Romantic Greek spots, but not an island or a beach?

The Peloponnese would be a great option as it's easy to get to by car or bus.

One of the most recommended places to stay is Nafplio, a short distance from Athens.

Lovely Old Town with lots of options for services and a great base to explore the area.

Check out the best website for Nafplio and you'll find more than enough to keep you occupied.

https://visitnafplio.com/

There are loads of beautiful sites on the mainland that don't involve beaches. I recommend checking out Matt Barrett's site as a resource, it might give you some ideas https://www.greecetravel.com/greek-mainland.htm

If your SO truly hates beaches, even to walk
on, then almost all else will be cliffs and rocks.

Second the recommend for Nafplio ... considered THe most beautiful Old Town in all of Greece. The "Visit Nafplio" website, superb & NONcommercial, has many photos/links showing what to see, where to eat etc, but RS photo ace "Stanbr" also has great photo albums showing highlights -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/sets/72157632094108982/

You can't explore Greece by train (almost NO trains)but excellent modern intercity busses (directions on that website). NAfplio is also a very enjoyable 2.5 hr drive from ATH airport. Use this map -- https://tinyurl.com/zekuft9 -- to see how modern divided highway goes N of city, then along highway -- with optional short stops on way to see Corinth Canal (so deep! so skinny!) and Ancient Nemea (a Sacred Games Site, thrilling). Some people opt to take bus to/from Athens, then rent a car in Nafplio to explore ruins highlights like Epidaurus, Mycenae and Turin. Nafplio is at base of the Peloponnese "thumb" on peninsula surrounded by water... gorgeous Venetian architecture, best sunsets in Greece. Sometimes has been called "proposal capital of Greece" because so many men bring their sweethearts there for the Big Ask. It fulfills your wish list.

If your SO truly hates beaches, even to walk on, then almost all else
will be cliffs and rocks

Hmmm, I found the Peloponnese green and verdant. You don’t get much more beautiful than Nafplio, but I think either there or something centered on northern Greece would make a fantastic trip, no sea faring needed!

I found Peloponnese green also. And rocky. Not sure how OP views that stuff or dislike is only beaches. Should be prepared for rocky paths and uneven on most ruins and trails.

1/ I would be curious to know what you consider "romantic"..

3/ Although Nafplio would save you ferry trips and beaches I don't really see how it would be more romantic for you than, for example, Athens.

2/ And I would also be curious to know why Thessaloniki comes to your mind when it comes to romanticism.

Take a look at Meteora. Also second Matt Barrett's site as a great resource.

Thanks everyone!

JoLui

Your question: what’s romantic?

My answer: Paris. Pays de Loire. Ostia Antica (yes, ruins but also, a green park). Gardens. An old hotel in our home city with a white tablecloth restaurant attached that has good food that’s not fussy but also not rustic. We are not big fans of what I’d call real nature - the wild- but parks and gardens shaped by the hand of man can be charming.

Your question: Although the Peloponnese would save you ferry trips and beaches I don't really see how it would be more romantic than, for example, Athens.
My answer: What I saw of Athens was mostly concrete, the subway, and the acropolis, so, not that romantic to me. I also saw one residential neighborhood which was cute but also pretty modern which is not my thing.

Your questionAnd I would also be curious to know why Thessaloniki comes to your mind when it comes to romanticism. - my answer: I liked the 2 plazas where the city met the sea in Thessaloniki. I don’t mind beaches and the sea, but my husband would only want to look at the view. I was also staying with a friend whose family were gracious hosts so that probably also left me with positive memories. I spent most of my time in Greece at a wild life hospital at Aigina.

In Nafplio, the lanes everywhere in Old Town are garlanded in bouganvilllea. The large park at the end of Old Town is filled with Wisteria Trees that become a huge Lavender Fairyland every year in Early May. The main square is paved in Marble, with large trees at the corner, under which you may sit and watch the children riding tricycle and kicking soccer balls s under the moon at night. Nafplio was the first place since Paris that I experienced as so romantic, yet not exclusionary fdr the un-partnered. If that's not enough, then I am sad for you, because perhaps nowhere in Greece (or elsewhere) can meet your expectations.

There are countless places like that.

A simple route would be to get in a car (preferably at ATH airport), drive to Meteora, then into Epirus via Metsovo and Zagori Villages, Vikos Gorge, Ioannina or Arta, Delphi, Corinth and then either back to airport or into Athens city.

Hi treemoss2,

Good point about a coastline that’s not sandy being rocky or cliffy instead. My spouse is fine with rocks and cliffs dropping off I to the cold angry ocean- that’s what he grew up with! I grew up around rocky beaches, too, but I am much more comfortable with sand than he is. He has many excellent qualities but love of beaches isn’t one of them!

Hi everyone thank you for all the suggested itineraries! I appreciate the insights and the links to tours and resources ! Nafplio sounds very beautiful. :-)