Mycenae culture, history, and specifically that site, it's hard to appreciate the ruins of Mycenae fortress/palace without a licensed guide. If one has an IDP, one could hire a car IN Nafplio for about €30-40 for the day... quite a savings.

Driving in the center of Athens might be a little challenging for some, but it's doable. However, leaving the airport to the Peloponnese is super easy. It is highway around Athens and while you may hit some traffic, it is very typical of any other big city in Europe or the US. Once you get to the Peloponnese you have some curvy, mountain roads but again...typical of such roads anywhere.

Most signs are in the Greek alphabet AND the Roman one so you can navigate without trouble. Some towns may have narrow streets and slightly confusing layouts, but you'll manage and probably decide to park on the edge of town and walk in to the center. Nafplio is not this way, it is easy to drive and park in.

Greek drivers like to pass. A lot. Just slow down and let them, it's not aggressive driving, it's just the way it is. Outside of that, driving customs are similar to everywhere else.

Basically, if you like driving on vacation there is no reason not to do it in this part of Greece. It's the perfect place for it, there isn't as much public transit and a large area to cover.

We rented a car at the Athens airport and drove to Napflion without any problems. No city driving. Beautiful , countryside area. It was so easy to drive to the Mycenae and Epidavros. No guided tours are needed at all. You drive though beautiful olive groves, similar to farmland. Can’t see any need for a tour. We also drove from Napflion to the ferry outto Spetses which was a dun day.
Then we drove to Mystras, staying at Sparta, Oympia next overnight and then up to Delphi. We never hired a guide as we had a Michelin Green Guide for the antiquities’ sites.
We also rented cars on islands for a day or so ( Santorini, Paros, Naxos) and the rental agencies brought our cars to the hotels and also picked them up. Also had a car on Crete for two weeks.

Thank you so much for all of the helpful advice. I think we will drive. Is there a good location to drop the car as we return to Athens from Delphi so we can avoid city driving?

To return car, Easiest thing to just to return to Airport where u rented it, via the beltway that rings the city -- see map (click & it gets huuuge) http://euro-map.com/karty-grecii/peloponnes/podrobnaya-turisticheskaya-karta-peloponnesa.jpg -- faster & easier than returning it to a center-city office. From there, if your hotel is anywhere near Syntagma square within 5-6 blocks, just take the x95 express bus that's right outside the Airport building -- €6 for adults, €3 for Sr. Citz. OR if hotel is NOT near Syntagma but in Central Athens, €38 flat-fee taxi rate. I don't recommend Metro unless you are a subway veteran -- wrangling your bags to exit a crowded car before doors close can make you vulnerable to pickpockets.

PS: If you are supposed to return car with full tank of gas, the thrifty thing is to fill up just outside airport. Keep eyes peeled, there's a gas station just about 10 km before airport.

Excellent advice. Again, thank you.