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Full Day Tour of Mycenae, Nafplion and Epidaurus

In the footsteps of Antiquity

Why not break free from urban confinement on this one day tour of Mycenae, Nafplion and Epidaurus, lead every Tuesday and Thursday by our expert licensed guide, to trace the history of fallen heroes and visit significant cornerstones of ancient Greek civilization? Blue Travelista offers you a wonderful chance to combine three of the most important destinations in Greece: the rich archaeological site of Mycenae, the awesome Theater of Epidaurus and the historical city of Nafplia!

  • Duration

    10 Hours

  • Location

    Nafplio, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Greece

  • Adults (no Lunch)

    100.00 €

  • Children (no Lunch)

    50.00 €

Advantages

  • Include all entrance fees!
  • Professional licensed tour guide
  • Skip the long lines
  • Hotel pick up
  • Visit Corinth Canal, ancient theater of Epidaurus, ancient city of Mycenae
  • Visit Nauplion
From: 100.00 €

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English

Put on your comfortable walking shoes and meet us at your hotel lobby in Athens. Let’s settle in our modern air-conditioned bus and leave the capital behind us, as we ride along the beautiful coastal road to the Corinth Canal, an impressive accomplishment, completed 25 centuries after its conception.

At some point in 602 BC, the tyrant of Corinth, Periander, one the Seven Sages of Antiquity, became convinced that he could unite the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf by opening a canal which would offer a shorter route to ships navigating all around the treacherous southern capes of Peloponnese at the time. But the wise Delphic Oracle, Pythia, advised against the idea as “Zeus made an island wherever he thought was right”, and separating Peloponnese from the mainland would have brought on the wrath of the gods.

Many aspired attempts followed but it wasn’t until 1869, when the Suez Canal, a gigantic-scale project, opened up to naval traffic, that the go-ahead for Corinth became cemented by the Zaimis Administration. On 25 July 1893, the Corinth Canal finally opened its gates and earned a place in the pantheon of marine engineering due to its prolonged and tormented history.

Entering the region of Argolis, we will make our way to the Golden Mycenae, the prominent setting for Homer’s works. In the Iliad, he describes it as a “well-founded citadel” and “wide-wayed”. His other famous characterization of this palatial center of the Late Bronze Age, “Golden Mycenae”, is also supported by gold recovered in the shaft graves in the acropolis.

Located on a rocky hill, the site spanned over 30,000 square meters, commanding the surrounding plains. Explore the city founded by Perseus, according to Greek mythology, when he discovered a water spring in his exploration and believed it to be a good omen.

The Perseid dynasty ended with Eurytheus, who instigated the renowned twelve labors of Hercules, and was followed by King Atreus, father of the Greek hero King Agamemnon.  Discover the Treasury of Atreus or Tomb of Agamemnon, the large “tholos” tomb, a marvelous 14th century BC structure and stroll through the Lion Gate, standing strong against the withering of time. These grounds have long lingered in writings of ancient and modern poets, and duly served as inspiration of mythical heroic endeavors, colossal feats by mere men and half-gods and the intricate relationships between the Olympians and men who dared defy their will.

Let’s climb back on our comfortable bus and take a drive down to the seaport town of Nauplia which spans over the nearby hillsides and holds a special place in history as the capital of the First Hellenic Republic and of the Kingdom of Greece from the beginning of the Greek Revolution, in 1821, until the year 1834.

An important military stronghold in the past, it has faced adversity countless times and enemies from far and wide, but still stands strong and presents a lovely get-away destination for Athenians and travelers from afar. You will soon see why.

Picturesque and ridden with historical sites, it will capture your imagination as we pass by the Venetian fortress of Palamidi and the water castle of Bourtzi. An ideal stop for lunch, our visit in Nafplio will give us a chance to recharge our batteries before we continue our journey into ancient Greek civilization.

Our final destination, situated in a small Peloponnesian valley, Epidaurus, offers precious insight into the worship of health and healing of ancient Greek and Roman times. Bear witness to the remains of the emergence of scientific medicine as you explore the Temple of Asklepios, god of medicine, and the Tholos in this exceptional archeological site. The Sanctuary holds evidence of the transition between the beliefs in divine healing to the science of curing illness.

Serving as notable testament to the brilliant engineering minds of the past, dating back to the 4th century, the Theater of Epidaurus is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List and continues to host performances to date due to its astonishing acoustic properties. Wonder around this beautiful and symmetric monument, seating up to 14,000 people, allowing perfect audibility of unamplified speech on stage.

As our day comes to an end, lean back n your seats and enjoy the ride, taking in the beautiful landscape, and before you know it, we will have you back and ready to enjoy your night in Athens.

Highlights

  • Corinth canal with its amazing views
  • Guided tour at the Mycenae Archaeological Site, a city founded by the mythical Perseus
  • Lion Gate and Cyclopean Walls
  • Visit the Tomb of King Agamemnon
  • A short stop in historical Nafplion, the first modern Hellenic capital
  • Epidaurus Archeological Site – Asklepios Sanctuary
  • Ancient theater of Epidaurus with its incomparable acoustics

Inclusions

  • Pick up and Drop off Service from centrally located hotel in Athens
  • Transport by luxury air-conditioned bus with free wifi connection
  • Services of Professional licensed guide
  • Admission / Entrance fees
  • All taxes

Not included

  • Gratuities (optional)
  • Drinks and beverages

Good to know

  • This tour is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays and we break for lunch in the picturesque city of Nafplion.

Tips by a local

When visiting archeological sites and doing some of our own “digging around”, we recommend using some sunscreen and always wearing loose fitting clothes and comfortable walking shoes. Greece is, after all, a warm and sunny country so put on a hat when you are out in the sun and enjoy the tour.

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