GREECE - AUGUST 24: The bay in front of the fortified citadel of Acronafplia, left the Bourtzi ... [+]
Nafplio, known as the first capitol of Greece, is an easy two-hour drive from Athens and offers everything from beaches and shopping to ancient sites and wine tasting. The architecture of Nafplio is actually Venetian, lending it a charming, Charleston-like ambiance, but the region is dense with ancient Greek history and loads of touring options. If you prefer to skip a day of touring ancient sites you can always opt to swim in the sea, enjoy the views, and idle at a café with a glass of Assyrtiko; Nafplio really does have it all.
The warren of pedestrian friendly streets in the Old Town is home to endless shopping with everything from olive wood objects to jewelry. What Nafplio does best is serve as a nearby, ideal base for exploring some of Greece’s most significant ancient sites such as Mycenae and Epidavros. One can easily fill two nights here—with mornings dedicated to the ancient sites and afternoons to relaxing or shopping. And don’t forget to budget time to visit the wineries.
Where to Stay in Nafplio:
Exterior of 3Sixty Suites hotel and restaurant in Nafplio
Look into 3Sixty Suites, a sophisticated hotel located in a beautifully renovated neoclassical mansion (circa 1860). The 3Sixty restaurant is equally fine, with an in-depth wine list and trendy cocktail offerings. They serve one some of the best cuts of meat in town as we as a several modern twists on traditional Greek fare (they were recently named to Greece’s top 100 list). For a selection of stylish rooms with views of the sea and port, consider booking a room at lovely Amymone Suites.
Bar at 3Sixty Suites
Nearby Ancient Sites
Tourists perform at the Ancient theatre of Epaidavros, famous for its perfect acoustics. / LOUISA ... [+]
An early start from Nafplio will put you at Mycenae in 30 minutes, with ample time to explore the ruins of the ancient wonder before the tour bus crowds from Athens descend. This is where the inspiration for Homer’s Epic started, and the nearby Treasury of Atreus (also called Agamemnon’s Tomb) may have been the Mycenean leader’s burial site. Once the sun starts to inch toward noon, the smart visitor will head indoors to explore the remarkable museum with many preserved finds from Mycenae. Also just a 20-30 minute drive from Nafplio is Epidavros, home to a beautifully well-preserved ancient Greek theatre (with extraordinary acoustics). It is an expansive site and was best known during its time as a wellness and healing retreat. Be sure to experiment with the impeccable acousitcs while visiting the theatre—send one person to the very top back row to listen while another remains below at centerstage and speaks, normally, no yelling needed. Your friends in the cheap seats will hear it all.
Wine Tasting in Ancient Nemea
A pedestrian street in Nafplio
Take the afternoon and the long way home and visit several of the surrounding wineries. You can easily spend a full day exploring Greek Wine Country—the region of Nemea is only about 20 minutes from Naflplio. Most of the offerings in Nemea are family-owned multi-generational operations with the welcoming hospitality to match. Look for white and roses as well as the region’s famed red grape, Agiorgitiko. Tastings are reasonably priced and wineries such as Domaine Skouras, one of Greece’s top producers, offer tastings with light bites. There are numerous wineries to explore, all within a short drive of each other. Not far from the Ktima Palivou winery (where vineyard and winery tours are an option) you’ll find two extraoridnary ancient sites—a stadium and a Temple to Nemean Zeus—both are impressive and relatively unpopulated with throngs of tourists.
