Is Corinth Worth Visiting?

Corinth carries an engineering feat, an apostle's legacy, and a fortress with layers of empire stacked on top of each other, all within a single stretch of the Peloponnese coast.

Corinth is best known for its canal, a cut through the isthmus connecting the Gulf of Corinth to the Saronic Gulf and reaching eight meters at its deepest, an engineering feat that still draws people to the bridges above it. The modern city sits apart from Ancient Corinth, the archaeological site a few kilometers away, where the Temple of Apollo has stood since 550 BC. The apostle Paul lived and preached here for over a year, and his letters to the Corinthians, named for the city, give the site a layer of significance beyond the ruins themselves.

Above the ancient site, the fortress of Acrocorinth rises on a steep hill, fortified in turn by Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian, and Ottoman rulers who each left their mark on the walls. The climb takes real effort and about two hours round trip, and the views over the Corinthian Gulf from the top make it worth the time.

Corinth sits roughly 80 kilometers from Athens, reachable by a direct train that runs nearly every hour and takes just over an hour, or by car along the highway in about the same time. It pairs naturally with the wine region of Nemea and with Nafplio for travelers continuing into the Peloponnese, and the beach town of Loutraki nearby adds swimming to the mix of ruins and fortresses.

Corinth suits travelers with an interest in ancient or Biblical history, and it works well as a full day on its own or the first stop on a longer route through the Peloponnese.