Greece has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to vacation destinations. Should you go to an iconic island like Mykonos or maybe see the world famous, cliff top monasteries at Meteora? Or should you spend all your time in Athens soaking up the history and museums?
What if you could go to a place that has a little bit of everything that Greece has to offer- beaches, ancient ruins, scenic coastal beauty, delicious food, and picturesque towns? Sounds pretty perfect, right? Welcome to the stunning Peloponnese Peninsula.
4 Reasons To Visit The Peloponnese Peninsula
1) Its History
The Peloponnese has ruins and fortresses littered over its gorgeous countryside, memorials to the different civilizations found throughout Greece's history and the many invaders that have passed through here. The Myceneans, the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Ottomans, the Venetians, the Franks; it's the history of Western Civilization that you can see and touch.
Loved the tales of Hercules as a kid? Ancient Nemea is here (but without the lion). Wondered about the people the Apostle Paul was writing to in First and Second Corinthians? Walk around the Roman ruins at Ancient Corinth and get an idea.
Interested in medieval history? Tour the hilltop fortresses of Acrocorinth and Palamidi in Nafplio to follow the rise and fall of the various Mediterranean powers. Big fan of the Iliad and Greek myths in general? Visit Mycenae, the mythological home of Perseus and Agamemnon.
The Theatre of Epidaurus is in the Peloponnese with its amazing acoustics that will astound the kids. This was one of our favorite places to visit.
The Theatre at Epidaurus has such perfect acoustics that quiet talking on the stage can heard clearly at the top row. The kids found this fascinating and tested it from all angles.
Its Coastal Beauty and Beaches
Greece is defined by its relationship to the sea. You'll see it in its history, its stories, and its economy. The Peloponnese is comprised of 4 small peninsulas so there is no shortage of coastline. Driving just about anywhere leads to gorgeous views of cliffs and sea (and just a little bit of anxiety about the lack of guardrails in places.)
Typical view while driving a coastal road.
You'll also find coastal walks that are perfect ways to get out and enjoy the scenery. This is probably my favorite way to take in the view. Or take a sailing tour for the day and fill your Instagram with spectacular pictures. This is my second favorite way to spend the day.
Coastal walk outside Nafplio in the Peloponnese. Not bad right?
Sailing off the coast of the Peloponnese.
The beaches may not be as renowned as those on Mykonos or Crete, but there are lots of them and many are quite secluded and crowd-free. The water is clear and beautiful, so find an isolated swimming hole, bring a picnic, and spend the day. You'll soon see why this is such a popular Greek pastime.
Just don't forget your water shoes as some of the small beaches can be quite rocky and there can be sea urchins. But it is a small price to pay versus sharing your beach with a million other tourists.
An idyllic, quiet beach in the village of Siderona. Has a fabulous fish taverna next to it as well. We rented a house here for a few days and it was one of my favorite vacations ever.
The Islands
A vacation on a Greek island sounds amazing, right? What if you could visit several and still have a less expensive homebase on the mainland? Spetses, Poros, Hydra, Kythera, and many smaller spits of land surround the Peloponnese peninsula, and many are easily visited by ferry for a great day trip.
The larger islands are more touristy and have better beaches, but the smaller ones can give an "off-the-beaten track" feel for the "real" Greece. All are fun, it just depends what you are looking for.
Check out our blogs about Hydra which is my favorite of the islands:
Looking at the island of Poros from the mainland. This is a very short ferry ride.
Hydra. There are no cars on this island so it is a walker's paradise.
Charming Towns
Quaint Greek villages are something of a cliche, but cliches exist for a reason. The Peloponnese is full of picturesque tiny villages and small towns steeped in old world charisma.
Head to Nafplio, voted one of the prettiest towns in Greece, or try the gorgeous mountain village of Kosmas. Any drive through the Peloponnese will take you through a number of places that will make you want to get out of your car for a coffee break at the local taverna and soak up the ambience.
This is why Nafplio has been voted one of the prettiest towns in Greece.
Good Towns To Stay In While You Explore The Peloponnese
Nafplio
Nafplio is an excellent place to make your home base while you explore the area. It is a beautiful town that has a decent number of hotels and pensions as well as restaurants. Stay as close to the cobblestoned historic district as you can.
There is a number of beaches and coastal walks around Nafplio as well as the super cool fortress on the hill above town to explore. It is within easy driving distance to Mycenae, Corinth, and Epidaurus (less than an hour to each) and about 1.5 hours to the ferries for Poros, Hydra, and Spetses.
Check VRBO for Vacation Rentals In Nafplio
Check booking.com for Hotels In Nafplio
Check hotels.com for hotels in Nafplio
Argolid Peninsula
I like to stay in the Argolid Peninsula when I come to the Peloponnese because it is the easiest to reach from Athens and is convenient to all the historic places I want to see. We have booked amazing villas around the peninsula with gorgeous views and good prices. You might end up in a small village but that is half the fun! Just read reviews well and go for places that have a decent number of 9+ reviews.
Final Thoughts
I hope you consider the Peloponnese on your next Greek vacation. Since you can reach most of the peninsula in 2-3 hours from Athens, it makes a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and a chance to explore the spectacular Greek countryside.
Happy trails and safe travels!- Amanda