Planning your next trip to Greece and looking for inspiration? Don’t miss out on the breathtaking Peloponnese region! Peloponnese Greece is a beautiful area of Europe that every traveler will fall in love with. In fact, after reading our article, we’re confident you’ll want to book a trip! Here’s some of our favorite places and things to do in Peloponnese Greece, along with helpful tips for your first visit.
Our First Visit to Peloponnese Greece
Two years ago, we took our very first trip to the Peloponnese region. We were visiting to attend the TBEX Travel Conference, which was held in the seaside city of Kalamata.
Honestly, we hadn’t heard much about Peloponnese Greece before this conference! We’d visited over 15 Greek islands in previous years, but this was our first time exploring the heart of the mainland.
Once TBEX wrapped up, we seized the opportunity by taking a one week road trip (more on this later). What we discovered was an incredible region full of history, beaches, and delicious Greek food!
Our trip took us from Kalamata to the famous monastaries of Meteora Greece, and all the way to Parga on the west coast. While it was all amazing, we knew we needed to get back to the Peloponnese in the future to see more.
Back to the Peloponnese!
Even with a full week, we had only seen a very small section of the massive Peloponnese. That brings us to our most recent visit!
We returned two years later in the spring time as part of the My Peloponnese Vibe initiative. For this trip, we chose to stay in historic Nafplio. This famous town had been on our bucket list ever since our first visit.
Again, we had one week and a car for our journey. This time, we used Nafplio as our base for day trips, instead of embarking on one long road trip.
The town itself was one of the most stunning places we’ve been in Greece! We also found so many beaches and historic sites to see that were within a 30 minute drive.
This made it easy to go out on morning adventures, while still having plenty of time in old town. Check out our guide to the best things to do in Nafplio before your visit.
10 Reasons to Book a Trip to Peloponnese Greece
1. Easy to Get to From Athens
The first thing to know about Peloponnese Greece is how close it truly is to Athens. It’s located just 80 km (50 miles) west of the capital city, so you can drive there quickly after flying in.
There are public transportation options such as the bus to look into. Yet, the best way to see the Peloponnese region is by car.
Here’s some tips for renting a car in Athens to know first. We recommend using this website to compare prices and ensure you get the best deal.
By far, the easiest option is to rent a car directly from Athens Airport. You may even want to filter for companies that have a desk on the airport grounds to avoid having to take a shuttle.
Know that you won’t have to enter the crazy streets of Athens at all if you’re leaving from there to the Peloponnese. There is a nice highway that circles around the city.
The official start of the Peloponnese begins one hour from Athens after going past the famous Corinth Canal. From there, you’ll have so much to see in this unique part of Greece!
2. Peloponnese Greece Beaches
Let’s get right into the good stuff. It’s no secret that Greece has some of the best beaches in the world, and the Peloponnese is no exception.
One special thing about Peloponnese Greece is that it is bordered by three different seas. You’ll find the Aegean Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the Mediterranean on the southern coast.
Really, there are insanely gorgeous beaches everywhere you look! From the pebbly coves to long sandy stretches, the Peloponnese really has it all. The water is so clear that we even found ourselves diving off the docks in the small port towns.
Your beach experience all depends on what area you choose to stay in. We loved relaxing in the tiny villages where we could walk right from our hotel to the water.
With that said, many of the best beaches will take some effort to get to. Some of our favorite days were driving down the winding roads and hiking to secluded spots.
3. Traditional Greek Food
When we think about Greek cuisine, some obvious classics come to mind. Gyros, souvlaki, and olive oil drenched salads with a huge block of feta on top.
We’ll never say no to these dishes, but there’s so much more to taste in Greece! Another thing to note is that each region of Greece has their own specialties to enjoy.
On our most recent trip to the Peloponnese, we made sure to try some of the local treats! This included huge portions of lamb and potatoes baked in the oven, grilled octopus, and scrumptious pasta with cured ham.
You’ll also want to look up if there’s a weekly market in whatever town you’re visiting. We just so happened to be in Nafplio for the local market days, where we bought oranges, artichoke, and other seasonal specialties.
Wine lovers will want to include places like Nemea in their Peloponnese itinerary. They have been crafting this beloved drink for thousands of years here, and it’s definitely worth a visit!
Here’s some of our favorite restaurants we ate at in Nafplio. You can also check out our complete guide to Greek food here.
4. Exciting Road Trip Ideas
We mentioned earlier that we took a road trip on our first visit to Peloponnese Greece. The week-long adventure took us to ancient Monemvasia, the small fishing town of Gytheio, and up into the mountains of Mani.
Read our Peloponnese road trip guide for a more detailed itinerary. This exciting week gave us just a small taste of the region.
As we’ve said, having a car is a must to explore the Peloponnese! Planning a road trip from Athens is easy, and you can spend a night or two in different towns along the way.
We were thrilled to have a place like Nafplio as our home base to make day trips from. Remember that Peloponnese region is large. We found that we were better off focusing on a specific area with limited time.
5. Amazing Outdoor Activities
Many of our favorite things to do in Peloponnese Greece involved being outside! You already know that there are endless beaches relax and swim at.
Some of our best memories have been simply lounging on a pebbly paradise with a 1/2 liter craft of wine, dipping in and out of the crystal clear water.
The endless bays that cut in from the coast are perfectly calm for kayaking and stand up paddleboarding. You can even hop on a boat tour like this one to see the coast!
The beaches are certainly a big draw for travelers heading here. However, one thing that really surprised us was how mountainous the Peloponnese region is.
On a spring day, we could see snow on the mountain peaks while we were swimming! You will discover plenty of fun hiking trails, especially from the mountain towns.
6. Fascinating Peloponnese History
Greece has an unbelievable history that we’ve been fortunate to see along our travels. It should come as no surprise that many of the best things to do in the Peloponnese include its historic sites!
The history of Peloponnese Greece dates back thousands of years to Paleolithic times. From the legends of Sparta to Corinthian kings and the Mycenaean civilization, there is so much to experience! You can even see where the Olympics first began.
We’ve had the chance to visit many of these sites during our time in the Peloponnese. On our most recent trip to Nafplio, we had our minds blown at places that were just a short drive away from town.
Stepping into the Epidaurus Ampitheatre and imagining what it must’ve been like 2,000+ years ago was so surreal. It seats 14,000 people and is known for having the best acoustics of any ancient Greek theatre.
We also made a day trip to ancient Mycenae where we strolled through ruins from 1600 BC. Seeing the giant “Cyclopean walls” really captured our imagination, as it seemed almost impossible for humans to build.
One day, we drove to Argos to see the lesser visited Larissa Castle. We basically had it to ourselves in early March and the views of the town below were spectacular.
As you can tell, there are so many epic historic sites to see in the Peloponnese. We really could really go on and on about it!
7. Stunning Islands Off the Coast
Wait, islands?? That’s right! With as much as there is to do around the mainland, the Peloponnese is the gateway to several islands just off the coast.
The two nearby groupings include the Saronic Islands to the east and the Ionian islets to the west. While not technically part of the Peloponnese region, they are so close that you can visit them on a day trip.
The Saronic Islands have ferries directly from the ports of Athens or from the Southeastern coast of Peloponnese Greece. Some of the most popular include Aegina, Hydra, Poros, and Spetses.
We haven’t been to these destinations yet, but we’re heading out on a Boat Bike Tour of the Saronic Islands in April. We’ll have to report back!
If you’re traveling to the west coast, you won’t want to miss the Ionian Islands. These are known for being some of the greenest in Greece, which differ greatly from the more rocky Cyclades.
Zykynthos lies just 12 km off the west coast and draws tourists in from around the world. We recently made a trip to Kefalonia just north of there, and it instantly become one of our favorite Greek Islands!
You may have to save this for another trip with how many things to do in the Peloponnese Greece there are. Just know they’re well worth a visit if you have time.
8. Fun to Visit in the Off-season
So when is the best time to visit the Peloponnese region? You’ll be happy to know that the temperate climate on the coasts makes it year-round destination. With its giant mountains, you can even ski in the Peloponnese!
Our favorite time to visit Greece has always been just outside the peak summer season. Traveling in the months of April, May, September, and October are ideal, as you will experience fewer crowds and pleasant weather.
At first we were a bit hesitant to go to the Peloponnese in March. Yet, after arriving, we couldn’t believe how amazing the weather was!
Each day was in the high 60’s F (around 20 C) and we swam quite a bit. This region of Greece is popular with tourists and locals alike. If you plan to go in July and August, expect big crowds at the archeological sites and beaches.
→ Read our complete guide to the best time to visit Greece.
9. Places to Stay For Every Budget
One of the best parts about the Peloponnese is that it boasts a wide variety of accommodations. You can find everything from luxury resorts to small family run hotels on the beach.
This makes it easy to find somewhere to stay on any budget. We are partial to the small beach towns and fishing ports with a sea view room.
While we’ve done our fair share of backpacking in Greece, who doesn’t love a bit of luxury? On our most recent visit to Nafplio we found just that at Ilva Suites.
Not only did our luxury suite have a view of the Bourtzi fortress, but it also came with a pool! Ready for the best part?? The pool actually had a window that looked into one of our two bedrooms.
Many travelers will prefer to stay near the coast and the many beaches of Peloponnese Greece. Still, you shouldn’t rule out one of the mountain villages of the region either. This area of Greece truly offers something different for everyone.
10. The Vast Peloponnese Region
By now, you can see how much there is to see in the Peloponnese. This is the largest peninsula in Greece after all!
We’ve been thinking about the perfect itinerary and time you would need. The reality is that you could spend months in Peloponnese Greece and not run out of things to do.
Whether you’re a beach lover or history fanatic, this is a part of Greece that every traveler will fall in love with.
Have any questions or want to share your own favorite things to do in Peloponnese Greece? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
This experience was made possible as part of the My Peloponnese Vibe Initiative. As always, any opinions and recommendations remain our own.
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
