Greece off the beaten path: Discovering the Peloponnese
My Greece road trip itinerary through the Peloponnese: Remote beaches, mountain monasteries and other hidden gems in Greece. Plus tips to maximize your experience.
I’ve always enjoyed going back to Greece. The colors, the food and the people are consistent across all places I’ve visited in this country.
Yet I did not know that Greece had so much to offer besides the famous Greek islands. Until I embarked on this journey through the Peloponnese.
This 8-days Greece itinerary is largely based on recommendations by a local.
It takes us to beautiful and remote places to see in Greece that we’d never heard of.
Sounds exciting? Let’s go.
My 8 days road trip itinerary in the Peloponnese, Greece
DAY 1: Athens - Mycenae - Nafplio
We land in the morning in Athens and pick up the car at the car rental. We’re excited about what we’ll see on our Greek trip!
First stop after 1.5 hours drive at the legendary city of Mycenae, once a major centre of Greek civilization, now an archaeological and UNESCO world heritage site.
Free entry every first Sunday of the month.
After the visit, it’s time for a first, proper Greek meal at the nearby Melina’s taverna .
The journey continues to the picturesque town of Nafplio where we'll spend the night.
Some things to do in Nafplio, Greece:
Strolling around the small streets in the historic city centre;
Walking up to the Palamidi fortress to enjoy a beautiful view;
Having dinner in one of the many Greek tavernas and cafes;
DAY 2: Nafplio - Epidaurus - Monemvasia
We leave Nafplio early morning and stop at the archaeological site of Epidaurus, famous for its huge Greek theater. It’s a slight detour but if you are passionate about ancient history it’s worth adding this to the itinerary.
The road from Epidaurus to Monemvasia is long (at least 4 hours), yet a spectacular drive between sea and mountains all the way down to the south of the Peloponnese.
There are a few nice sea villages by the road. We've stopped in Paralio Astros for a delicious, authentic seafood lunch at a Greek taverna.
The journey continues via Leonidio and up through the mountains on a winding road through the mountains. We are unaware of what expects us….
….There it is! In front of us lies Monemvasia, a picturesque medieval fortified town on a steep, rocky island, connected to the mainland by a small strip of land.
We had been told that this place is a jewel, but it’s difficult to grasp the beauty of Monemvasia without having visited it!
We’ll spend the night at the Malvasia Traditional Hotel in the old town. It takes 5-10 minutes walking to get there. On the other hand, the room we’ve booked (Superior Double) has a stunning view which we’ll fully enjoy the morning after.
Day 3: Monemvasia and Elafonisos Island
Early morning is the perfect time to explore the empty streets of Monemvasia. It seems that time has stopped in this place.
Things to do in Monemvasia, Greece:
Explore the picturesque streets and alleys;
Walk all the way up to the fortress and Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia to enjoy a spectacular view;
Walk on the ramparts surrounding the city;
Stop at one of the charming cafes and restaurants around the village
Since it’s nice weather, we’ve planned a day excursion to the Greek island of Elafonisos: From Monemvasia just an hour drive until Pounta, where we board the ferry to the island (around 25EUR return ticket with the car).
Things to do on the Greek island of Elafonisos:
Relax at Paralia Simos, a beautiful beach with pristine waters and a remote, wild feeling. Despite being November, the conditions were ideal for a swim (and it won’t be the last one!);
Have lunch at one of the fish restaurants by the port, surrounded by fisherman boats. We really liked Ourania.
Time to board the ferry and head back to Monemvasia. We’ll spend the night at the Byzantino Hotel. Our room has a beautiful private terrace (Tip: if you don’t have a reservation, try booking at the hotel reception to get a good deal).
Day 4: Monemvasia - Gythios - Areopolis
Packed agenda today. First stop after one hour drive at the Dimitrios shipwreck, located on a long, uninhibited beach. Strolling by the beach, taking in the sea breeze and enjoying this magical place was really worth the stop.
Next, Gytheio: A postcard-style, colorful Greek fisherman town where we take some delicious pastries and enjoy lunch sitting on the pier.
Before reaching Areopolis we drive down to Limeni, a beautiful Greek village by the sea with crystal clear waters, cafes, restaurants (and even sea turtles swimming nearby!).
Areopolis is a nice little Greek village with tavernas, cafes and a small historic city centre where you can stroll around and relax. We’ll spend the night at the beautiful Ktima Karageorgoy Hotel (surrounded by olive groves, nice pool, generous breakfast with fresh local products) before continuing our drive south through the Mani Peninsula!
Day 5: Driving down the Mani peninsula
There’s something mystical about this area. On our way to the southernmost point of the Greek Mani Peninsula we encounter remote villages, pristine pebble beaches and landscapes that remind Scotland more than Greece.
Places to see and things to do on the Mani Peninsula, Greece:
Stop at the village of Gerolimenas and its stunning pebble beach;
Discover the ancient and now abandoned village of Vatheia;
Walk to the cave of Hades and discover the byzantine mosaics in Tainaro;
Enjoy a fresh seafood lunch by the sea in a Greek taverna in Porto Kagio
You could easily spend a full day exploring and getting lost in the Mani peninsula -don’t rush it!
We’re back in Areopolis for the evening, where we enjoy another amazing Greek dinner with local specialties: Rooster in tomato sauce and syglino (cured pork meat) .
Day 6: Areopolis - Mystras - Dimitsana
An exciting program expects us today as we’ll go from the sea to the mountains.
First stop: The beautiful and empty Skoutari beach (suggested by a local) for the last swim of the holiday, followed by a coffee sitting at the Greek taverna by the beach.
After one hour drive we reach Mystras, a magnificent byzantine town sitting on a hill overseeing the valley.
The historical site of Mystras takes several hours to visit. You’ll walk uphill most of the time, so it’s best to wear comfortable shoes.
It’s another two hours drive before reaching Dimitsana -a mountain village at 1,000 mt altitude and our last stop for today. When we step out of the car it’s cold -what a change from this morning!
Our hotel (Archontiko Deligianni) is a delightful stone construction. Would totally recommend the double room n.9, if available: Cozy and with beautiful views.
Finishing another jam-packed day with a well deserved dinner in a tavern in front of our hotel.
Day 7: Hiking to the Monastries
Today we’ll spend most of our day hiking and discovering the mysterious Arcadian monasteries built between the 10th and 16th century BC, each one unique.
Arcadian monasteries worth visiting:
Prodromos monastery
Built in the rock of a steep slope and still inhabited by a few monks. Here you’ll find an ancient fountain, a small ancient chapel excavated in the rock with frescoes and breathtaking balconies hanging above the valley.
Relatively easy to access with a 20-minutes walk from the nearest car car parking.Old Filosofou monastery
Hidden between vegetation and rocks and abandoned since a few centuries, it used to be a secret school during the Turkish domination and later a religious center. This place has a truly mystical feeling! It can be accessed after a 1 hour hike from the car parking.New Filosofou monastery
Well maintained and still inhabited today, it has a bucolic feeling with its small courtyard. It can be reached after a 1.5 hour hike from the car parking.
Note: The Prodromos monastery was only open until 1PM when we visited.
Also, it’s best to wear comfortable shoes if planning to visit all three monasteries (which I’d recommend).
If you’ve got some extra time, consider visiting the archaeological site of Gortys and the Arcadian villages of Stemnitsa, Vytina, Elati.
Day 8: Dimitsana - Athens
It’s a 230 km / 3 hours drive from Dimitsana to Athens International Airport where we’ll catch our flight. We don’t have time to make any stops, otherwise we would have loved visiting more of the Arcadian region.
Time went by so fast and we saw so many amazing places, that it’s really difficult to pick our favorite.
Bye bye Greece!
Do you have more time for your trip?
Here are some alternative itineraries for a longer road trip in Greece that include the Peloponnese:
10 days Greece road trip + Zakynthos: This is a slightly longer road trip itinerary, all by car, covering different areas of the Peloponnese plus an island.
2 weeks Greece road trip + Island Hopping: An even longer itinerary by car + airplane covering some parts of the Peloponnese + 2 islands.
When is the best time to travel to Peloponnese, Greece?
The last weeks of October were the perfect time to experience the Peloponnese: Temperatures are warm enough to stay by the beach and swim and there were very little crowds around.
Traveling on a budget? In November you might find even better deals on hotels and car rentals, and many archaeological sites offer reduced ticket prices. However, some places might be closed.
Also May is a good time to visit, but always try to plan around the Greek public holidays to avoid more crowds and higher prices.
Full Peloponnese Itinerary + Highlights on Google Maps
Click here to see the full itinerary of my road trip through the Peloponnese on Google Maps.
About me
As a passionate traveler and tourism professional I’ve experienced the world: From hiking the Andes to flying Business Class, from camping in Serengeti to staying in luxury resorts in Maldives.
In my career I’ve driven brand collaborations, scaled up communities and websites and helped tourism companies reach international travelers.
Beating Jetlag is my attempt to improve today's traveler journey -by bridging the gap between real traveler experiences, trends and innovations in tourism & hospitality.