Day trips from Nafplio: the densest in Greece

We name the trips and say what each is. We print no opening hours, ticket prices or drive times, because those change and a page that prints them ages badly. Check the current hours before an early start, particularly out of season when sites close earlier than you expect.

Epidaurus, and the theatre

The one to take first. Epidaurus is a short drive east and its theatre is the best-preserved ancient theatre in Greece, cut into a hillside and famous for acoustics that genuinely work rather than acoustics that are claimed to.

Go early. The coaches arrive mid-morning and the stone is uncovered, so the middle of a summer day is unpleasant. Sit in the top row for a while rather than photographing it and moving on: that is the entire point of the place.

The sanctuary around it was a healing centre in antiquity and it is worth the walk, with a good site museum. In summer the theatre is still used for performances, which is a remarkable way to see it if the dates line up.

Mycenae and the lion gate

The other great site of the plain, and completely different in character. Mycenae is a Bronze Age citadel on a bare hill, with the lion gate at its entrance and beehive tombs below it, and the setting does as much as the stones.

It is older, harsher and less immediately beautiful than Epidaurus, and it takes a little more imagination. The museum on site helps. Pair it with Tiryns, which is on the road back to Nafplio and takes half an hour.

Mystras and Sparta

The long day, and the best one after Epidaurus. Mystras is a Byzantine city built down a steep slope below Taygetos, with churches, palaces and monasteries among the trees and a castle on the summit. It is one of the most atmospheric sites in Greece and it is a genuine climb, so take water and start early.

Sparta sits on the plain below and is more interesting for the setting and the museum than for standing remains, which are slight.

This is a full day with a real drive at each end. Do not tack anything else onto it.

The coast, when you have had enough

Two or three days of ruins in July is a lot, and the Argolid coast is the release valve. Tolo and Karathona are the nearest swimming, and the small bays along the road east towards Epidaurus are quieter.

Further round, Ermioni and the coast opposite Hydra make a pleasant drive, and the Saronic islands are visible from it.

Ancient Corinth and the canal

North on the road back towards Athens, ancient Corinth sits below its enormous acropolis rock, Acrocorinth, which is a substantial climb and a substantial fortress.

On the same road, the Corinth canal cuts a narrow slot through the isthmus, and stopping to look down it takes ten minutes and is worth doing once. Both work well as a stop on the drive out rather than as a day of their own.

Where this leaves you

From Nafplio: Epidaurus first and early, Mycenae and Tiryns on a second day, Mystras and Sparta as a long third if you have the time, and the coast whenever the ruins start to blur. Corinth fits on the drive back to Athens. All of it is by road, none of it needs a boat, and a car makes the difference between a pretty town and the best base in the Peloponnese. The order for the town itself is in the Nafplio itinerary.

Quick answers

What is the best day trip from Nafplio?

Epidaurus, a short drive east. Its theatre is the best-preserved in Greece with acoustics that genuinely carry, and the healing sanctuary around it is worth the walk. Go early, before the coaches and the heat.

Can you visit Mycenae from Nafplio?

Yes, it is a short drive and one of the two essential sites of the Argolid. It is a Bronze Age citadel on a bare hill with the lion gate and beehive tombs, and it pairs well with Tiryns on the road back.

Is Mystras worth the drive from Nafplio?

Yes, if you can give it a full day. It is a Byzantine city built down a steep slope below Taygetos with churches, palaces and a castle above, and it is one of the most atmospheric sites in Greece. It is a real climb and a real drive, so do not combine it with anything else.

Do you need a car for day trips from Nafplio?

Effectively yes. Buses reach Epidaurus, but the Argolid sites are spread across a plain and the longer trips south are not practical on public transport. A car is what makes Nafplio work as a base.