Peloponnese Road Trip: 14 Days Greece Itinerary (2025)

When people think of Greece, it’s usually all about the islands—Santorini sunsets, whitewashed houses in Mykonos, and maybe a quick stop in Athens. But few realize just how incredible the mainland can be. Instead of chasing beach clubs and resort towns, we set out to explore a different side of Greece—one that’s steeped in history, scattered with ancient ruins, buzzing with local tavernas, and rich in traditional culture. That’s what led us on our Peloponnese Road Trip. We hit the road for an unforgettable road trip through the castle city of Monemvasia, mountain villages of Mystras, incredible coastal towns of Methoni and Nafplio—and discovered a side of Greece that most others travelers never see.

If you’re thinking of hitting the road too, we’ve put together the ultimate Peloponnese road trip guide—packed with the best things to do, top places to stay, practical tips, and everything you need to plan an unforgettable adventure through this underrated region of Greece.

Is Peloponnese worth visiting?

At WaylessTravelers, we’re always on the hunt for those lesser-known gems and off-the-beaten-path adventures. So when we set our sights on Greece, we knew we had to dig a little deeper than the usual Santorini-Mykonos island combo. Instead of chasing beach clubs and trendy hotspots, we wanted something that still captured the authentic Greek lifestyle. 

We inquired with our local Greek friends and they highly recommended we visit the Peloponnese. So was it worth it? 100% yes! 

The Peloponnese encompasses all of Greece’s best aspects, from ancient archeological sites, castle cities, quiet rural Greek villages, delicious food, and beaches, all the while staying very affordable! 

This trip is ideal for travelers craving history, culture, and local charm. If you’re after stylish beach clubs, pulsing nightlife, and polished luxury resorts, then the islands might be more your scene. But if you want to discover the soul of Greece? The Peloponnese is calling.

Quick Overview of Peloponnese Road Trip

• Day 1: Arrival in Athens Airport, rent car, drive to Corinth | 1 Hour drive
• Day 2-3: Corinth (2 nights)
• Day 3-6: Nafplio (3 nights) | 1 Hour Drive
• Day 6-8: Mystras (2 nights) | 2 Hour Drive
• Day 8-10: Monemvasia (2 nights) | 90 Minutes Drive
• Day 10-12: Gytheo/Aeropoli/or Limeni (2 nights) | 90 Minutes Drive
• Day 12-14: Methoni/Pilos (2 nights) | 80 Minutes Drive to ruins or 3.5 hours to return to Athens
• Day 14: Messini and return to Athens

Peloponnese Road Trip Itinerary

Below, we’ve put together our complete guide to planning the ultimate road trip through the Peloponnese. Before our adventure, we spent hours researching the best routes, must-see stops, and how to make the most of all the incredible archaeological sites scattered throughout the region.

There are a few different ways to structure your trip, depending on your travel style and pace, so we’ve included our personal tips, what worked well, and a few things we wish we’d done differently to help you plan the perfect itinerary.

Day 1: Arrival in Athens Airport, drive to Corinth

To start off your Peloponnese road trip, you’ll first be arriving at Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”. From there, we recommend booking your rental car straight from the airport and then starting the 1 hour drive to your first stop, Corinth. We rented our car from DiscoverCars, and have used them in countless countries, and they have consistently provided the most affordable price and excellent service. 

If like us, you are hungry after landing in Greece, we recommend making a quick stop at the town of Koropi a short 15 minutes from the airport and eat at Zesti Gonia. They had one of the best grilled fish and calamari that we had in our entire trip! 

Along the drive to Corinth, you’ll get your first glimpse of the stunning turquoise waters of Greece along the Megara Gulf and Saronic Gulf. About 45 minutes into the drive, make sure to stop by the famous Corinth Canal. For those who are brave enough, you can even do bungee jumping off the bridge!

Once you arrive in Corinth, you can settle into your hotel, and if time permitting, explore the Corinth Archeological ruins. You’ll be spending 2 nights here so you’ll have time to explore all that this wonderful town has to offer! 

Day 2-3: Corinth and Ancient Corinth

Your first stop on this Peloponnese road trip is Corinth!

While many travelers just breeze through on their way from Athens to Nafplio, we found Corinth to be one of the hidden gems of our entire trip. It delivered such a rich cultural and local experience that it quickly became one of our favourite stops. 

The town is home to one of the most well-preserved fortresses in the Peloponnese and still holds onto its authentic Greek charm. Most tours only give it a quick 30-minute visit — but we spent a solid three hours just wandering through the incredible ruins of the fortress and soaking up the views. If you’ve got the time, trust us, it’s worth slowing down for!

Best Things to do in Corinth/Ancient Corinth

• Visit Acrocorinth fortress
• See the Corinth archeological site and museum
• Shop for very unique Greek hand-made jewelry
• Buy local produce and enjoy an organic meal with a view at Acrocorinth restaurant
• Enjoy a stunning sunset view over the Temple of Apollo at a rooftop restaurant terrace

📝 We wrote an entire guide of how to plan your itinerary in Corinth, including a detailed description of what to do, the best restaurants, where to stay, and other helpful tips! 

Where to Stay in Corinth

We highly recommend staying in Ancient Corinth where you’ll be surrounded by the archeological ruins and immersed in the local town. Modern Corinth, located around 10 minutes drive away along the coast, feels like any other modern city and you’ll be further from the main highlights. Below we’ll provided some of the most recommended hotels in Ancient Corinth for every budget, including some standout features to help you decide.

Day 3-6: Nafplio

Next up on your Peloponnese itinerary is the charming seaside city of Nafplio, just about an hour’s drive from Corinth. Before our trip to Greece, we kept hearing from our Greek friends that Nafplio was a favourite getaway for locals — and now we totally get why. This picturesque town more than lived up to the hype! 

Some of our favourite experiences there included exploring Palamidi fortress (and climbing up the 700+ steps), doing day trips to the nearby archaeological ruins, and also simply soaking in the chill Greek coastal vibes of Nafplio! 

We’ve met plenty of locals who say they could easily spend a week or more in Nafplio — and honestly, we get it! But since you’ve only got 3 nights to soak it all in, we’ve rounded up the top experiences you won’t want to miss.

Best Things to do in Nafplio

• Day trip to Mycenae archeological site
• Day trip to Epidaurus archeological site or Kayak the sunken city of Epidavros
• Explore Palamidi Fortress (recommended to take the walking route up the stairs)
• Stroll through the charming streets of Nafplio and shop!
• Kayak to Bourtzi castle
• Day trip to Nemea for wine tasting
• Stroll along the Arvanitias Promenade to get stunning coastal views
• Nafplio sunset sailing cruise

As you can probably tell, Nafplio is packed with incredible experiences — and it quickly became one of our favourite stops on our road trip in the Peloponnese.

From ancient ruins and delicious food to its picture-perfect old town, Nafplio truly had it all. We actually loved it so much that we extended our stay to 4 nights just to soak in as much as possible. Since this Peloponnese itinerary only gives you 3 nights in Nafplio, you’ll have to be a bit selective with what you do.

📝 To help with that, we’ve put together a full guide to the best things to do in Nafplio — including reviews of each activity — so you can decide which ones are worth adding to your itinerary!

Where to Stay in Nafplio

When choosing where to stay in Nafplio, it is important to consider whether you want to be close to the centre where all the shops and restaurants are, or do you prefer a more local and quiet area. 

Nafplio is divided into a Western and Eastern section, separated by Polizoidi Street. On the Western side you will find all the most popular streets, boutiques, and restaurants. This is the main touristic area where you’ll find Palamidi fortress and Nafplio port.

On the Eastern side, the area is a lot more local and quiet. There are some restaurants and cafes there but the options are limited. 

Our Recommendations for Where to Stay in Nafplio

We would recommend staying on the Western side of Nafplio, that way you are close to all the action. If you still prefer a bit of peace and quiet, you can stay higher up on the hill on the far western tip.

For example, both αυλή Ναύπλιον and Alivio Lux Residences are located high up in a quiet corner of Nafplio, with beautiful views of Bourtzi Castle, but all the while being only a 7 minutes walk to the city centre. The other bonus here is that there is free and abundant street parking right closeby. 

If instead you prefer to stay right in the city centre and not uphill, you can check out Marie Suite where you can get a one-bedroom apartment for a very affordable price!  

Day 6-8: Mystras

Next up, it’s time to leave the charming coastal town of Nafplio behind and head high into the mountains to experience the dramatic landscapes of the Peloponnese in Mystras! The drive from Nafplio to Mystra should take around 2 hours but factor in a bit of extra time since the mountainous roads are quite winding.

Perched on the slopes of Mt. Taygetos, this once-powerful Byzantine city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and one of the most atmospheric ruins in all of Greece. 

Mystras Archeological City

What sets Mystra apart from the other ruins you’ll experience in the Peloponnese is the fact that Mystra is not just a fortress or castle, but an entire abandoned city where you can experience the multiple layers of history. As you wander through its crumbling streets, past ancient churches, monasteries, and remnants of shops and homes, it’s easy to imagine what life was like centuries ago. 

Also, Mystra is one of the few sites that still have almost perfectly preserved the elaborate frescoes within the churches. Given the location of Mystra high up in the mountains, often covered in mist, there is an undeniable spiritual and mysterious atmosphere like stepping into a medieval time capsule. 

Best Things to do in Mystras

• Explore the Mystras Archeological site
• Walk between the Upper and lower town of Mystra (this takes over an hour and is along the steep cobbled streets. While there are parking lots at both the upper and lower entrances, keep in mind that if you park at one end, you’ll need to walk the route round-trip unless you arrange a transfer.)
• Day trip to Sparta and learn about the famous story there (have you watched 300? “This is Sparta”? This is where the history took place!)
• Stay at the beautiful mountain Hotel of Mazaraki Guesthouse
• Explore the very small town of Mystras and have one of the best Greek Roasted pork at The Greek

Where to Stay in Mystras

We highly recommend staying at Mazaraki Guesthouse. They are located high up in the mountains and provides one of the best views of the valley below right from their outdoor terrace. They have a swimming pool, their rooms are very cutely decorated, and they have one of the most complete and plentiful breakfasts we had in all of Greece.

In fact, it was the only hotel we stayed at which provides you with a breakfast menu where you can choose from a list of over 30 small items to customize your own perfect breakfast! 

Alternatively, if you’re looking for something even more luxurious, with a spa, then you can check out Euphoria Retreat located in the town of Mystras. Your stay here includes everything that you may need, including a sauna room, swimming pool, gym, yoga rooms, massage, and a plethora of nearby hikes! 

Day 8-10: Monemvasia

Monemvasia is one of those places that feels straight out of a fairytale. Perched on a small island and surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Aegean, this medieval castle town is a maze of narrow cobblestone alleys, stone archways, and centuries-old charm. Looking back on our two-week Peloponnese road trip, Nan and I both agree—Monemvasia was our absolute favorite stop.

Monemvasia Review

What makes it so special is that you’re not just visiting ancient ruins—you’re living in them. Many of the boutique hotels here are carved into centuries-old stone buildings, perched on the cliffside with jaw-dropping views of the sea and castle city below. 

And while there may not be a checklist of iconic landmarks, the experience itself is the destination. Swim in the ocean just beyond the castle walls, savour dinner at a rooftop taverna overlooking the central plaza, or hike to the top of the island to visit the stunning Hagia Sophia church. We even joked that in a past life, Nan was a princess living in the upper town and I was a lowly peasant at the bottom town.

Monemvasia isn’t just a place to see—it’s a place to feel, live, and get wonderfully lost in.

The drive from Mystras to Monemvasia should take around 90 minutes.

Best Things to do in Monemvasia

• Simply get lost wandering through the charming cobbled streets of Monemvasia
• Climb to the upper town and visit the Holy Hagia Sophia Church (the entrance to the pathway leading to upper town is here)
• Cross the castle gates to swim in the Aegean, providing amazing views of the castle
• Walk through the East Gate to see the lighthouse
• Sample Malvasia wines
• Eat at one of the many rooftop restaurants overlooking the castle city and the sea
• Stay in a Castle Hotel

Where to Stay in Monemvasia

No matter what, we definitely recommend staying within Monemvasia rather than across the bridge at Gefira. The real magic of Monemvasia comes from being fully immersed within its medieval stone walls. 

We ended up staying at Malvasia Traditional Hotel and would highly recommend it. We stayed in a charming medieval cobblestone room but since we were traveling on a tighter budget, we didn’t have sea views.

With that said, if you can splurge a little, their new hotel Bastione Malvasia Hotel is located higher up the slopes, and boasts breathtaking views over the Aegean! We know because the breakfast was served there every morning and sipping coffee while overlooking the sea never gets old!

Finally, if you are a bigger family or would like to have an entire village all to yourselves, definitely check out Victoria’s House in Monemvasia Castle.  

This post is part of our series about traveling through the Peloponnese. If you want to learn more about the Peloponnese, planning a road trip itinerary, best things to do and more, check out the guides below:

14 Unforgettable Things to do in Nafplio, Greece

2 Days in Athens: The Ultimate Itinerary for an Unforgettable Trip

9 Best Things to do in Corinth, Greece (2025)

Day 10-12: Gytheo or nearby town like Aeropoli (2 nights)

Next up in your Peloponnese road trip, you’ll be heading over to the beautiful Mani Peninsula, where you’ll get to explore Gytheo, Aeropoli, Limeni, and more! The scenic drive from Monemvasia to Gytheo takes about an hour. 

We chose to stay 3 nights in Gytheo, though 1–2 nights would likely be the perfect amount of time for most travelers, as the town itself is smaller and more low-key compared to other stops on the itinerary. That said, Gytheo still has its own charm with its colourful harbourfront and relaxed atmosphere—and it ended up being the backdrop for one of our absolute favourite experiences of the entire trip! 

We rented a small boat and spent the day sailing along the stunning Messenian Gulf, discovering quiet bays, swimming in crystal-clear waters, and enjoying a peaceful afternoon with music and charcuterie on deck.

Surprisingly, you don’t need a boat license or any prior experience to rent and drive one of these small boats. They’re easy to navigate, and cruising through the open waters with complete freedom was truly an unforgettable experience!

If you want to take to the waters, another experience we wanted to do was sea kayaking around Kardamyli and discovering the hidden sea caves. 

Best Things to do in Gytheo and surrounding

• Stroll through the charming harbour
• Rent a boat from Kardamyli (or even at Gytheo) to sail through the crystal-clear waters
• Sea Kayaking and exploring the hidden sea caves
• Day trip to the cute town of Aeropoli
• Day trip to Limeni
• Visit the Caves of Diros
• Explore the abandoned city of Vathia (further down near the southern tip of Mani Peninsula)

Where to Stay in Mani Peninsula

We stayed in in the Pantheon City Hotel Located right in the centre of Gytheo and overall had a pleasant experience.

However, if we were to do this part of the trip again, we would instead stay somewhere along the western coast of the Mani Peninsula, since most of the highlight activities are located on that side.

Near Aeropoli

For example, you can stay at Kastro Maini located in Aeropoli, which we found to be a super charming town and a lot more interesting than Gytheo. 

Near Limeni

If you’re looking to stay closer to the coast near Limeni, check out Εν Πλώ Luxury Suites. This charming white-stone property features an incredible infinity pool with sweeping views of the sea—perfect for a relaxing dip after a day of exploring.

Unique Secluded hotel in Mani Peninsula

And if you want something totally off-the-beaten path, where you’ll be far from the crowds and fully immersed in the stunning coast of Mani, then check out Kyrimai Hotel. This historic hotel dates back to 1870, complete with vintage-style rooms, swimming pool, and your entire own stretch of the coast. 

Day 12-14: Methoni (2 nights)

One of the final towns you will stay at during your Peloponnese Itinerary is the coastal castle town of Methoni on the western-most peninsula of the Peloponnese.

We chose to stay in Methoni but you can also stay in Pilos. Methoni is perfect if you want a really quiet town vibe with views of one of the most impressive waterfront fortresses in the Peloponnese. If instead you prefer something more modern and with more choices of restaurants and resort-style accommodations, then we would recommend staying in Pilos. 

Experiences in Methoni/Pilos

During your 2-night stay in this region, you’ll have the chance to explore the impressive Methoni Castle, wander the fortress of Pilos, paddle along the coast on a sea kayaking adventure, and relax on the stunning crescent-shaped shores of Voidokilia Beach.

For those up for a bit more adventure, you can also hike up to the Old Navarino Fortress for panoramic views above the beach. Out of all these experiences, our personal favourite was watching the sun set over the sea from the magical Methoni Castle—it was truly unforgettable.

But if you want something more exciting and active, definitely check out hiking or canyoning at Polylimnio Waterfalls!

Best Things to do in Methoni/Pilos

• Explore Methoni Castle, especially the Bourtzi of Methoni Castle that stretches out into the ocean
• Wander through Pilos Fortress
• Relax on Voidokilia Beach
• Climb up to Navarino Fortress
• Zipline and Canyoning at Polylimnio Waterfalls
• Hiking and Archery at Polylinio Waterfalls
• Olive Oil tasting and experience
• Sea Kayaking in Voidokilia
• Have one of our favourite meals at Katsaróla

where to Stay in Methoni/Pilos

We stayed in Filanthi Project in Methoni and loved our stay there! They are located right on the beach front and the rooms are tastefully decorated. They also have a lovely terrace overlooking the beach and castle, and a nice little cafe downstairs. 

If you prefer to stay in Pilos instead, then definitely check out Karalis Beach Hotel. The hotel is located right on the coast which means you get your own private sea-view terrace and stretch of the coast. 

Day 14-15: Messene Archeological Site

On your final day of the Peloponnese itinerary, you’ll be visiting one of the most impressive archeological sites of Messene. Although the fortresses and castles of Corinth and Methoni are undoubtedly spectacular, what makes Messini stand out is that it showcases the entire city that once existed there, with many of the buildings impeccably preserved.

You can either do this as a day trip, and then head back to Athens for your return trip, or you can spend the night in Messene. 

We loved exploring Messini’s archeological site and believe it is one of the hidden gems of the Peloponnese. Unlike places like Delphi and Olympia, Messene is far less crowded, yet absolutely massive and deeply impressive.

Here you’ll get to witness the Agora, The Ancient Theatre, the palestra where athletes prepared for competitions, the sanctuary of Asclepius, as well as an entire stadium! We recommend spending a good 2-3 hours exploring since the site is quite large! 

Overall, we still preferred the ruins that we saw when traveling through Kas in Turkey, but the Messene archeological site comes pretty close! 

where to Stay in Messene

If you’ll be staying the night in Messene, there are only a few accommodation options available. We stayed at Guesthouse Lykourgos which was well located and had an amazing view of the archeological ruins down below from the balcony.

Alternatively, you can check out Messana Hotel, where you get to stay in a traditional home.

Day 15: Return to Airport in Athens

If you spent the night in Messene, then today you’ll be doing the 3 hour drive back to Athens or Athens airport.

If you have time, we highly recommend spending a few days to explore Athens. Although many fellow travelers told us to just skip Athens, claiming it is chaotic and dirty, we absolutely loved our experience there! Seeing the Acropolis, Parthenon, and learning all about it at the Acropolis museum was one of the most enriching historical experiences we’ve ever had. 

📝 If you’re wondering how to spend your time in Athens and what are the best things to do there, check out our full Athens Guide! 

7 day Greece Itinerary in the Peloponnese

If you only have 7 days to spend in Greece, and would like to explore the Peloponnese, then we would recommend a few changes to the itinerary above.

Although we thoroughly enjoyed exploring the Western part of the Peloponnese, given the limited time, we would instead suggest staying on the Eastern side to explore Corinth, Nafplio, and Monemvasia. These were the three favourite spots of our entire Peloponnese itinerary and can be done within 7 days.

Below we’ll provide an example 7 day Greece Itinerary focused on the Eastern Peloponnese:

• Day 1: Land in Athens Airport, drive to Corinth, explore Acrocorinth Fortress, or some of the other best things to do in Corinth
• Day 2-4: Explore Nafplio, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Palamidi fortress, and other best experiences in Nafplio
• Day 4-6: Discover Monemvasia
• Day 6-7: Drive back to Athens, and visit the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum
• Day 7: Departure from Greece

How Long to Visit the Peloponnese

We recommend a minimum of 7 days to explore the Peloponnese, but if you have time, you can dedicate a good 2 weeks like we did. This will allow for a good comfortable pace of travel, with not too long of driving each day, and permit you to visit all the highlight parts of the peninsula. 

Best Time to Visit the Peloponnese

Overall, the best time to visit the Peloponnese is in spring or early autumn—specifically from May to early June, or from September to early October.

During these months, the weather is warm and pleasant without being unbearably hot, and you’ll avoid the peak summer crowds of July and August. We visited from late September to early October and couldn’t have asked for better conditions: sunshine every day, perfect swimming weather, and barely any tourists around.

Using WISE card in Greece

When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that country’s ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.

This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card Review post.

Recap: Peloponnese Road Trip Itinerary

We absolutely love road trips. From cruising through the Turkish Coast and Cappadocia, driving through the National Parks in Utah, to self-driving safaris through Namibia, road trips always capture the best that a country has to offer. And our Peloponnese Road Trip was no different. We got to see the true authentic side of Greece, from the locals, the beaches, and hidden fortresses and more, it was a trip to remember! 

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