Nafplio sits on the Argolic Gulf in the northeast Peloponnese, an old harbour town crowned by the Venetian fortress of Palamidi and built around Syntagma Square, where a Venetian building of 1713 houses the archaeological museum. It is the natural base for the Argolid, a small plain that holds some of the great names of Greek antiquity within an easy drive or local bus ride: Mycenae, Tiryns and the healing sanctuary and theatre of Epidaurus.
Nafplio lies in the prefecture (regional unit) of Argolida, as the Ministry of Culture pages put it. Mycenae, Tiryns and the Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus (near Ligourio) are in the same prefecture and all come under the Ephorate of Antiquities of Argolida.
Getting there
Coach from Athens
KTEL Argolida
KTEL Argolida runs the Argolida to Athens line and lists Athens to Nafplio and Athens to Mycenae among its most popular routes. Tickets can be bought online through the operator's ticketing site or in its app; its home page also lists a metro connection service and luggage storage. Check the live timetable on the operator site before travelling. ktelargolida.grktelargolida.gr
From Nafplio the same company runs local lines to Argos; to Drepano, Tolo, Asini and Lefkakia; to Nea Kios, Mili and Kiveri; and to Midea, Karathona, Mycenae, the Asklepieion (Epidaurus theatre), Ancient Epidaurus, Kranidi and Galatas. ktelargolida.gr
The coastal villages of Drepano, Tolo and Asini, linked to Nafplio by the KTEL Argolida local line; a beach base in the warmer months. ktelargolida.gr
Argos
The other town of the plain, 15 minutes by car from Nafplio and on the KTEL Nafplio to Argos line; useful for Mycenae and the Argos sites. ktelargolida.grhh.gr
Near the sites: Mycenae and Ligourio
Mycenae village sits below the citadel, and Ligourio is the address of the Epidaurus sanctuary; both have their own KTEL stops, handy for an early start before the crowds. odysseus.culture.grodysseus.culture.grktelargolida.gr
Places to stay here: town hotels and guesthouses in the old town, rooms and apartments, beach hotels around Tolo. General description only; no property, star rating or price checked. See Where to stay and Rentals for prices and booking advice.
What to see and do (5 sights)
Opening hours and ticket prices change by season: each card links to the Ministry of Culture page we read on 5 Oct 2026.
Sight
Palamidi fortress
The Venetian fortress on the rock above Nafplio. Open 08:00 to 18:30 from 1 to 15 October 2026 and 08:00 to 18:00 from 16 to 31 October 2026; winter hours 08:30 to 15:30. Tickets 20 euros full and 10 euros reduced (reduced tickets apply from 1 October to 31 May). Closed 1 January, 25 March, 1 May, Easter Sunday, 25 and 26 December. The climb from the old town is a long stone stairway; legend says 999 steps, the independent city guide counts 857, and a road also leads to the east gate.
In a two storey Venetian building of 1713 on Syntagma Square, a museum since 1926, telling the story of the Argolid from the Palaeolithic to Roman times; the star piece is the bronze Dendra armour from a 15th century BC chamber tomb. Open 08:30 to 15:30 all year, closed on Tuesdays. Tickets 10 euros full, 5 euros reduced.
The Bronze Age citadel of the Argolid. One ticket covers the archaeological site, the museum (in the northern part of the acropolis) and the Treasury of Atreus: 20 euros full, 10 euros reduced (reduced from 1 October to 31 May). Open 08:00 to 18:30 from 1 to 15 October 2026, 08:00 to 18:00 from 16 to 31 October 2026, and 08:30 to 15:30 in winter. Parking and toilets at the museum.
The most famous healing sanctuary of the Greek and Roman world, considered the birthplace of medicine, with its celebrated theatre; a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. One ticket, 20 euros full and 10 euros reduced, covers the theatre, the site and the museum. Open 08:00 to 18:30 from 1 to 15 October 2026 and 08:00 to 18:00 from 16 to 31 October 2026; in winter 08:00 to 17:00, and 08:00 to 18:00 from 1 March. Last admission 20 minutes before closing.
The Mycenaean citadel on the edge of the plain between Nafplio and Argos. Open 08:30 to 15:30 in summer and winter. Tickets 10 euros full, 5 euros reduced (reduced from 1 October to 31 May).
Arvanitia lies on the road that starts the Palamidi stair climb, and the road to the fortress's east gate heads toward Karathona beach; KTEL Argolida lists a Karathona line. cityofnafplio.netktelargolida.gr
Tolo
The resort beach village east of Nafplio on the KTEL line to Drepano, Tolo and Asini. ktelargolida.gr
Eat and drink
Our venue cards for Nafplio, with Google Maps, Tripadvisor and Review this place buttons, are on the Peloponnese food page:
Coach office. KTEL Argolida gives its office as Bouboulinas 37, 21100 Nafplio, telephone 2752027423, email info@ktelargolida.gr, and a call centre on 8011144000 at local rate from a landline. ktelargolida.grktelargolida.gr
Museum day off. The Archaeological Museum of Nafplion is closed on Tuesdays. odysseus.culture.grhh.gr
Hours change. The Ministry of Culture publishes changes to opening hours on its opening hours page; its current file applies from 1 October 2026. culture.gov.gr