Vacation Packages to Nafplio

General Information About Nafplio

Also called Nauplion, it is a city located in the Argolic Gulf, southwest of continental Greece, specifically in the Peloponnese area. It is one of the most important cities in the region, despite its small size, as it is the capital of the entire peripheral unit of Argolis.

This city has about 15,000 inhabitants (2011) and, in the past, was the first capital of Greece. There is archaeological evidence that it was populated since the prehistoric period and during the classical period, it was of great naval importance.

In the city of Nafplio, you can see Venetian-style buildings, terraces overlooking the sea, and, as the main attraction, the Bourtzi Castle. All this has given it the name of “the most beautiful city in the Greek territory”.

The distance between Athens and Nafplio is two hours by car by road, which is easily accessible and very well maintained. That makes the city a popular tourist destination for thousands of Athenians, especially during the weekends.

Top Attractions of Nafplio

Bourtzi Castle

One of the icons of the city of Nafplio is the islet of Bourtzi, a plot of land about 300 meters above the sea that has a very famous construction, called Castle of the Sea or Bourtzi Castle. In the past, it was used as a Venetian fortress and dates back to 1471. You can see it from different parts of the continent, especially from the port of Nafplio, a beautiful place full of restaurants and taverns attended mainly by young people looking for a while. fun with friends. There you can also find bazaars with souvenirs of all kinds.

Nafplio Old Town

Like any Greek city, Nafplio has its old town. Also called the historic center of Nafplio, it is characterized by its Venetian-style architecture and its direct views of the sea. Many people catalog the city as the perfect place to visit as a couple due to the romantic fascination that is recreated after seeing the old town and its alleys adorned with cobblestones and flowers.

There you will find different attractions, such as the Archaeological Museum of Nafplio, the Nafplio War Museum, the Peloponnesian Folklore Museum, and the First Greek Parliament, also known as the First Hellenic Parliament (Vouleftiko).

Another museum that may interest you is the Komboloi Museum, a curious place where, especially, pieces of Greek jewelry are exhibited. It will take you around 1 hour to visit each of these places and the entrance fee to them usually ranges from 2 € to 5 €.

You shpuld visit the Acronafplia, the oldest part of this Nafplio center, where its buildings will transport you to medieval times without a doubt. Among the buildings of cultural value that are found there is the Orthodox Church of Agios Spyridon, which stands out for its architecture and its frescoes of Byzantine origin, such as the famous painting of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, and dates from approximately 1700. In addition, a few meters away you will find the Basilica of Agios Nikolaos.

Most of these attractions are located around or near Syntagma Square. It is one of the most important tourist spots in Nafplio, also located in the historic center of the city.

There you will find multiple outstanding monuments, for example, the Trianon or the statue of Kolokotronis (leader of the Greek revolution), as well as a large number of cafes and restaurants.

Fortress of Palamidi

It is a Venetian fortification dating from the 18th century. It is on the outskirts of the historic center of Nafplio, located on a homonymous hill that you will reach by the Palamidi Path, from where you can see the city.

The fortress works today as a viewpoint and is a perfect place to take photos of another level. It will take you around 1 hour to get there on foot and it is ideal to visit if you are interested in hiking in Nafplio.

Arvanitias Beach

Also known as Paralia Arvanitias. This is a famous golden sand beach in the center of Nafplio, surrounded by a cliff with vegetation and turquoise waters.

Due to its popularity, it is necessary to book your visit to Arvanitias at least one day in advance. In it, you will find parking in case you go by car, bathroom facilities, and restaurants.

Kerathona Beach

It is a white sand beach that is on the way to the hill of Palamidi, in the rural area of ​​Nafplio. The beach is a natural spectacle, surrounded by pine trees and transparent water.

There you can do all kinds of water sports, such as snorkeling or diving. It is ideal to go both alone and with the family and you have both secluded places and more lively ones, near bars.

How to Get to Nafplio

You can reach the city of Nafplio by land transport or ferry. In this sense, Nafplio does not have its own airport. The closest ones are Kalamata Airport (KLX), 90 km from the city, and Athens Airport (ATH), approximately 108 km away.

Moreover, you can travel from Athens to Nafplio by both road and sea. The cheapest way to get from Athens to Nafplio is by bus, which does not exceed 8 € one way per person. This will take you about 2 hours. On the other hand, a taxi from Athens to Nafplio costs around 120 €, and this will take you 1 and a half hours.

Getting Around in Nafplio

It is extremely easy to get around Nafplio. If you plan to travel to Nafplio, we recommend that you consider exploring it on foot, by bicycle, public transport, or by car. In any case, you can rent either of these options at multiple points in the city.