Stand at the port in Nafplio and look out at Bourtzi Fortress on its island. That view is the first thing you see. It is one of the best things to do in Nafplio. The town was the first capital of modern Greece. Cobblestone streets curve up the hills. Three fortresses sit above the water. It is the kind of place that pulls you in.
- Best time
- Spring (March to April) and Fall (September to October)
- Where to stay
- Old Town or waterfront for walkability
- Perfect for
- History lovers * Families * Couples
- Don't miss
- Palamidi Fortress views and the Bourtzi boat ride
Things I'd tell a friend
If you only have a short time in Nafplio, here is what I would focus on.
Climb Palamidi Early
The morning light is worth the effort. You dodge the heat and the tour buses. If the 999 steps sound rough, drive to the top gate. The views are the same either way.
Source · Worth the sweat
Bourtzi Is Open Again
For years it was just a photo from shore. After a multi-year restoration, you can finally walk around the fortress. Bring cash for the boat and the entry fee.
Source · Finally
Walk Without a Plan
The best parts of the old town are the ones you don't plan to find. Start at Syntagma Square and let the narrow streets guide you.
Source · My favorite way
Palamidi Fortress
A Venetian fortress built in the 1600s, sitting 216 meters above the town.
- Climb the famous 999 steps
- Drive straight to the upper gate
- Panoramic views of the Argolic Gulf
- Explore tunnels and old armories
Palamidi is the fortress you see from everywhere in Nafplio. The Venetians built it in the 1710s with eight bastions. The famous way up is the 999-step path. The real number is closer to 900. Most people just agree 999 sounds better. If climbing is not for you, drive to the car park by the upper gate. Give yourself at least 90 minutes. The views from the top take in the town, the Argolic Gulf, and the Mycenaean plain.
Park at the upper gate
You can skip the 999 steps by driving to the car park right outside the fortress entrance.
Small entry fee and seasonal hours
Palamidi opens daily. Hours are longer in the warm months. There is a small entry fee.
The great step debate
The path is famously counted at 999 steps. The real number is closer to 900, but nobody seems to agree.
Go early in the morning to beat the heat and the tour buses.
Staying near the base of the fortress means waking up to the best views in town.
Amalia Hotel Nafplio
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Free parking
- Free Wifi
- Restaurant
- Fitness center
- Non-smoking rooms
- Room service
- Bar
- Wonderful Breakfast
Agamemnon Hotel
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Restaurant
- Airport shuttle
- Non-smoking rooms
- Room service
- Bar
- Very Good Breakfast
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
Bourtzi Fortress
A Venetian fort on the tiny island of Agioi Theodoroi, right in the middle of the harbour.
- Short 10-minute boat ride from the port
- Reopened after a multi-year restoration
- Stunning views back at the Old Town
- One of the most photographed spots in Nafplio
Bourtzi is right there as you walk along the Nafplio waterfront. Boats leave from Filellinon Square every half hour or so in high season. The crossing takes ten minutes. After a multi-year restoration, the fortress is open to visitors again. In the 1860s, the executioners of Palamidi prisoners lived on this island. Before that, a chain connected it to Akronafplia to block the port. Bring cash for the boat fare and the separate entry fee.
Boats every 30 minutes in season
Small boats run from Filellinon Square. The ride takes about 10 minutes.
Cash only for boat and entry
Bring cash for the boat fare and the separate entry fee to the fortress.
Only recently reopened
Bourtzi was closed for many years. It finally reopened after a five-year restoration.
Time your trip for late afternoon. The light on the fortress makes the view worth the wait.
Harbour-view rooms let you watch the fortress light up at night.
Pension Dafni
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Airport shuttle
- Non-smoking rooms
- Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
- Bar
- Exceptional Breakfast
Hotel Vasilis Nafplio
- Free parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
Nafplio Old Town
Built on a hilly peninsula and topped by a castle, it is a maze of cobblestone streets and Venetian buildings.
- Start exploring from Syntagma Square
- Neoclassical architecture and bougainvillea
- Two old Turkish mosques to see
- Building that housed the first Greek parliament
The best way to see Nafplio's old town is to leave the map behind. Start at Syntagma Square and walk the narrow streets. You will find bougainvillea draped over balconies and small cafes around every corner. The architecture mixes Venetian and neoclassical styles. You can spot two Ottoman mosques and the building where the first Greek parliament met. The old town feels like a Greek island. You can also explore it by horse-drawn carriage with a local farmer who offers rides along the Ersinos River.
Explore by horse-drawn carriage
Local farmer Christos Kostakis offers carriage rides that start along the Ersinos River.
Wear comfortable shoes
The old town is built on a hill. Some of the streets and pathways are steep and cobbled.
Ditch the guidebook and just follow the narrowest street you can find.
Acronafplia Hill
The second largest hill in Nafplio and the oldest of its three fortresses.
- Oldest fortress in the town
- Layered Byzantine and Venetian history
- Wide sea views with fewer crowds
- Go at sunset for the best photos
Everyone heads to Palamidi and Bourtzi. Acronafplia sees fewer people. It is the oldest of the three fortresses. The name means 'at the edge of Nafplio.' You can walk up from the old town or take a lift that goes up through the rock from the lower part of town. The views from the top are wide and open. A good route is to walk around the hill towards Arvanitia beach. Many Greeks come here to propose. The light at sunset turns the whole gulf golden.
Take the lift or walk up
A lift tunnels up through the rock from the lower town. You can also take the main path from the old town.
The quietest fortress in town
This hill has a fraction of the crowds you will find at Palamidi or Bourtzi.
If your knees object to the 999 steps of Palamidi, this fortress is the quiet payoff.
Hotels on this hill offer sea views on both sides.
Nafplia Hotel
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- Room service
- Bar
- Good Breakfast
Aetoma Hotel
- Free Wifi
- Non-smoking rooms
- Exceptional Breakfast
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
Arvanitia Promenade
A seaside walk that starts at the port and leads to one of the best beach areas in the region.
- Popular sunset walk along the water
- Arvanitia beach has pebbles and diving cliffs
- Walk or drive to Karathona Beach (45 min walk)
- Karathona is a Blue Flag beach with soft sand
The Arvanitia Promenade is one of the most popular walks in Nafplio. It curves around the base of Acronafplia hill. The water is clear and green. Halfway around, near the lighthouse, steps lead up to a chapel. This chapel was used for a secret Greek school during Ottoman rule. The walk ends at Arvanitia beach. The beach has small shiny pebbles, so flip-flops help. There are low cliffs for diving. From here you can walk further to Karathona Beach. The path takes about 45 minutes. Karathona is a 3 km Blue Flag beach with soft sand. In season you can rent two sun loungers and an umbrella for 8 euros.
Best time for this walk is sunset
The afternoon light and the sea breeze make the promenade a perfect end to the day.
Affordable beach rental at Karathona
Two sun loungers and an umbrella cost 8 euros for the day at Karathona Beach.
Two ways to reach the beach
You can walk the scenic path from Arvanitia in 45 minutes, or drive directly to Karathona.
Wear flip-flops for the pebbles at Arvanitia, or walk the extra 45 minutes to the sand at Karathona.
Rooms near the promenade put the sunset walk right outside your door.
Anemos Rooms & Apartments
- Free parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Airport shuttle
- Non-smoking rooms
- Room service
- Excellent Breakfast
Marianna
- Free parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- Room service
- Bar
- Very Good Breakfast
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
Nafplio's Museums
Nafplio has seven museums, but three stand out for a short visit.
- Archaeological Museum in a Venetian arsenal
- Mycenaean armor on display
- Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation Museum
- Quirky Komboloi Museum for worry beads
The Archaeological Museum is the easiest to find. It sits right on Syntagma Square in a former Venetian arsenal. It holds finds from across the Argolid region, including Mycenaean armor. The Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation Museum is a deep look into Greek costumes and daily life. The Komboloi Museum is a smaller spot dedicated entirely to the worry bead. Any of these make a good, cool break from the midday sun.
Archaeological Museum location
The Archaeological Museum is right on Syntagma Square. It is very central and easy to pop into.
Quick stop at the Komboloi Museum
The Komboloi Museum is small and unusual. It will only take about half an hour to see.
Save the museums for the hottest part of the day when you need a break from the sun.
Staying centrally means you can visit a museum in the heat of the day and walk straight back.
Isioni Pension
- Free Wifi
- Airport shuttle
- Non-smoking rooms
- Exceptional Breakfast
Nafsimedon Hotel
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- Room service
- Bar
- Exceptional Breakfast
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
How many steps are there up to Palamidi Fortress?
The famous count is 999 steps. The real number is closer to 900. You can also drive to the upper gate to skip the climb entirely.
Can you visit Bourtzi Fortress now?
Yes. It recently reopened after a five-year restoration. Small boats run from Filellinon Square every half hour in high season. Bring cash.
What is the best time of year to visit Nafplio?
Spring (March to April) and fall (September to October) are best. The weather is pleasant and the crowds are much thinner than in summer.
How far is Nafplio from Athens?
Nafplio is about a 2-hour drive from Athens. The KTEL bus from the Kifissos station takes just over two hours.
Is Nafplio a good base for day trips?
Yes. Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Tiryns are all a short drive away. It makes a great home base for exploring the Argolid region.
What are the best things to do in Nafplio for families?
Climb the fortresses, take the boat to Bourtzi, wander the old town, and walk the promenade to Karathona Beach for swimming and gelato.
