OVERVIEW
When it comes to romantic escapes, there’s one town that springs to mind for Greeks: Nafplio, the Venetian’s ‘Naples of the East’, built on a small peninsula in the Peloponnese’s Argolic Gulf.
To spend a day in the Old Town is to relive some of modern Greece’s most important events. It was the first capital after independence from the Turks and the scene of both the crowning of the country’s first king and assassination of its first prime minister.
At the same time, its Venetian influences have the ability to sweep you off your feet. You’ll feel it all the way from the lofty fortifications (Palamidi Castle is an experience in itself) to the gelato you’ll enjoy whilst strolling down the narrow cobblestoned alleyways.
With tavernas serving local dishes with an undeniable finesse, atmospheric monuments and neoclassical mansions, Nafplio has a compelling story to tell. So whether you’re on a romantic stroll or exploring with the kids, plot your route or just let your feet guide you… either way, prepare to fall in love.
DON'T MISS
The Land Gate and Church of Agios Spyridon
Passing through the Land Gate (the original entrance to the Old Town, the first landmark you encounter is the Church of Agios Spyridon, where Ioannis Kapodistrias, Greece’s original head of state, was murdered in 1831. Look for the bullet hole in the wall.
Syntagma Square
The heart of the Old Town and your gateway to many of its most important buildings, it was known as Platanos Square in the 19th century, due to the huge Plane Tree that still exists.
The Vouleftiko
Originally built as a mosque by the Turks in the 18th century, this impressively restored building became Greece’s first parliament in 1825. It’s not usually open to the public, but it does host concerts and other events.
The Trianon (Old Mosque)
Taking its name from the cinema once housed here, the Trianon is the town’s oldest surviving mosque. It’s believed to have been built by the Turks in the 16th century but its architecture shows strong Byzantine influences.
The Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum gives you the opportunity to delve into the region’s deeper past. It houses around 1,500 artefacts from the Prehistoric era to the Bronze Age, including bronze body armour discovered at the Mycenaean cemetery of Dendra, dating to the 15th century BC.
The Bourtzi
As you arrive at the waterfront, you’ll catch a first glimpse of Bourtzi, on its islet in the gulf. The Castello dello Soglio, as the Venetian castle was first called, has had a mixed past (from prison to hotel to concert venue) and is worth visiting by boat. But just gazing at it is enough to form a postcard-perfect memory of Nafplio.
The Five Brothers
As you start your stroll along the waterfront, you’ll come across the “Five Brothers” – the five cannons that once protected the western side of the town and the entrance to the harbour. It’s the only Venetian bastion that escaped destruction.
Sunset at Akronafplia
The oldest castle in Nafplio was adapted by each of the town’s settlers, with the result that it is effectively three different castles in one. It’s the perfect end-point to your walk, not least if you time your walk to end with the beautiful sunset over the Argolic Gulf.
From Athens
- By car: 140km (1hr50min)
- By bus (KTEL): Regular daily service.
From Kalamata
- By car: 146km (1hr45min)
- Nafplio is wonderful all year round, with each season offering something different. However, many consider spring and autumn to be the best times to visit, with the changing colours adding to the aura.
- It’s best to avoid weekends, which is when Athenians tend to visit, so that your experience is as personal as possible.
Museums and monuments:
Archaeological Museum of Nafplio
- Seasonal opening times apply.
- Tickets: €10 (€5 reduced)
- Suitable for visitors with disabilities. More info
Bourtzi
- Bourtzi is open all year around.
- During summer months, the crossings continue until late. In winter they stop in the afternoon.
- Tickets: €7 (€5 reduced)
- Autumn
- Spring
- Summer
- Winter
- Organised walking tours last about 2-3 hours (longer if a visit to Bourtzi is included).
- You can also explore independently and spread the experience over an entire day.
Total time: ~120 minutes (relaxed pace) • Terrain: mostly flat, cobbled lanes with a few gentle slopes
Pin 1 — Land Gate (0’–10’)
Scene setter. Enter through the historic gateway beneath the Akronafplia walls and step straight into the Old Town ambience.
Pin 2 — Syntagma (Constitution) Square (10’–25’)
Stroll the arcades, note the elegant façades, and soak up the energy of Nafplio’s living room.
Pin 3 — Archaeological Museum (25’–40’)
Pop inside for a highlights sweep, or admire the 18th-century building if you’re keeping pace.
Pin 4 — Agios Spyridon Church (40’–50’)
Pause at the doorway for one of Greece’s most poignant modern-history moments (look for the marked bullet scar).
Pin 5 — Komboloi (Worry-Bead) Museum (50’–60’)
Tiny, characterful stop that reveals the story behind Greece’s iconic worry beads (quick browse + gift idea).
Pin 6 — Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation (60’–75’)
Award-winning folk art, dress and design collections inside a neoclassical townhouse.
Pin 7 — Waterfront Promenade & Bourtzi View (75’–90’)
Easy seafront walk with postcard views of the floating Bourtzi. Best angles near the old port quay.
Pin 8 — Arvanitia Promenade mini-loop (90’–115’)
Sample the cliff-edge path for 10–15 minutes out-and-back: sea cliffs, pines and Akronafplia rock drama without committing to the full loop.
Pin 9 — Optional: Akronafplia Lookout (115’–120’)
If you have a spare five minutes, nip up to a nearby viewpoint for a final panorama across rooftops and the Argolic Gulf.
