Patras to Athens via Mycenae and Epideaurs

Lawrence I wouldn't have thought it was possible with one overnight, bu it may be just. If I was doing it I'd go from Patras to Corinth and change bus there for Nafplio. The bus station is on the ringroad on the outskirts of town and you would be picking up a bus coming down from Athens. These are pretty much hourly during the day. The Corinth to Nafplio bus passes Mycenae, although the site is a bit of a walk (30 minutes?) from the main road. It would be possible to get off at Mycenae, walk up to the site, and then come back to get a later bus into Nafplio. There used to be a left luggage at the turn off to the site but I haven't stopped there in a while so can't be sure. Perhaps someone else can confirm? You could then ovenight in Nafplio, which is a very nice little town. (We plan to spend Christmas there.) There are buses from Nafplio to Epidavrus but I think there are only a couple a day and they aren't particularly well timed. If you got the first one you could spend some time on the site and get back to Nafplio in time to get an afternoon bus back to Athens. The bus times for the various bits of this are on the KTEL Argolid website. http://www.ktel-argolidas.gr/?module=default&pages_id=9&lang=en If you can only manage one night I think you might be better heading straight to Athens and then taking the one day tour with either CHAT Tours or GO Tours. Not ideal as you get less time on the site but they would let you do it all in a day. Have a great trip. Alan

Alan. wow that was a great message. Thanks for taking the time to write it all out for us (and others who may want to do the same thing!). Both options you outline have pluses and minuses, so we'll have to figure out which would make the most sense for us. We do plan on staying in Athens for a few days so that may help determine which option we do. Obviously you know the ares. Which location should get the most time Mycenae or Epidaurus?

While technically possible to do by bus, I wouldn't recommend it. The Greek bus system isn't designed well to get you from city to city - instead it works better from city to Athens then to another city. And finding schedules and transfer times is really difficult. But you can get to Nafplio by bus. Problem is then you have to get to each site. Myceanae is not too bad, there is a bus service that times itself pretty well (check older threads, someone listed the schedule). But Epidavros is nearly impossible to do by bus. Nafplio is a great city and well worth a visit on its own. Nevertheless, you'd really have to stay two nights as it'd take the better part of a day to travel by bus and Myceanae is a half day (and by bus it'd be the middle part of the day). The option of going to Athens and then taking a guided tour is your best option. Patras to Athens is easy by bus or even train I believe. But again, you'll need at least 2 nights in Athens. Is driving not an option? Traffic and roads on the Peleponnesse is not bad at all. With your own car, you could probably squeeze it all in with just one night in Nafplio.

Lawrence You're welcome. I think of the two I would give more time to Epidavrus. Mycenae is in a spectacular setting, has real historic significance and the lion gate and beehive tomb. On the other hand all of the finds from there are in the archaeological museum in Athens. The acoustics at Epidavrus would be incredible if they were designed today, so wandering around the theatre is always fun. In addition there are other ruins on the site plus a good museum with interesting exhibits about early 'medical' practices. (Resolving mental health issues by throwing patients into a pit of snakes, for example.) So, there is just more to see at Epidavrus. If you do the daytrip go for the option without lunch. If you pick up a sandwich before you get on the coach you can gain an extra hour wandering about, rather than sitting in a hotel dining room. Alan PS We're in Andros at the moment and the weather is warm for the time of year. Looks as though it's shaping to be a good autumn so mid October should be nice.