Things to Do in Peloponnese

Mycenae was the major settlement of the powerful Mycenaean civilization, which held political and cultural sway over the Eastern Mediterranean between roughly 1500 and 1200 BC. The Bronze Age city is believed to have been home to King Agamemnon and is recognized by UNESCO for its profound influence on Greek civilization.

The Theatre of Epidaurus is a well-preserved 4th-century BC theater built on a hillside that overlooks the Sanctuary of Asclepius. Its extraordinary acoustics meant that all 14,000 spectators could hear performances perfectly.

Site of the first Olympic Games in 776 BC, the UNESCO-listed ruins of Ancient Olympia are one of the archaeological highlights of the Peloponnese. Explore the excellent museum and vast complex to admire the remains of temples and the stadium, hippodrome, wrestling school, and gymnasium where Olympic athletes trained.

At this museum, a collection of objects unearthed from Ancient Olympia—where the very first Olympic Games were held in 800 BC—help you gain a better understanding of the adjacent ruins. Museum highlights include statues recovered from temples, carved pediments, votive offerings, and a scale model of Olympia.

The 13th-century fortified village of Mystras (Mistras perched on Mount Taygetos is one of the most picturesque spots on the Peloponnese peninsula. Occupied by the Byzantines, Turks, and Venetians before being abandoned in the 1830s, the ruins of this UNESCO-listed town include a clutch of churches and monasteries, a fortress, and a palace.

The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil (Mouseio Elias kai Ellinikou Ladiou pays homage to Greece’s most important crop, offering an informative take on the cultural and economic importance of olives. Learn about the production of olive oil, soap, and other by-products and choose from a selection of local olive oils in the shop.

Adjacent to the UNESCO-listed site of Olympia, the Museum of the History of the Ancient Olympic Games follows the founding and development of the Olympic games. Displays exhibit sporting objects, sculptures, and artistic representations, and cover key events such as javelin throwing, chariot racing, and wrestling.

Golden sands meet the Ionian Sea at Kourouta Beach, which stretches for almost 10 miles (16 kilometers) along the coast of the Peloponnese. With clean shallow waters, the beach is well-suited to swimming and water sports.

At the western edge of Greece's Peloponnese Peninsula, Katakolon Cruise Port’s deep waters makes it one of few Greek ports able to accommodate the world's largest cruise ships. It’s also the gateway to ancient Olympia, the flame and founding place of the Olympic Games, and one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece.