Things to do in

Peloponnese

With a guide, experience the Athens Riviera and uncover the history behind each turn. Witness the sun melt over the Aegean Sea on Cape Sounion and see the Temple of Poseidon. Depart Athens by bus from Halandri Metro station and reach Cape Sounion in time for the mesmerizing sunset. Learn about Sounion’s past and present from your archaeologist guide. Explore the Temple of Poseidon, one of the most important temples in Greece. See the signatures on the temple marble left by famous authors who visited, including the Romantic poet Lord Byron. Watch the sunset over the clear waters of the Aegean Sea. After, a short stop at the magical Lake Vouliagmeni, a unique natural treasure on the Athenian Riviera.

Explore the Archeological Site of Olympia on your own with a roundtrip transfer from the Katakolo Cruise port. Drive through the scenic mainland of western Peloponnese and explore the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Return to the port, just in time for your cruise departure. Meet your guide outside of the cruise terminal and board an air-conditioned bus to Ancient Olympia. Buy your admission ticket upon arrival and enter the archeological site. Learn of the origin of the Olympic Games in classical times, held from 776 BC until 393 AD. Marvel at the Temple of Hera and the Olympic flame that burns outside during the modern-day games. See the Temple of Zeus that once housed one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Golden and Ivory statue of Zeus. Witness where competitors once swore an oath to honor the rules at the Stadium and Bouleuterion. Feel free to explore at your own pace and choose to visit the modern Village of Olympia for shopping or a traditional meal. Take a moment to swim at the nearby beach before returning to your awaiting cruise ship.

Meet your host at the local partner's office in Olympia, who will then explain how the virtual reality (VR) glasses work. After the short introduction, begin your virtual tour at the Archeological Site and step back in time to experience ancient Olympia. Listen to interesting facts about each monument and see many monuments come to life again.  You’ll first visit the Ancient Gymnasium, where athletes used to train for the Olympic Games before making your way to Palestra, the training place of boxers and wrestlers. Next, you’ll stop at the Phidias Workshop, where Phidias created one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Heading east, you will see the Temple of Zeus and virtually enter the monument to see the magnificent Statue of Zeus. Then, find yourself in the Ancient Stadium. Through your VR glasses, you will get to experience an ancient sporting event. See athletes competing for the Olympics and admire them from the finishing line. Then head over to the ruins of the Nymphaeum of Herodes of Atticus. With the help of your VR glasses, you’ll be able to see the ruins of the Nymphaeum in its full grandeur and see it come to life again. Last, see the lighting of the Olympic Flame in ancient times and discover that some traditions have remained the same until today.

Embark on a full-day cruise to west Kleftiko from Adamantas. Visit highlights, including Cape Vani and the Sykia cave. Enjoy Greek tapas on board with plenty of swimming and snorkeling stops en route. Starting from Adamantas and sailing close to the east coast of the bay, you will pass the Christian catacombs, the colorful villages of Skinopi, the capital of ancient Milos and the place where the famous statue of Venus de Milo was discovered.  You will then reach Cape Vani, the bay which was home to one of the first metal mines in Milos. After seeing the old 19th-century mines, you will have the first swim at the bay of Kalogries in crystal clear turquoise waters. After swimming and having some fresh fruit, cakes and refreshments the skipper will set sail for Sykia, the biggest and most impressive cave of Milos. After a quick swim, you will take the small motor-boat under a low passage made of lava rocks and visit the cave.  Head back to the boat and enjoy some ouzo with a variety of Greek homemade tapas. Finally, you will reach Kleftiko, the old pirates-lair. Snorkeling here is an amazing experience due to the underwater passages, caves and an unsurpassed water clarity. Back on the boat, refreshments and ice-cold beers will be waiting for you, followed by a delicious meal and dessert. After you eat you can take the dinghy and go explore the unique Kleftiko caves and passages.  Later, the boat will head east towards Gerakas bay, after a short swim, enjoy fresh fruit back on the boat. The cruise ends in the beautiful tranquil bay of Provatas around 7:00 PM. From there, you will travel back to Adamantas in just 15 minutes. 

Embark on a full-day guided tour of the ancient ruins of Mycenae from Athens. Walk in what was once a thriving center of ancient Greece and visit sites, including Epidaurus and the seaport of Nauplion. During the late Bronze Age, the city of Mycenae played an important role in ancient Greece. This full-day trip from Athens provides the opportunity for you to explore this treasure of the ancient world. Traveling by air-conditioned bus, you’ll make a brief stop at the Corinth Canal, a 3.9-mile engineering wonder connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Aegean Sea. Mycenae is the historical setting for much of ancient Greek literature, including the works of the poet Homer. Tour the archeological site, home to the Lionesses Gate and the tomb of King Agamemnon. After a relaxing lunch, you’ll continue on the drive, making a short stop in Nauplia, the first capital of modern Greece and home to the fortress of Palamidi. The final stop of the tour is the city of Epidaurus, home to the World Heritage-listed ancient theater and believed by ancient Greeks to be the birthplace of Apollo’s son Asklepios. The theater at Epidaurus is perhaps the best-preserved theater of ancient Greece and is still used today because of its amazing acoustics.

Depart Athens with your friendly guide (archaeologist) by bus from the Halandri Metro station and reach the ancient city of Mycenae. Let the Cyclopean walls take your breath, and learn about the mysterious origins of this fantastic structure. Mycenae is considered the greatest and richest kingdom of the later Bronze Age around 1350 B.C. Walk around the archaeological park, pass through the great Lionesses Gate, explore the Ancient Treasure of Atreus also known as King’s Agamemnon Tomb as well as the Tomb of Clytemnestra. Admire the Palace and the Gold Mask of Agamemnon. After Mycenae enjoy a traditional Greek lunch in the beautiful seaside city of Nafplio. Naflpio used to be the capital of Greece before Athens and its architecture has Venetian, Byzantine, Ottoman and, Modern Greek influences. Admire the main attractions like the Castle of Bourtzi, the Acronauplia and the Castle of Palamidi built on the top of the hill as well as the various picturesque squares in the city center. Finish your day with a visit to the ancient theater of Epidaurus. This site is well known as the theater with the greatest acoustics and still hosts the Festival of Epidaurus every summer.

Experience the Greek capital on a hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour along 3 different routes. You’ll travel on an open-top, double-decker bus as you take in the many important sights and attractions of the city. With the help of the onboard multilingual audio guide you can trace the history and culture of Athens from ancient times to the present day. In addition to the city’s many monuments, you’ll come across a multitude of shopping opportunities along the route. You can visit world-renowned museums and marvel at the ancient temples - the Acropolis and Parthenon. Athens Route Stops: Stop 1 - Syntagma Square Stop 2 - A Melina Merkouri / Plaka Stop 3 - A Acropolis Museum Stop 4 - A The Acropolis & Parthenon (Interchange: Piraeus route) Stop 5 - A Temple of Zeus Stop 6 - A Parliament / National Gardens Stop 7 - The Four Museums Stop 8 - The National Gallery Stop 9 - A Ancient Olympic Stadium Stop 9 - B Parliament / National Gardens Stop 10 - National Library Stop 11 - National Archaeological Museum Stop 12 - Omonoia Square Stop 13 - Karaiskaki Square Stop 14 - Monastiraki Square Stop 15 -Kotzia Square Piraeus Route Stops: Stop 1 - Pantion University Stop 2 - Niarchos Foundation Stop 3 - Municipal Theatre Stop 4 - Cruise Terminals A & B Stop 5 - Lions Gate Stop 6 - Cruise Terminals A & B Stop 7 - Archaeological Museum of Piraeus Stop 8 - Votsalakia Beach Stop 9 - Mikrolimano Harbour Stop 10 - Planetarium Stop 11 - Athens Ledra & Intercontinental Beach & Riviera Route Stops: Melina Merkouri/Plaka Pantion University Niarchos Foundation Falire/Flisvas Edem Ag.Kesmas Beach Bomo Palace Asteria Beach Divani Apollon Oceanis Beach/ Atrir Palace Vouliagemi Lake Pigadakia Blazer Suites Glyfada town Golf Ag.Kosmas Kalamki Poseidon Hotel Marriot/Planetarium Grand Hyatt/ Intercontinental Temple of Zeus

Join the hop-on hop-off bus tour of Katakolo and Pyrgos. Explore the surrounding nature and learn about the region's ancient history. Visit churches, museums, and wander the city streets as you please. Appreciate a bus every 30 minutes, just steps away from the cruise port. Catch the bus just 2-minutes from the cruise port and experience Katakolo's natural beauty and ancient history. Learn of the city's main export and prominent role in cruise ship tourism of the region. Appreciate the picturesque seaside village, littered with cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Next, stop at Manolopoulou Street in Pyrgos city center where you can visit the Eparcheion, a tower built on the tallest of seven hills that surround the area. Discover the rich economic history of the city and admire the neoclassical houses constructed in the 19th century. Arrive next at the Archaeological Museum of Pyrgos which was once a public marketplace. Wander through the various exhibitions that span the entire spectrum of local history. Discover the building's architectural influences and the role it played in the 1950s. On the way back to the port, make a stop at the Orthodox Church of Saint John. Roam around the streets of Katakolo, shop for souvenirs, or enjoy an ice cream. Swim at a nearby beach if you have time and ride one more stop back to the terminal.

Discover the ruins of the city of Mycenae on a day trip from Athens. Explore the archeological site, home to the Lionesses Gate, and the tomb of King Agamemnon. Afterwards, make a short stop in the village of Epidaurus and see its Hellenic theatre. Drive along the scenic coastal road of the Saronic Gulf, and arrive at the archeological site of Mycenae. Explore the historical setting for much of ancient Greek literature, including the works of the poet Homer. Continue with a brief stop in Nauplia, the first capital of modern Greece and home to the fortress of Palamidi. After enjoying a relaxing lunch, head to the nearby village of Epidaurus, home to the World Heritage, is listed as an ancient theatre and is believed by ancient Greeks to be the birthplace of Apollo’s son Asklepios. The theatre at Epidaurus is perhaps the best-preserved theatre of ancient Greece.

Depart Athens with a friendly escort (archaeologist) by bus from the Halandri Metro station and reach Nafplio where there are various alternative options to discover the hidden gems of the city. There is plenty of time to climb the 999 steps of the Castle of Palamidi (or let the bus drive you to it) and admire the wide view of the region along with the endless beauty of the Argolic Gulf from the top of the hill. Naflpio used to be the capital of Greece before Athens and its architecture has venetian, byzantine, ottoman and modern greek influences. Admire the main attractions like Bourtzi Castle and Acronauplia as well as the various picturesque squares in the city center. Observe the colorful venetian houses that attract your eyes with the bougainvilleas hanging flashily from the balconies. You have the chance to enrich your trip by visiting the Komboloi Museum and the distillery of Tsipouro, Ouzo or Mastiha known as “ouzo experience” in the most traditional district of the city. Enjoy a greek lunch break in a cozy tavern and be one with the locals. Later on, travel into history by visiting the ancient theater of Epidaurus. In the antiquity, Epidaurus was a sanatorium, connected intensively with the Asclepeion healing temples. Asclepeion was the 5* hotel of the ancient times and is considered as the origin of the medical science. Nowadays, Epidaurus is most known as the theater with the greatest acoustic of all times and still hosts the Festival of Epidaurus every summer. Feel the aura of the ancient tragedians who through their interpretations led the audience to “catharsis”, the purification and purgation of emotions.