Nafplio walking tour & city guide

The old town

Syntagma Square, paved with marble, is the heart of the old town, surrounded by cafés and historic buildings, including an old Ottoman mosque that housed the first Greek parliament. The streets around it are lined with balconies covered in bougainvillea, small shops and tavernas.

Along the harbor, the waterfront promenade looks out to the Bourtzi, a small Venetian castle on an island in the bay. Boats take visitors out to it in summer.

Palamidi and the seaside path

The Palamidi fortress, built by the Venetians in the early 18th century, crowns the hill above the town. Legend says there are 999 steps up to it, although the real number is closer to 900. The climb is tiring but the view over the town and the bay is worth it. You can also drive to the top.

On the other side, the Acronauplia rock holds older fortifications, and a lovely seaside path, the Arvanitia promenade, runs around its base to a small pebble beach.

Visiting tips

Nafplio is about two hours from Athens by car or bus and makes a perfect base for the Peloponnese. The ancient sites of Mycenae and Epidaurus, with its famous theater, are both nearby. Climb Palamidi in the morning before the heat.