Peloponnese Tour 2-Day Itinerary

Highlights

Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth, Epidaurus Theater, Mycenae, Palamidi Fortress, Nafplio, Ancient Olympia, Diolkos

DAY 1

Starting our journey, our first stop will be the Corinth Canal, an artificial channel connecting the Corinthian Gulf with the Saronic Gulf. The ancient Greeks first considered its excavation, and the initial attempt was made by the tyrant Periander in the 7th century BCE. However, it was eventually completed in 1893.

Moving on to the historically significant city-state of ancient Corinth, inhabited since the Neolithic era, the city flourished due to its strategic location, becoming one of the most important commercial powers. The Temple of Poseidon was dedicated to the god Poseidon, and the Isthmian Games, held every two years, took place at the worship site of the Isthmus. With a professional guide, you will enter the archaeological site, where the ruins bear witness to the city’s prosperity and glory.

Next, the ancient theater of Epidaurus awaits us, renowned for its exceptional acoustics and well-preserved condition, making it famous worldwide. Each year, the Ancient Drama Festival hosts prominent Greek and foreign directors and actors.

Following this, we visit Mycenae, one of the greatest centers of Greek civilization from 1600 to 1100 BCE. It was a formidable military fortress, and the construction of its walls, known as Cyclopean walls, remains a subject of legends and imagination to this day. The royal tombs, the palace, the Lions’ Gate, and the artifacts in the museum will amaze you. As the day unfolds, we head to our last destination, the Palamidi Fortress, an impressive stronghold built by the Venetians in 1687. Maintained in excellent condition, we will walk within its walls, including the legendary 999 steps, and admire the panoramic view of the welcoming city.

ACCOMMODATION

You can book your stay in Nafplio through our website (Extra charge) in a 4-star hotel or a small boutique hotel, depending on availability.

DAY 2

Today, we head to ancient Olympia, the most renowned sanctuary in ancient Greece, dedicated to Zeus. It was the venue for the ancient Olympic Games until their discontinuation in 392 AD by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I. Even today, the sacred flame of the Games is lit in Olympia and relayed through a torch race to the hosting country. With a professional guide, you will explore the grandeur of ancient Olympia and its museum, where you can admire the Praxiteles’ Hermes, the pediments of the Temple of Zeus, and much more.

As we embark on our return journey, we pass by Diolkos, an ancient track built by Periander in the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE to replace the ineffective Corinth Canal due to technical problems at the time.

We have time for a meal, and in the late afternoon, we return to Athens.

*The starting Tour Price includes up to 2 people
*The Tour Price includes only the Tour Guide to ancient Olympia