5 Best Peloponnese Trips from Athens

Athens is the capital of Greece and one of the most populated cities in the country. It is home to many historical destinations of interest that you will not want to miss during your stay. Such is the case of the Peloponnese peninsula, considered the region with the greatest archaeological wealth of the whole country.

Therefore, among the best things to do in Athens you should include in your itinerary one of the excursions to the Peloponnese. You will be able to see the Corinth Canal, the Temple of Zeus, the Theater of Apollo, the Gate of the Lions, which are unique wonders in the world present in the millenary cities of Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi, Meteora, Argolid, among others, that make up the aforementioned peninsula.

If during your visit to the Hellenistic capital you do not have much time, but you still want to take one of the day tours and excursions from Athens, you cannot miss a guided tour of Argolida.

This is a historical region located northeast of the Peloponnese peninsula, where you will find many hidden treasures.

The day trip usually starts and ends at the door of your hotel in Athens. There, you will board a bus and depart together with the guide for a historical adventure, which will provide you with beautiful natural and archaeological landscapes.

Corinth Canal

The driver will take you along the coastal route of the Saronic Gulf towards the Corinth Canal, where he will stop for a few minutes. In this way, you will be able to enjoy this natural monument where the waters of the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea converge.

Mycenae

The tour continues to Mycenae, the land that saw the birth and rule of King Agamemnon. In this region, you will have the opportunity to explore an archaeological site of great importance in the history of Greece, immortalized by the great Homer in his poems.

Afterwards, you will have a break for lunch and immediately head to other attractions, such as the Cyclopean Walls, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO; the royal tombs, just outside the walled enclosure and the Gate of the Lions, erected in the 13th century BC.

Epidaurus

Afterwards, you will say goodbye to Mycenae as you cross the plains of Argolid. You will pass through the village at the foot of the fortress of Palamidi and take some pictures before heading to the next destination.

This is Epidaurus, where you will visit the Nauplia Theater, whose history dates back to the 4th century BC.

You will then return to Athens with plenty of time to continue with other activities: take one of the gastronomic tours or cooking classes, go shopping in the malls or use a transfer service to the Athens airport, in case it is your last day in the city.

Details of interest

• Price: from 100€ per person.
• Duration: 10 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will not have to worry about paying taxes, tips, entrance fees to attractions or lunch, as these expenses are usually included.
• Disadvantages of this option: Pets are not usually accepted in this type of excursions.

If you want to make the most of your 3-day visit to Athens, you should carefully organize your itinerary of things to do in summer or any other season of the year.

In this sense, a half-day excursion to Peloponnese to visit the town of Mystras is a good idea. In addition, you will be able to visit the Greek islands, specifically Monemvasi and the medieval village at its foot.

Mystras

This tour departs from the city of Athens by private car to Mystras, where you will make the first two-hour stop to discover its fortresses, palaces, ruins and libraries.

It is a Byzantine city declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is usually visited:

• Metropolitan Palace, inside which is the Byzantine Museum of Mystras.
• Church of Agios Dimitrios where you will enjoy a privileged view of the city of Sparta.

The next stop is the amazing Diros Caves, considered the oldest region in Greece. There, you will contemplate a unique visual spectacle, starring a system of crystal stalagmites and stalactites, which reflect a series of tones: amber, black, purple, deep red and pink.

Monemvasia

You will advance to the island of Monemvasia, a huge rock that connects to Mystras through a bridge. In this area you will find a medieval village surrounded by imposing walls that, in ancient times, served as protection against enemy attacks.

You can walk along cobblestone streets while exploring the surroundings, climb to the top of the castle and enjoy a privileged view of the sea.

Afterwards, it's time to return to the Hellenic capital to join a bus tour with free stops, a bike tour or simply walk at your own pace through the main streets in search of adventure.

Details of interest

• Price: from 229€ per person.
• Duration: from 8 to 10 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transport: private car, usually a Mercedes Benz is used.
• Advantages of this option: the driver in charge has extensive knowledge about what you will see during the tour, so he will be able to guide you through each attraction without any inconvenience.
• Disadvantages of this option: usually, the entrance fees to the archaeological attractions are not included in this excursion. Therefore, you will have to assume this expense on your own.

Peloponnese is a place with many wonderful destinations, so you might need several days to tour them.

However, if you only plan to be in Athens for 1 day and don't want to miss the opportunity to escape the city to see some of the main archaeological sites and enjoy the beautiful natural scenery, then a Mycenae and Epidaurus tour will be enough for you.

This tour usually starts at the door of your hotel in the city. There you will board a bus and in the company of a specialized guide, you will depart for the Peloponnese following the route of the Saronic Gulf coast.

Ruins of Mycenae

The first stop is in the city of Mycenae. There, you can explore the ruins of this ancient fortress on foot, while the guide tells you the history of the place and its ancient ruler, King Agamemnon. All this, minutes before seeing the Lion's Gate and entering the Tomb of Agamemnon and the Palace.

Afterwards, there is usually a stop at the seaport of Nauplia on the Gulf of Argolic to enjoy the beautiful seascape.

Archaeological sites of Epidaurus

Afterwards, you will continue to Epidaurus, where you will have the opportunity to walk through one of the archaeological sites that have been part of the World Heritage Site since 1988, according to UNESCO.

This is the Temple of Asclepius, which is the central building of the sanctuary dedicated to the Greek deity of medicine (Asclepius).

To end the excursion, you will visit the Theater of Epidaurus. You will be amazed with this monumental construction dating from the fourth century BC, erected for the purpose of holding a contest in honor of Asclepius and, today, remains a place with very good acoustics.

In this way, you will say goodbye to Epidaurus and Peloponnese, to return to Athens and, why not, take a walk to see the highlights of the Plaka district, belonging to the old town, or join a cruise from Athens to see the sunset.

An excursion to the coastal region of Nauplia in the Peloponnese is an activity you can incorporate among the 10 things to do in Athens in January or any other month of the year.

You will discover beautiful natural scenery and historic buildings from the Middle Ages, which invite you to photograph them. In addition, you can sample the local gastronomy, buy souvenirs and much more.

Normally, you will have to meet your driver at an agreed location in the city center of Athens. Then start a bus route to Nafplion in the Peloponnese.

Corinth Canal

and Palamidi Hill Before arriving in Nafplion you will make a couple of stops, starting at the famous Corinth Canal, whose architectural work dates back to the 19th century. In turn, you will see the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea and the Aegean Sea, which meet in this area.

Then, continue the adventure on Palamidi Hill. You will go back in time when you start walking around this 17th century fortress and you will hallucinate with the panoramic view you will get of the Argolic gulf and the city of Nafplion in general.

City of Nafplion

Once in the city of Nafplion, known for being the capital of modern Greece during the period from 1823 to 1834, you will enjoy a real medieval atmosphere. In addition, you will have the opportunity to walk through its narrow cobblestone streets, while discovering some stores, monuments and privileged views:

• You will be able to sit back and relax and taste the delicious local food in the stores, cafes and restaurants of the city.
• Contemplate Syntagma Square, built between the 18th and 19th centuries.
• You will walk along the boulevard of the port of Nafplion and observe the Bourtzi Castle in the distance.
• See the changing of the guard, carried out every day.

Details of interest

• Price: from 134€ per person.
• Duration: 6 hours (Approx.)
• Means of transportation: bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will not have to worry about taxes and entrance fees to the attractions, as these are included in the tour.
• Disadvantages of this option: the excursion does not include a guide, so you will have to do the tour at your own pace.

If you plan to be in Athens for 7 days or more, you should incorporate a visit to the Peloponnese into your itinerary.

This is a peninsula with a large number of archaeological sites, which are worth discovering carefully on a four-day, three-night excursion, with a specialized guide to accompany you to explore.

Day one

This type of adventure usually begins with hotel pick-up, where you will board a luxury coach for the historic province of Argolid.

The first stop is usually at the famous Corinth Canal. There, you will contemplate the breathtaking panorama and together with your guide you will learn about the history of the place.

The route continues to the Theater of Epidaurus, known for its good acoustics. Next, you will stop in Mycenae and experience a unique moment by visiting the Acropolis of Athens and the tomb of the mythical Greek hero Agamemnon. Afterwards, you will go to Olympia for the first night.

Day two

The second day of the tour focuses on Olympia Peloponnese. There you can see the following points of interest:

• Temple of Zeus: you will be able to walk around one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece, belonging to the mythical god of thunder and sky, father of gods and man.
• Olympic Stadium: located just east of the Temple of Zeus. In this historic site, you will see a sandy esplanade where a series of sporting events were once held.
• Workshop of Phidias: you will see the ruins of the workshop of Phidias, renowned artist of Greek classicism, author of the sculpture of Zeus in Olympia, Athena in the Parthenon, among others.
• Museum of Olympia: you will observe a series of exhibitions of the classical period, before departing to the city of Delphi to spend the night.

Day three

The third day takes place in Delphi, which in ancient times was considered by the Greeks as the center of the world.

In this town you will have the opportunity to visit the Archaeological Museum and contemplate the Auriga of Delphi, a sculpture of Pythagoras of Regius, made of bronze and dating from 474 BC.

In addition, you will be able to visit the imposing Apollo Theater, stroll through the sanctuary of Delphi and see the Fountain of Castalia. Afterwards, you will depart for Meteora for a final overnight stay.

Day four

On the last day of the tour from Athens, your guide will take you to the rock formations that make up this region, including the sky-suspended monasteries, recognized for more than 30 years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In addition, you have the opportunity to access the top of two of the monastic centers of Meteora and enjoy a privileged view. Inside these enclosures you will discover jewelry, frescoes and other ancient objects.

Finally, you will take the road to Athens, but first you will pass through Thermopylae, a gorge with hot springs.

Details of interest

• Price: from 438€ per person.
• Duration: 4 days.
• Means of transport: luxury coach.
• Advantages of this option: you will not have to worry about investing extra money paying for the entrance fees to each of the museums and attractions, as these are usually included in the tour.
• Disadvantages of this option: if, during the tour, you want to eat or drink at a restaurant in the locality visited, you will have to assume the purchase on your own.

The Peloponnese is a place with a lot of history and important archaeological sites, many of them considered World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Undoubtedly, these are enough reasons for Peloponnese to be a recommended destination during your visit to Athens in 2 days or more.

In addition, there are its imposing natural landscapes, temples, castles, among other attractions that you can discover while touring the ancient cities belonging to the Peloponnese: Mycenae, Argos, Corinth, among others.

If during your visit to Athens you plan to join one of the Peloponnese tours of one or more days, you should keep in mind some tips, which could enhance your experience during the tour:

• When visiting the monastic centers of Meteora, you should wear long pants or skirt below the knee. Otherwise, you will not be able to access these enclosures.
• Wear rubber-soled, non-skid shoes that will allow you to move comfortably and safely. Remember that during the tour you will have to explore some ruins, where the terrain is irregular and slippery.
• Do not buy bottled water, and instead, have a thermos flask at hand. You can refill it at any tap, since in Athens the vital liquid is drinkable. This way, you will save money and help preserve the environment.