Nafplio · Argolis · Peloponnese, Greece
Nafplio Tours, Tickets & Things to Do
The best things to do in Nafplio, ranked by real traveller reviews: climb the Venetian stairway to Palamidi fortress above Greece's first capital, sail out to the Bourtzi island castle in the harbour, stand in the 4th-century-BC theatre at Epidaurus and pass under the Lion Gate at Mycenae, taste Agiorgitiko in the Nemea vineyards, and eat your way round a bougainvillea-covered old town. Compare guided tours, day trips and cruises side by side, most with free cancellation.
116 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Nafplio
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Nafplio
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Nafplio by interest
Whatever brings you to Nafplio — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
What to see
Top attractions in Nafplio
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Palamidi Fortress
Venetian walls, 900 steps.
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Bourtzi Castle
The fort in the harbour.
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Syntagma Square
Where Greece was governed.
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Ancient Mycenae
The Lion Gate, 1250 BC.
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Theatre of Epidaurus
14,000 seats, perfect sound.
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Nemea vineyards
Agiorgitiko country.
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Argolic Gulf
Swimming stops and caves.
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Arvanitia coast path
Round the rock to the sea.
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1 day
Nafplio in 1 day
- 1Palamidi at opening
- 2Old town walking tour
- 3Arvanitia coast path
- 4Sunset over Bourtzi
2 days
Nafplio in 2 days
- 1Day 1: town & fortresses
- 2Day 2: Mycenae & Epidaurus
- 3Nemea tasting
- 4Dinner in the old town
With kids
Nafplio with kids
- 1Boat to the Bourtzi
- 2Karathona beach
- 3Lion Gate at Mycenae
- 4Ice cream on Syntagma
Day trips
Day trips from Nafplio
- 1Mycenae & Epidaurus
- 2Corinth Canal
- 3Nemea vineyards
- 4Hydra by boat
25 min awayMycenae
Agamemnon's Lion Gate.
from €80View trips
30 min awayEpidaurus
The theatre that whispers.
from €80View trips
1 h awayCorinth Canal
Cut through the isthmus.
from €155View trips
40 min awayNemea
Agiorgitiko estates.
from €80View trips
Full day awayHydra
No cars, only donkeys.
from €39View trips
2 h awayMonemvasia
The town inside a rock.
from €170View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Nafplio visitor asks before booking.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Orange blossom, warm sea by June, sites still cool.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Hot and full; climb Palamidi before nine.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Warm sea, the grape harvest at Nemea, fewer people.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Mild and quiet midweek — busy at weekends.
For Epidaurus
The summer festival stages drama in the ancient theatre.
Best overall
May, June and September — sea warm, sites bearable.
One day
Palamidi, the old town and the coast path.
Two days
Add Mycenae and Epidaurus in a half-day tour.
Three days
Add Nemea, a sailing day or Ancient Corinth.
For archaeology
Three days: Mycenae, Epidaurus, Tiryns, Corinth.
For wine
A full day in Nemea with two or three estates.
For families
Two days: boat, beach, Lion Gate.
From Athens
About 2 hours by road; KTEL buses run several times daily.
From the airport
Roughly 2 hours by car or private transfer.
In the old town
Marble streets, mostly pedestrianised, all walkable.
Up to Palamidi
About 900 steps, or a road to the upper gate.
To the Bourtzi
Small boats from the quay in five minutes.
To the sites
Mycenae 25 min, Epidaurus 30 — car or tour needed.
Palamidi
Around €8; opens early, closes mid-afternoon off-season.
Ancient sites
Mycenae and Epidaurus charge separately; combined tickets exist.
Free by design
Old town, Arvanitia path and Akronauplia cost nothing.
Eat off the square
The tavernas one street back are better and cheaper.
Currency
The euro; cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Shade matters
Mycenae has none — go at opening, take water.
Sailing cruises
Limited boats; summer departures sell out.
Cooking classes
Small kitchens, often six to eight places.
Greek weekends
Athenians fill the hotels Friday to Sunday all year.
Epidaurus festival
Summer performances sell out weeks ahead.
Private guides
Few archaeologist-led tours run each week.
Harvest season
Nemea estates are busiest in September.
Old-town walk
€70–€100 private; €75 with an archaeologist.
Mycenae & Epidaurus
About €80 shared, €170 private with entries.
Full Argolid day
€155–€200 with Corinth and the canal.
Nemea wine tour
€80–€130; €175 with an oenologist.
Sailing cruise
€90–€106 half day with a meal.
Kayak or e-bike
€56 for an e-bike tour, €80 to kayak.
When to visit
Nafplio through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Apr–Jun
- Best for
- Orange blossom, cool sites.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Sea warms up in June.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Jul–Aug
- Best for
- Swimming and festivals.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Sites at opening only.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Sep–Oct
- Best for
- Harvest and warm sea.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The best month is September.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Nov–Mar
- Best for
- Quiet streets, short days.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Weekends still fill up.
People also ask
Nafplio travel FAQ
What are the best tours in Nafplio?
The highest-rated experiences are the half-day trip to Mycenae and Epidaurus (about €80), a guided walk of the Venetian old town (€70–€100), a Nemea wine tasting (€80–€130), a sailing or catamaran cruise in the Argolic Gulf with a meal (€90–€106), sea kayaking past the medieval castles (€80), and a food tour or cooking class in the old town (€59–€150).
How much do Nafplio tours cost?
Self-guided walks start around €6, guided old-town walks cost €70–€100, half-day tours to Mycenae and Epidaurus about €80, full-day Argolid circuits €155–€200, Nemea wine tours €80–€175, sailing cruises €90–€106, kayaking €80, e-bike tours €56, and food tours and cooking classes €59–€170.
How many days do you need in Nafplio?
Two days: one for the town, Palamidi and the coast path, one for Mycenae and Epidaurus. A third day adds Nemea, a sailing trip or Ancient Corinth without rushing anything.
When is the best time to visit Nafplio?
May, June and September — the sea is warm, the ancient sites are bearable and the town is busy without being full. July and August are hot and crowded; winter is mild and quiet midweek, though Athenians fill it at weekends all year round.
How do you get to Nafplio from Athens?
About two hours by road, 135 km southwest. KTEL buses run several times a day from the Kifissos terminal, and private transfers take the same time door to door. There is no train.
Was Nafplio the first capital of Greece?
Yes — it was the seat of the new Greek state from 1823 and the official capital from 1828 to 1834, before King Otto moved the government to Athens. The first governor, Ioannis Kapodistrias, was assassinated on the steps of St Spyridon church here in 1831.
What are the best day trips from Nafplio?
Mycenae (25 minutes) and Epidaurus (30 minutes), the Nemea vineyards (40 minutes), Ancient Corinth and the canal (an hour), Hydra island by boat, and Monemvasia or Mystras on a long day south. Shared tours run daily to the first three.
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