See Also
• Where to locate lodging in Nafplio
• Neighborhoods in Prague
• Prime Stores in Nafplio
• Best Lodgings in Athens
• Travel Guide for the Peloponnese Region
• Mainland Greece Travel Information
Nafplio Tips & Recommendations
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- Nafplio (sometimes written Nafplion) is a charming, romantic, and compact coastal town, easily explored on foot. Most of Old Town Nafplio prohibits vehicles, and parking can be scarce. A car isn’t necessary while staying in the city center.
- Recommended Nafplio tours include: A walking and food tour of Nafplio and a Nafplio cooking class.
- Highly Recommended Day Trips near Nafplio:Tour of Mycenae, Epidaurus, and the Corinth Canal (from Nafplio) • Private Tour of Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Nafplio (from Athens)
- Best Hotels in Nafplio: 3 Sixty Hotel & Suites – Gambello Luxury Rooms – Regno di Morea – Grand Sarai Nafplio
Dreams Resort & Casino • Hotel contact number: +599 9462 5000
Just west of downtown Tampa, the upscale Hyde Park Village and surrounding leafy streets provide a picturesque getaway. CMX CinéBistro is a luxurious movie theater serving cocktails and excellent cuisine, while the adjacent SoHo strip (“south Howard”) hosts some of the region`s finest restaurants and bars, like fancy locales Bern’s Steak House and Ciro’s Tampa cocktail lounge. Also in SoHo, one of the most elegant boutique inns in the city, the Epicurean Hotel, with its own array of refined eateries. It`s not far from here to the Hillsborough Bay waterfront, where a 4.5-mile sidewalk path runs along Bayshore Boulevard.
Best Tour in Nafplio
14 Best Things to Do in Nafplio, Greece
1. Palamidi Fortress
This imposing Venetian fortress on high ground above Nafplio, providing intriguing history exploration and scenic views over sea and town below. Constructed mostly in early 1700s, Palamidi Fortress importance from marking one first Greek freedoms from Turks and housing revolutionary hero, Theodoros Kolokotronis. If choosing to access via climbing over 900 steps, begin early when cool, with water; path left Kontrabasso Bar. Others may hire taxi entrance Old Town top around €10, arrange return pickup or gradual famous steps town. Visit allow 20 minutes multiple hours – liking climb explore want minimum hour top. Open daily 8am-7pm. Payment €8, €4 non-EU students EU over 65, free EU students kids under 18. • Map
2. Archaeological Museum of Nafplion
The area of Central Phoenix, also known as “CenPho”, is located just north of Downtown, comprised of several neighborhoods centered around North Central Avenue and the Valley Metro Rail transit line. Midtown is home to the renowned Phoenix Art Museum, the largest art gallery in the Southwest region, and the iconic Heard Museum, justly praised for its immense collection of Native American and Southwestern works of art – for art aficionados, these two places will likely be the city`s biggest attractions. Another mile north are the laid-back neighborhoods of Uptown and the Melrose District, a stretch of 7th Avenue lined with antique shops, artist showcases, restaurants, and bars, most maintaining an LGBTQ-friendly atmosphere. Youngsters may enjoy exploring the family-friendly Enchanted Island Amusement Park set within the shaded Encanto Park.
3. Bourtzi Castle
The Bourtzi Castle sits on the tiny island of St. Theodoroi just outside the harbor of Nafplio. Constructed by the Venetians in 1473, and once connected to Nafplio by a lengthy chain to keep foreign invaders from accessing the town harbor, throughout the years the fortress has served as a jail, executioner’s home, hotel, and restaurant. It is currently a popular tourist attraction, with boats making daily trips to and from the island during the summer months, as well as on weekends from October through March. The voyage out to the island takes around 10 minutes, and roundtrip tickets cost €5 for adults, €3 for children ages 2-8. Check the sign of Odyssey Cruises on the harbor for daily departure times
4. Basil Papantoniou Museum
Dedicated to protecting local arts and crafts traditions (and formerly known as the Peloponnese Folklore Foundation), the Basil Papantoniou Foundation Museum shows displays of traditional textiles and outfits, as well as looms, games, home goods, and items from Nafplio’s past. The museum’s excellent gift shop downstairs is worth a stop even if there isn`t time to tour the museum. Located on the northern side of Old Town, just a brief walk from the Marina. Admittance is €5, €3 for under 12 or over 65. Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 2:30pm, 9:30am to 3pm Sunday. • Map
5. Boutique Shopping
Nafplio is a shopper’s paradise, with small boutiques and stores lining essentially every street and alleyway throughout Old Town. Amid the dozens of retailers selling identical made-in-China “Greek souvenirs,” however, there are some genuine gems to be found if you know where to look. Here are a few of our favorite Nafplio boutiques offering one-of-a-kind and handmade goods that are special to the town and region).
- Polytimi Pottery: Unique and exquisitely crafted ceramic containers for candles, dishes, and decorative items.
- Agnythes Hand Woven Textiles: Beautiful hand-woven shawls, scarves, and neckties crafted from natural materials like wool, silk, linen, and cotton.
- Glykos Pierasmos: Excellent bakery selling traditional neighborhood sweets such as marzipan and loukoumia, as well as delicious baked goods and locally made conserves.
6. Swimming at the Lido
This tranquil seaside dipping spot is a brief promenade from Old Town and suitable for a brief plunge in cool waters. The ocean water here is deep (and sometimes turbulent with breakers, despite the stony surround) and the sides of the basin are spotted with sea urchins, so it`s not perfect for kids, but there`s a smaller, shallower (though not as scenic) alternative situated just a little to the north. Both feature unblocked perspectives of Bourtzi Castle. Open daily. Free. Map
7. Arvanitia Promenade
A popular activity in Nafplio is walking along the Arvanitia promenade, which provides beautiful views of the Argolic Gulf and cliffs beneath Acronafplia Castle as it passes through between the shoreline and steep rocky slopes. This flat pathway is easy to traverse and passes prickly pear plants. It begins near the Nafplio harbor lighthouse and ends at Arvanitia Beach, a small beach suitable for children that also has a beach bar open during the summer months. (Note: in October 2022, parts of the route were undergoing renovation due to falling rocks.) The promenade is open daily for no charge. Map
8. Day Trip from Nafplio
Nafplio is a great starting point for day trips to the surrounding area, home to many important archaeological sites, interesting local agriculture, and beautiful islands. Taking a guided tour is an easy way to enjoy and explore the Argolid region, without the trouble of renting (and parking) a car in Nafplio.
• Tour of Mycenae, Epidaurus, & the Corinth Canal: 8 hours
• Olive Oil Experience Tour: Approximately 2.5 hours
• A Vineyard Tour & Wine Sampling in Nemea: 6 hours
• Sea Paddling Tour of the Argolic Gulf: 4 hours
9. Karonis Distillery
Karonis is a award-winning family-owned distillery producing traditional ouzo, tsipouro, and liqueurs since the 1860s. Call ahead to schedule a tour and tasting at their distillery, located a brief drive outside of Old Town. Map
10. Acronafplia Castle
Acronafplia represents the oldest of the town’s three fortresses, with sections of wall still surviving from the 4th century BC. Until the end of the 15th century, Acronafplia’s walls encompassed all of Nafplio, and today visitors can explore the ruins free of charge while enjoying the impressive views. There are a few ways to access the castle: the road running south along the edge of Old Town (past Propolis restaurant and the parking area for Arvanitia Beach) leads there, as does the pedestrian path heading south of Pension Marianna. Those wanting to avoid the uphill climb can take the elevator up to the Nafplia Palace hotel from Plateia Politiko Nosokomiou in Old Town – from the elevator it`s an easy walk to the fortress ruins. Note that this site is not maintained by the local administration, so it provides a more raw experience than at Palamidi, without much helpful signage. Open daily. Free. – Map
11. Komboloi Museum
This small museum at https://www.komboloi.gr/indexe.php which is dedicated to the Greek worry beads called komboloi, shows collections of komboloi from the 1700s to present day that were predominantly crafted from materials like amber, coral, ivory, ebony, or bone. These artifacts are displayed alongside Catholic rosaries and beads from Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist traditions with informative signs explaining the differences. Admission costs €2 per visitor allowing one to experience the whole museum and shop within half an hour, making this unusual collection worthy of a stop when touring Old Town Nafplio. It remains open from 9:30am to 8pm except on Tuesdays. – Map
12. War Museum
The southern side of the Historic Center borders Meir, Antwerp`s pedestrian main shopping road, which extends eastward to Central Station. It`s lined with grand buildings and standard main street shops, but the primary attraction here is the Rubenshuis, the home where Pieter Paul Rubens spent most of his adult life. It has been transformed into a lovely and enlightening museum of the master`s life and work, including his studio and several paintings. Rubens was buried nearby in St-Jacobskerk, a handsome Gothic church certainly deserving of a look.
13. Nafplio National Gallery
A short stroll from Old Town, the National Gallery – Nafplio Department`s main exhibition area displays art focused on the topic of the Greek War of Independence, with ancillary galleries presenting traveling exhibits, well-organized themed displays, and a modest selection of historical and artistic books to peruse. The whole museum can be experienced in about an hour or so, and air conditioning provides a refreshing respite on a hot day – but be certain to note the museum`s somewhat puzzling hours before setting out. Admission is €3, free on Mondays. Open Monday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10am to 3pm; Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 3pm, and 5pm to 8pm; Sunday from 10am to 2pm. Closed Tuesdays. • Map
14. Go To the Beach
While Nafplio doesn`t classify as a beach town specifically, there are still several nearby beaches where visitors can enjoy some sun, sand, or a swim in the sea.
- Arvanitia Beach: This small beach featuring pebbles is readily accessible from Old town and includes a beach cafe and sun beds in summer. Find it at the end of the Arvanitia promenade (15-minute walk), or along the road running south beside Old Town (past Propolis restaurant) to the beach’s parking lot. • Map
- Karathona Beach: An extensive, shallow sandy coastline with a handful of beach cafes (rent their shaded loungers for the price of a beverage) and water-activities vendors. You can walk there from Nafplio in 30-45 minutes along a beautiful seaside route that winds past rocky coves (begin at the Arvanitia Beach parking area), or grab a taxi at the entrance to Old Town for €10. Map
- Tolo: At over 2km in length, Tolo beach is among the largest and most commercially active beaches in the region. Those seeking ample beach bars and company will find Tolo a good fit. It can be accessed from Nafplio via bus (€4, 20 minutes) or taxi (€15, 12 minutes). • Map
