Planning a visit to Nafplio Greece? We just spent one week in the historic seaside town to experience this special region of the Peloponnese! Follow along as we share our favorite restaurants, beach tips, and all the best things to do in Nafplio Old Town.
Our First Trip to Nafplio Greece
Nafplio is filled with so many unique activities every traveler will love. We found everything from beaches to castles, and cafes with waterfront views!
It’s located only 2 hours west of Athens, which makes it easy to get to from the capital city. We highly recommend using this website to search for the best prices on car rentals. We’ve also included some of our favorite day trips that were just short drive from Nafplio Greece.
During our visit, we stayed at the incredible Ilva Suites. Our luxury apartment had sea views of the Bourtzi fortress, and even a swimming pool with a window down into our bedroom! This was the perfect place for us to relax after long days of exploring the area.
However, if you’re looking for something right in Naflpio Old Town, there are plenty of other options. Be sure to check out 3 Sixty Hotel, Castellano, Nafsimedon and Ippoliti.
In this article, we’ll take you through all our favorite things to do in Nafplio. Having at least one week was ideal, especially with so many amazing towns to see along the coast. At the same time, it’s small enough where you could still have a blast with just one or two days.
20 Best Things to do in Nafplio Greece
1. Climb to the Fortress of Palamidi
There’s no better way to start off your trip to Nafplio Greece than with an epic view. For the best lookout, you’ll need to climb up to the Fortress of Palamidi that sits high above the city.
Don’t worry… it’s only 999 steps up the mountainside to the top! If you’re not up for a steep hike, you can also drive to the summit as well.
Just know that the views up and down the steps are so worth it. The best time of day to take this hike above Nafplio is first thing in the morning.
We started around 10am and the entire trail up was still covered in shade. If you decide to go later, know that the sun will be directly on the path.
Give yourself at least 45 minutes to explore the fortress once you get to the top. Here you can visit the infamous prison and take in the panoramic views of the Peloponnese mountains. This 18th century castle will be an awesome introduction to the fascinating history of this region.
2. Walk the Colorful Backstreets of Nafplio Old Town
From the top of the fortress, you will see the tops of all the small buildings that make up Nafplio Old Town. This is most likely where you will spent a lot of time on your visit.
One of our favorite things to do in Nafplio was to simply stroll through small alleyways that cut off the main streets. You’ll come across stunning staircases, small side streets, and a maze of colorful buildings.
For the best sunlight, you’ll want to be in Nafplio old town during the middle of the afternoon. It will be bit busier during this time, but the sun will be shining above to light up the buildings. As you can see, it makes for some amazing photographs!
Old town Nafplio is also the place to be for shopping. There are so many places selling local crafts and jewelry that will make for a nice souvenir. Also, for those that prefer to go with a group, check out this popular walking tour!
3. Grab a Drink in Syntagma Square
When you need a break from walking around Nafplio, head to Syntagma Square. This is the main square in Nafplio Old Town and somewhere we found ourselves passing through often.
There are beautiful bright buildings and several cafes/bars to sit and enjoy the moment. We grabbed two large Mythos beers that hit just right on a warm spring day. There is also a great spot called Xenon Cafe that we had breakfast at one morning.
While we visited during the day, this is also a fun area to head to at night. It gets especially lively on the weekends when everyone is out enjoying some drinks.
4. Explore the Fortress of Acronauplía Nafplio
Believe it or not, there are three different castles to see in Nafplio Greece! The ruins of Acronauplia sit directly above Nafplio Old Town to the right of Palamidi.
It makes for a much shorter hike if you’re not up for the 999 stairs of the Palamidi Fortress. We were simply wandering around town in search of a better view when we unexpectedly made our way to the top.
This is the oldest section of Nafplio with history dating back 4th century BC. It served as the original fortified settlement before the town expanded in Roman times.
There are two amazing spots not to miss while you’re walking around the Acronauplia Fortress. One is a small stone archway where we took a photo together looking out at the water.
Another cool photo spot is at the very top of the road on the other side from town. Suddenly, we were surrounded by cactus everywhere we looked!
5. Sample Local Wines
Calling all wine lovers! The Peloponnese is brimming with awesome vineyards and wineries. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or just looking to try something new, then there are plenty of ways to do so.
The Nemea wine region is just a short drive from Naflpio Old Town. However, if you prefer to stay in Nafplio, then you can pop into Periklis Winosophy in the city center.
They have a large collection of wines from the Peloponnese and other areas of Greece. For a small fee, you can even taste a few different wines by the glass.
The staff at Periklis is so knowledgable and we learned a lot about the wine from the region here. We specifically loved tasting the sauvignon blanc and Aras Agiorgitiko red blends.
6. Boat Trip to Bourtzi Castle
We’ve already covered the first two fortresses in this blog. Yet, visiting the third is one of the most unique things to do in Nafplio Greece!
The Bourtzi Castle is something you’ll immediately notice after arriving in Nafplio. It sits on a small island out in the harbor, floating elegantly for all to see.
The Bourtzi Fortress was built by the Venetians in the late 15th century. It was an important part of their defense system for attacking boats, and was once equipped with flamethrowers!
A small boat leaves from the port every half hour. If you get there a little early, you can sit at one of the cafes on the waterfront and take in the views.
This is the exact spot where the boat departs from. The opening hours of the fortress vary slightly based on the time of year. During the spring it closed by 5pm every day. Head to the offical website for more information before you go.
7. Views from Nafplio Lighthouse
After your cruise to the Bourtzi Castle, it’s the perfect time to stroll out to the Nafplio Lighthouse. The lighthouse is located just on the end of the promenade near where the boat takes off.
This entire waterfront is one of the most scenic areas of Nafplio Old Town. There are endless cafes and restaurants right on the water that overlook the castle in the bay.
It was also made for one of the best places to watch the sunset! Walk out to the end of the lighthouse for one of the most iconic views of town.
8. Arvanitis Coastal Walk
Around the corner from the lighthouse is the start of the Arvanitis coastal walk. Arvanitis is the name the main Nafplio beach (more on that soon), and it’s a gorgeous walk to get there.
The path wraps around the back side of the town and has unreal views of the water. There is even one point where you walk through a massive tunnel in the cliffside.
This is where you’ll get your first views of the Nafplio beach, with the Palamidi Fortress in the distance.
9. Piscina Natural & Boat Club
One special place we want to point out is just after the Nafplio beach on the Arvanitis coastal walk. You will pass a large natural pool before heading around the corner.
Even during our visit in early March, we saw several people swimming and enjoying the Aegean Sea. There is also a nautical club that is open during the summer season if you want to grab a cocktail with a view.
10. Swim at the Nafplio Beach
Speaking of swimming… Nafplio Greece does have an official beach! Arvanitis is the closest spot for a refreshing dip, just a few minutes away from Nafplio Old Town.
You can take the coastal walk we just mentioned, but there is a much more direct way to get there. Take the road over a short hill near the entrance to the Palamidi Fortress hike.
There is a small parking lot if you’re planning on driving here. Still, know that the spots will fill up fast during peak season.
This pebbly beach is a great spot for a swim on a hot day. It has a concrete section to the left side where you can jump in and get back up on the ladders!
11. Hike to Paralia Karathonas
For adventurous travelers looking for for a longer walk, you can hike to the nearby beach of Paralia Karathonas. The long path starts at Arvanitis Beach and hugs the stunning coastline from Nafplio.
It seemed quite busy at the start, but we saw less and less people the further we got. At the end, you’ll find Karathonas Beach, which is one of the most popular beaches in the area. You’ll also come across several small coves to jump in the water along the trail.
Just make sure to save some energy for the way back! The trail stretches for a total of 3.5km (2.2 miles) and will take a little under one hour each way.
12. Hop on a Sailing Trip
One of the most fun ways to see town is to take a cruise from the port. Unfortunately, with so many fun things to do in Nafplio, we eventually ran out of time! This will definitely be at top of our list for our next visit.
The trips will take you around the Argolic Gulf, along the coast, and even circle the Bourtzi island fortress.
We saw some boats coming back into the port just after sunset and it looked so magical. Look into this half day sailing tour that leaves from Nafplio Old Town and includes a meal onboard.
13. Experience the Local Nafplio Market
Visiting the local markets is something we never miss out on in Greece! The Nafplio outdoor market is open every Wednesday and Saturday morning.
It won’t take more than 20 minutes to walk through, so you don’t need to plan your entire day around it. We found that it was a fun way to see the local products made in the Peloponnese.
In addition to the fresh fruits and veggies being sold, you will find clothing, wine, nuts, candies, and so many other local treats. Also, be sure to try the oranges that you’ll see hanging from the trees around Nafplio!
14. Eat Amazing Greek Specialties
To be honest, we’re not sure how it took us this long to get to the delicious cuisine in Nafplio. Greek food is something that keeps us coming back year after year, and there is no shortage of great places to eat in town.
On this trip, we ate a mix of old favorites and new dishes from the Peloponnese that we couldn’t get enough of. Stop into 3Sixty Restaurant if you’re looking for an upscale eatery and wine bar in old town.
We also enjoyed some of the local spots like Pidalio Tavern and all the fresh seafood available. Read all about our top 5 Nafplio restaurants before your visit!
15. Watch the Sunset Over the Mountains
If you’ve been following us for awhile, then you know we love a Greek sunset! From the best sunset spot in Santorini to watching the colors change over the Meteora monasteries, we never miss this special time of the day.
Our villa at ILVA Suites had the perfect view by the pool for the golden hour that looked out to the Bourtzi Fortress. This made it an easy decision for where to end most of our nights.
However, there were also some days where we walked to the cafes by the Nafplio Lighthouse. You could even head up to the Acronauplia Fortress for epic views of the mountains.
Fun Day Trips From Nafplio Greece
As we mentioned earlier, Nafplio is a great place to get a rental car. Even if you only have a vehicle for one day, there are so many amazing places to visit close to town.
Here are a few of the best day trips we took from Nafplio Greece. The beaches and historic sites we included are all within a 30 minute drive, so they can easily be seen in a morning or afternoon.
16. Beach Town of Tolo (17 Minute Drive)
One of the most beautiful beaches was saw on our recent trip was just a short drive from Nafplio! What makes Tolo unique is its soft white sand, which is different from the many rocky beaches you’ll see around the Peloponnese.
We had an incredible seafood lunch with our toes right in the sand. Even in early spring, the water was sparkling and warm enough to swim in.
17. Kondyli Beach (25 Minute Drive)
These next two spots are ideal for afternoon adventure from Nafplio Greece without having to spend long in the car. We recommend first driving to Kondyli Beach.
On the way down the winding road, you will see how scenic this long sandy beach is. This is also a popular spot for campers, so don’t be surprised if you see a group of motorhomes on the beach! The water stays crystal clear and calm year-round in the protected bay.
18. Lunch in Vivari (25 Minute Drive)
Vivari is the perfect place to go if you’re visiting this area around lunchtime. The picturesque fishing town has a handful of seafood restaurants on the water.
We enjoyed a plate of grilled squid lunch just steps from the sea. It was also a fun place to go kayaking if you get the chance!
19. Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus (30 Minute Drive)
One of our favorite parts about Nafplio was the incredible history around old town. With that said, know that there are some very significant historical sites just a short drive away.
An absolute must-visit is the Epidaurus Amphitheater. It was constructed in 4th century BC by the architect Polykleitos, which makes it around 2,400 years old!
When we first entered the amphitheater, we couldn’t believe how well maintained it was. Epidaurus is known for having the best acoustics of any ancient theatre in Greece. It was commonly used for plays and concerts and held up to 14,000 people.
We loved walking up and down the rows of seats and taking in the views of the surrounding mountains. You may even catch a concert here as it is still in use today.
20. Archaeological site of Mycenae (25 Minute Drive)
After experiencing the Epidaurus theatre, there is another must-see historic site to see from Nafplio Greece. The Mycenaean civiliziation dates back over 3,000 years.
Take a drive out to the ancient archaeological site and stroll through the ruins. The site itself is high up in the mountains with beautiful sea views.
When first walking through the gates, you will see the giant stones of the Cyclopian Walls. We were so fascinated by the history here and took our time reading all the placards around the area.
Have any questions on this article or want to share your own favorite things to do in Nafplio Greece? Leave us a comment 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!
