Nafplio Travel Forum

We will base Nafplio for two days. We will walk around in Nafplio and drive around before returning car to ATH. We may drive all the way to Mystra. Any driving TIPS? It seems that the central Peloponesse is of mountain terrian, are the roads safe, what is the usual speeding limit there?

Any advice would be highly appreciated.

Thanks!

The major highway to/from Pelopponnese is modern multi-lane highway. Off that, the roads are smaller, but not much traffic to worry about. Remember that Greeks will pass you even with a double line--- if someone behind seems to want to pass, go over on the shoulder to allow it.

If you are going to Mystra go on Michelin.com and get estimate of driving time, and trust it. Michelin is realistic but people who live in flatlands USA often have trouble believing the slower drive times, but when it's continually curvy it does take longer. If you have a choice of a shorter distance on a minor road, or longer on a major road, take the latter.

The Argolid area is all pretty level. In a long day you can easily do what I call a "ruin-a-thon." Start early, get to Mycenae & explore before the tour-bus throngs arrive. Then you can go to Nemea, just off the main hi-way mentioned above. It is 2nd only to Olympia as a Sacred Games Site... has stadium, theatre museum, temple ruins etc, and NO crowds. Outside Nafplio just 6 Km is Tiryns -- like Mycenae layout also NO crowds...u can tour in 30 mins. End your day at Epidaurus & its marvey theatre. If you are hot & need a dip, there's a beach very nearby.

Driving from Napflion to Mystra could not be easier. The road from Napflion to Tripoli is well marked and is a fairly good straight road. From Tripoli you head south to Sparti, which is about an hours drive. The road is two lane and some curves, but not much traffic especially during the weekdays. Sparti is a very well-laid out town and has many expat Americans who have returned to their native Greece. People in Sparti are very friendly and hospitable. You will find Mystra not far from Sparti and is a very beautiful place for a walk especially during Spring when the flowers are all abloom.

When driving in Greece the best thing you can do is be 'PATIENT' and let the fast drivers pass! You will arrive at your destination in your own time and chances are you will meet that fast driver at the next red light! Be very defensive and expect the unexpected. When driving in rural areas where there are curves, drive expecting a flock of sheep or goats to be in the road at the next bend! People in Greece drive very haphazzardly! They may put their right blinker on and then turn left! I have never been able to figure this out, except to say that my theory is that 1/2 the population here is dyslexic (a Greek word)!!! So, drive carefully and take your time! Don't think that just because there are rules that they will be followed...after all 'anarchy' is also a Greek word! Kalo Taxidi! 'Have a Good Trip.'

You can visit Mystra by following the "hard" but the most "picturesque" way:
Follow the beach road through the villages: Miloi, Kiveri, Astros, Leonidio
and then through the amazing mt.Parnon and then through the Ag.Kosmas village to Sparta. Advice any maps available before you start...

You can stay at Kiveri (10km from Nafplio) in the Zephyros Rooms hotel (www.zephyros-apartments.gr).