Is Nafplio Worth Visiting?

A trio of fortresses, a walkable old town lined with Venetian architecture, and some of Greece's most significant ancient sites within an hour's drive make Nafplio well worth a visit.

Nafplio became the first capital of modern Greece in 1823, and its Venetian rulers left behind a skyline still dominated by two fortresses. Palamidi, built between 1711 and 1714, climbs a hill above the town along nearly 1,000 steps, and its bastions later served as an Ottoman prison before offering the sweeping views over the Argolic Gulf that draw visitors today. In the harbor itself, Bourtzi, a smaller fortress built in 1473 on its own tiny island, briefly served as the seat of government in the 1820s and is reachable by a short boat ride from the waterfront.

The old town stays pedestrian friendly, and its narrow streets hold real history alongside the boutique shops. The Vouleftiko, a former mosque, became Greece's first parliament building in 1825, and the Archaeological Museum, housed in a Venetian building from 1713 on Syntagma Square, displays Mycenaean bronze armor recovered from nearby Dendra. The Komboloi Museum, a smaller stop nearby, holds a collection of worry beads gathered from across the world.

Karathona, a Blue Flag beach about a ten minute walk from Palamidi, gives the town real swimming options alongside the history. Beyond the city, Ancient Epidaurus and its 4th century theater, the Lion Gate and citadel at Mycenae, and the ruins and vineyards of Nemea all sit within an hour's drive, making Nafplio a genuine base for exploring some of Greece's most significant ancient sites in a single stay.

Nafplio suits couples, families, and anyone road tripping the Peloponnese who wants history and comfort in equal measure, and it holds up well over two or three nights rather than a rushed day trip from Athens.