We will be in Athens for a business trip at the end of February. Two years ago we visited Santorini, Naxos and Athens (11 days). This time it’s just Saturday to Saturday, no kids. Ricks book recommends Delphos, which we didn’t get to last time, but any recommendations on a possible itinerary, what to see or visit,would be greatly appreciated. History, sightseeing in general (we loved walking around Kolonaki in Athens, for example), art, hikes, all welcome. Thanks!!
Posted by
Massachusetts, USA
1612 posts
With a week, you could rent a car and drive to Nafplio on the Peloponnese Peninsula. It’s a 2-hour drive from Athens Airport. Pick up your rental car at the airport (so you don’t have to drive in downtown Athens), and drive to Nafplio. It’s a lovely town on the water with beautiful architecture, a fortress on a hill, and great restaurants. Not sure if any flowers will be in bloom in February. When we there in May there were bougainvillea blooming everywhere.
From Nafplio, you can visit many ruins such as Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Tiryns. On your way to Nafplio from Athens, you can visit Nemea. Our favorite ruin was the Byzantine ruins of Mystras. It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from Nafplio, but well worth the trip if you have the time.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3320 posts
Another vote for Nafplio -- its Old Town is gorgeous Venetian architecture, adjacent to a bustling New Town, so no deserted "off-season" .. in fact, it's a cultural hub with events year-round. This superb website - http://www.visitnafplio.com/ - tells all about sights - hikes - food - history - art .... click every link!!
Great pix = http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632094108982/ - Old Town & area's ancient sites by a Steves top contributor & photo ace Stanbr
Is it beautiful in February? the "Visit Nafplio" creator filmed this - https://vimeo.com/9186703
Delphi's great, but a longer drive & if you can only do one, Nafplio is ideal for 2-3 delightful & memorable days for lovers of history, art and hikes.
Posted by
OP
71 posts
Thanks! So as home base for seven days and day trips from there? Or 2-3 days and add another destination?
Posted by
OP
71 posts
You think then that one town for the whole week would be good? We were tempted to drive/fly Saturday somewhere, Wednesday go to another town until Saturday when we would return to Athens on the afternoon for a Sunday return to the US.
Posted by
Massachusetts, USA
1612 posts
You could combine Nafplio with Delphi but this might mean a lot of driving. You would drive from Athens to Nafplio, then from Nafplio to Delphi, which is about a 3.5 hour drive. Then you have to drive to Athens Airport, which is about 2.5 hours. So that's up to you if you don't mind doing that amount of driving. If you do this, then 4 nights in Nafplio, and 2 nights in Delphi.
Or spend a couple nights in another area of the Peloponnese. I recommend spending at least 4 nights in Nafplio. I highly recommend visiting Mystras, awesome Byzantine ruins. You could visit from Nafplio (1.5 hour drive), or stay overnight closer to Mystras. I don't know enough about the rest of the Peloponnese. You will need to get a good guidebook. Or hopefully someone more experienced than I am will respond.