Best things to do in Nafplio

Nafplio's Absolute Essentials

Nafplio serves as a living museum of Greek history, showcasing a blend of Venetian, Ottoman, and neoclassical influences. This selection highlights the city's defensive architecture, from the 18th-century Palamidi Fortress to the ancient Acronauplia and the water-bound Bourtzi Castle. Beyond the fortifications, the list includes the UNESCO-listed Mycenaean citadel of Tiryns, the Archaeological Museum housed in a Venetian mansion, and the pebble shores of Arvanitia Beach.

JanCeuleers / Public domain

Palamidi

Palamidi is a fortress to the east of the Acronauplia in the town of Nafplio in the Peloponnese region of southern Greece.

Andreas Tille / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Acronauplia

The Acronauplia is the oldest part of the city of Nafplion in Greece. Until the thirteenth century, it was a town on its own.

Vangelis Katsiyiannis / CC BY-SA 4.0

Bourtzi

A 15th-century Venetian fortress situated on the islet of Agioi Theodoroi. Originally built to protect the harbor from pirates, it later served as a residence for executioners and a hotel.

Nick Stenning / CC BY-SA 2.0

Tiryntha (Tiryns)

Tiryns is a Mycenaean archaeological site in Argolis in the Peloponnese, and the location from which the mythical hero Heracles was said to…

Archaelogical Museum

Housed in a 1713 Venetian building on Syntagma Square, this museum displays prehistoric and Mycenaean artifacts, including the unique Dendra panoply, a complete suit of Mycenaean bronze armor.

Henk Croijmans / CC-BY-SA

The Gate of the Land

Constructed in 1708 by the Venetians, this was the sole land entrance to the lower city. The gate originally featured a drawbridge that was raised every evening at sunset.

C messier / CC BY-SA 4.0

Akronafplia

The Acronauplia is the oldest part of the city of Nafplion in Greece. Until the thirteenth century, it was a town on its own.

Henk Croijmans / CC-BY-SA

Akronafplia

These limestone cliffs below the Acronauplia fortifications provide a natural site for rock climbing and bouldering, featuring several established routes overlooking the Argolic Gulf.

Paralia Arbanitia

A small, pebbled beach located between the Palamidi and Acronauplia hills. It is accessible via a short walk from the town center and offers views of the surrounding fortresses.

The Bastion of Achilles

One of the eight bastions of the Palamidi Fortress, constructed by the Venetians during the early 18th century to strengthen the eastern defenses of the city.

The Bastion of Themistocles

A strategic defensive point within the Palamidi Fortress complex, designed to provide a vantage point over the southern approach to the city and the sea.