Peloponnese Greece
5
Day Itinerary •
Greece
Five days in the Peloponnese gives you the complete experience of mainland Greece's greatest region, from the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae and the perfect theatre of Epidaurus to the haunting Byzantine city of Mystras, the extraordinary medieval fortress of Monemvasia, the dramatic Mani and the magnificent sanctuary of Ancient Olympia. This route covers the full Peloponnese: the Lion Gate at Mycenae, the ancient theatre at Epidaurus, the most beautiful town in Greece at Nafplio, the UNESCO Byzantine city of Mystras, the medieval rock fortress of Monemvasia, the wild Mani peninsula and Ancient Olympia where the Olympic Games were born.
Best Time To Visit
April to June or September to November
Getting There
Drive or bus from Athens (2 hours to Nafplio via Corinth)
Getting Around
Car essential throughout. Olympia is 3 hours from Nafplio.
Budget Per Day
Approx 70 to 130 euros per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, mostly driving with site walking
DAY 1
CORINTH, MYCENAE AND NAFPLIO
MORNING
THE CITADEL OF MYCENAE
Mycenae is the most extraordinary Bronze Age site in Greece, containing the Lion Gate, oldest monumental sculpture in Europe, the Treasury of Atreus beehive tomb, and the grave circles where Schliemann found the gold Mask of Agamemnon. The Mycenae Museum adjacent gives excellent Bronze Age context. Entry approx 12 euros. Drive: 45 min drive to Nafplio
MIDDAY
ANCIENT CORINTH AND THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO
Ancient Corinth contains the Temple of Apollo, one of the oldest surviving Doric temples in Greece dating from 550 BC, and the extraordinary Roman Agora. The Archaeological Museum holds the finest Corinthian pottery collection in existence. The Acrocorinth fortress above gives the finest view over the Isthmus. Entry approx 8 euros. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
NAFPLIO OLD TOWN AND PALAMIDI FORTRESS
Nafplio is the most beautiful town in Greece, its Venetian old town of neoclassical mansions and cobbled lanes giving the finest historic streetscape in the Peloponnese. The Palamidi Fortress, reached by 999 steps, gives the finest view in the region. The Bourtzi castle in the harbour at sunset is unmissable. Entry approx 8 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Heraion of Argos, oldest and most important sanctuary of Hera in the ancient world, lies between Mycenae and Nafplio and is almost entirely unvisited. One of the most significant religious sites of ancient Greece, with extraordinary views over the Argolid plain. Entry approx 4 euros.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Breakfast stop en route Stop at a traditional kafeneion near Corinth. Extraordinary views over the Saronic Gulf. | Lunch: Taverna near Mycenae Grilled lamb and local Argolid wine overlooking the Mycenaean plain. | Dinner: Aiolos Restaurant, Nafplio Modern Greek cuisine with extraordinary fresh seafood from the Argolic Gulf.
DAY 2
EPIDAURUS AND THE ARGOLID
MORNING
THE ANCIENT THEATRE OF EPIDAURUS
The Theatre of Epidaurus is the most extraordinary ancient theatre in the world, its 4th-century BC cavea of 14,000 seats giving the finest acoustics of any open-air theatre in existence. The Sanctuary of Asclepius contains the mysterious circular Tholos and the Enkoimeterion where patients slept awaiting healing dreams. Entry approx 12 euros. Drive: 30 min drive to Nafplio
MIDDAY
NAFPLIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
The finest regional museum in the Peloponnese, housing the extraordinary Dendra Panoply, finest surviving Bronze Age armour in the world, plus remarkable Mycenaean pottery and Bronze Age collections from the Argolid. Housed in a remarkable 18th-century Venetian warehouse on Syntagma Square. Entry approx 6 euros. Drive: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
ANCIENT TIRYNS
Tiryns is the most undervisited Bronze Age citadel in Greece, its remarkable cyclopean walls built from stones so massive that later Greeks believed only the Cyclopes could lift them. The galleries inside the walls are extraordinary spaces. Homer called Tiryns the wall-girt city. Entry included with Epidaurus ticket.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The ancient theatre of Argos, the largest ancient theatre in Greece with capacity for 20,000 spectators, is carved into the hillside of Larissa above the modern city and almost entirely unknown to tourists. Combined ticket with the Argos Archaeological Museum. Approx 6 euros.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Hellas, Nafplio Greek coffee and fresh pastries on the most beautiful square in the Peloponnese. | Lunch: Restaurant near Epidaurus Local Argolid ingredients and excellent house wine from surrounding vineyards. | Dinner: Taverna in Nafplio harbour Outstanding fresh octopus and seafood on the extraordinary Argolic Gulf waterfront.
DAY 3
MYSTRAS AND MONEMVASIA
MORNING
THE BYZANTINE CITY OF MYSTRAS
Mystras is the most extraordinary Byzantine site in Greece, its UNESCO-listed walled city containing the finest Byzantine frescoes outside Constantinople, the Pantanassa Monastery with nuns still in residence, the Peribleptos Church and the Palace of the Despots, last imperial palace of Byzantium. Entry approx 12 euros. Drive: 2 hr drive to Monemvasia
MIDDAY
LACONIAN COAST DRIVE
driving The drive from Mystras to Monemvasia along the Laconian coast is the finest coastal drive in the Peloponnese, passing remarkable villages, extraordinary olive groves and fine views over the Myrtoan Sea. Stop at Byzantine Geraki on a spur above the plain, whose remarkable medieval churches contain outstanding frescoes. Free to explore. Drive: Arrive Monemvasia
AFTERNOON
MONEMVASIA LOWER AND UPPER TOWN
Monemvasia is the most extraordinary medieval fortified town in Greece, its castle rock rising 300 metres from the sea on a single causeway. The car-free lower town holds the finest Byzantine and Venetian architecture in the Peloponnese. The upper castle gives the finest view over the Myrtoan Sea. Entry approx 4 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The ancient city of Gytheion, port of Sparta on the Laconian Gulf, contains Roman ruins including a fine theatre and the extraordinary islet of Kranae where Paris and Helen spent their first night after eloping, setting in motion the Trojan War. Almost entirely unknown to tourists. Free to explore.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast in Nafplio Early start for Mystras. Best in the morning before the heat and day visitors arrive. | Lunch: Taverna near Mystras village Local lamb, Lakonian olive oil and house wine near the Byzantine city. | Dinner: Restaurant inside Monemvasia Dinner inside the medieval walls is the most extraordinary dining in the Peloponnese.
DAY 4
THE DEEP MANI
MORNING
THE DIROS CAVES
The Diros Caves are the most extraordinary stalactite caves in Greece, accessible by rowing boat through underground lakes where the formations create a remarkable subterranean world. Neolithic remains give evidence of habitation 70,000 years ago. The colours of the limestone are unlike anything above ground in Greece. Entry approx 12 euros. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
VATHIA AND THE DEEP MANI
Vathia is the most extraordinary tower village in the Mani, its cluster of medieval defensive towers rising from the barren hillside giving the finest and most dramatic village silhouette in Greece. The landscape of the deep Mani, its Byzantine churches and wild coastline, gives the most atmospheric scenery on the Greek mainland. Free. Drive: 45 min drive
AFTERNOON
CAPE TENARO
Cape Tenaro is the southernmost point of mainland Greece, where the ancient entrance to the underworld was located. A 2nd-century AD mosaic floor of a Temple of Poseidon is still visible near the lighthouse. The walk across the cape passes Byzantine chapels built into ancient temples. The finest views over the meeting of the seas. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Tigani Peninsula in the deep Mani is a natural arch of land projecting into the sea south of Mezapos, containing a 13th-century Frankish castle perched on extraordinary sea cliffs. The 45-minute walk passes remarkable phrygana scrubland with extraordinary views over both gulfs. Almost completely unknown. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Breakfast in Areopoli Traditional Maniot breakfast in the finest Mani village. The kafeneion on the main square has served coffee since 1950. | Lunch: Fish taverna near Gerolimenas The finest and most remote seafood lunch on the extraordinary Laconian Sea. | Dinner: Taverna in Areopoli Traditional Maniot dinner: local lamb, wild herbs and the finest Mani olive oil.
DAY 5
ANCIENT OLYMPIA AND RETURN
MORNING
ANCIENT OLYMPIA
Ancient Olympia is the most extraordinary sporting heritage site in the world, where the Olympic Games were held from 776 BC to 393 AD. The Stadium, where visitors can still run the 192-metre course from the original starting blocks, and the Temple of Zeus, which housed the gold statue, one of the Seven Wonders, are extraordinary. Entry approx 12 euros. Drive: 30 min walk
MIDDAY
OLYMPIA ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
One of the greatest archaeological museums in Europe, its collection includes the Nike of Paionios, finest surviving ancient Victory sculpture, the Hermes of Praxiteles, only original work by a named Greek sculptor to survive intact, and the extraordinary pediment sculptures from the Temple of Zeus. Entry approx 12 euros. Drive: 2.5 hr drive towards Athens
AFTERNOON
THE CORINTH CANAL
The Corinth Canal is the most extraordinary engineering achievement in modern Greece, its 6.3-kilometre channel cut 79 metres through solid limestone separating the Peloponnese from mainland Greece. The road bridge gives the finest view down into the extraordinary cutting. The ancient Greeks first attempted this canal in the 1st century AD. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Ancient Nemea, birthplace of the Nemean Games, is the finest hidden ancient site in the northern Peloponnese. Its remarkable valley contains the Temple of Zeus with three re-erected columns, the finest ancient stadium after Olympia with original starting blocks intact, and an extraordinary hero shrine. Entry approx 8 euros.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before Olympia Early start from the Mani or Monemvasia area. The drive to Olympia via the Arcadian highlands takes about 3 hours. | Lunch: Taverna in Ancient Olympia town Local Elis region specialities and excellent house wine in the village adjacent to the site. | Dinner: Restaurant on the Corinthian Gulf Outstanding fresh Greek dinner on the return. The coastal road gives extraordinary sunset views.
Where To Stay
Nafplio, Nights 1 to 2 Byron Hotel or Aetoma in the old town. The finest location in Greece. Approx 80 to 180 euros per night. Monemvasia, Night 3 Sleep inside the castle rock at Kellia or Lazaretto. Extraordinary medieval atmosphere. Approx 120 to 250 euros. Olympia area, Night 4 Hotel Europa or Pelops in Olympia town. Good base for early morning visit. Approx 60 to 120 euros per night.
Top Tips
1. The Lion Gate at Mycenae was built around 1250 BC and is the oldest monumental sculpture in Europe. Arrive at opening to have it to yourself.
2. Epidaurus theatre has perfect acoustics. Stand at the centre of the orchestra and drop a coin. The sound carries to the very back row.
3. Nafplio Palamidi Fortress has 999 steps to the top and the finest view in the Peloponnese. Go at sunset for extraordinary golden light.
4. Mystras was the last capital of the Byzantine Empire. The entire walled city is UNESCO listed and almost entirely unvisited by international tourists.
5. Monemvasia lower town: the medieval streets inside the castle rock are entirely car-free. Arrive after 5pm when the day-trippers leave.
6. The Corinth Canal is best viewed from the road bridge. The 6.3km canal cut 79 metres through solid rock is the finest engineering sight in Greece.
Total Budget
70 to 130 euros/day