Below is the itinerary that my wife and I (60 & 58) actually completed last week. I give my observations about the trip in the next post. This trip was vastly improved by what I learned from these forums.
Day 1 - Arrive in Athens – 10/19 - sleep in Athens (average temps.- 58/74)
AirBnb reserved in Metz neighborhood (Restaurants -Olympion – local favorite for classic Greek cuisine. Temple of Olympian Zeus; Panathenaic stadium; Presidential palace; Hadrian’s arch; Lyceum of Aristotle.
Day 2 - Athens – 10/20 - sleep in Athens
Acropolis & Museum ; Plaka- Kydathineon and Adrianou are pedestrianized; Anafiotika neighbourhood; First cemetery; National Garden.
Day 3 - Athens – 10/21 - sleep in Athens
Ancient Agora – 10:00 a.m. (The new entrance is across from the Athinaion Politeia restaurant (set as destination in GPS). The street is named Apostolu Pavlou.) Temple of Hephaestus; Stoa – Agora museum; Explore Thissio neighborhood; Monastiraki square and flea market; (Walk up pedestrianized Ermou Street (longest shopping street in Athens); Varvakios Agora (Central Market) – Athinas Street; spice markets of Evripidou Street
Day 4 - Athens – 10/22 – sleep in Athens
National Archeological museum – 10:00 a.m. ; Syntagma Square – Changing of the Guard 5 minutes before each hour; Kolonaki Square; Funicular up Lycabettus Hill -best panoramic views of Athens
Day 5 - Meteora – 10/23 – Thursday - Sleep in Kastraki - Doupiani house
Drive to Kastraki – 3 hours 40 minutes - Stop at Thermopylae on the way.
visitmeteora.com – sunset tour departs at 3:00 p.m.; pickup from Doupiani House – includes: St. Stephen , Hermit cave, Sunset view
Day 6 - Delphi – 10/24 – Friday -Sleep in Dephi - Arion Hotel
Early morning tour of 2 monasteries - Grand Meteoron- open Friday at 9:00 (finish by 10) then go to Roussanou (easy access, least visited, on same road) - open Friday at 9:00; Theopetra cave – 2.5 miles from Kalambaka – opens at 8:30 a.m.- wall is oldest man made structure- 23,000 years old. Drive to Delphi – 3 hours; Recommended to do archeological site first (less busy after 16:00). -open 8:00-18:00; archeological site – 2 hours; museum – 2 hours.
Day 7 - Olympia – 10/25 – Saturday - Sleep in Olympia - Leonidaion Guesthouse
Drive to Olympia– 4 hours; tour Olympia – archeological site – 2 hours; museum – 2 hours.
Day 8 - Mystras – 10/26 – Sunday - Sleep in Mystras - Acropolis Mystras Guesthouse
Drive to Mystras – 2 hours. Tour Mystras in afternoon; 3 hours; (Pantanassa Holy, Convent, Holy Church of Hagia Sophia).
Day 9 - Parapougki /Nafplio – 10/27 – Monday - Sleep in Nafplio (10/27-29) - AirBnb reserved - “Aggeliki Apartments”. Drive to (Parapougki) - Andania (1hour) for Ben olive mill tour – 11:00 a.m.; Lunch in Kalamata – 20 minutes south; Drive to Nafplio (1.5 hours) - afternoon, explore Nafplio
Day 10 - Nafplio -10/28 – Tuesday -- Ohi Day – National holiday – Sleep in Nafplio. Catholic church of the transfiguration, Church of Panagia, Old Mosque (closed), St. Spyridon church, Akronafplia Fortress at sunset .
Day 11 - Nafplio – 10/29 –Wednesday Sleep in Nafplio. Corinth – Acrocorinth fort – 50 minutes drive; Ancient Corinth, Temple of Apollo, Isthmus canal; Arvanitia beach for a swim.
Day 12 - Nafplio – 10/30 – Thursday - Move to Hotel Agamemnon – 10/30 to 11/1
Ancient city of Epidavros – 30 minute drive from Nafplio; Ancient amphitheater – Asklipieiou Epidavrou
Day 13 - Nafplio – – 10/31- Friday
Mycenae – oldest site in Greece; Archaeological museum and site - €20, Tomb of the Cyclops, Treasury of Atreus – tomb of Agamemnon
Tiryns – on the road to Mycenae, Acropolis of Tiryns
Day 14 - Athens – 11/1 – Saturday - night before departure – Sleep in Rafina - Avra Rafina hotel . Drive to Temple of Poseidon in cape Sounio - 2.5 hours from Nafplio and 45 minutes from airport. Return car to airport - 2 hours from Nafplio
Day 15 - Depart Greece– 11/2 – Sunday