Athens Trip Overview
This is a great opportunity to visit some of the most renowned significant archaeological sites of Argolida – Olympia & Sparta.
Additional Info
Duration: 4 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 is a great opportunity to visit some of the most renowned significant archaeological sites of Argolida – Olympia & Sparta.
Itinerary
Day 1: Corinth – 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
Pass By: Olympia, Olympia, Elis Region, West Greece
Olympia is an ancient site on Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula that hosted the original Olympic Games, founded in the 8th century B.C. Its extensive ruins include athletic training areas, a stadium and temples dedicated to the gods Hera and Zeus.
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 yperchilietis shows the history of the Olympic games, the longest ancient institution.
Duration: 30 minutes
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Olympia – Mystras – Sparta
Pass By: Mystras, Mystras, Sparta Municipality, Laconia Region, Peloponnese
We will head towards Mystras driving into the southern Peloponnese peninsula through the mountainous landscape of the Greek country side. Reaching Mystras you will automatically understand why this location stands so unique within the Greek sites. Known as the ghost city, fortified on a citadel, Mystras is one of the two locations in Greece that preserves not only medieval churches but also ordinary houses, mansions and palaces of the Byzantine Empire in combination with Frankish elements.
Stop At: Archaeological Site of Mystras, located 5 km from the town of Sparta, Mystras, Sparta Municipality Greece
Walking in the site on the upper point you will reach the citadel and enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding areas while walking down hill you will meet the palaces and the Royal courtyards. Although known as the ghost city most of the monasteries are still in use and the monks will gladly show you around their small society. Before you exit you will come across the chapel of St. Demetrios, on its floor survives a plaque depicting a two head eagle (the symbol of Byzantium). It was on this very plaque that Konstantine Palaiologos kneeled before he was crowned the last emperor of the Byzantium.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Acropolis and Ancient Theater, north end of Sparta, Sparta, Sparta Municipality Greece
Following that we will spend the rest of our time in Sparta known as the eternal rival city of the Athenian Democracy. Sparta revolved around a different Cosmo theory for the ancient Greek standards. Initially known as the birth place of Helen of Troy and the Kingdom of Menelaus (in Mycenaean period), Sparta was organized as a purely military society in the ancient Greek period. It was the city of the two Kings were a few aristocrats ruled and of course the city where Leonidas and his 300 Spartans marched from to face the Persian army Thermopylae in 480 BCE.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Leonidas Monument, Sparta, Sparta Municipality Greece
Continuing we will pass in front of the stadium where the statue of King Leonidas stands marking the ending point of Spartathlon race (Athens – Sparta 245,3 km).
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil, 129 Othonos Amalias Street, Sparta, Sparta Municipality 231 00 Greece
We will visit the museum of (olive and) olive oil and learn many things about the most famous products of Greece.
Duration: 20 minutes
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 3: Sparta – Mycenae – Nafplio
Stop At: Archaeological Site Mycenae, Mycenae 21200 Greece
Next we will visit one of the Unesco protected monuments. Mycenae (dated to the 2nd millennium B.C.E) represents the era of Achilles, Agamemnon and Helen of Troy, You will visit the cyclopean walls, the burial circle A and the remains of Agamemnon’s Palace.Dated to the 2nd millennium B.C.E., this citadel gave its name to a whole era!
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Lion Gate, Mycenae Greece
In the site, you will see the renowned Lions Gate, the oldest architectural sculpture in Europe.
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”.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Citadel and Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae Greece
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: 10 minutes
Stop At: Nafplio, Nafplio, Argolis Region, Peloponnese
After that we will travel towards more recent history of Greece to the city of Nafplion. Considered the most scenic city it functioned as the capital of Greece until 1834. Nafplion offers you a outstanding combination of fortresses and castles (Palamidi), Bourtzi, a huge port opened to the Aegean Sea and the unique architecture of the old city of Nafplion revealing Venetian, neoclassical and oriental elements .
After walking in the idyllic old city we will stop for lunch 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 will drive up to 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 4: Epidaurus – Nemea – Corinth
Stop At: Sanctuary of Asklepios, Epidavros 210 52 Greece
After a short drive you will be able to visit one of the most important ancient Greek sanctuaries to God Asclepius the God of healing and medicine located in peaceful environment spread on a hilly area and reaching its highest point is the theater of Epidaurus.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: The Great Theatre of Epidaurus, Ethniki Odos Isthmou Archaias Epidavrou, Epidavros 210 52 Greece
Reaching its highest point is the theater of Epidaurus. The best preserved ancient Greek theater dated 4th century BCE a proof of what miracles the ancient Greek minds could create. You can test the acoustics great even today and climb up until the upper seats just to close your eyes and dream you attended an ancient Greek tragedy.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Archaeological Museum of Nemea, Nemea 205 00 Greece
Continuing our next stop will be the site of Ancient Nemea.
Nemea is mainly known for the Nemean Games, its ancient Greek stadium and the Temple Of Zeus but it is also famous for its vineyards. Nemea has the most wineries in Greece as grape growing has been a tradition here since ancient times. Back at the site apart from the museum and the sanctuary, the stadium makes the difference. Nemea has one of the best preserved stadiums found so far and it is located on a higher level. Of special intrest are the tunnels through which the athletes entered the stadium.
Duration: 1 hour
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 though the site is also one of the most popular religious destinations in Greece. In this amazing place 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: Akrokorinthos, Corinth 200 07 Greece
The old city dominated by the hill of Acrocorinth and the old Castle, which is the oldest and largest castle in southern Greece.
Pass By: Athens, Athens, Attica
We will drive back to Athens.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
