Nafplio Travel Guide: A Perfect Day Trip from Athens
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Nafplio is one of the best breaks from the big city of Athens.
The combination of history, sea views, colorful streets, and a relaxed atmosphere makes Nafplio feel completely different from Athens, even though it is close enough to visit for the day.
Whether you stay overnight for a quick getaway or just visit for a day trip, it is the cutest little town in a gorgeous bay.
And then there are the castles. Lots of castles.
Nafplio is surrounded by three different fortifications, each with its own history, views, and experience.
Add in the beautiful old town, waterfront, cafés, and plenty of places to stop for food or gelato, and you have a town that is very easy to fall in love with.
Here is everything you need to know about visiting Nafplio, including what to see, how long to stay, and why I think it is worth adding to your Greece itinerary.
Nafplio Travel Guide
Where Is Nafplio?
Nafplio is located in the Peloponnese, on the Argolic Gulf, about a two-hour drive from Athens.
Its location makes it one of the easiest places to visit from Athens if you want to get out of the city for a day.
You can absolutely visit Nafplio as a day trip, but it also makes a great weekend getaway if you want a little more time to slow down and explore.
Why Visit Nafplio?
A Town Surrounded by Castles
One of the things that makes Nafplio so unique is that you are basically surrounded by fortifications everywhere you look.
There are three major ones to know about: Palamidi Fortress, Bourtzi Castle, and Acronafplia.
Palamidi Fortress
Palamidi is the massive Venetian fortress sitting high above Nafplio.
It is probably the most famous of the three, and for good reason. Getting there means climbing a lot of stairs if you take the famous staircase from town, but once you get to the top, you are rewarded with incredible views over Nafplio, the bay, and the surrounding area.
The staircase is commonly said to have 999 steps, although the exact number is debated.
I have only hiked up to Palamidi once, but the photo I took from the top is still one of my favorite photos I have taken in all of my travels through Greece.
So, yes, the stairs were worth it.
If you don’t feel like making the climb, you can also reach the fortress by car. But note that it still requires navigating steep stairs and uneven cobblestones to explore, so wear comfortable shoes if you visit.
Bourtzi Castle
Bourtzi is the little castle sitting on an island right in the middle of Nafplio’s harbor.
It is probably the most recognizable sight in Nafplio and one of those places that makes you immediately pull out your camera.
I visited Bourtzi for the first time on my trip to Nafplio last summer, and I thought it was really cool. It is part museum, part historic site, and part tiny fortress sitting dramatically in the middle of the water.
One of the coolest things I learned about Bourtzi was actually about the water surrounding it.
The Venetians built shallow sand and rock barriers around the castle so that invading ships could not get close without running aground. It is such a simple defensive strategy, but a very effective one.
You can visit Bourtzi by taking a small boat from the harbor. Keep in mind that the visit involves quite a few steep stairs, so you may want to take that into consideration if stairs are difficult for you. You also don’t have to climb all the way to the highest point to enjoy the castle.
Even if you don’t go inside, Bourtzi is worth seeing from the waterfront. It is one of the things that makes Nafplio look like Nafplio.
Acronafplia
Acronafplia is the oldest of Nafplio’s fortifications and sits on the rocky peninsula directly above the old town.
The site has layers of history from different periods, including Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman rule, and its location makes it another great place for views over Nafplio and the Argolic Gulf.
I haven’t properly explored Acronafplia yet, although I did run up to it during a morning run on one of my visits.
From what I saw, it definitely has a much more ancient-looking feel than Palamidi. Whether that is actually because it is older or simply because of the way the ruins are surrounded by the modern town, I will leave that to the historians.
It is definitely on my list to explore more properly next time.
Which Nafplio Castle Should You Visit?
Honestly, all three are pretty cool, and they each have their own positives and negatives.
Palamidi has the most impressive views, but getting there involves a steep climb and a lot of stairs if you walk up from town.
Bourtzi is probably the most unique because it is literally sitting in the middle of the harbor, but you need to take a boat to reach it and there are more steep staircases once you arrive.
Acronafplia is right above the old town and is easier to incorporate into a walk around Nafplio.
You don’t necessarily need to visit all three to enjoy Nafplio. Even seeing them from the town and waterfront gives you a pretty good appreciation for just how much history is packed into this little corner of Greece.
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Wander the Old Town
If you have been to Athens, you probably already know that one of the best things to do is wander around the streets without much of a plan.
Nafplio is perfect for this.
The old town is filled with narrow marble-paved streets, colorful buildings, Venetian architecture, bougainvillea, little squares, cafés, shops, and approximately a million opportunities to stop for ice cream.
Okay, maybe not a million.
But there are a lot.
Just like Athens, I love wandering around the streets of Nafplio because you never really know what you are going to stumble upon.
Walk down a random street. Find a little square. Stop for coffee. Walk along the waterfront. Take approximately 700 photos of the same pretty building from different angles.
You know. The important things.
Walk Along the Waterfront
The waterfront is one of the easiest parts of Nafplio to explore and a great place to take in the views of the bay and Bourtzi.
It is especially nice to walk along here in the evening when the temperatures start to drop and the town becomes a little more lively.
This is also where you’ll find plenty of restaurants and cafés, so it is an easy place to combine sightseeing with a meal or coffee break.
Eat, Drink, and Get Gelato
You don’t need a complicated food itinerary for Nafplio.
Walk around, find somewhere that looks good, and enjoy yourself.
Fresh seafood, Greek food, coffee, and gelato are all excellent choices after a day of walking around the town and climbing stairs.
And trust me, after Palamidi, you have earned the gelato.
Nearby Places to Visit
Nafplio is also a great base for exploring more of the Peloponnese.
Some of the nearby places you can combine with a trip to Nafplio include:
- Ancient Mycenae, one of the most important archaeological sites of the Mycenaean civilization.
- Epidaurus, famous for its remarkably preserved ancient theater and incredible acoustics.
- Argos, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
- Nemea, a great option if you are interested in Greek wine and want to explore one of the Peloponnese’s wine regions.
I unfortunately haven’t visited any of these places yet, but they are definitely on my bucket list for my next trip to the area.
Honestly, that is one of the best things about Greece.
You can visit somewhere thinking you’ve seen everything, only to realize you have somehow created an entirely new list of places to visit next time.
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✨Ultimate Greece Travel Starter Guide!!!✨
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Practical Tips for Visiting Nafplio
Wear comfortable shoes
Nafplio is very walkable, but there are plenty of uneven stone streets, stairs, and hills.
If you plan to visit Palamidi or Bourtzi, comfortable shoes become even more important.
Parking can be tricky
There are plenty of pedestrian-only streets throughout the old town, so don’t expect to drive directly to your accommodation or park right outside your hotel.
You may have to leave your car a little farther away and walk.
You don’t need a strict itinerary
Some places in Greece require a carefully planned itinerary because there is so much to see.
Nafplio isn’t really one of them.
Have a general idea of which castles you want to visit, but leave yourself plenty of time to simply wander around the town.
How Long Do You Need in Nafplio?
You can easily visit Nafplio as a day trip from Athens and see most of the highlights.
If you have more time, staying overnight—or even for a weekend—lets you experience the town at a slower pace and gives you more time to explore the surrounding area.
You can absolutely stay longer if slow travel is more your style, but you don’t need several days just to cover the basics of Nafplio.
Is Nafplio Worth Visiting?
Absolutely.
Nafplio is one of the most charming towns in mainland Greece, and I think the combination of castles, walkable streets, and a beautiful seafront gives it a completely different feel from Athens.
It is easy to visit, easy to walk around, and easy to enjoy without having to plan every second of your day.
And although you don’t need a lot of time here to see the main sights, there is something about Nafplio that makes me feel like it is my first time every time I visit.
Maybe it is the castles.
Perhaps it is the water.
Maybe it is the little streets that I haven’t wandered down yet.
Or maybe Greece just has a way of making places feel familiar and new at the same time.
Whatever it is, Nafplio is one of those places I know I will keep coming back to.
Have you ever been to Nafplio before?
Let me know↓🥰
