Mycenae Epidaurus Corinth Nafplio Private Day Tour from Athens
Description
This tour is the best way to visit numerous ancient and historical sites while also getting a taste of the Greek countryside in a single day. Famous Ancient Corinth, the incredible Acropolis of Mycenae, romantic Nafplio and unique Epidaurus will travel you in a region full of myths and history.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This small Peloponese tour is a good opportunity to see several major site of the peninsula just in two days. Begining with a drive along the coast, you will get the chance to see some Greek seaside villages and the island of Salamis. Salamis is where the historical naval battle took place between the Athenians and the Persians. Our first stop of the day, the Corinth Canal. Eventually opened in 1892 separating the Peloponnese from the rest of Greece all the while connecting the Saronic Gulf to the Corinthian Sea. Having time to walk across on a pedestrian bridge and admire the canal closer, you may go bungee jumping on some days (if you’re game).
Archaeological and historical interest, Ancient Corinth is also one of the most popular religious destinations in Greece. It was here that the Apostle Paul preached Christianity, was judged by the tribunal in the Agora and established the best organized Christian church of the time.
The temple of Apollo at Corinth is one of the earliest Doric temples in the Peloponnese and the Greek mainland. Built around 560 B.C.E., of local monolithic limestone on top of an imposing, rocky hill to the north of Acrocorinth, the Archaic temple was an emblem for the Greek city of Corinth, reflecting its growth and prosperity.
We will visit the castle of Acrocorinth,the oldest and largest castle in southern Greece, for some amazing photos.
Dated to the 2nd millennium B.C.E. representing what Homer wrote about, Achilles, Agamemnon and Helen of Troy. The palace of Mycenae gave its name to a whole era.
In the site you will see the famous Lions Gate (the oldest architectural sculpture in Europe), the cyclopean walls, the burial circle A and the remains of Agamemnon’s Palace.
Within the site there is a modern museum, exhibiting the findings of the “City Of Gold” which is also worth visiting.
Just before leaving the site we will make a small stop at the treasury of Atreus, the best preserved Tholos tomb found and one of the finest examples of the Mycenaean architecture.
From here we will travel through time towards a more recent history of Greece and to the city of Nafplion. Nafplion is considered the most scenic city which also functioned as the capital of Greece until 1834. It offers you an impressive combination of fortresses and castles (Palamidi, Bourtzi), an enormous port opened to the Aegean Sea and the unique architecture of the old city of Nafplion revealing Venetian, neoclassical and oriental elements. Lunch will be at a traditional tavern by the sea.
We’ll drive up until the castle of Acronafplia for a panoramic view of Nafplio.
We will visit the site of Epidaurus. After just a short drive you will be able to visit one of the most important ancient sanctuaries dedicated to the God Asclepius, the god of healing and medicine, located in an ideal environment and spread over a hilly area.
Its highest point is the theater of Epidaurus. The best preserved ancient Greek theater dated 4th century B.C.E.It is proof of what fantastic miracles the ancient Greek minds could create. You can test the acoustics, great even today. Climb up until the upper seats just to close your eyes and dream you attended an ancient Greek tragedy.
We will grive back to Athens by the country road croosing picturesque villages and land scapes.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up time adjustable upon your request.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The drivers are not licensed to accompany you inside any site or museum. If you require a licensed guide to tour the sites with you, you need to hire one additionally. If you have any questions you can contact us on the phone number provided by Viator.
- The duration of the tours is approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
Reviews(27)
After enjoying the 2 day tour of Meteora, Delphi and Thermopyles, so much with Terry as our driver, we decided to ask for Terry again and do this day tour. Once again the experience was superb. Terry gave us a complete overview of every site on the way which makes a huge difference in the overall enjoyment. The convenience of being picked up from our hotel and the flexibility in being able to stay a bit longer in preferred sites was great. Defintely recommend this tour and Terry as the driver.
Thank you for your kind words, dear Alexios! We're delighted you had another superb experience with Terry and enjoyed the flexibility and convenience of the tour. Your recommendation means a lot to us and we hope to welcome you back in Athens again in the future!
This was a very full day that we enjoyed a lot. The highlight was the Lions Gate at the Mycenae fortress and the acoustics at the Theater of Epidaurus but we also enjoyed looking down at the canal of Corinth and the lobster dinner we ordered in the charming town of Napflio was an added bonus. Also the portion of the ride through mountainous and seaside terrain was very nice. Perhaps most importantly our guide Theodore could not have been more helpful and he was a fountain of knowledge. It’s a long trip but well worth it.
Thank you, Bernard, for sharing your experience! We're thrilled you enjoyed the journey, the stunning landmarks, and Theodore's expertise. Your detailed feedback beautifully captures the essence of this trip.
My wife and I added this tour on to our itinerary almost at the last minute but oh are we glad we did! 10 hours of amazing history and awesome sites! We are historians and it seemed like every turn of the private van we had was a new Greek City State we had read about in high school/college! Even though our driver was an archeology major in college, we opted to book an additional guide. He was a windfall of knowledge and really made the ruins we were seeing pop to life! This was NOT a 20 questions quiz to see what the Americans knew from school like others tours we have taken. Instead, it was a successful attempt to make us feel like we were actually in Mycanae, Corinth, and Epidauris! Our guide and expert driver knew where to take all the great pictures and often volunteered to take them for us! This was especially true in the beautiful city of Nafplio. We would truly recommend this tour to history and non-history buffs alike. Just explain what level of knowledge you are at and what you want to see and let your driver/guide do the rest. I can truly say that the 10 hours were very engaging and went by quickly! Great job Viator and Olive Sea Travel!
We were four adults of one family, and within minutes of setting of in the air conditioned 7-seater with driver and sometime guide, Kyriakos, we knew we’d made the right choice of a private tour, rather than join a coach tour! Kyriakos gave us the history of the major sites we visited, was flexible with timing (allowing more time when a site interested us and less when it didn’t), never left us waiting when we’d finished visiting a site, and was there with water and advice whenever needed. And his recommended restaurant for lunch was spot on.
The driver and tour guide were excellent. The sites were a different era than those in our Athens tour. A lit of time traveling between locations but well worth the effort.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're glad you enjoyed the tour and appreciated the efforts of our driver and guide. Your feedback about the travel time is noted, and we’re thrilled it was worth it for you.
Andreas was an incredible tour guide and driver -- super-enthused about his job, and such a "people person"! He regaled us with stories about Greek history and culture as he shuttled us between sights. Importantly, neither my wife nor I felt hurried during any of the visits to the historical sites, even though I'm known for taking my time and going very slowly when it comes to examining ruins and exhibits and text panels and that sort of thing. Really, the visits seemed to be timed just about right. Thanks again, Andreas, for a remarkable day!
This tour was amazing. Our driver, Nasos, was wonderful. His knowledge of the area was incredible. He went above and beyond to ensure we had the absolute best time. He was so good we requested him for our tour the next day. The sites were very impressive, and we learned a tremendous amount. Highly recommended this tour company and Nasos!
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled you had such a great experience with Nasos and appreciated his efforts. We'll make sure to share your kind words with him. We hope to see you again!
The driver was really interesting, talking a lot about the history of the country. Asking if we had questions. Magnificent visit to all the sites listed in the activity. All was perfect and on time.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're glad you enjoyed the informative and timely tour. Your feedback motivates us to maintain the high standards we strive for.
We booked a this tour in April 2022 (I'm writing the review quite late, and the drop down won't let me select the appropriate date). I went as part of a group of friends/family (6 adults). We had an absolutely fantastic time on this day tour. The driver was prompt and picked us up from our accommodation as arranged. We saw all sights (as promised), and the driver was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to share insights about his beautiful country. The pacing of the tour was just right for us - more time in Nafplio might have been nice, but that's a pretty insignificant complaint, really. We would absolutely recommend this day trip - definitely an experience worth the money!
Thank you for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you and your group had a fantastic time on the day tour. It’s great to know that the driver was prompt, friendly, and knowledgeable, making your experience even more enjoyable. We appreciate your feedback about the pacing! Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you back for more memorable adventures in the future! Kind regards, Alexander Petronikolos
This was a great day trip with lots of stops. Our guide Socrates was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and always waiting for us. Definitely a must tour.
We're delighted to hear that your day trip with Socrates was a great success, marked by numerous memorable stops. His knowledge and attentiveness, ensuring he was always there waiting for you, truly stand out as hallmarks of a fantastic driver. Thank you for sharing your positive feedback, and we highly appreciate your recommendation. We look forward to offering you more exceptional tours in the future. Best regards, Dimitra Kapantai