Cruise Travel to Monemvasia

Larger ships drop anchor off the "rock" of Monemvasia, and tenders ferry passengers to a dock alongside the causeway that links the Old Town with the modern town on the mainland. Smaller craft dock at piers adjacent to the causeway in the modern town. Wherever you alight, you will be less than 1 km (½ mile) from the gate of the Old Town. Taxis are readily available at the docks.

The only way to see Monemvasia is on foot, and touring the compact town can require a bit of scrambling up and down stairs and along rough stone lanes. And that’s the least of it, as a thorough exploration means climbing to the fortifications high atop the rock and inching along rough paths to the edge of the sea. This is not a place for visitors with limited mobility and can be downright dangerous for those who are unsteady on their feet. Even the ablest visitors should wear sturdy walking shoes. That said, even a brief walk through the gate and along the well-paved main street as far as the central square reveals the magic of the Byzantine town and shows off its stone houses and a few churches. You will occasionally find guides outside the gate eager to lead walking tours of the town, and the cost of €10 a person can be a good investment for a bit of historical insight.