Greece cultural tour 12 days from Athens. Visit main Greece mainland UNESCO and tentative list places.

Tour highlights

Greece cultural tour 12 days from Athens. Monterrasol Travel private minivan tour. Visit main Greece mainland UNESCO and tentative list places. Sightseeing 12 days private tour start from Athens (Greece) by Monterrasol Travel agency specialize on customized private car tours. The tour start in Athens (Greece) and visit Corinth, Palaia Epidaurus, Epidaurus, Nafplio, Mycenae, Argos, Sparta, Mystras, Kalamata, Messene, Methoni, Pylos, Olympia, Patras, Rio, Nafpaktos, Delphi, Hosios Loukas, Livadeia within 12 days.

This page describes details of the multiday private car tour #175 offered by Monterrasol Travel. The company, Monterrasol Travel, is an independent tour operator specialized in cultural and destination tourism. This tour has been developed by Monterrasol Travel based on its own experiences and belongs to the group of private car tours with pre-designed itineraries. If you like this tour but you would like to change something, please do not hesitate to contact us and mention the ID number of this tour: #175. The custom itinerary will cost you nothing, it's free from our side.

The tour will start and finish in Athens (Greece) and will take 12 days (11 nights). During this tour you will visit Corinth, Palaia Epidaurus, Epidaurus, Nafplio, Mycenae, Argos, Sparta, Mystras, Kalamata, Messene, Methoni, Pylos, Olympia, Patras, Rio, Nafpaktos, Delphi, Hosios Loukas, Livadeia located in Greece.

Overall, with this tour you will visit 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 4 sites currently on the UNESCO Tentative List (sites that were submitted to the World Heritage Committee, and are awaiting to consider for nomination, and therefore suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List).

Border crossing for this trip

This tour does not require border crossing.

Money and payments

In each country of your trip you can use main credit and debit cards. You can use ATM to withdrawal cash or pay at purchase point with card. More information on currencies, payments, and use cards you can read on this our page: On the trip: currencies, payments, card use.

Last updated on: 1 August 2020

Tour itinerary

Tour start in: Athens, Greece

day 1: travel to Corinth Canal, visit Corinth Canal viewpoint, travel to Ancient Corinth to see Ancient Corinth archaeological site (UNESCO World Heritage), visit Ancient Corinth museum, travel to Palaia Epidavros and for the rest of the day enjoy free time in Palaia Epidavros, accommodation in Palaia Epidavros
day 2: travel to Epidaurus, visit Epidaurus archaeological site (UNESCO World Heritage), travel to Argos to see Argos archaeological site (UNESCO tentative list), travel to Nafplio and for the rest of the day enjoy free time in Nafplio, accommodation in Nafplio
day 3: travel to Mycenae, visit Mycenae archaeological site (UNESCO World Heritage), travel to Tiryns to see Tiryns archaeological site (UNESCO World Heritage), travel to Nafplio and for the rest of the day enjoy free time in Nafplio, accommodation in Nafplio
day 4: visit Nafplio castle (UNESCO tentative list), travel to Sparta to see Sparta archaeological site, accommodation in Sparta
day 5: travel to Mystras, visit Mystras ancient settlement (UNESCO World Heritage), travel to Kalamata to see Kalamata historical center, for the rest of the day enjoy free time in Kalamata, accommodation in Kalamata
day 6: travel to Messene, visit Messene archaeological site (UNESCO tentative list), travel to Methoni and for the rest of the day enjoy free time in Methoni, accommodation in Methoni
day 7: visit Methoni fortress (UNESCO tentative list), travel to Pylos to see Pylos fortress, travel to Giolova to see Giolova beach, travel to Olympia for accommodation
day 8: visit Olympia archaeological site (UNESCO World Heritage), travel to Patras to see Patras cathedral, for the rest of the day enjoy free time in Patras, accommodation in Patras
day 9: visit Patras fortress, travel to Rio to see Rio fortress, travel to Nafpaktos and for the rest of the day enjoy free time in Nafpaktos, accommodation in Nafpaktos
day 10: visit Nafpaktos fortress, travel to Messolonghi to see Messolonghi landmark, travel to Galaxidi to see Galaxidi coastal town, travel to Delphi for accommodation
day 11: visit Delphi archaeological site (UNESCO World Heritage), travel to Arachova to see Arachova mountain town, travel to Delphi for accommodation
day 12: travel to Hosios Loukas, visit Hosios Loukas monastery (UNESCO World Heritage), travel to Livadeia to see Livadeia medieval old town, return to Athens

Tour finish in: Athens, Greece

Planned distance of this tour: 1253 km.

If you like this private tour and itinerary but you would like to change something, please do not hesitate to contact us and mention the ID number of this tour: #175. We do not charge for development a custom car tour itinerary, it will cost you nothing. We will be glad to discuss with you the details of your future trip and plan it following your ideas and wishes.

Places on the route

Corinth, Greece

Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site, beach, bridge, coastal town, fortress, landmark, viewpoint.

The Corinth currently mean few important places. Before all, it is two cities, Corinth (as modern city) and Ancient Corinth, brothers, one with shops and long sandy beach, and other, smaller, with ancient ruins. Exist also so called Acrocorinth, the acropolis of Ancient Corinth, which is a monolithic rock overseeing the ancient city of Corinth. Currently, Acrocorinth is one of the most important medieval fortress sites of Greece. And last, exist the Corinth Canal that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island.

Palaia Epidaurus, Greece

Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site, coastal town.

Epidaurus, Greece

Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site. UNESCO World Heritage.

Epidaurus was a small town (polis) in ancient Greece, on the Argolid Peninsula at the Saronic Gulf. Two modern towns bear the name Epidavros: Palaia Epidavros and Nea Epidavros. Since 2010 they belong to the new municipality of Epidaurus, part of the regional unit of Argolis.

Nafplio, Greece

Known for beach, coastal town, fortress, marina, viewpoint. UNESCO tentative list.

Nafplio is a seaport town in the Peloponnese that has expanded up the hillsides near the north end of the Argolic Gulf. To the Nafplio belong 2 castles and his center is old fortified town.

Mycenae, Greece

Known for ancient settlement, archaeological site, viewpoint. UNESCO World Heritage.

Mycenae is an archaeological site near Mykines in Argolis, north-eastern Peloponnese, Greece. It is located about 120 kilometers south-west of Athens and is UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Argos, Greece

Known for ancient settlement, ancient theatre, archaeological site, castle, orthodox cathedral. UNESCO tentative list.

According to mythology, it is considered the most ancient city of the world. Built at the center of the fertile Argolic plain, along with Thebes, it was the most powerful city of Ancient Greece. Argos, one of the beauties of the famous Peloponnese, is an enchanting destination just a stone’s throw from Athens. The surrounding area has plenty of other sights as well.

Sparta, Greece

Known for ancient settlement, archaeological site.

As the great rival of Athens in ancient Greece, Sparta prided itself on the iron-hearted warrior culture that remained the backbone of their civilization. Ancient Sparta was mostly a military city-state. The Spartans believed that their purpose was to become strong soldiers and protect their homeland even with their lives. A Spartan should be strong in body, healthy in mind and brave in character.

Mystras, Greece

Known for ancient settlement, medieval old town, viewpoint, orthodox monastery. UNESCO World Heritage.

Mystras is a fortified town and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Mystras is situated on the slopes of Taygetos Mountain, near Sparta. Mystras served as the capital of the Byzantine Despotate of the Morea in the 14th and 15th centuries, experiencing a period of prosperity and cultural flowering. Mystras is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kalamata, Greece

Known for beach, castle, museum, orthodox cathedral.

Kalamata is the second most populous city of the Peloponnese peninsula (southern Greece) and the largest city of the homonymous administrative region. Kalamata is renowned as the land of the Kalamatianos dance and Kalamata olives.

Messene, Greece

Known for ancient settlement, ancient theatre, archaeological site, landmark, viewpoint. UNESCO tentative list.

The vast Archaeological Site of Ancient Messene, relatively new, has been largely excavated and restored to the point that is one of most impressive sites in Greece. Highlights are the theater, the stadium, the gymnasium architectural complex and the Hellenistic sanctuary of Asclepius among others.

Methoni, Greece

Known for beach, coastal town, fortress, viewpoint. UNESCO tentative list.

This lovely coastal town is a real gem not only because its ancient history and fine golden sandy beaches but also because it houses an impressive medieval castle.

Pylos, Greece

Known for beach, bridge, castle, coastal town, fortress, marina, venetian empire, wildlife.

Pylos, a picture-perfect town, welcomes you with famous beaches, historic castles, Mycenaean palaces, important wetland and more! All packaged in an ideal holiday destination.

Olympia, Greece

Known for archaeological site, museum. UNESCO World Heritage.

Olympia is a small town on the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece, famous for the nearby archaeological site of the same name, which was a major Panhellenic religious sanctuary of ancient Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games were held. Olympia is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Patras, Greece

Known for archaeological site, beach, castle, coastal town, museum, seaport, viewpoint, winery, orthodox cathedral.

Patras is Greece's third-largest city and the regional capital of Western Greece, in the northern Peloponnese, 215 km west of Athens. The city is built at the foothills of Mount Panachaikon, overlooking the Gulf of Patras. The core settlement has a history spanning for four millenniums; in the Roman period it had become a cosmopolitan center of the eastern Mediterranean whilst, according to the Christian tradition, it was also the place where Saint Andrew was crucified. Patras and its region is home to various Ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine Monuments, including the Roman Odeon, the Fortress of Rio and the Fortress of Patras.

Rio, Greece

Known for beach, bridge, coastal town, fortress, seaport, viewpoint.

Rio is a town in the suburbs of Patras and is the northernmost municipal unit of the Peloponnese peninsula, Greece. Rio has been a strategic point since antiquity. From early 19th century at the cape over Rio is located an old Turkish castle (the "Castle of the Morea").

Nafpaktos, Greece

Known for beach, castle, coastal town, marina.

Nafpaktos, also known as Lepanto during part of its history, is one of Greece's most beautiful beach towns, located on a bay on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth. Nafpaktos will seduce you with its traditional character and peaceful atmosphere.

Delphi, Greece

Known for ancient theatre, archaeological site, museum. UNESCO World Heritage.

This day we will visit the impressive Archaeological Site of Delphi, an impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site, set at the foot of Mount Parnassos. The Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi is home to the most famous oracle of ancient Greece that welcomed kings and commoners, coming from across the ancient world to hear from the oracle of god Apollo. Considered the center of the world in ancient times, Delphi was the cultural and religious hub of the Hellenic civilization.

Hosios Loukas, Greece

Known for orthodox monastery. UNESCO World Heritage.

Hosios Loukas is a historic walled monastery situated near the town of Distomo in Greece. It is one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art, and has been listed on UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

Livadeia, Greece

Known for castle, medieval old town, river, waterfall.

An ancient mountainous town, mentioned by Homer, that participated in the War of Troy and home of the famed Oracle of Trofonios Zeus, close to UNESCO's World Heritage Sites and a lot more. Delightful location, regardless the time of the year.

Tour map

Tour start in: Athens, Greece

day 1: Corinth Canal viewpoint, Ancient Corinth archaeological site, Ancient Corinth museum, Palaia Epidavros free time; accommodation in Palaia Epidavros
day 2: Epidaurus archaeological site, Argos archaeological site, Nafplio free time; accommodation in Nafplio
day 3: Mycenae archaeological site, Tiryns archaeological site, Nafplio free time; accommodation in Nafplio
day 4: Nafplio castle, Sparta archaeological site; accommodation in Sparta
day 5: Mystras ancient settlement, Kalamata historical center, Kalamata free time; accommodation in Kalamata
day 6: Messene archaeological site, Methoni free time; accommodation in Methoni
day 7: Methoni fortress, Pylos fortress, Giolova beach; accommodation in Olympia
day 8: Olympia archaeological site, Patras cathedral, Patras free time; accommodation in Patras
day 9: Patras fortress, Rio fortress, Nafpaktos free time; accommodation in Nafpaktos
day 10: Nafpaktos fortress, Messolonghi landmark, Galaxidi coastal town; accommodation in Delphi
day 11: Delphi archaeological site, Arachova mountain town; accommodation in Delphi
day 12: Hosios Loukas monastery, Livadeia medieval old town; return to Athens

Tour finish in: Athens, Greece

Planned distance of this tour: 1253 km.

Availability of this tour

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