Nafplio Beaches, Old Town and Where to Stay
Nafplio has beaches in the town and just outside it: Arvanitia lies below the Palamidi within walking distance of the old town, Karathona stretches over 1.5 kilometers a little further south, and the resort beaches of Tolo and Nea Kios are within 10 kilometers. Nafplio (Nafplion) itself is a harbour town in a cove on the Gulf of Argolis in the northeastern Peloponnese, with about 12,500 inhabitants and an old town of marble streets and elegant houses. Hire a car to explore the Peloponnese at your own pace, covered in our Peloponnese car hire guide.
- Inhabitants
- ~12,500
- Gulf
- Argolis
- First capital
- 1829-1835
- Town beach
- Arvanitia
Nafplio beaches
Arvanitia is the beach of the town itself, below the Palamidi fortress and south of the old town within walking distance, reachable on foot from Arvanitia square. Karathona beach lies a little over 1.5 kilometers long further south, behind the rock of Palamidi, 3.2 kilometers away by car or on foot, with palm and eucalyptus trees and a view of the islet also called Mouse island; a bus runs there from Nafplio in high season. Tolo (Tolon), 10 kilometers south, is a small resort with a 2-kilometer beach of fine sand and shallow sea, ideal for families, with the islets of Daskaleio and Romvi off its coast. Nea Kios, north of Nafplio, is a fishing village of about 3,500 people with a large sandy beach, fish restaurants and good kite surfing.
The town of Nafplio
Nafplio is a harbour in a cove on the Gulf of Argolis in the northeastern Peloponnese, a tourist favourite for its elegant architecture and marble-lined streets. The area has been inhabited since 3000 BC, and according to legend the city was named after King Nauplios. Byzantines, Franks, Venetians and Turks all held Nafplio before 30 November 1822, when it became the first city retaken from the Turks; from 1829 to 1835 it served as the first capital and seat of government of the Greek state. Greeks favour it as a weekend destination and a base for Epidavros, Mycenae and the beaches nearby.
Fortresses, churches and the museum
The Palamidi fortress stands on a 216-metre hill above the town, completed by the Venetians in 1714, while the smaller Bourtzi fortress sits on an island in the harbour and dates from 1473; small boats reach it in summer. On Syntagma square the Vouleftiko Tzami mosque and the Archaeological Museum, housed in the Venetian barracks of 1713, hold finds from 3000 BC onwards, including tools from the Franchthi cave and Mycenaean bronzes. The Agios Spyridon church of 1702 still shows the bullet hole from the 1831 assassination of the first governor, Ioannis Kapodistrias; the 15th-century Agios Georgios holds the red throne of King Otto and a copy of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper; and the small Agia Sophia, built around 1400, is the only surviving Byzantine church in the town.
Grand Sarai Nafplio
Old Town
The Grand Sarai stands in the Old Town of Nafplio, opposite the Catholic Church, in the former first Court of the modern Greek state. Its light rooms have panoramic views of the Gulf of Argolis, the Old Town and the Palamidi, each with a safe, LCD TV, minibar, internet connection and a private bathroom, and their window frames follow the local traditional architecture. Breakfast in the spacious breakfast room includes hot and cold dishes, coffee and fresh juices, and the multilingual staff work 24 hours a day. Syntagma Square, the waterfront overlooking Bourtzi and the scenic bars and taverns are all within a 5-minute walk, with free public parking 50 and 200 metres away.
Check availability & bookVilla Dafnes
Nafplio
Villa Dafnes sits in Nafplio with an outdoor pool, sauna and garden, and looks over the sea from its balcony, 1 kilometer from the castle of Akronafplia. The air-conditioned villa has a seating area with a fireplace, sofas and a flat-screen TV, a kitchen with a stove and microwave, and a bathroom with a shower. Arvanitia Beach, the town centre and the Palamidi are 2 kilometers away, Mycenae is 20 kilometers and Epidavros 30 kilometers.
Enquire by e-mailAetoma Hotel
Old Town
Aetoma is an 18th-century mansion with preserved neoclassical elements right in the centre of the Old Town of Nafplio. Its rooms are decorated in the building's architectural style with works of art and handmade carpets, and are air-conditioned with flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, free Wi-Fi and private bathrooms with hydro-massage shower cabins. Breakfast is served until noon on linen tablecloths and includes home-made jams and traditional pastries. The hotel stands next to the historic church of St Spyridon, where the first governor of the modern Greek state, Kapodistrias, was assassinated.
Check availability & bookAngelina Pension
Nafplio
Angelina Pension sits a few metres from the central square of Nafplio and offers traditionally furnished studios with views over the islet of Bourtzi, within walking distance of the town's taverns and cafes. Following the local style, the studios have wooden or iron beds, some with stone-built walls, and each includes a kitchenette with seating area, air conditioning and a private balcony. The seaside village of Tolo is 12 kilometers away and the ancient theatre of Epidavros 35 kilometers.
Check availability & bookSkalidis Apartments
Tolon
Skalidis Apartments stand 250 metres from the beach of Tolo, set in a garden with a swimming pool, and offer self-catering apartments with free Wi-Fi and a balcony with garden views. Each air-conditioned apartment has a kitchenette with cooking facilities, a dining area and fridge, a satellite TV and a safety box, and guests can relax on the sun terrace with loungers and umbrellas beside a children's pool. The centre of Tolo is 200 metres away, Nafplio within 10 kilometers, and Epidavros and Mycenae 35 kilometers, with car rental and limited free parking on site.
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