Excursion and Trips

Visit the most important archaeological sites near Nafplio!

 The most comfortable way to do this is by taxi. We have selected destinations that will familiarize you with the ancient Greece. You will have the opportunity to come closer to our culture and walk in archaeological sites, see and admire our historical heritage. Our trips and excursions are comfortable for you and you will be able to admire the beautiful view, take a break while enjoying a pleasant drive and feel as a true guest in our country!

We pick you up from your chosen place and bring you back full of memories from our beautiful region.

All trips and excursions can be adjusted to your time schedule.

In every excursion or trip is always the possibility for changes. Also the combination of several destinations or a excursion to another destination than mentioned below is possible.

The price for our tours includes the payment for  the car, the driver and tolls. It doesn’t include the cost of tickets to Museums, or Archaeological sites, meals, beverages or a professional licensed tour guide.

For more information please feel free to contact us. We would be glad to answer your questions and help you to organize your stay in Greece and to be best served!

Olympia

olympiaOlympia is among the most important archaeological site in Greece. Located on the western side of the Peloponnese, this was the place where the first ancient Olympic Games took place. These games were held to honor god Zeus and included a series of athletic competitions with representatives of all the Greek city-states. In fact, it was a great honor for a city-state to give birth to Olympic winners, whose only prize was an olive branch. Today the Olympic Torch is ignited several months before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games at this site, where the games began. Eleven women, representing the Vestal Virgins, perform a celebration at the Temple of Hera in which the torch is kindled by the light of the Sun, its rays concentrated by a parabolic mirror. Some of the most important places to visit there are the Temple of Zeus & the Temple of Ira. The Stadium is a unique experience, also the Laboratory of Phidias (Phidias is the sculptor of the statue of Zeus that was made by gold and ivory) and the Philippeion.

The Museum of Olympia is among the largest, most important and best organized museums in Greece. It hosts impressive exhibits from excavations in the region and presents the long history. It was reorganized in 2004. The result is a museum which has superb displays of artefacts from the site of Olympia.

Travel time from Nafplio: 2 hours 20 Min.

Epidaurus (The Ancient Theatre) & the Sanctuary of Asclepius

epidavrosThe view, aesthetics and acoustics of the theatre are breathtaking, as well as the feeling one gets sitting on one of the 15.000 ancient stone seats. Still this place is in use for the Athens Festival every summer. Epidaurus was also known in Ancient Greece as a sanctuary. The monument of Asclepius, the god of medicine, which is a deeply spiritual place well worth taking the time to visit and considered one of the purest masterpieces of Greek architecture. The vast site, with its temples and hospital buildings devoted to its healing gods, provides valuable insight into the healing cults of Greek and Roman times.

The museum is located in the archaeological site of the sanctuary of Asclepius. It hosts architectural parts from the temple and the buildings of the shrine, as well as inscribed columns and pedestals, altars, bronze medical equipment, sculpted votive offerings and tablets, representations of the Asclepius temple (4th c. BC), and sections of the Tholos.

Travel time from Nafplio: 30 Min.

Mycenae

MycenaeOn a hill and surrounded by huge walls that were constructed by Cyclops as the myth says, Mycenae was a military-centred society with very limited interaction with other cultures. It was the kingdom of the legendary king Agamemnon, the leader of the Greek army during the Trojan War. The most famous spot is the Lion Gate, the entrance of the ancient town and the way to the ruins of Agamemnon’s Palace, the circle grave and the cult centre. It is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Greece and the view on the top of the hill over the Argolis is amazing. Excavations begun in 1841 but it was 33 years later that the German Archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann excavated the site of Mycenae Until then many experts did not believe that the town actually existed but thought it was made up by Homer.

The museum located in the archaeological site of Mycenae hosts interesting exhibits from excavations in the region. A few meters from the entrance of the archaeological site of Mycenae is the famous Treasury of Atreus, a vaulted tomb that was probably the tomb of king Agamemnon where the golden death mask was found. In the museum there is a copy of this mask, the original one is in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

Travel time from Nafplio: 20 Min.

Athens Acropolis & National Archaeological Museum of the Acropolis

 athensThe most famous ancient Greek monument, the Athens Acropolis perched above the capital of Greece. It is a masterpiece of ancient architecture and Europe’s most famous ruin, accompanied by an unforgettable panoramic view. For the Greeks, it is a national monument. The Acropolis (Greek for “high city”) stands on a 156 m high flat-topped rock. On three sides, the rock falls away steeply making it impregnable and access is only possible from the west. When the weather is clear the islands in the Saronic Gulf, Salamis and Aegina are visible. In ancient times, the Acropolis rock was an ideal fortress mountain, providing perfect protection from enemies. What visitors see today makes a truly crooked impression. All that remains of the buildings erected over a period of four millennia are the Beulé Gate, the Propylaea, the temple of Nike, the Erechtheion and the Parthenon. Also impressive are the Theatre of Herodes Atticus and the Ancient Agora.

 The National Archaeological Museum is the definite must to visit in combination with the Acropolis.  Its unique design has incorporated the excavations which are visible under stunning glass floors. The Acropolis masterpieces are marked out and given the prominence they deserve through the ideal interior atmosphere conditions, the natural lighting, as well as easy visitor access, panoramic views and excellent layout of the exhibition areas. It exhibits about 4,000 artefacts. The museum shows ancient finds from the hill of Acropolis in nine halls. They are arranged chronologically and date from the time from the early 6th century until 4th century BC. Some of the most beautiful Greek sculptures can be seen there. They once were consecrating gifts to the gods on the Acropolis, reliefs which served as decoration for structures, and interesting architecture fragments.

Travel time from Nafplio: 1 hour 30 Min.

Mystras & Sparta

 mystras_spartaGreece’s history also encompasses the Byzantine Empire, which left behind churches filled with brilliant religious art. The World Heritage Site of Mystras is a ruined medieval fortress city dating from the 13th century. Built into a hill on the eastern slopes of the Taygetos Mountains, the ruins occupy a dramatic defensive position and offer a panoramic view over the Plain of Sparta. This place is famous for its beautiful nature. Mystras comprises a fortress-like castle towering over palaces, churches, monasteries, convents, and a host of small buildings in various stages of excavation and restoration. Superb icons are to admire in several churches. The overall effect is of straying into a massive unearthing of architecture, painting and sculpture – and into a different age with a dramatically different mentality.

Sparta has become known in history for military strength, discipline, heroism and the large number of slaves. It is also known for the myth of Helen, wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta. Her abduction from Paris and transfer of Troy was the cause of the Trojan War. 300 Spartans led by King Leonidas held a legendary battle to the bitter end at Thermopylae against the Persian army of colossal proportions, causing numerous casualties. Places to visit are the archaeological Museum of Sparta, which was the first Greek museum, built in a provincial town (1874-1876) and the museum of Olive and Greek Olive Oil which is unique in Greece. Also the Art Gallery of Sparta, which welcomed the public in 1982 and operates as a branch of the National Gallery and the statue of the famous king Leonidas.

Travel time from Nafplio: 2 hours.

Monemvasia

 monemvasiaMonemvasia is a town located on a small island off the east coast of the Peloponnese in the prefecture of Laconia, 400 meters from land having been separated from the mainland by an earthquake in 375 A.D. Its name derives from two Greek words, mone and emvassi, meaning “single entrance”.Its Italian form, Malvasia, gave its name to Malmsey wine.  he main attraction of Monemvasia is definitely the impressive rock with the legendary fortress of Monemvasia, for many centuries an invincible bastion but also a place of prosperity and culture. Nevertheless, there are many other attractions and points of interest in the area waiting to be discovered. Beaches, museums, churches (especially the Agia Sofia, which  is one of the most important Byzantine churches of Greece), monasteries, caves, restored stone buildings, lagoons, and a petrified forest are all special places that deserve attention.  The existence of a number of fortresses shows that the region was subjected to repeated invasions. From antiquity, but especially in the Middle Ages, the local population was forced to fortify its settlements in order to survive the repeated wars, invasions and pirate raids.

Travel time from Nafplio: 2 hours 30 Min.

Delphi

delphiThe Oracle of Delphi was dedicated to Apollo and is said to be the most important oracle of ancient Greece. At the foot of Mount Parnassos, within the angle formed by the twin rocks of the Phaedriades, lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary, which had the most famous oracle of ancient Greece. Classic Delphi is said to be the “Navel of the Earth” of the ancient world (Omphalos).Delphi was regarded as the centre of the world. According to mythology, it is here that the two eagles sent out by Zeus from the ends of the universe to find the navel of the world met. The sanctuary of Delphi, set within a most spectacular landscape, was for many centuries the cultural and religious centre and symbol of unity for the Hellenic world. The oracle was well-known not only in Greece, but throughout the ancient world. Interesting to see there are the temple of Apollo, the ancient theatre, the stadium, the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia with the Tholos, the Kastalia spring, and the various treasuries that adorn the sacred way.

The archaeological museum in the archaeological site  hosts many important ancient Greek artefacts from the excavations at Delphi.

Travel time from Nafplio: 3 hours 30 Min.

Corinth Canal (Isthmus) & Ancient Corinth

 korinthosThe canal of Corinth and the ruins of the ancient town of Corinth and its Acropolis (Akrokorinth) are some of the most interesting and important sights on the north-eastern Peloponnese.

The Corinth Canal  is the canal, that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. The idea of the canal construction dates back to the times of Periander and was finally realized in the late 19th century. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland.  It is 6.4 kilometres in length and only 21.4 metres  wide at its base,. Aside from a few modes sized cruse ships, the Corinth Canal is impassable for modern ships. Earth cliffs flanking either side of the canal reach a maximum height of 63 meters. The bridge across the canal has a pedestrian walkway, and that is the best way to see this amazing canal. Informational signs give statistics of the canal and describe its construction.

Akrokorinth was built on a limestone hill, which was one of the strongest natural fortresses of Europe. There are a large number of ruins of old buildings and temples there. The highlight that dominates Ancient Corinth is the Temple of Apollo. The temple was built in 6th century BC on the ruins of a temple from the 7th century BC.  Also interesting to visit are the buildings at the Roman Agora and the Bema. Bema is a marbled structure that used to be the venue for public ceremonies and the place where the proconsul of Corinth judged citizens that were accused for some reason. Next to Bema worth seeing are the main shops of Agora (Forum).

 A small museum is also  located in the archaeological site.

Travel time from Nafplio: 40 Min.

Palamidi

PalamidiThe vast and spectacular castle of Palamidi stands on a 216m-high outcrop of rock with excellent views down onto the sea and surrounding land. It was built by the Venetians between 1711 and 1714, and is regarded as a masterpiece of military architecture. It is a typical baroque fortress, based on the plans of the engineers Giaxich and Lasalle. In 1715 it was captured by the Turks and remained under their control until 1822, when it was liberated by the Greeks. Small-scale restoration work has been carried out on the walls. The 5th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities recently restored the retaining wall of the castle and rebuilt the crumbling parts at the south end of the fortification. Important to see there is the Castle Venetian defensive structure dated to the beginning of the 18th century. It consists of eight bastions surrounded by walls. The church of St. Andrew was built in one of the bastions of the fortress is a barrel-vaulted church with the eastern half built under one of the arches supporting the walls. Its free-standing part is two-aisled. One of the most impressive places to visit is the prison of Kolokotronis. One of the bastions, the so-called “Miltiades”, was used as the prison cell of Theodoros Kolokotronis, a hero of the Greek Revolution.

Travel time from Nafplio: 10 Min.