Exploring Greece in 7 Days

A Week on the Road Through Mainland Greece's Classical Heartland

A one-week route through the mainland's best-known ancient sites and small towns, built for travelers who want real depth without a rushed pace. It leans into the big-name archaeological stops and a few overnight towns worth lingering in.

Day 1 - Landing in Athens

Pick up your rental car right after landing at Athens International Airport. Rather than pushing straight out of the city, it's worth spending the first day settling in, especially after a long-haul flight.

Once you're checked in, head up to the Acropolis to see the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the Propylaea up close. Early morning or the last couple of hours before closing are the best windows since the site gets both hot and crowded by midday. Afterward, come down into the Acropolis Museum for context on what you just walked through, then wander the Plaka's narrow lanes for dinner with the lit-up Acropolis overhead.

Day 2 - Myth and the Ancient City

Spend the morning tracing Athenian mythology through the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Agora, and the Kerameikos cemetery, a route that ties the stories of Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, and Dionysus to the ground they were told on.

In the afternoon, the National Archaeological Museum holds one of the world's great collections, including the Antikythera mechanism. If you'd rather stay outdoors, the Tower of the Winds and a walk down Aiolou Street for coffee are a good alternative. An evening trip up to the Athens Observatory for stargazing is worth checking, depending on the season.

Day 3 - Corinth, Mycenae, and On to Nafplio

Drive out of Athens toward the Peloponnese, stopping first at the Corinth Canal, a 19th-century engineering project connecting the Ionian and Aegean, with the older Diolkos trackway still visible nearby. Ancient Corinth itself has the Temple of Apollo, Peirene Fountain, and the Bema of Saint Paul; climb up to Acrocorinth if you want the view.

From there, continue to Mycenae, the Bronze Age citadel that Homer wrote into the Iliad. Walk through the Lion Gate, along the Cyclopean walls, and out to the Treasury of Atreus and the tombs associated with Agamemnon and Clytemnestra.

End the day in Nafplio, Greece's first capital after independence, and a genuinely nice place to walk around at night. Its mix of Venetian, Byzantine, and Ottoman architecture shows in the old town's squares and waterfront.

Day 4 - Epidaurus and Mystras

A short drive from Nafplio brings you to Epidaurus, home of the ancient healing sanctuary of Asklepios and its theater, still remarkable for how well the acoustics hold up after more than two thousand years.

In the afternoon, head up into the Taygetos foothills to Mystras, a Byzantine hill town and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Upper City, the Despots' Palaces, the Lower City, and the Metropolis church span several centuries of building. Head back to Nafplio for the evening.

Day 5 - Olympia and Nafpaktos

Drive to Olympia, birthplace of the ancient Games, and walk the site: the Sanctuary of Zeus, the stadium, and the archaeological museum.

From Olympia, head north and cross the Rio-Antirrio Bridge, one of the longest cable-stayed bridges anywhere, over the Gulf of Corinth. Settle in for the night in Nafpaktos, a harbor town with a hilltop castle worth a look before dinner.

Day 6 - Delphi and Galaxidi

Drive up to Delphi, once regarded as the center of the ancient world and home to the Oracle of Apollo. A guided walk through the site takes in the Athenian Treasury, the Temple of Apollo, and the theater.

The Delphi museum holds some genuinely important finds, including the bronze Charioteer and the Sphinx of Naxos. Break for lunch in Arachova, known for its stone houses and local cheeses, then continue on to Galaxidi for the night, a quiet town of neoclassical houses and two small harbors.

Day 7 - Back to Athens

A last breakfast in Galaxidi, then the drive back to Athens Airport (roughly 2.5-3 hours) to return the car and catch your flight home.

Drive safe, and enjoy the trip. The Car on the Move team