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.

Site of the first Olympic Games, which date back to at least 776 BC, the UNESCO World Heritage–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, altars, and council buildings, plus the stadium, hippodrome, wrestling school, and gymnasium where Olympic athletes trained.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Spread across three hills overlooking the crescent-shaped Mirabello Bay, Agios Nikolaos is a picturesque and cosmopolitan seaside resort. By day, visitors flock to the beaches, while at night, patrons fill chic waterfront restaurants and bars in the harbor and Voulismeni Lake—connected to the harbor via a narrow channel.

The world's deepest canal—26 feet (8 meters) at its deepest—slices its way through the narrow isthmus connecting mainland Greece to the Peloponnese peninsula, linking the Ionian and Aegean seas. A feat of engineering millennia in the making, the Corinth Canal is a vertiginous sight—particularly when a larger ship is passing through.

Completed in 1896, the Odontotos Rack Railway is a charming vintage railway running between the villages of Diakopto and Kalavryta in Greece’s northern Peloponnese region. Its train cars roll through the spectacular Vouraikos Gorge on a 13.5-mile (22-kilometer) climb, promising a scenic trip back in time.

Winding their way for miles beneath the western coastline of the Laconian Peninsula, the Diros Caves are among the most spectacular natural wonders in the Peloponnese. These flooded chambers and passages hold countless stalactites and stalagmites, crystals, and towering waterfalls that you can explore with a guide by rowboat and on foot.

On a small island in the western Peloponnese, Monemvasia Castle is a 6th-century landmark that charms with its golden buildings and fortress stone walls. Once an important trade center, the setting is now a town of restored medieval buildings that are home to restaurants, shops, and small hotels — a romantic destination that’s popular with couples.

This series of turquoise pools connected by pretty waterfalls is one of the top natural attractions in the Peloponnese and a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Hike along the scenic path through lush vegetation to see more than a dozen natural pools and step waterfalls, and brave a bracing dip in the icy waters.