7 days exploring the beauties of Argolis

Do you think you know Argolis just because you’ve strolled under blooming bougainvilleas in the old town of Nafplio during the weekend, you’ve seen some performances at Epidaurus Theatre, dived in the sandy beaches of Tolo or because you’ve been to Mycenae once during a school trip? Well, prepare to be amazed

Our tiny Argolis, the smallest of Peloponnese’s prefectures, is great in beauty, in history, in having beaches on which our most beautiful memories have been written, and is also great in creating experiences that will last a lifetime.

A few weekends, here and there, might be enough for you to love it, but they’re not nearly enough to get to actually know it.

This will be made possible during a (at least) seven day trip, like the one that follows, by choosing Nafplio or Tolo as our base and by driving many kilometers with the car- It will be worth it, we promise.

1st Day: Nafplio

No matter how well you think you know it, the capital of Argolis (and once of the entire Greece) always has secret corners to explore, beauties that you don’t know yet, tastes that you haven’t tried before and sunsets that don’t look like anything you’ve seen so far.

Here you will climb the stairs of one of the most well-preserved castles of the entire Greece, the Venetian Palamidi, you will see the sun diving in the sea from the walls of Akronafplia, and you’ll take the boat to the postcard-like Bourtzi.

Also, you’ll walk along one of the most beautiful seaside walks, the Arvanitia Promenade, you will catch a table for coffee or food at the historical Syntagma square, and stroll around the paved alleys under the flowery balconies of the old town.

The night will find you clinking glasses of wine or of colorful cocktails in the always cheerful, local bars of the town.

Local wines ⇒ ⇒ Domaine Skouras,  Tasting trip to Papantoni winery,  Koroniotis Winery

You can find more about Nafplio here

The postcard-like Bourtzi

 The Arvanitia Promenade

The historical Syntagma square

The old town

2nd Day: Mycenae

The beginning of History, the mythical kingdom of Agamemnon which for centuries people believed that it existed only in the imagination of Homer, is actually there waiting for you, twenty minutes from Nafplio, to cross the Lion Gate, to explore impressive, gigantic vaulted tombs, and stop at the palace’s yard to stare at the sea from which the three-mast ships sailed to Troy. 

After you do all these, you will climb down the stairs of the underground water tank, which supplied with water an entire kingdom 33 centuries before humanity will rediscover the way to provide homes with running water.

In the Museum of Mycenae you’ll learn the story of how to discover an ancient city when everyone around you insists that it doesn’t exist.

Here we have more about Mycenae.

Museum of Mycenae

3rd Day: Epidaurus

A thousand years and a few more after Agamemnon, in the Argolic land a theatre was built that has no equal match in the world. Nowadays, the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, apart from being one of the most favorite destinations, is also part of a wonderful archaeological site which includes the Sanctuary of Asclepius, the stadium in which games were held in honor of the god who healed the sick, and the archaeological museum that hosts findings from the excavations in one of the most sacred places of the Classic era.

The archaeological site though, is just the beginning of Epidaurus: Around it spread adorable tiny villages, like Old Epidaurus with its picturesque harbor, beaches like Kalamaki that have pine trees reaching the waves, ideal for a rejuvenating summer dive, gorges like Vothila Gorge that will excite the hiking lovers, and the most ancient bridge of Europe, the Mycenaean Bridge of Kazarma, which counts three thousand years of life, more or less. 

For your stay in Epidaurus, one of the ideal destinations is Desa Green Homes.

Details for all these here.

The theater of Epidaurus

4th Day: Porto Heli, Hermioni

Do you feel like driving a bit more?  An hour away from Nafplio, Hermioni and Porto Heli are the cosmopolitan side of Argolis: On the one side is the completely insular Hermioni built on a green peninsula, the pine forest of which ends up at the sea.  And on the other side is the Greek Riviera, Porto Heli, with its amazing villas, decorating its successive coves. 

And it doesn’t stop there: It also has beaches in-between that are perfect for your dives in the summer, and the gorge of gods, known as Katafyki Ravine, which excites the fans of hiking  with its 10 kilometer Path of Persephone that crosses it. In addition, on your way from Nafplio to Hermioni you will come across Didyma village, with the peculiar geological formations- legend has it that one of the caves here was the cave of cyclop Polyphemus, with whom Odysseus had a fight that went a bit out of line. 

We have details and surprises for the region here.

5th Day: Tolo and its beaches

Crystal clear waters, endless sand and every infrastructure you might need for your vacation, make Tolo a small summer paradise and the perfect alternative base for our short trip, especially if you’re a summer type who prefers to go for a dive the minute you wake up.

Three small green islets, Romvi, Koronisi and Daskaleio, close its bay and make the perfect background during the hours you hang out at the beach enjoying the landscape.

If you travel with children, you will definitely appreciate the crystal clear, shallow waters and the exemplary infrastructure of Psili Ammos beach, on which you can easily spend an unforgettable summer day.

More about Tolo  here.

Psyli Amos

 6th Day: The lesser-known sights of Argolis

If you believe that the history of this land stops at Epidaurus and Mycenae, prepare to be amazed. From ancient Citadels to actual pyramids that count millennia of life, the undiscovered side of Argolis is more than enough to fill an entire trip day.

The “must” stops include the Pyramid of Hellinikon, which is a 20 minute drive from Nafplio and dates back to 400 B.C., the Ancient Asini, 4 kilometers from Tolo with its Citadel where a statuette was discovered and inspired the Greek poet, Giorgos Seferis, to write the poem “The King of Asini”, the most ancient bridge in Europe, the Kazarma Bridge we mentioned before, and last but not least the Citadel of Midea, 13 kilometers from Nafplio with its cyclopean walls enjoying a panoramic view to the Argolic plain.

 7th Day: Tiryns and Argos

On the road between Nafplio and Argos, Tiryns was one of the two biggest towns in the kingdom of Agamemnon (you know which was the other one) and definitely worths a stop on our way to the biggest town in Argolis, with which we will close our trip.

So, Argos is the most ancient town of the continental Europe, is continuously inhabited for the last five (yes, 5) thousand years and you may not find it picturesque at first, but it hides surprises, like the Ancient Theatre, which is probably the biggest you’ve ever seen, even bigger than the one in Epidaurus, the Ancient Agora in the heart of town, and a Castle straight out of a fairytale, from the top of which you will gaze at all you’ve seen and lived during the last seven days.

And this is the perfect way to say goodbye to the Argolic land. Until you return. Since you’ll come back for sure.