Stairs of the Palamidi Fortress in Nafplio. Greece
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Nafplio Travel Guide – Complete Guide of Things To Do In Nafplion, Greece

Nafplio, or Nafplion, is a beautiful town on the coast of the Greek Peloponnese. It was the first capitol of Greece and has a rich history combined with beautiful views.

We stayed here for one night and spent the morning exploring. Nafplio is great for a few hour pit stop or a few days of exploring. It is not one of the most popular Greek tourists spots, so here are the best things to do in Nafplio, Greece.

  • Palamidi Fortress*
  • Paralia Arvanitias (free)
  • Arvanitia Promenade (free)
  • Shops (free)
  • Bourtzi Castle
  • Tiryns*
  • Epidaurus Theater
  • Mycenae*
  • Fougaro Art Center
  • Asine*
  • Sailing
  • Peloponnesian Folklore Museum
  • War Museum Nafplio
  • Akronafplia Heliporter

* Included in the combined ticket

Nafplio, Greece Peninsula

Palamidi fortress (nafplio castle)

The Palamidi Fortress is hard to miss. Located on a hill overlooking the city and lit up with lights during the evening, it truly is a beautiful feature of Nafplio.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

‑ There are two entrances to visit the ruins of the fortress up top: one you can drive to and walk directly in, then the other you can walk up the “999 Steps” (actually 857 steps ‑ not that it makes it much better)
‑ It gets hot during the summer!! It is best to visit in the morning and bring water if you’ll be climbing all the steps
‑ There is an entrance fee to the fortress ‑ €4 for the reduced ticket and €8 for the full ticket. However, you can climb the steps for free at anytime!
‑ The combined ticket can also get you into other sites within 3 days of purchase: Mycenae, Tiryns, Asini, Palamidi, Museum of Nafplio and Byzantine Museum of Argos

Paralia Arvanitias

This is a beautiful small, pebbly beach by the “999 Steps” of the Palamidi Fortress. You walk down the steps to the beach and the beach bar. The beach can get busy, but the water is warm and calm. The beach is more pebbles than sand, so bring some good water shoes! The beach has amenities such as toilets available.

arvanitia promenade

Arvanitia Promenade is a walking path that goes around the small peninsula along the coast. It’s a beautiful and pleasant walk, especially at sunset!

the shops

The shops in the heart of Nafplio are SO CUTE! This is just one example. It is pedestrian only for parts, so you can wander the street with your gelato enjoying the many shops. I have done this is the best place I’ve been in Greece to buy souvenirs ‑ they tend to be much less expensive than other tourist locations like Athens or Santorini.

Bourtzi Castle

Bourtzi Castle is located on a small island off the Nafplion coast. You can take boat tours or even rent kayaks to go visit. From what I hear the outside is much more impressive than the inside, but it still is a very fun thing to see.

Tiryns

Tiryns is a UNESCO archeological site just 5 minutes from Nafplio. The ruins include Cyclopean walls and tunnels, a palace, citadels, gates, and more.

The price is 4 Euros for the full ticket, or included in the combined ticket.

Epidaurus Theater

Just a 30 minute drive from Nafplio is the Epidaurus theater. It is considered one of the best preserved Greek theaters and is regarded for it’s great acoustics. It is still is occasionally used to host musical performances and can seat around 12,000!

A single ticket is €12.

Mycenae

Just a 25 minute drive from Nafplio is the archeological site of Mycenae. There you can see the Cyclopian walls of the citadel, the vaulted “beehive” tomb, Lions gate and the nearby Museum!

Single ticket is €12
Full ticket that includes entrance to Mycenae (Archaeological Site, Museum and the Treasure of Atreus), Tiryns, Asini, Palamidi, Museum of Nafplio and Byzantine Museum of Argos is €20.

Fougaro Art Center

A smokestack from a tomato canning plant was renovated to be an arts and cultural center. You can search for events and exhibits on their website.

Asine

Asine is an archeological site that is mentioned by Homer and is located just 10 minutes from Nafplio. Its ruins are located on a beautiful rocky peninsula that juts into the sea and has great views.

Entrance is 3 Euros for the full ticket, or included in the combined ticket.

Sailing

You can charter a yacht to enjoy the beautiful views and swim.

Check out Sailing Nafplio, Nafplio4Sail, or Aegean Outdoors.

Peloponnesian Folklore Museum

Peloponnesian Folklore Museum includes cultural items from the history of the Peloponnese such as clothing, crafts, arts, and other cultural items.

General admission tickets are €5 each.

War Museum Nafplio

War Museum Nafplio is, first of all, beautiful on the outside! It’s original use was Greece’s the first Military Academy. Displays are both in Greek and English!

General admission is €3
Closed on Mondays

Akronafplia Heliporter

This is a fortress that you can climb for great views. The area doesn’t seem well kept, so it might be best just to go to the Palamidi Fortress for the views.

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