Northern Peloponnese Itinerary

Northern Peloponnese Itinerary

The eastern and western portions of the Northern Peloponnese are easily divided into two separate three-day itineraries; a six-day tour catches the region's highlights, and a thorough exploration requires about nine days. Those with less time should consider investigating either the eastern or western half only; for travelers entering Greece from Italy, the Vouraikos Gorge and Olympia are options, and for those entering Greece through Athens, Nafplion and the Argolid are only a short hop away. One thing to keep in mind: people usually wind up asking themselves why they didn't allot more time to this fascinating area of Greece.

If You Have 3 Days

The wealth of interesting sites on either side of the Northern Peloponnese will keep the intrepid occupied for at least three days: start with a day in lovely Nafplion followed by a day spent exploring some of the highlights of the Argolid -- Mycenae and Tiryns. A third day near Nafplion will allow a visit to the theater at Epidauros, or you can make the excursion west to Olympia.

For those entering Greece from Italy and with only a couple of days to spare, try spending a day in Olympia, a day enjoying the train ride along the picturesque Vouraikos Gorge en route to Kalavrita, and a day clambering over the parapets of the Frankish Chlemoutsi Castle and relaxing on a nearby beach.

If You Have 6 Days

Spend three days in Nafplion and use the city as a base to explore the Argolid. You can get to Nafplion by boat, train, or car, and can rent transportation. The city itself is appealing, and from there you can easily explore nearby Mycenae, Tiryns, Epidauros, and Argos.

On the fourth day drop down through the mountains of the central Peloponnese to Olympia, where you can spend the night. Then head around the top of the peninsula, passing Chlemoutsi Castle and taking some time out to enjoy a swim at one of the spectacular beaches nearby. You can spend the night in Patras or continue on to a more scenic place, such as Diakofto or Kalavrita, entry points for the Vouraikos Gorge, before getting your last dose of ruins in Ancient Corinth. Remember that this trip can be easily reversed if you are coming from Italy and arriving in Patras.

If You Have 9 Days

Starting at the isthmus, journey south toward Nafplion, visiting Isthmia, Ancient Corinth, and Epidauros en route. Spend five nights in Nafplion, using it as a base for daily excursions. You'll want to spend at least one day exploring the beautiful city itself. The five major archaeological sites north of Nafplion -- Tiryns, Argos, Mycenae, Ancient Nemea, and Ancient Corinth -- could easily occupy two or even three days, and you might also want to relax at one of the nearby beaches.

Olympia beckons the Peloponnesian traveler sooner or later, but don't rush. There's plenty to see en route from the Argolid, including the alluring beauty of the Vouraikos Gorge, which you can enjoy on an overnight stop in Diakofto or Kalavrita. You might want to spend a little time taking in the big-city scene of Patras and then press on to nearby sights such as the best-preserved Frankish castle in the Peloponnese, Chlemoutsi Castle, with a stop at the beautiful beach at Kalogria. Finally, take a languid trip through the verdant province of Elis to impressive, ancient Olympia, where the Olympic Games were first held almost three millennia ago.