Budget Full-Day, 10 Hours

Spend a full day on a 10-hour tour of Argolis visiting Mycenae and Nafplio. Explore the archaeological site of Mycenae and the coastal town of Nafplio before the tour ends.

Overview

This full-day outing from Athens covers the Corinth Canal, Mycenae and Nafplio in one loop through the Argolis region, run by G.O.TOURS with a guide and transport by bus or van. It runs about ten hours door to door, starting from a meeting point on Leoforos Vasilisis Amalias in central Athens rather than a hotel pickup. The route follows the coast to the canal for a short stop, then heads to Mycenae for the Lion's Gate, the Cyclopean Walls and the Treasury of Atreus, with a lunch break there before the drive on to Nafplio.

In Nafplio the guide leads a short walking tour past the old town's architecture, Palamidi, Bourtzi and the cathedral of Saint George, and then the group gets free time to wander on its own before the return to Athens in the afternoon. Reviews often praise the guides as knowledgeable and easy to understand, and several travellers mention the comfortable, modern vehicle.

The tour suits travellers who want the Argolis region's main archaeological sites and Nafplio covered in a single guided day trip from Athens. Anyone with a serious interest in a single site may find the time at Mycenae tight; one reviewer called the visit to the tomb a little too short. Lunch and entrance fees only come with the tour if the corresponding option is selected, so check the booking page for what your choice includes.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in central AthensThe tour starts from Leoforos Vasilisis Amalias 24 in Athens. There is no hotel pickup on this product, so travellers make their own way to the meeting point.
2. Corinth Canal stopThe vehicle takes the coastal road out of Athens for a short stop at the canal, the 19th century cut that joins the Ionian and the Aegean.
3. Mycenae guided visitA guided walk through the citadel covers the Lion's Gate, the Cyclopean Walls and the story of the Trojan War expedition. The Treasury of Atreus, the burial monument, is also on the visit.
4. Lunch break at MycenaeThere is a lunch break before the group departs for Nafplio. Lunch is only included if that option was selected at booking.
5. Nafplio walking tourOn arrival the guide leads a short walk through the alleys of the first capital of Greece, pointing out the Venetian castle of Palamidi, the stronghold of Bourtzi and the cathedral of Saint George.
6. Free time in NafplioAfter the walk, travellers get free time on their own in the city. One reviewer used this for strolling and sunbathing by the sea.
7. Return to AthensIn the afternoon the group drives back to Athens, with a possible stop at a pottery workshop along the way, as one reviewer described.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you plan the day before you book.

• Getting there. You meet the tour at Leoforos Vasilisis Amalias 24 in Athens rather than being collected from your hotel. Arrive with time to spare, since one reviewer noted that some travellers were confused by a bus change at the start.
• Pace and fitness. The day involves guided walking at Mycenae and a walking tour in Nafplio, so wear comfortable shoes. Reviewers generally found the balance between visits and driving good, though one felt the time at Mycenae was a little short.
• Who is guiding. Reviewers describe the guides as knowledgeable, welcoming and happy to answer questions. One reviewer mentioned clear spoken English, and another tour was guided in both Italian and English.
• Food and drink. A lunch break happens at Mycenae, and lunch is included only if you select that option. One reviewer enjoyed the food but found the restaurant service poor.
• Entrance fees. Entrance fees are included only with the relevant option. If you book the base version, the Mycenae tickets are paid separately.
• Photos and stops. The Corinth Canal stop is short, so have your camera ready. Reviewers called the sites picturesque and one enjoyed free time in Nafplio by the sea.

Common issues. The main friction points are minor. One reviewer called the restaurant service at the Mycenae lunch stop a disaster, though the food itself was good. Another said the pickup logistics were confusing for people who had to change buses at the start. The stop at Mycenae can feel short for travellers who want longer at the tomb, and lunch and entrance fees are only covered if the matching options are selected. No hotel pickup is offered; everyone meets at the fixed central Athens address.

Common Questions