Trip to Nafplio , Distance, transport, sights, and hotels!

Nafplio was the first capital of free, modern Greece! Less than 2 hours away from Athens, it invites us to explore its beauty and places of rare historical significance.

Nafplio is famous for Bourtzi, a small fortress built on an islet in the city’s harbour, as well as for Palamidi – the Venetian fortress dominating the city.

 

Nafplio – Athens

The distance between Nafplio and Athens is approximately 150 km and takes just under 2 hours. Follow the Athens – Tripoli road and turn at the respective signs for Nafplio.

There is also a KTEL intercity bus service available, which takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. The cost for the Nafplio-Athens route by KTEL is 14.40€ or 23€ for a return ticket.

 

Nafplio – Thessaloniki

Similarly, the distance from Nafplio to Thessaloniki is approximately 627 km and takes 6:30 hours by car.

Nafplio sights

Now that we've informed you about the most important distances to reach Nafplio, let's see what wonderful things this traditional town has to offer!

With its old-world charm, Nafplio has many interesting sights to offer visitors.

Bourtzi is one of the most popular places to visit. It was built in 1473 by the Italian engineer Gambello. Initially, it served as a prison and has even been converted into a luxury hotel!

It now functions as a tourist and historical site, and to get to Bourtzi from Nafplio, you need to take a boat, costing 4€ and taking only 10 minutes!

Palamidi

Palamidi is a fortress in the city of Nafplio, which was built in 1687 by the British after a fierce battle with the Ottomans.

To reach Palamidi, you either have to climb 999 steps or take the now paved road by car.

 

The alleys of the old town

Nafplio is a traditional town that preserves many historical aspects. A stroll through the alleys of the old town will strongly remind you of bygone eras and will certainly make you long to visit the city again!

 

Archaeological Museum of Nafplio 

The Archaeological Museum of Nafplio was built in 1713 and is housed in the Venetian stone-built building on the western side of Syntagma Square.

It is one of the most beautiful buildings in our country. It now houses a permanent exhibition with artefacts ranging from the earliest prehistory to the late period, which is well worth a visit!

 

Tiryns

The hill of Tiryns holds significant prehistoric importance. It was first inhabited during the Neolithic period.

Today, the monuments of the area can be admired if you visit this place, which is only 8 km from Nafplio.

 

Accommodation in Nafplio

The best place to stay in Nafplio is in the old town. You will be close to the centre and simultaneously in an area with significant features.

Hotels in Nafplio are plentiful – due to the region's significant tourist development – so you won't struggle to find accommodation, unless you plan to visit the town in summer.

In summer, due to the large influx of tourists, accommodation is close to full occupancy. If you wish to come to Nafplio for summer holidays, it's a good idea to plan well in advance!

 

Nafplio city centre hotels

The most notable hotels in the centre of Nafplio, with unbeatable amenities and excellent prices, are:

 

Amalia Hotel

The Amalia Hotel in Nafplio is the top choice for all travellers. Housed in a neoclassical building, it offers views of Palamidi and the sea.

See prices and availability for Amalia Hotel in Nafplio here

You can see all confirmed hotels in Nafplio on Booking, here.

 

Nafplio nightlife 

If you're looking for fun until the early hours in the area's bars, then you should choose the Bouboulinas area.

This is the coastal road, which is one of the busiest and particularly popular with young people – from morning until the early hours of the next day!

In both the coastal area and the old town, you'll find dozens of tavernas for food and cafes that are open all day!

 

What is the best time of year to visit Nafplio?

Nafplio is the ideal place to visit throughout the year! Whether in summer to enjoy the surrounding beaches, or in winter to experience its mild weather and the amazing scenes created in the old town.

Don't forget that summer attracts the most people, so you should make your plans well in advance! In winter, things are a bit more relaxed, but during holidays and public breaks, occupancy reaches 100%!

 

How to get to Nafplio

As we mentioned at the beginning, Nafplio can be reached from Athens in less than 2 hours, while from Thessaloniki, the same journey takes just over 6 hours.

From Northern Greece, you can also fly to Nafplio via Kalamata. The flight from Thessaloniki to Kalamata takes approximately 1 hour and is operated by Olympic Air. After arriving at Kalamata airport, you will need to travel to Nafplio either by KTEL bus or by renting a car. The distance from Kalamata to Nafplio is 146 km.

You can find airline tickets for Kalamata on our website from the companies we collaborate with. Travelo's cheap flights offer the most affordable prices for airline tickets, both for domestic flights like this one and for international flights.