3 nights outside of Athens in June with a rental car? where would you go, what would you see? The third night needs to be close to the Athens airport for departure the next day. I welcome any and all suggestions thank you in advance......
Posted by
Brighton, UK
1388 posts
Karen
I'm just back from Nafplio which I would heartily recommend, and might do you for a last night. It's just over 2 hours drive from the airport. To be an hour nearer you might want to stay in Corinth, but the town is nowhere near as nice.
Nafplio has an old town, a huge venetian fort, a beautiful walk by the sea and there is a good local beach about 20 minutes away. It also has a number of very good restaurants, and some nice accommodation. You can do some of the other major sites from there, particularly Mycenae (45 minutes by car) and Epidavrus (about the same.)
A circuit of Corinth, Sparta for Mystra, and then on to Nafplio would be good. I've sent a bit more of an idea to you direct. Can't fit it all in the box!
Of course, Delphi is also great but, unfortunately, in the completely opposite direction.
Have a good trip
Alan
Posted by
Lexington, Mass.
3 posts
Nafplio (Nauplion) is a great place to stop for one day or more, though it was 20 years ago when we did. If you want to continue from there, Sparta would be pretty easy to reach. There's little to see in the city, but it's a good place to stay and visit the Byzantine ruins and wonderful frescos in Mistra, a short distance south.
Also, if you're into classical ruins, Corinth has much to offer. Loutraki, a little north of Corinth on the Athens side of the canal, has beaches and mineral baths. Its bottled water (fresh, not mineral) was on sale all over Greece.
Fair warning: besides the 20-year gap, our observations were made in October, which seemed delightfully summerish to New Englanders, and wasn't at all crowded. In June, 2008, your mileage may vary. But I'm sure you'll enjoy Greece -- it's a great place to visit.
Charlie