SELF DRIVE:PELOPONNESE & NORTHERN GREECE

Arriving in Athens, we'll smoothly transfer you to your hotel in our comfortable vehicles. Our English-speaking assistant will be with you, ensuring your comfort and care throughout the journey.

In the afternoon, at the hotel, our representative will provide you with all the essential trip details. Get ready for an engaging presentation about the city, where you'll gain insights into its vibrant daily life. Feel free to ask questions and clear any doubts, setting the stage for a pleasant and hassle-free experience throughout your trip.

With the rest of the day at your leisure, embrace Athens at your own pace. Immerse yourself in the captivating sights, sounds, and flavors of this remarkable city.

Greca Tip: Enhance your experience by easily extending your stay. Add more nights during the booking process!

This will be a free day in Athens, where, after a delicious breakfast, you will have the chance to visit some of the famous attractions and places of interest in the city. Alternatively, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll in the city center and make your own discoveries as you go along.

In the evening you will join a walking tour through the most stunning districts of Athens, such as Anafiotika, Thisio, Monastiraki, and Plaka.

Greca Tip: Enjoy a tasty souvlaki in one of the taverns in and around Monasteraki Square.

After a nutritious breakfast, you will pick up your rental car and drive to the region of Argolis.

Just outside Athens, at a distance of about 11 kilometers from the city, we suggest a visit to the Daphne Monastery. This monastery is considered the oldest Byzantine monastery of its type in Greece and its frescoes and mosaics are masterpieces of the golden era of Byzantine art. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1990.

On your way to Nafplio, you can stop at the Corinth Canal, a great engineering feat first designed in 630 BC by Periander, a tyrant that ruled Corinth and is considered one of the seven sages of Ancient Greece. This 6-kilometer-long channel was built to connect the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf, thus saving valuable sailing time for seafaring vessels. Its construction lasted a long time and was completed by the French in 1893.

About half an hour’s driving later you will reach Mycenae, one of the most important archaeological sites of Ancient Greece. Here you can visit the Lion's Gate and the Treasure of Atreus. This last structure is generally believed to be a royal tomb and more precisely the Tomb of Agamemnon.

You will end a full day of a cultural adventure in the comfort of your hotel in Nafplio, a charming Venetian city.

Total distance: 148 kilometers

Greca Tip: Enjoy a leisurely walk around the Old Town and sip your drink at the port taking in the amazing view of Bourtzi, always lit up at night.

After a filling breakfast, drive to Monemvasia via the mystical town of Mystras, known for its impressive Byzantine architecture. Mystras served as the Byzantine capital of the Peloponnese for two centuries, with numerous churches and monasteries built during that time. It was also the site of the coronation of the last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI Palaeologos.

Must-visit attractions in Mystras include the Castle of Villahardouin, Agia Sofia church, the Houses of Laskaris and Frangopoulos, the Cathedral of Saint Dimitrios, and the Monasteries of Our Lady Pantánassa and Our Lady Perivleptos.

Today, Mystras is a popular open-air museum offering breathtaking views of the Sparta plain. However, its significance waned over time due to the construction of the Corinth Canal and changes in sea routes.

Upon arriving in Monemvasia, take a walk around the castle and its beautiful surroundings. Founded in 583, Monemvasia was established by Peloponnesian residents fleeing from invasions. Its name, meaning "single entrance," reflects its unique geography.

In the 10th century, the Byzantine Empire fortified the city, transforming it into a prominent hub for maritime commerce. Monemvasia remained under Roman and later Turkish control until 1821 when it returned to Greece.

Explore the narrow cobblestoned streets, marvel at the restored buildings, and enjoy delicious local cuisine in a restaurant with a panoramic view from a typical tower.

To gain a deeper understanding of the area's rich history, consider visiting the Mystras Archaeological Museum. It will provide valuable insights into the region's past.

Total distance: 216 kilometers

Greca Tip: Be sure to seize the opportunity to visit the Mystras Archaeological Museum for an enriching journey into the captivating history of the area.

After a delicious breakfast, you will be ready to leave Monemvasia and continue the journey along the Peloponesse coast. Your first stop will be Gythio, a small fishing village that opens the way to the peninsula of Mani. According to the legend, the city was founded by Apollo and Heracles as a sign of reconciliation after a dispute they had in Delphi.

The next stop we recommend for the day is Kalamata, considered the largest shopping center in the Peloponnese, besides Patras. It is also famous for the cultivation of table olives, which are used by chefs and cooks worldwide.

The last destination of the day is Pylos, a beautiful seaside town in the large bay known as Navarino Bay. There you can visit the Neocastro castle, founded in 1573, and the highest peak in the city, which is the tower of the Paliocastro castle. The starting point of many tourist tours is The Three Admirals' Square, dedicated to the admirals who joined the Battle of Navarino. 

Total distance: 264 kilometers

Greca Tip: At night, we suggest strolling along Pylos waterfront, one of the most romantic places in the city, to watch the sunset while enjoying dinner or a glass of wine in one of the local taverns.

After a satisfying breakfast, leave Pylos and continue your journey toward Olympia. Along the way, take a brief detour from Pylos to visit Voidokoilia Bay. This stunning location features a picturesque golden-sand beach that resembles an ancient natural theater.

Voidokoilia has been designated as a "landscape and archaeological site of unique beauty" due to the remarkable ruins uncovered during excavations, including a Mycenaean tomb and the remains of a medieval castle from the 13th century. For the best beach views, don't miss the opportunity to visit the castle known as "Paleokastro."

After this delightful stop, you will reach your destination for the day, Olympia. Here, you can explore the remnants of the ancient Olympic stadium, where the first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC. The significance of the Olympic Games cannot be overstated, given the extensive participation and the truce maintained by Greek cities during their duration.

Olympia was also a revered ancient Greek sanctuary dedicated to Zeus, and it was home to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the colossal gold and ivory sculpture of Zeus created by Phidias himself.

Total distance: 140 kilometers

Greca Tip: Indulge in the amenities of your hotel or take a stroll amidst the beautiful countryside surroundings.

After a delicious breakfast, you will leave Olympia and cross the Antirio Bridge to continue to Nafpaktos. Nafpaktos is known for being the scene of the Lepanto naval battle, where Miguel de Cervantes participated. There, you can visit the Old Port and Lepanto Castle with incredible views of the Corinthian Gulf.

Further on, you can visit Ioannina, the capital of Epirus, located 500 meters high on the shores of Lake Pamvotis. We also recommend visiting one of the most important caves in the world, the Cave of Perama. This cave is a huge opening in the depths of Mount Goritsa.

Following your way, you will reach the Zagori region, where the Pindus mountain range is located. The Pindus is the most important mountain belt in the country, with peaks that exceed 2000 meters in height. There you can either visit the Pindus National Park or the majestic Vikos–Aoös National Park, where you can go hiking and kayaking in its rivers.

In the depths of this region, you can find Zagorohoria (towns of Zagori), a series of towns that are frozen in time, with great Slavic and Northeast European influence. The town of Kipi has the best examples of the architecture of the area, for instance, the Plakida Bridge. It is suggested, likewise, to visit the town of Konitsa, which was very affected during the Greek civil war.

After a full day traveling through this amazing region, you will have a well-deserved rest in the heart of Zagorohoria.

Total distance: 550 kilometers

Greca Tip: At Ioannina, try eels and trout from the lake as well as frogs legs, a special local delicacy.

Leaving Zagorohoria after a hearty breakfast, first, you will visit Metsovo, a tree-shaded village with its two-story mansions and stone-built drinking fountains perched on the side of the Pindos mountain range.

You will continue on your way and make a short detour to pass through Kastoria, one of the most captivating cities in northern Greece, on the shores of the homonymous lake. It has more than fifty medieval churches, including Taxiarjis Tis Mitropóleos, Agios Nikolaos, which has the best-preserved frescoes in the city, and Panagiá Kumnelidiki, which stands out for its drum-shaped dome.

Finally, you will arrive in the great city of Thessaloniki, which means “victory of Thessaly.” It is a city with a glorious past and the cultural and economic center of the Macedonia region for centuries. You can visit several of its unique monuments, such as the White Tower, the Arch of Galerius, and the Rotunda. You can also visit the Museum of Byzantine Culture, awarded in 2005 with the prize of the Museum of the Council of Europe.

Total distance: 410 kilometers

Optionally, we recommend adding one more night here to visit Kavala and, in this way, to follow the footsteps of Saint Paul, you can either take a tour to Pella and Vergina or a tour to the hot spring of Pozar and Edessa.

Greca Tip: Explore the historical quarter of Ladadika and take a long stroll along the waterfront from Aristotelous Square to the White Tower, one of the city's hallmarks.

After a tasty breakfast, you will leave Thessaloniki, driving south through the fertile plain of Thessaly and the Tempi Valley. You will have the opportunity to admire the impressive mass of Mount Olympos, the highest mountain in Greece and the home of the twelve gods of Greek Mythology.

You resume your journey towards Meteora, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Meteora combines the natural charm of the region with the eternal monasteries or meteors hanging on the rocks. The first monastery, "The Great Meteoro," was built by Athanasius after being expelled from Mount Athos to escape his pursuers. Nowadays, only six remain in use: five for males and one for the female monastic community.

After visiting the monasteries on this hectic day, you’ll have a well-deserved rest.

Dress code in monasteries: Appropriate clothing for everyone is required to enter the monasteries. Men are not admitted to wearing sleeveless shirts and shorts over the knee. For ladies, skirts, and shawls are available at the entrance in case they do not have such clothing to cover themselves.

Total distance: 111 kilometers

Greca Tip: Visit Kalambaka's old picturesque district and buy religious icons, and hand-made wood-carved objects as well as try the local homemade pies.

After a delicious breakfast, you will depart for Delphi. On your way, you will have the opportunity to stop at Thermopylae, where the statue of the Spartan king Leonidas I is to be seen.  King Leonidas was the intrepid leader who confronted the Persians and died in the homonymous battle.

You will finally arrive at Delphi, the center or navel of the ancient world, and host to the notable Delphic Oracle was located (consulted either by kings or pilgrims). Delphi was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and attracts thousands of visitors up to the present day.

When all your questions to the Oracle of Delphi have been answered, you will have time for a well-deserved rest.

Total distance: 237 kilometers

Greca Tip: Visit the village of Chrissó in Delphi, wander around its cobblestoned streets, and enjoy a coffee break under the century-old plane tree at the village square.

After a delicious Greek breakfast, you will start your journey back to Athens. 

You will drive along the slopes of Mount Parnassos rising to 2457 meters in height and you will make a short stop in Arachova, a popular winter resort full of taverns and handicraft shops. 

Further down the road, you can visit the town of Levadeia, which, in ancient times, flourished and grew in importance as a consequence of its possessing the celebrated oracle of Trophonius, found in a cave.

Back in Athens, you will return your rental car to the station and your adventure through Greece at our own pace will have come full circle. Now it is time to have a well-deserved rest with the memories of all the places you have seen and the people you have met still fresh in your mind.

Total distance: 186 kilometers

Greca Tip: In the village of Arachova you can shop for local products, such as traditional woven carpets, honey, and the local formaela cheese.

At the agreed time, our driver will transfer you to Athens Airport to board your international flight back home or to your next destination. You will check in your luggage and benefit from the tax return resulting from any last-minute tax-free shopping for family and friends.

Undoubtedly, and after spending a few fantastic days with Greca, we hope to see you again soon to create new and extraordinary moments that will be lovingly etched in your memory.

Have a nice trip! Or, as Greeks say: "Kalo taksidi!".

Greca Tip: As a going-away gift, you can choose from a wide range of brightly colored flokati rugs, handmade sandals, embroidered covers, and Greek honey, or olive oil.