Athens Trip Overview
This tour addresses to people that would like to see a part of Greece that is not normally visited by foreigners in combination with some of the most important sites in Peloponnese peninsula.
Additional Info
Duration: 3 days
Starts: Athens, Greece
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Athens Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Athens, Attica, Greece
This tour addresses to people that would like to see a part of Greece that is not normally visited by foreigners in combination with some of the most important sites in Peloponnese peninsula.
Itinerary
Day 1: Corinth – Kalavrita – Olympia
Stop At: Corinth Canal, Isthmia, Loutraki 201 00 Greece
Begining with a drive along the coast, you will get the chance to see some Greek seaside villages and the island of Salamis. Salamis is where the historical naval battle took place between the Athenians and the Persians.
Our first stop of the day, the Corinth Canal. Eventually opened in 1892 separating the Peloponnese from the rest of Greece all the while connecting the Saronic Gulf to the Corinthian Sea. Having time to walk across on a pedestrian bridge and admire the canal closer, you may go bungee jumping on some days (if you’re game).
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Diakofto, Diakofto, Achaea Region, West Greece
Diakofto is a small seaside town with a magnificent view of the Corinthian Gulf. The town is mainly known for the train “Odontotos” which crosses the Vouraikos Gorge on a beautiful route until Kalavrita. In the summer period the visitor has the opportunity to visit the coasts of Diakofto and during the winter visitors of the area visit the magnificent ski center of Kalavrita.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Diakopto 250 03, Greece
Get on the special train of Diakofto, the most scenic and graphic train route in Greece passing through tunnels and a canyon, coming in contact with the purest Greek nature, the train will leave you at Kalavrita after a short ride.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kalavrita, Kalavrita, Achaea Region, West Greece
Kalavryta is a mountainous small town full of narrow streets, cafes and restaurants, where you can find many locally produced products like honey, herbs, spices, pasta e.t.c.
Kalavryta also played an important role in Greek history. It was in the legendary Agia Lavra (a monastery of the territory) that the Greek War of Independence began. In 1821 the first revolutionaries took an oath “to fight or die” for freedom and the flag of the revolution was raised there. The site is also a martyr of World War II. In 1943 one of the most vicious holocausts in Greek territory took place here. The town is dominated by inscriptions and crosses commemorating that fact.
At Kalavryta we will have lunch.
Duration: 2 hours
Pass By: Olympia, Olympia, Elis Region, West Greece
We will overnight at the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Olympia – Nafplio
Stop At: Archaeological Site of Olympia, Archea Olympia, Olympia 27065 Greece
On our second day we will visit the archaeological site and the museum of Ancient Olympia. This is one of the largest sites in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus. Walking through the site you will pass by the Gymnasium, the Palaistra, the workshop of Phidias, the Temple of Zeus and you will end up at the Stadium where for every four years the Greeks competed for glory and for spiritual elevation honoring their cities.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Archaeological Museum of Olympia, Archaia Olympia, Olympia 27 065 Greece
The museum is also quite unique as it includes the renowned statue “Hermes of Praxiteles” with its perfect analogies and tools that belonged to Phidias himself. With the tools he created one of the seven wonders of the world “the gold ivory statue of Zeus”.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Museum of the Olympic Games, Olympia Greece
The Museum of the History of the Ancient Olympic Games hosts 463 ancient works, from the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, and other museums in the Greek territory. The exhibits cover a wide chronological range, from the 2nd millennium BC until the 5th century AD. Ancient exposed in thematic units and through them shows the history of the Olympic games, the longest ancient institution.
Apart from ancient art, the visitor has the possibility of detailed information through rich visual material.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Nafplio, Nafplio, Argolis Region, Peloponnese
From here we will travel through time towards a more recent history of Greece and to the city of Nafplion. Nafplion is considered the most scenic city which also functioned as the capital of Greece until 1834. It offers you an impressive combination of fortresses and castles (Palamidi, Bourtzi), an enormous port opened to the Aegean Sea and the unique architecture of the old city of Nafplion revealing Venetian, neoclassical and oriental elements.
Lunch will be at a traditional tavern by the sea.
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Bourtzi, The Harbor, Nafplio Greece
Bourtzi is a little islet with a fortress in a huge port opened to the Aegean Sea.
Stop At: Acronauplia, Nafplion 211 00, Greece
We’ll drive up until the castle of Acronafplia for a panoramic view of Nafplio.
Duration: 20 minutes
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 3: Nafplio – Epidaurus – Mycenae – Corinth
Stop At: Sanctuary of Asklepios, Epidavros 210 52 Greece
On the go again we will be off to the site of Epidaurus, a short drive away and you will be able to see one of the most important ancient Greek sanctuaries. Dedicated to God Asclepius, he was the god of healing and medicine.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: The Great Theatre of Epidaurus, Ethniki Odos Isthmou Archaias Epidavrou, Epidavros 210 52 Greece
Epidaurus is located in peaceful environment and spread out on a hilly area, its highest point being the actual theater of Epidaurus. As the best preserved ancient Greek theater (dated 4th century B.C.E.) it is proof of what miracles the ancient Greek minds could create. Test the acoustics great even today and climb up to the higher seats just to close your eyes and dream you are attending an ancient Greek tragedy.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Archaeological Site Mycenae, Mycenae 21200 Greece
Then it’s back on the road and heading for Mycenae (dated to the 2nd millennium B.C.E) which represents the era of Achilles, Agamemnon and Helen of Troy, the cyclopean walls, the burial circle A and the remains of Agamemnon’s Palace.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Lion Gate, Mycenae Greece
Actually in the site, you will see the renowned Lions Gate (the oldest architectural sculpture in Europe), the cyclopean walls, the burial circle A and the remains of Agamemnon’s Palace.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Archaeological Museum of Ancient Mycenae, Mycenae Greece
Within the site there is a modern museum exhibiting the findings of the “City Of Gold” before leaving the site we will make a small stop at the treasury of Atreus, the best preserved Tholos tomb, one of the finest examples of the Mycenaean architecture.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Citadel and Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae Greece
Just before leaving the site we will make a small stop at the treasury of Atreus, the best preserved Tholos tomb found and one of the finest examples of the Mycenaean architecture.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Ancient Corinth (Archaia Korinthos), Argous 105 Ancient Korinthos village, Corinth 200 07 Greece
Ancient Corinth, located at the foot of the hill includes the Roman Agora of Corinth, the temple of God Apollo and a small museum. Apart from its archaeological and historical interest Ancient Corinth is also one of the most popular religious destinations in Greece as this was where the Apostle Paul preached Christianity, was judged by the tribunal in the Agora and established the best organized Christian church of that period.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Temple of Apollo, Ancient Corinth, Corinth 20007 Greece
We will visit the Temple of Apollo which is located in the in the Ancient city of Corinth.The temple of Apollo at Corinth is one of the earliest Doric temples in the Peloponnese and the Greek mainland. Built around 560 B.C.E., of local monolithic limestone on top of an imposing, rocky hill to the north of Acrocorinth, the Archaic temple was an emblem for the Greek city of Corinth, reflecting its growth and prosperity.
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Acrocorinth, Corinth 200 07, Greece
Last stop will be the site of Ancient Corinth. The city dominated by the hill of Acrocorinth and the old Castle, the oldest and largest castle in southern Greece. The site located at the foot of the hill.
Pass By: Athens, Athens, Attica
We will drive back to Athens.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
