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Pelaponnese and Islands in May 2023

Posted by on

All,

Starting to put together a ~2 week itinerary for May and looking for some ferry/transport guidance. We have been to Athens before so not planning to spend any time there.

The plan is to fly into Athens from US (likely evening arrival). Find a hotel near the airport to crash and pick up rental car the next day and drive to Nafplion and spend 3 nights there exploring the area. Then return to Athens for a ferry to Naxos where we will spend 5 nights.

Since we would be picking up the car at airport, it would be easiest to return the car there. But returning the car at Pireaus might be an option for a slightly higher cost. So we are trying to get a sense of ferry schedules from Pireaus and Rafina to see which could work better. Ferryhopper.com currently only shows early morning ferries out of both Pireaus and Rafina to Naxos, meaning since we are coming from Nafplion, we'd likely have to spend the night in Athens area before taking the ferry the next morning.

My question is - will more ferries likely get added to the schedule as we get closer to May? The ideal scenario would be a ~12 noon ferry Rafina to Naxos that would allow us to leave Nafplion early, drop our car at ATH, and then take a taxi to Rafina with time to spare and no need to overnight in the Athens area. After Naxos, we'll ferry to Santorini for 3 nights before flying back to US on a ticket with a stop in Athens. Thanks for your help!

Posted by
1373 posts

The Summer ferry schedules generally are published in March so you will be able to determine your options then. I suspect there will not be any mid day ferries normally early morning and late afternoon.

Your best bet may be to return the car at the airport in mid afternoon and book a direct flight to Naxos that day.

Posted by
24 posts

Excellent idea about the flight. Seems flights aren't that much more expensive than the ferry, and with the flight we don't have to worry about getting to one of the ports. Thanks again!

Posted by
3320 posts

Sign up for Aegean "newsletter" (really an email alert) to get news of promotional pricing of flights... usually v early in year... you can save considerably ... IF they include Naxos Since u r driving to Airport to drop car, u can pick the "promotional price" flights.

Posted by
24 posts

Great idea - will sign up now!

Next comes the fun part of planning how to spend the 5 days in Peloponnese. Was thinking I have time for a couple days in Mani or Monemvasia along with 2-3 days in and around Nafplion. Need to do more research, but a couple days around Kardamyli, Areopoli and Vathia looks like it would make for an amazing time! Is Monemvasia worth all the hype?

Thanks

Posted by
1603 posts

I would definitely fly from Athens to Naxos. It’s about a 40-minute flight. We did that last May in the reverse (Naxos to Athens) and it worked out perfectly for us. Very easy.

If you have the time, I also recommend spending 4 or 5 nights in Nafplio so you can see more sites. We loved Mystras, the Byzantine ruins in/near Sparta. It’s about a 1.5 drive from Nafplio but well worth it.

Posted by
1817 posts

From the port of Rafina, ferries to Naxos depart in the morning between 7am and 8am. It is very unlikely that you will find any after 8am. If you drop-off the car at the airport your best option is to fly to Naxos.

However you can stay in Rafina at the Avra ​​hotel for your first night when your flight arrives in Athens and rent the car from the next day to go to Nafplion.

The Avra ​​hotel, (which is about 3 times cheaper than the Sofitel at the airport and has sea view rooms), has a free shuttle every hour that will pick you up at the airport and bring you back to the airport on next day (this request must be indicated when you book the room).

https://www.hotelavra.gr/

Flight to Naxos is the best option but also note that there are car rental companies that allow you to pick up the car at the airport and return it to the port of Piraeus, for example https://capitalrent.gr/index.php/en/

From the port of Piraeus you could find a ferry to Naxos in the afternoon, but you won't arrive in Naxos before 10:00 p.m.

Posted by
3320 posts

Make that ferry arrival in Naxos 11 pm .... and after you leave mainland area, nothing but sea to view, and then it's dark.

Posted by
1373 posts

Greece is best experienced slowly. Less places to visit gives you a more in depth experience compared to running from one place to the next with little time to enjoy where you are right now.

You can take weeks exploring the Peloponnese.

I am going to join the others who suggest you start in Nafplio. Nafplio alone needs 2 or 3 days. It is lovely. It is also a great base for day trips. You can do Delphi from Nafplio. The ancient sites at Epidavros, Mycaenea, Ancient Tiyrins, Ancient Nemia and the area around Corinth as day trips from Nafplio. Dont miss the great fortress of Acrocorinth right beside Ancient Corinth.
As mentioned a visit to the last Byzantine city at Mystras (near modern day Sparti) is a great day trip.

Yes in my opinion Monemvassia is worth it. It is a 14th century walled town with a ruined fortress on the top of the mountain. The hotels are actually period rooms spread throughout the town. You might want to do Mystras and then continue south to stay a night in Monemvassia. Our Greek friends often go to Monemvassia for their weekend get aways.

Here are some images of this area
Nafplio https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157632094108982
Delphi and Meteora https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157698930270992

Corinth Area. https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157711755443483
Peloponnese, Mani and Monemvassia. https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157711323535897

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