Ease of Seeing Olympia on Way to Patra?

Deb, it will be helpful to look at a map... here is a good one (click to enlarge) that shows the Peloponnese and Part of the mainland, just barely enough to show Delphi (Delfi on map). You will see that Olympia is nowhere near being "along the way" to Patra it's way beyond it, inland from Pirgos. It sounds as if you have budgeted a very short time in Greece, so don't over-reach. In March, you might do a Hydra Day trip (I actually think an Aegina trip might be more rewarding & a whole lot closer to Athens... check it out). Then think about going to Delphi AND taking an intercity bus onward to Patras instead of doubling back. YOu might have to take a bus to a 2nd town (Galaxidi? Amfissa) and then connecting to a bus for Patras... but it would avoid backtracking to Athens (the trip from/toAthens is 3 hours each way). Consider going up to Delphi late afternoon, staying o'nite, seeing site & museum early next am, then moving on to Patras. I just now Googled "Delphi-Patras bus connection" and found this on Allexperts.com (from 2008 but probably same): "Delphi to Patra BUS runs only ONCE a day as far as I know ... a bus leaves Delphi at 1:15pm (1315 M-Sat) and at 3:45 (1545hrs) on Sunday. Cost is 11.5 euro, takes 3-hrs. arrival about 1615 M-Sa, around 1900 on Sunday." You would want to check this when in Athens by having a Greek speaker telephone the Delphi bus number. About bus vs. train train services are scant in Greece, while KTEL (intercity) bus service is extensive, on time, uses modern vehicles, assigned reserved comfy seats.

Sorry -- got so wrapped up in my answer I failed to include the link for the map ! http://www.greeklandscapes.com/images/maps/greecemap/gr_tc_01.jpg

Thanks for the suggestions. Going to Delphi in the afternoon sounds like a great idea. I think we'll rent a car so that we'll have the freedom to see the sights we really want to see.

Debbie, car rental can be a good idea if you are aware of certain things such as: (1) Driving IN Athens: the traffic is heavy AND confusing; many people avoid the hassle by taking a 45-minute Metro ride to airport, picking up car there ... and you're immediately on a major highway, no traffic lights or stopping; there IS a slight premium for airport pick-ups however. (2)Greece car rental differs from US; unlike Avis/Hertz etc in US, you cannot pick up car in Athens, drop off elsewhere (with only 1 or 2 exceptions, such as Thessaloniki, possibly Patras). And drop-off in another city can be horrendously expensive; often equal to or more than a week's rental (i.e. €200++). (3) Sometimes it works to bus to a destination, then rent there. Example: Bus to Nafplio in the Pelop., rent car & drive around Peloponnese, return to Nafplio. Bottom line: research before you decide. Forums like Trip Advisor & Thorn Tree have had extensive threads on car rental and itineraries on mainland Greece with input from people who live & work in Greece, not occasional GReece travelers, which is more the case here on RS site.