A Peloponnese Odyssey: our 3 weeks driving itinerary
Our Peloponnese Odyssey began in Athens, where we landed.
Athens is the ideal airport to discover this breathtaking region of Greece. The Peloponnese is a stunning peninsula in southern Greece, infused with history and natural beauty. It’s home to legendary ancient sites like Olympia, where the Olympic Games began, and Epidaurus, famous for its remarkably preserved theatre with amazing acoustics.
The region boasts rugged mountains, charming coastal villages, and immaculate beaches, offering a mix of adventure and relaxation. You’ll find medieval castles, Byzantine churches, and even hidden caves.
The roads are well maintained and easy to drive on.
Our first stop brought us towards the Greek Riviera.
Porto Cheli
Two and a half hour drive later, we arrived in Porto Cheli, a charming seaside town located in the southeastern part of Argolis, Greece.
Nestled on the shores of the Argolic Gulf, it offers incredibly beautiful and unspoilt beaches and it is a gateway to outer islands like Spetses and Hydra.
This area is a known spot for Greek celebrities but relatively unknown to international tourism.
Car hire is essential if one wants to explore secluded coves and nearby sites.
There are several beaches to discover nearby; our favourite was Paralia Kova or Kova beach, but there are many beautiful ones like Aghios Emilianos or Kounoupiou beach.
Porto Cheli is quite a small town, so don’t expect a lot to do, but it offers some good restaurants, like Ostria, where you will literally be seated between the sea and a typical Greek church. The setting is stunning and the food is very good. They have vegetarian options.
We spent a few days in Porto Cheli before driving again up the little peninsula towards Epidaurus.
Epidaurus
The drive towards Nafplio takes around 1 hour by car, but we made a detour to visit the ancient Epidaurus theatre.
The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus is one of Greece’s most remarkable archaeological sites, famous even in antiquity for its perfect acoustics and architectural symmetry.
Built in the late 4th century BC by Polykleitos the Younger, it was part of the Sanctuary of Asklepios, a healing centre dedicated to the god of medicine.
Viator offers several tours to Epidaurus (also from Athens) combined with Mycenae and Nafplio: https://www.viator.com/searchResults/all?text=epidaurus&pid=P00250220&mcid=42383&medium=link
We continued on to Nafplio, which was one of the highlights of our trip, about 30 mins away by car.
Nafplio
One of the most underrated cities in Greece, Nafplio is one of Greece’s most romantic and historic towns, located on the “finger” of the Peloponnese. It was the first capital of modern Greece and is known for its Venetian architecture, neoclassical mansions, and stunning seaside views.
Don’t miss the Palamidi Fortress, a Venetian stronghold, accessible by climbing its famous 999 steps, or driving to it. We chose the latter.
Hop on a boat to Bourtzi Castle, a small fortress on an island in the bay, once used as a defence post.
Mycenae
Unmissable from Nafplio is a day trip to nearby Mycenae.
It was one of my dreams and it did deliver.
Mycenae is one of Greece’s most significant archaeological sites, known for its role in the Bronze Age civilization that dominated the region from 1600 to 1100 BC. It was a powerful city-state and the legendary home of King Agamemnon, who led the Greeks in the Trojan War.
Viator offers different tours (including from Athens) to Nafplio and Mycenae: https://www.viator.com/Peloponnese-attractions/Mycenae/d4135-a22346?pid=P00250220&mcid=42383&medium=link
Monemvasia
We left Nafplio and started a quite long 3 hours drive towards Monemvasia. Monemvasia is a medieval fortress town on the southeastern coast of the Peloponnese, often called the “Gibraltar of the East” for its dramatic rocky landscape.
We spent two lovely nights there, discovering the little town and its old cobbled streets, climbing to the top of the fortress for sweeping views over the Aegean sea and sampling the local food.
Monemvasia itself is pedestrianised. There is no access for vehicles. If you have mobility issues, bear this in mind.
Viator offers full day trips from Athens to Monemvasia: https://www.viator.com/searchResults/all?text=Monemvasia&pid=P00250220&mcid=42383&medium=link
Kythira
We left Monemvasia and we drove south towards the little harbour of Neapoli Voion to catch a ferry to the island of Kythira.
Kythira is still touristically underdeveloped and naturally wild and car hire is essential if you want to explore the island.
Don’t miss the main town (the Chora) with stunning views over Kythira’s castle.
Kythira offers some quiet and stunning beaches:
Kapsali is the easiest to access from Chora. It has sand and shallow water and it is perfect for families.
Paralia Kaladi is one of the most stunning beaches on Kythira, known for its crystal-clear waters and dramatic rocky landscape
Avlemonas is my absolute favourite. It is a picturesque seaside village on the eastern coast of Kythira, with a charming harbour, crystal-clear waters.
Paralia Diakofti is another perfect spot for families. It is one of the most beautiful beaches on Kythira, known for its soft white sand and shallow turquoise waters.
Areopoli
After 5 days of exploring and relaxing, we caught a car ferry to Gytheo and a further 30 minutes’ drive to charming Areopoli. Areopoli is a historic town on the Mani Peninsula in the Peloponnese, known for its stone-built architecture.
The town is perfect for wandering, with cobbled streets, traditional tavernas, and stunning sea views. It’s also a great base for exploring the unspoilt Mani peninsula.
Olympia
Another 3 hours’ drive brought to us to Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The modern town of Olympia offers charming cafés, souvenir shops and local tavernas making it a perfect blend of history and holiday making. But the highlight is, without a doubt, the archaeological area.
Arcadia
While the Greek coasts take central stage, the interior and the mountains are often overlooked.
We stayed a few days in Stemnitsa, on the mountains of Arcadia, which we used as a base to explore nearby sights.
Don’t miss the Monastery of Saint John Prodromou, built on a clifftop, and the popular town of Dimitsana.
Kefalari and Killini Mountain
If you really want to get away from it all, Kefalari village is what you are looking for.
A very quaint, very quiet, very small village, Kefalari is a picturesque community in Argolis and a good base to explore the area. Don’t miss a visit to the Saint George Monastery of Feneos and the stunning Lake Doxa.
Corinth
Our last stop, Corinth.
Another much overlooked destination which has so much to offer in terms of history, sightseeing and beach life.
From Ancient Corinth, to the Corinth Canal, to Loutraki, to Perachora, Corinth is a stunning, vibrant destination.
So these were the three amazing weeks we spent on the Peloponnese. It was an incredible adventure and one of the best holidays we ever had!
For more Greece related travel posts: https://blog.worldswithout.net/europe/greece/
