Kalavryta sits at about 750 metres in the mountains behind Patras, and the classic way to arrive is the Odontotos: a narrow-gauge rack railway, built in the nineteenth century, that climbs the Vouraikos gorge from Diakopto on the coast. The line has been suspended since March 2026 after rockfalls, pending geological studies, so check whether it has reopened before you plan around it.
Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
The railway
Twenty-two kilometres, about an hour, climbing more than 700 metres. The line runs through tunnels cut in rock, over bridges above the river, and along ledges in the gorge wall, using a toothed rail on the steepest sections.
It is the main reason most visitors come, and it has been suspended since March 2026 after rockfalls, pending geological studies. Check whether it has reopened before you plan around it, and when it runs, book ahead in season: the trains are small.
You can also walk the gorge along the track bed, which takes most of a day and is a well-known Greek walk.
What happened here
On 13 December 1943, German forces killed the male population of Kalavryta in a reprisal, and burned the town. Around 500 men and boys died.
The clock on the church tower is stopped at the hour it happened. There is a memorial on the hill where the killing took place, and a museum in the old school where the women and children were locked. The town does not present this as an attraction and visitors should not treat it as one.
Above and around
- Mega Spilaio, a monastery built into a cliff face eight storeys high, one of the oldest in Greece.
- Agia Lavra, the monastery where the 1821 revolution is traditionally said to have been declared.
- The Cave of the Lakes at Kastria, a cave with a chain of terraced pools on different levels, unusual and open to visitors.
- The ski centre on Mount Helmos above the town, one of the larger in Greece, with a season from around December.
Getting there and how long
By road from Corinth or Patras, or by the rack railway from Diakopto, on the coast road and rail line between the two, once it reopens: the line has been suspended since March 2026 after rockfalls, pending geological studies.
One or two nights, taking the train up and back if it has reopened.
Last checked September 2026. The railway is suspended and ski schedules are seasonal - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
What is the Odontotos railway?
A narrow-gauge rack railway climbing 22 kilometres from Diakopto up the Vouraikos gorge to Kalavryta, through tunnels and along ledges, taking about an hour. It has been suspended since March 2026 after rockfalls, pending geological studies, so check whether it has reopened before you plan around it.
Can you walk the Vouraikos gorge?
Yes, along the track bed. It takes most of a day and is one of the better-known walks in Greece.
What happened at Kalavryta in 1943?
German forces killed the male population in a reprisal and burned the town. The church clock is stopped at the hour, and there is a memorial and a museum.
What is Mega Spilaio?
A monastery built into a cliff face above Kalavryta, eight storeys high and among the oldest in Greece.
Is there skiing at Kalavryta?
Yes, on Mount Helmos above the town, one of the larger Greek ski centres, with a season from around December.
Next
Read Patras, Xylokastro, or Nemea.