Before you go

Your trip to Náuplia.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Náuplia – Peloponeso Destination Peloponeso

How to get there

Aeroporto Internacional de Atenas Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) Spata · 165 km
Estação KTEL Argolidas de Náuplia 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Check before you buy. From Athens, the A7 motorway reaches Náuplia in about 2 hours (145 km), passing the Corinth Canal. KTEL Argolidas buses depart from the Kifissos terminal in Athens and take about 2½ hours to Náuplia station, a 10-minute walk from the old town. There is no train to Náuplia. Day tours from Athens include the town together with Micenas and Epidauro.

How many days

One day for the town: Palamidi in the morning, the old town and the museum after lunch, Bourtzi and the quay in the late afternoon. Two days add Micenas and Tirinto. Three days include Epidauro and a beach, Karathona or Tolo. Those using Náuplia as a base for Corinto and Nemea stay four nights.

When to go

From April to June and in September and October the temperatures are pleasant for climbing Palamidi and visiting the sites. July and August are hot, over 35°C, and weekends fill up with Athenians. In winter, from November to March, the town is quiet, sites open on reduced hours and it rains more, but the old town remains active.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

For the town, no: the old town is pedestrian and everything is done on foot, including the climb to Palamidi. For the Argolid sites, a car is the most practical. Without a car, KTEL buses from Náuplia reach Argos frequently and Micenas, Epidauro and Tolo with few departures per day, and there are tours and taxis. Park in the large port car park near the Porta de Terra; cars are not allowed inside the old town.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Náuplia

Morning
Palamidi via the staircase
Climb early by the staircase that begins near Arvanitia, before the heat, and walk the bastions of Palamidi, including Kolokotronis's cell and the view over the bay. Descend by the same steps or by taxi via the eastern road.
Afternoon
praça Syntagma and the old town
Have lunch in a tavern on Staikopoulou street. Visit the Museu Arqueológico, in the Venetian warehouse on praça Syntagma, and walk the pedestrian streets to the church of Agios Spyridon and the Porta de Terra.
Late afternoon
Bourtzi and Akronafplia
Take the little boat from the quay to Bourtzi and return. Then climb up to Akronafplia via the staircase next to the Catholic church and descend along the coastal promenade to Arvanitia to watch the sunset.
Evening
Quay and gelato
Dine at a restaurant on the quay, facing the illuminated Bourtzi, and finish with a gelato at the ice-cream shops on praça Syntagma, a local tradition.

2 days in Náuplia

Day 2

Morning
Tirinto and Micenas
Leave early by car on the Argos road. Stop at Tirinto, 8 km away, to see the cyclopean galleries, then continue to Micenas: Porta dos Leões, citadel, cistern, museum and, on the way out, the Tesouro de Atreu.
Afternoon
Argos
Have lunch in Argos. See the ancient theatre and the agora and, if time allows, drive up to the castle of Larissa for views over the plain.
Late afternoon
Karathona Beach
Return to Náuplia and go to Karathona beach, 3 km from the town, for a dip at the end of the day.
Evening
Pronoia neighborhood
Dine in a neighborhood tavern in Pronoia, at the foot of Palamidi, where the locals eat.

3 days in Náuplia

Day 3

Morning
Epidauro
Head to Epidauro, 30 km away. Visit the theatre right at opening, test the acoustics, and explore the sanctuary of Asclepius and the museum.
Afternoon
Palaia Epidavros or Tolo
Have fish for lunch in Palaia Epidavros on the coast, or return to Tolo beach, 12 km from Náuplia.
Late afternoon
Shopping in the old town
Back in Náuplia, browse the craft, olive oil and komboloi shops on Staikopoulou and Vasileos Konstantinou streets.
Evening
Last night on the quay
Walk along the harbour promenade to praça Filellinon and dine with a view of the bay.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Athens to Náuplia?

By car via the A7 motorway in about 2 hours. By KTEL bus from the Kifissos terminal in Athens in about 2½ hours, with several departures daily. There is no train. From Athens airport the simplest route is to rent a car or take the suburban train to Corinto and continue by bus.

Was Náuplia the capital of Greece?

Yes. It was the first official capital of independent Greece, from 1827 to 1834, when King Otto moved the seat to Athens. Ioannis Kapodistrias, the country's first head of state, was assassinated at the door of the church of Agios Spyridon in the old town in 1831.

How many days to stay in Náuplia?

One day is enough for the town. Three days are ideal to add Micenas, Tirinto, Epidauro and Argos from there. Four nights allow including Corinto and Nemea on the way back to Athens.

Is there a beach in Náuplia?

Yes. Arvanitia is a small pebble beach behind Akronafplia, a 10-minute walk from the centre. Karathona, 3 km away, is sandy and longer. Tolo, 12 km away, is the region's resort beach, with hotels and tavernas.

Can you visit Micenas and Epidauro from Náuplia without a car?

Yes, with planning. KTEL buses from Náuplia go to Micenas and Epidauro with few departures per day, and you need to check return times. Taxis and local tours are the simplest alternative to do both in one day.

Back to Náuplia