Mycenae, Epidaurus & Nafplio Day Trip from Athens

The Corinth Canal

The tour begins with a drive from central Athens towards the Peloponnese, and the first stop is the Corinth Canal. This narrow channel, about six kilometres long, was dug through solid rock and opened in 1893, joining the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf. Its walls rise nearly eighty metres above the water, and from the bridge the view is dramatic.

You have about twenty minutes here to take photos and stretch your legs. For many travellers looking for an Athens to Corinth Canal stop, this is a quick and memorable introduction to the region, before the day continues to the ancient sites. The short break also lets you use the toilets and buy a drink.

Mycenae

Mycenae was one of the great cities of Bronze Age Greece, the legendary seat of King Agamemnon, and it gives its name to the Mycenaean civilisation. The Lion Gate at the entrance, built in the 13th century BC, is Europe's oldest monumental sculpture. Inside the walls you see the royal shaft graves, the palace ruins and huge Cyclopean walls, and nearby the beehive-shaped Treasury of Atreus, often called the Tomb of Agamemnon.

Plan about two and a half hours here. A Mycenae tour is best with a guide or audio guide, and our virtual reality device helps you imagine the citadel as it was. In this option entry tickets are included. Mycenae opening hours change with the season, and the site is exposed, so a hat and water are important.

The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus

The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, built in the 4th century BC, is one of the best-preserved theatres from the Classical world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It seats around 14,000 people, and its acoustics are so good that a whisper or a dropped coin can be heard from the top row. It was part of a healing sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius, and it is still used for performances of ancient drama in summer.

You have about an hour here, enough to walk to the top and test the acoustics yourself, and to see the sanctuary area if time allows. If you are wondering how to get to Epidaurus from Athens, a guided day tour saves you the drive of about two hours. Entry tickets are included in this option.

Nafplio

Nafplio is a picturesque harbour town, and the first capital of modern Greece after independence. Above it stands the huge fortress of Palamidi, while the small water castle of Bourtzi sits on an islet in the bay and Akronafplia guards the old town. Venetian houses, neoclassical mansions and flower-filled lanes make it one of the prettiest towns in Greece.

You have about an hour and a half of free time to stroll, have lunch in a traditional restaurant or relax in a seafront café. In summer you can also swim at Arvanitia beach. The best time to visit Nafplio is late afternoon, when the light is warm and the town is at its most relaxed.