The Perfect Greek Peninsula
Peloponnese at a glance
Important monuments and archaeological sites, unique settlements, picturesque towns and charming castles, as well as natural beauties such as mountains and forests, rivers and caves, beautiful beaches with rocky and lacy coast make the Peloponnese an ideal holiday destination.
Peloponnese is the largest peninsula in Greece. It is located south of the continental part of the country and is connected to Central Greece through a narrow strip of land, the Corinth Canal.
In addition, since 2004 the Rio-Antirrio Bridge connects the Peloponnese with Central Greece and the rest of the mainland. It is a historic cradle of Hellenism and has been inhabited since prehistoric times. It was the theater of most of the war conflicts that took place in the Greek world with top examples of the Peloponnesian War and the Greek Revolution, and experienced various conquerors such as Romans, Franks, Ottomans and others.
Monuments from every period of its rich history, great archaeological sites such as ancient Olympia, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Tiryns, Byzantine churches, unique settlements and charming castles, along with natural beauties, magnetize a number of tourists from all over the world by any means to make an excursion around the Peloponnese peninsula.
Let’s make a lightning trip to the most interesting parts of the magnificent coastline of the Peloponnese…
“Experience, travel – these are as education in themselves” – Euripides
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How to get to Peloponnese
- From Athens, by car or bus; having a car allows occasional stops that are worth along the way to most parts of Peloponnese. Nafplio is a 2hr ride, Sparta about 4hrs, Patras about 2,5, Kalamata about 3 hr 45 mins (3 hrs on the nonstop express bus).
- From Athens, by train, using a suburban train, running from Athens International Airport all along the north route to Kiato and even Patras through a local train correspondence.
- From Piraeus port, through a ferry, to the Saronic islands of Poros or Hydra or Spetses. For accesing the mainland using the same ferry one can get off at the port of Methana or Galatas(through Poros town) or Costa. There are car rental agencies also there.
- From Athens International Airport, by plane, to Kalamata. Aegean Airlines operate a daily service.
- From Western Greece / Ipeiros to Patras through the Trikoupis bridge (Rio – Antirio).
- From / To the port of Patras there many ferries daily from / to Italy.
If you are looking for airline tickets and flights to Peloponnese enter the dates of arrival and departure in the box, and the online reservation program will show you suggestions and prices for your flight where you can make your reservation directly and securely.
Get around
Usually car or KTEL bus. If timetable is convenient, the train can sometimes offer a comfortable and cheaper alternative. Presently cancelled for all lines, except for the north line Athens to Kiato to Patras.
CORINTH
Whilst travelling the National Road from Athens, you will come across toll-booth’s, the road toll charges will range from 1.46 Euro to 2.93 Euro. When you take the highway out of Athens the first prefecture you come to in the Peloponnese is Corinth. Make sure to pull over at the lay-bye, take your camera and look down at the Corinth Canal…… What a view! You will no doubt recognise it from the many postcards published.
The Corinthian’s were the first people to come up with the idea of a canal but were unable to complete it, so they turned to building a paved slip-way in order to haul their boats over the isthmus. It was not until 1893 that the Corinth Canal was eventually completed, in fact by the French.
As time passed Athens was to become such a powerful force that Corinth’s power declined, then the Roman’s under Nero completely destroyed the city in 146BC.
Today Corinth is one of Greece’s major cities it has a large waterfront with lots of tavernas, bars etc, it is lively in both summer and winter.
Many ancient ruins are at the base of the huge rock of Acrocorinth, most of these however are Roman. The views here are quite stunning!
Amongst the many ancient buildings can be found the Temple of Aphrodite. The goddess of love!
Further along the National Road between Corinth and Patras you will come across lots of smaller villages which are well worth a visit, time permitting of course.
You can start the tour from Loutraki. The cosmopolitan spa town attracts a lot of visitors from all over Greece due to the famous springs, but also for its beautiful beaches and nightlife.
In Corinth, admire the famous canal that was built between 1880-1893 and which connects the Saronic with the Corinthian Gulf and visit Akrokorinthos with the impressive castle, the temple of Aphrodite and the magnificent view.
Head west to Patras, you will pass from beautiful small villages and towns with clean beaches such as Vrachati, Derveni, Kiato, and Xylokastro, which are some of the most popular holiday resorts in the Peloponnese.
ACHAIA
Achaia is one of the most historic places in the Peloponnese and the coastal gate of Greece to Europe, with a history that dates back to ancient times. Entering in the prefecture, you will reach Akrata, Diakopto and Aigio, the second largest urban center in Achaia. It is a beautiful city with a long history, built amphitheatrically and with a stunning location to the Corinthian bay. Just before you reach Patras, you will see the great cable bridge connecting the Peloponnese with Central Greece, which was designed with impressive endurance and was completed in 2004.
MYCENEAE
Now, this is a must! a quite amazing amount of history and ancient ruins to behold. Park your car and head towards the Acropolis, pick up a book/map from the kiosk. You enter the Acropolis through the Lion Gate, a good photo opportunity, (it has a second entrance on the opposite side.) Inside are the palace ruins, a walk to the top will provide great views. On your way back down you will come across some footpaths, follow these to some incredible tombs built like cones. To this day they are not sure how these were actually built.
Olympia
The coastline of Messinia is an endless succession of wonderful beaches, larger or smaller, especially on the west by the Ionian Sea, where it continues to the prefecture of Ilia lined with many seaside villages and resorts. Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic Games is found here in Ilia.
ARCADIA
Most of Arcadia is continental and includes mountainous and other Peloponnesian beauties. Very close to the coast of the prefecture lies Leonidio, on the shores of Myrtoos sea and in the shade of Parnon. Its characteristic feature is the imposing red rock that stands above the traditional settlement.
SPARTA
The capital of the prefecture of Laconia is the famous historic city of Sparta, or Sparti, the principal town of the Spartan state in ancient Greece. At a distance of 95 km from it, on a small peninsula off the east coast, is one of the most beautiful spots in Greece, the massive rock of Monemvasia, with a medieval castle perched on it, as well as a centuries-old settlement inside the fortification. This unique place, nicknamed the Gibraltar of the East, boasts also a number of Byzantine churches scattered around its rugged landscape.
ARGOS
Here you will see Roman baths, ancient Odeum, and the Agora, Argos also has a modern town, which can be quite busy, however, it is virtually free of tourist’s. Also, you will see hundreds of orange orchards, Argos is famous for this.
Mycenae
Another world-famous archaeological site of Argolis is Mycenae, one of the major centers of Greek civilization and a military kingdom so strong in antiquity, that the period of Greek history from about 1700 BC to about 1100 BC is called Mycenaean.
Mani Peninsula
The Mani Peninsula forms a continuation of the massive ridge of Mt.Taygetos, the highest in Peloponnese. It’s an arid and mountainous area, yet famous for some exquisite local products such as extra virgin olive oil, superior quality honey, thyme and oregano, and syglino, a kind of smoked pork. Mani boasts a wonderful coastline juxtaposed to its rocky landscape, which is embellished by the impressive stone-built settlements and ‘tower-mansions’ in the local architectural style.
NAFPLION
The first capital of Greece, Nafplion is an amazing place, there is a great Venetian fortress in the middle of Nafplion Bay. Look up and you will see the restored castle of Palamide, if you are prepared to climb the 1000 steps it will provide worthwhile. Once again a view to being admired, another great camera moment! Here would be a great base from which to explore the surrounding sites. Its waterfront is filled with tavernas, bars, and cafes, and for the ladies, the main square has lots of small boutiques.
Mani Peninsula
In the prefecture of Messinia, the town of Pylos, spread amphitheatrically around a pretty harbor, has a rich historical past, as many famous naval battles have taken place here ever since the Classical Age, due to the strategic importance of its bay. Methoni and Koroni are two other historical towns of the prefecture that were fortified with impressive castles, the remains of which one can visit today.
EPIDAURUS
According to ancient legend, Epidaurus was the birthplace of Apollo’s son Asklepios, the famous healer of antiquity, and was known for his sanctuary situated nearby (this Asclepieion was the most respected healing center of the Classical world), as well as its theater, which is once again in use today to host mainly performances of ancient drama, since it is considered a miracle of both architecture and acoustics.
Arkadia
The prefecture of Arkadia occupies to its largest part the central mainland region of Peloponnese. Its mountainous scenery offers a variety of winter destinations since a number of picturesque villages of a special folkloric character are scattered on the forested slopes of its landscape where one can stay at traditional guest houses and enjoy the local cuisine. Peloponnese’s second ski center is located on Mt.Maenalon.
Olympus Dias
The Panhellenic sanctuary of Classical times, known as the Altis and devoted to ‘Olympus Dias’ (Zeus of Mt. Olympus), consisted of a group of various buildings including the temple to Zeus, the stadium and the Hippodrome. Today the visitor is stunned at the beauty and serenity of the archaeological site and the invaluable treasures of the Museum nearby.
Peloponnese Attractions
Acrocorinto - Ακροκόρινθος
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Acrocorinth (Greek: Ακροκόρινθος), "Upper Corinth", the acropolis of ancient Corinth, is a monolithic rock overseeing the ancient city of Corinth, Greece. It is the most impressive of the acropoleis of mainland Greece.
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Archaeological Museum Nafplio
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The Archaeological Museum is accommodated in the imposing in size as well as strict in symmetry, stone-built Venetian structure which covers and encases the central, Syntagma Square. The museum's most exquisite piece of archaeological finds still remains to be the Bronze Suit Armor of Dendra region.
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Ancient Corinth
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The famous and imposing, even today, archaic temple of Apollo, with the monolithic Doric columns, of which the seven remain standing in a privileged position above the market disasters.
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Apollo Temple in Delphi
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It is the most important monument that is preserved from the sanctuary of Apollo located in Delphi. According to the legend, it was erected at the same place as the past of the mythical temples of Apollo, which according to the period were made of laurel branches, beeswax and copper.
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Delphi - Δελφοί
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Delphi is famous as the ancient sanctuary that grew rich as the seat of Pythia, the oracle consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. Moreover, the Greeks considered Delphi the navel (or centre) of the world, as represented by the stone monument known as the Omphalos of Delphi.
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Temple of Zeus Nemea
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Nemea is an ancient site in the northeastern part of the Peloponnese. Here in Greek mythology Heracles overcame the Nemean Lion of the Lady Hera, and here during Antiquity the Nemean Games were played, in three sequence, ending about 235 BCE, celebrated in the eleven Nemean odes of Pindar.
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Archaeological Museum of Patras
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It houses collections about the history of Patras and the surrounding area from prehistory to the end of Roman times. In all sections of the museum, there are projectors showing optical informative material, depending on the items exhibited.
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Corinth Canal Greece
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The Corinth Canal is a canal that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland
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Epidaurus - Επίδαυρος
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The ancient theatre of Epidaurus was designed by Polykleitos the Younger in the 4th century BC. It seats up to 14,000 people.The theatre is admired for its exceptional acoustics.
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Lions Gate Mycenae
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The Lion Gate is the sole surviving monumental piece of Mycenaean sculpture,as well as the largest sculpture in the prehistoric Aegean.
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Mani - Μάνη
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In Mani there are countless stone towers, 7 castles, plenty of archaeological sites, Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches with excellent hagiographies. In the area are 98 of the 118 traditional settlements of the Peloponnese, along with many caverns, canteens and gorges for hikers.
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Vouliagmenis Lake
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Lake Vouliagmeni is a lagoon located 16 kilometers northwest of Loutraki, very close to the archaeological site of Heraion and the settlement of Perachora.
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Monemvasia Castle
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Monemvasia is one of the most important medieval fortress-cities of Greece. It is also one of the most beautiful castles in the world. The town and fortress were founded in 583, during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Mauricius, by people seeking refuge from the Slavic and the Avaric invasion of Greece.
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Mystras Metropolis
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Mystras, the best preserved example of medieval walled town in the Greece, is today a standing ghost city that fascinates the modern traveler with its castle, churches and the palatial complex of the ruling Byzantine dynasty.
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Nafplio - Ναύπλιο
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Nafplio was the second capital of newly formed Greece after Misologgi until the capital eventually became Athens. It is an historical city due to its meaning to the Greek Revolution. It has a fantastic centre with small neoclassical historical houses, squares and churches.
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Patras - Πάτρα
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Patras is Greece's third-largest city and the regional capital of Western Greece, in the northern Peloponnese, 215 km (134 mi) west of Athens. The Rio-Antirio bridge connects Patras' easternmost suburb of Rio to the town of Antirrio, connecting the Peloponnese peninsula with mainland Greece.
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Rio-Antirio bridge
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The Rio–Antirrio Bridge, is one of the world's longest multi-span cable-stayed bridges and longest of the fully suspended type. It crosses the Gulf of Corinth near Patras, linking the town of Rio on the Peloponnese peninsula to Antirrio on mainland Greece by road.
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Simos Beach
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Treasury of Atreus
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The Treasury of Atreus or Tomb of Agamemnon is a large tomb on the Panagitsa Hill at Mycenae, Greece, constructed during the Bronze Age around 1250 BC.
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Voidokilia Beach
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Voidokilia Beach is a popular beach in Messinia in the Mediterranean area.
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