Athens Trip Overview
Looking for something a little more personalized? Greece’s expansive history is reflected in its countless archaeological and cultural sites, which can be found all over the country. Some are incredibly famous, but many others await. With its abundant history, Greece houses relics and remains from all eras, including 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites!
More than a collection of age-old monuments and pristine islands, Greece has an extraordinary variety of landscapes. Whether it be the fairy tale landscape of Meteora, the stunning sea view of Sounio, the rugged terrain of the Peloponnese, or the wonder of Delphi – one of the most famous historic sites in Greece – some exploration outside of Athens is well worth it! Take some time to travel back thousands of years in history and discover some of the extraordinary sights and tastes of mainland Greece like a local, with a local.
We see & visit the Corinth Canal, Acrocorinth, Acronafplia, Nafplio, Monemvasia, Mystras Castle & many other places.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 days
Starts: Athens, Greece
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Athens Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Athens, Attica, Greece
Looking for something a little more personalized? Greece’s expansive history is reflected in its countless archaeological and cultural sites, which can be found all over the country. Some are incredibly famous, but many others await. With its abundant history, Greece houses relics and remains from all eras, including 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites!
More than a collection of age-old monuments and pristine islands, Greece has an extraordinary variety of landscapes. Whether it be the fairy tale landscape of Meteora, the stunning sea view of Sounio, the rugged terrain of the Peloponnese, or the wonder of Delphi – one of the most famous historic sites in Greece – some exploration outside of Athens is well worth it! Take some time to travel back thousands of years in history and discover some of the extraordinary sights and tastes of mainland Greece like a local, with a local.
We see & visit the Corinth Canal, Acrocorinth, Acronafplia, Nafplio, Monemvasia, Mystras Castle & many other places.
Itinerary
Day 1: Acrocorinth & Palamidi Castle
Stop At: Corinth Canal, Isthmia, Loutraki 201 00 Greece
We first go to the Isthmus of Corinth, a narrow piece of land connecting mainland Greece and the Peloponnese. There we see the manmade canal which connects the Corinthian and the Saronic Gulfs. The canal was finished in 1893, but its history dates to as early as 602 BC. It has a length of over 6km, and its sides are 78m tall at the highest point. There are bridges across the canal for cars and people to pass, and which sink up to 12m underwater to let boats through.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Acrocorinth, Corinth 200 07, Greece
We first go to the Isthmus of Corinth, a narrow piece of land connecting mainland Greece and the Peloponnese. There we see the manmade canal which connects the Corinthian and the Saronic Gulfs. The canal was finished in 1893, but its history dates to as early as 602 BC. It has a length of over 6km, and its sides are 78m tall at the highest point. There are bridges across the canal for cars and people to pass, and which sink up to 12m underwater to let boats through.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Palamidi Castle, Eikostis Pemptis Martiou, Nafplio 211 00 Greece
Stepping forward in history, we see the Palamidi Castle in Nafplio, built by the Venetians and famous for having 999 steps. According to legend, there were once 1000 steps leading to the castle, but one of them was crushed by Theodoros Kolokotronis, a leader of the Greek war of independence, during celebrations for a victory against the Ottomans.
A town with a deep history, Nafplio is a remarkable reminder that this part of Greece was, for centuries, an outpost of Venice. Palamidi is one of the best examples of Venetian military architecture in Greece built by the Venetians in 1687 when they captured it from the Ottomans and occupied it, and the last major construction of the Venetian empire overseas. In 1715, during the last Venetian–Turkish war, the Ottomans re-conquered it and it was later passed on to Greek control after a battle with the Turks in 1822. From Palamidi Castle you are rewarded with the captivating view before we head to the medieval splendour of Monemvasia.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Nafplio, Nafplio, Argolis Region, Peloponnese
A town with a deep history, Nafplio is a remarkable reminder that this part of Greece was, for centuries, an outpost of Venice. Have a pleasant walk, coffee or a meal at the first capital of modern Greece before we head to the medieval splendour of Monemvasia.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Monemvasia, Monemvasia, Monemvasia Municipality, Laconia Region, Peloponnese
Eras continue to live side by side in Monemvasia, and even for those unaware of its history, it is literally entrenched in the in the walls and Byzantine churches that remain from the Middle Ages, and the mystical medieval atmosphere that complements its history.
The old town’s fortified gate opens onto Monemvasias’s cobblestone main street, which meanders uphill, entering the upper town, with its ruins spread across the expansive crest of the rock. The town offers staggering views of the Myrtoan Sea, strolls amid the mansions and
Byzantine churches, coffee breaks in old houses converted to tavernas and hotels and dimly lit alleys inspiring visions of knights and maidens.
One of the most spectacular sites in the Peloponnese is the Church of Agia Sofia, also in the upper town and dating back to the 11th century, perched loftily on the cliff with its breathtaking view of the sea.
Duration: 10 hours
Meals included:
• Dinner: We have dinner at a traditional Greek tavern at Nafplio or Monemvasia.
Accommodation included: We stay overnight at Nafplio or Monemvasia in a 3- or 4-star hotel or a small boutique hotel depending on availability.
Day 2: Mystras & Monemvasia Castle
Stop At: Monemvasia Fortress, Monemvasia, Monemvasia Municipality 23070 Greece
Monemvasia is Europe’s only castle that has never been uninhabited. Located on an island off the east coast of the Peloponnese, this Medieval ‘Gibraltar of Greece’, is an island fortress dating back to the 13th century and is the setting of rich Ottoman, Byzantine, and Venetian history. Its name is “the only [mone] entrance [emvasis]”, referencing the historic 200 metre causeway that is still the only access point to this unique piece of land.
Monemvasia became a strategic fortress and is a characteristic example of a town established by Greeks, changed by the Venetians, and built upon further by the Ottomans. It was considered the mightiest fortress in Byzantine Greece in its day.
Monemvasia – bastion of the Medieval (and more) – is simply magnificent.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Archaeological Site of Mystras, located 5 km from the town of Sparta, Mystras, Sparta Municipality Greece
In the southeast of the Peloponnese lies Mystras, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The town of Mystras is a fortified town, built as an amphitheatre and developed from the fortress built in 1249 by the prince of Achaia, William of Villehardouin, overlooking Sparta. It is rich in history, having been, at various stages, occupied by the Byzantines, Turks, and Venetians. Abandoned in 1832, Mystras was left a landscape of medieval ruins amongst a beautiful setting and is our final stop before returning to Athens in the afternoon.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast: We have breakfast at the Hotel.
• Dinner: We have dinner at Mystras or stop somewhere on the way back to Athens that you wish to have a traditional Greek meal.
No accommodation included on this day.
