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Monument · Náuplia, Peloponeso
Canal de Corinto
A 6.3 km cut, 24 meters wide, opened between 1881 and 1893 on the isthmus of Corinto, with rock walls up to 90 meters high, seen from above at the national road bridge or at water level from the submersible bridges.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Canal de Corinto
The Canal of Corinto cuts the isthmus that linked the Peloponeso to the rest of Greece and joins the gulf of Corinto, to the west, with the Sarónico gulf, to the east. The idea is ancient: the tyrant Periandro considered it in the 7th century BC and abandoned it, building instead the Diolkos, a ramp to drag ships over land; Nero began digging in 67 AD with thousands of prisoners and stopped. The work was only completed between 1881 and 1893, with Hungarian engineers and French and Greek funding, and it opened to navigation in November 1893.
The canal is 6,343 meters long, 24.6 meters wide at the surface and 8 meters deep, between rock walls that reach 90 meters in height. It is too narrow for today's ships, and passage is usually by tour boats, sailing boats and small craft, which look tiny between the walls. Landslides interrupt navigation from time to time; check whether it is operating at the time of your visit if you want to see a boat pass.
For the visitor, the canal is a quick stop. The classic view is from the bridge of the old national road, in Isthmia, with a pedestrian sidewalk and a small shop alongside. At both ends there are submersible bridges, which lower to the bottom for boats to pass, and it is possible to see the canal at water level. Local companies offer bungee jumps from the bridge and boat trips through the canal in season.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 40 minutes for the view from the bridge; longer if you take the boat trip.
Best time
Any time of day, but mid-morning and late-afternoon light works best between the walls. If you want to see a boat pass, ask at the shop on the bridge about expected passages; there is no fixed timetable.
How to get there
It's next to the A8 motorway, 80 km from Atenas and 60 km from Náuplia. Exit at Isthmia, where the old national road crosses the canal by a bridge with a sidewalk and parking. The KTEL buses between Atenas and the Peloponeso usually make a short stop there.
Tip
It's the natural stop between Atenas and the Peloponeso, not a destination in itself: combine it with Corinto Antiga and Acrocorinto, 15 minutes away. Go to the submersible bridge at Isthmia, on the Sarónico gulf side, to see the canal from below and the remains of the Diolkos, the ancient ramp, beside it.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Canal de Corinto
Do boats still pass through the Canal de Corinto?
Tourist boats, yachts and small craft pass through, because the canal is only 24 metres wide and 8 metres deep. Navigation is interrupted from time to time by landslides; check whether it is operating at the time of your trip.
Where is the best spot to view the canal?
At the bridge of the old national road, in Isthmia, which has a pedestrian walkway and parking. From there you can see the whole cut with its rock walls. At the ends, the submersible bridges show the canal at water level.
Can you stop at the canal when travelling from Atenas to Náuplia?
Yes. The canal is beside the motorway, about 1 hour from Atenas and 45 minutes from Náuplia. The stop takes about half an hour and KTEL buses usually call there.