Nafplio

The first capital of modern Greece, a romantic old town framed by a Venetian hilltop fortress and the island castle of Bourtzi, and the ideal base for exploring the ancient sites and beaches of the Argolis.

Nafplio sits at the head of the Argolic Gulf in the northeastern Peloponnese. Capital of the Argolis regional unit, it served as the first capital of modern Greece after independence, from 1829 to 1834, and is often called the most romantic town in Greece. The old town spreads beneath the Acronauplia peninsula, where neoclassical mansions, stone-paved lanes and bougainvillea create enchanting streetscapes, while the hilltop Palamidi Fortress and the Bourtzi water castle off the harbour form its classic skyline. From a base in Nafplio, the Argolis's ancient sites are all within an hour's drive: the Cyclopean citadel of Tiryns, the ancient theatre of Argos and Larissa Castle, the Heraion of Argos, the ancient stadium and wine country of Nemea, and Ancient Corinth with Acrocorinth; in summer you can swim at Tolo and Karathona beaches. Mycenae and the great theatre of Epidaurus are also just 30–40 minutes away (covered in this app under Athens day trips). Seasons: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct are most pleasant, while Jul–Aug is hot but good for the beach. Getting there: KTEL buses from Athens take about 2–2.5 hours, or about 1.5 hours by car; sights in the area are spread out, so renting a car is recommended. Allow 2–3 days. Most archaeological sites close around 3:30 pm (later in summer), so start early in high season.

Top sights

• Palamidi Fortress – A Baroque hilltop fortress built by the Venetians between 1711 and 1714. Climbing nearly a thousand steps gives views over Nafplio's old to…
• Bourtzi Castle – A 15th-century Venetian water castle on a small island outside the harbour, and Nafplio's most famous postcard view.
• Nafplio Old Town – A peninsula old town preserving Venetian, Ottoman and neoclassical architecture, with stone alleys draped in bougainvillea. It is one of th…
• Syntagma Square – The marble square in the heart of the old town, surrounded by the Venetian Arsenal, an Ottoman mosque and the site of Greece's first nation…
• Arvanitia Beach & Promenade – A pebble beach on the south side of the old town. The coastal promenade along the cliffs of Akronafplia is Nafplio's most beautiful walk.
• Akronafplia – A rocky peninsula behind the old town, Nafplio's oldest fortified site, with layers of Ancient Greek, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman walls.
• Archaeological Museum of Nafplio – Housed in the Venetian Arsenal of 1713, its treasure is the Dendra armor, the only complete bronze armor from the Mycenaean period.
• Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation Museum – A winner of the European Museum of the Year Award, known for its collection of traditional Greek costumes, embroidery and textiles, with re…
• Church of Agios Spyridon – Greece's first governor, Kapodistrias, was assassinated at its doorway in 1831. Bullet marks remain on the wall.
• Lion of the Bavarians – A reclining lion carved into a rock face in 1840 to commemorate Bavarian soldiers who died here during the reign of Greece's first king, Ot…
• Komboloi Museum – A private museum showcasing Greek 'worry beads,' with strings from many eras and regions, and an attached shop for handmade beads.
• Karathona Beach – A long sandy beach behind Palamidi, with shallow water, fine sand and shade trees. It is a favorite of Nafplio residents.
• Tolo Beach – A seaside resort about 12 km southeast of Nafplio, with a long sandy beach facing small islands and abundant water sports.
• Ancient Asine – The Mycenaean and Hellenistic acropolis ruins on a cape beside Tolo. Its walls face the sea, with superb views over Tolo Bay.
• Tiryns – A UNESCO World Heritage Site and major Mycenaean center, famed for its giant 'Cyclopean Walls' and underground galleries.
• Ancient Theatre of Argos – An ancient Greek theater carved into a hillside in the 4th century BC, once seating about 20,000 people. It is larger than Epidaurus.
• Larissa Castle – An ancient acropolis and medieval castle on a hilltop 289 meters above Argos, overlooking the Argolid plain and the gulf.
• Argive Heraion – The most important sanctuary of Hera in ancient Argos, set on terraces on a hillside overlooking the Argolid plain.
• Ancient Nemea & Wine Region – One of the venues of the Panhellenic games. The Temple of Zeus and the ancient stadium are well preserved, and the surrounding area is Gree…
• Ancient Corinth – A prosperous ancient commercial city and a place where the Apostle Paul preached. Seven standing Doric columns from the Temple of Apollo ar…
• Acrocorinth – A massive fortress on a 575-metre rock above ancient Corinth, with a triple gate and the ruins of the Temple of Aphrodite overlooking two g…
• Lerna – Said to be where Heracles slew the Hydra, the site includes Early Bronze Age remains of the large 'House of Tiles'.
• Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus & Sunken City – A 4th-century BCE small theatre in the seaside town of Palaia Epidavros, hosting summer concerts, with a sunken ancient city in the bay whe…
• Kazarma (Arkadiko) Mycenaean Bridge – A Mycenaean corbelled stone arch bridge built around the 13th century BCE, still intact and among the oldest bridges in the world still in…
• Pyramid of Hellinikon – A stone-built, pyramid-shaped structure from ancient Greece in the hills southwest of Argos. Its date and purpose are still debated, making…

Where to eat

• Pidalio – A popular spot in the new town known for creative Greek small plates and quinoa-stuffed squid, rated 4.7 on Tripadvisor.
• Aiolos – A family taverna in a narrow lane of the old town, opened in 2000. Its signature is chicken stewed with red peppers and…
• Alaloum Restaurant – A seasonal Greek restaurant in the heart of the old town. The daily menu changes with the market, and portions are gene…
• Savouras Seafood Restaurant – A long-established seafood taverna on Bouboulinas Street opposite the harbour. Choose your fresh fish and it is grilled…
• Antica Gelateria di Roma – An Italian family gelateria behind Constitution Square, handmade in about 30 flavors.

Itineraries

• Classical Greece Mainland Loop – A classic heritage route from Athens looping through Argolis, Olympia, Delphi, and Meteora.
• Athens City Plus Three Day Trips – Base in Athens, with day trips to the Argolid archaeological sites, Hydra Island and Cape Sounion.
• Southern Peloponnese Road Trip – A self-drive loop from Athens covering Argolis, Monemvasia, the Mani Peninsula, and Olympia.
• Athens & Argolis Short Break – A short getaway combining one day in Athens with two nights in Nafplio, covering Mycenae and Epidaurus.