2 Days Private Tour: Mycenae - Epidaurus - Corinth & Ancient Olympia

Day 1

1. 1

   Corinth Canal

   Begining with a drive along the coast, you will get the chance to see some Greek seaside villages and the island of Salamis. Salamis is where the historical naval battle took place between the Athenians and the Persians. Our first stop of the day, the Corinth Canal. Eventually opened in 1892 separating the Peloponnese from the rest of Greece all the while connecting the Saronic Gulf to the Corinthian Sea. Having time to walk across on a pedestrian bridge and admire the canal closer, you may go bungee jumping on some days (if you’re game).

   15 min
2. 2

   Archaeological Site Mycenae

   Next we will visit one of the Unesco protected monuments. Mycenae (dated to the 2nd millennium B.C.E) represents the era of Achilles, Agamemnon and Helen of Troy, You will visit the cyclopean walls, the burial circle A and the remains of Agamemnon’s Palace.Dated to the 2nd millennium B.C.E., this citadel gave its name to a whole era!

   60 minAdmission not included
3. 3

   Lion Gate

   In the site, you will see the renowned Lions Gate, the oldest architectural sculpture in Europe.

   10 minAdmission not included
4. 4

   Archaeological Museum of Ancient Mycenae

   Within the site there is a modern museum, exhibiting the findings of the “City Of Gold” which is also worth visiting.

   30 minAdmission not included
5. 5

   Citadel and Treasury of Atreus

   Just before leaving the site we will make a small stop at the treasury of Atreus, the best preserved Tholos tomb found and one of the finest examples of the Mycenaean architecture.

   20 minAdmission not included
6. 6

   Sanctuary of Asklepios

   On the go again we will be off to the site of Epidaurus, a short drive away and you will be able to see one of the most important ancient Greek sanctuaries. Dedicated to God Asclepius, he was the god of healing and medicine, Epidaurus is located in peaceful environment and spread out on a hilly area, its highest point being the actual theater of Epidaurus. As the best preserved ancient Greek theater (dated 4th century B.C.E.) it is proof of what miracles the ancient Greek minds could create. Test the acoustics great even today and climb up to the higher seats just to close your eyes and dream you are attending an ancient Greek tragedy.

   30 minAdmission not included
7. 7

   The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus

   Located in a peaceful environment and spread on a hilly area, it reaches its highest point which is the theater of Epidaurus. The best preserved ancient Greek theater dated 4th century B.C.E. proof of what miracles the ancient Greek minds could create. You can test the acoustics, great even today and climb up until the upper seats just to close your eyes and dream you attended an ancient Greek tragedy.

   30 minAdmission not included
8. 8

   Nafplio

   From here we will travel through time towards a more recent history of Greece and to the city of Nafplion. Nafplion is considered the most scenic city which also functioned as the capital of Greece until 1834. It offers you an impressive combination of fortresses and castle (Palamidi, Bourtzi), an enormous port opened to the Aegean Sea and the unique architecture of the old city of Nafplion revealing Venetian, neoclassical and oriental elements. Lunch will be at a traditional tavern by the sea, before leaving we’ll drive up until the castle of Acronafplia for a panoramic view of Nafplio.

   120 min
9. 9

   Olympia

   We will drive to Ancient Olympia to overnight.

   120 min

Day 2

1. 10

   Archaeological Site of Olympia

   On our second day we will visit the archaeological site and the museum of Ancient Olympia. This is one of the largest sites in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the Sanctuary of Olympian Zeus. Walking through the site you will pass by the Gymnasium, the Palaistra, the workshop of Phidias, the Temple of Zeus and you will end up at the Stadium where for every four years the Greeks competed for glory and for spiritual elevation honoring their cities.

   60 minAdmission not included
2. 11

   Archaeological Museum of Olympia

   The museum is also quite unique as it includes the renowned statue “Hermes of Praxiteles” with its perfect analogies and tools that belonged to Phidias himself. With the tools he created one of the seven wonders of the world “the gold ivory statue of Zeus”.

   60 minAdmission not included
3. 12

   Museum of the Olympic Games

   The Museum of the History of the Ancient Olympic Games hosts 463 ancient works, from the Temple of Zeus at Olympia, and other museums in the Greek territory. The exhibits cover a wide chronological range, from the 2nd millennium BC until the 5th century AD. Ancient exposed in thematic units and through them yperchilietis shows the history of the Olympic games, the longest ancient institution. Apart from ancient art, the visitor has the possibility of detailed information through the rich visual material. After a walking in the footsteps of ancient athletes we will take our lunch at the village.

   30 minAdmission not included
4. 13

   Ancient Corinth (Archaia Korinthos)

   Apart from its archaeological and historical interest Ancient Corinth is also one of the most popular religious destinations in Greece as this was where the Apostle Paul preached Christianity, was judged by the tribunal in the Agora and established the best organized Christian church of that period.

   60 minAdmission not included
5. 14

   Temple of Apollo

   We will visit the Temple of Apollo which is located in the in the Ancient city of Corinth. The temple of Apollo at Corinth is one of the earliest Doric temples in the Peloponnese and the Greek mainland. Built around 560 B.C.E., of local monolithic limestone on top of an imposing, rocky hill to the north of Acrocorinth, the Archaic temple was an emblem for the Greek city of Corinth, reflecting its growth and prosperity.

   10 minAdmission not included
6. 15

   oldest

   Ancient Corinth is dominated by the hill of Acrocorinth, the oldest and largest castle in southern Greece. We will stop here for some magnificent photos.

   20 min
7. 16

   Athens

   Pass by

   We will drive back to Athens.