The Peloponese is a world by itself.

Mycenae and Argos, the cradles of Mycenean civilization, along with the military and naval powers of Corinth and Sparta were some of the mightiest city states of antiquity. Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic Games, is halfway along the Peloponese's west coast. The war between Athens and Sparta that pretty much brought antiquity to an abrupt end in 404 BC was dubbed the Peloponesian War, since a good part of it took place here and the cities of the Peloponese were almost all involved in it.

Mystras, north of Sparta, was one of the most important cultural and religious centers of the late-Byzantine era and Monemvassia was one of Venice's key Mediterranean military and administrative outposts.

The Greek revolution against Ottoman rule was launched in the Peloponese, and Nafplion was both the seat of the revolutionary administration and the first capital of the newly liberated country in 1828. The Greek revolution was won when the joint fleets of England, France, and Russia destroyed the joint Ottoman and Egyptian fleets in Pylos, on the southwest coast of the Peloponese. The first Greek constitution, passed on 1 January 1822, was drafted in Epidaurus.

A disproportionate number of the country's businessmen, artists, men of letters, politicians, and other prominent figures were either born or hail from the Peloponese. Today, Patras is the country's third largest city and its main gateway to western Europe.

Peloponese (or "Peloponissos" in Greek) means island ("nissos") of Pelops, a mythological hero and son of Tantalos, the same one of legend who keeps rolling a huge boulder up a slope only to see it plunge down just before it reaches the top, over and over again, ad infinitum. 

Most of the Peloponese is mountainous and features dramatic landscapes, some of the most beautiful country in the whole of Greece. The center of the region is dominated by the mountains, like Helmos and Taygetos, and plateaus, like the one where Tripoli sits. The coastline is rugged in the south and the east, and dotted with long sandy or pebbly beaches in the north and the west.

The Peloponese is a complete tourism destination. Exploring it and taking it all in could take a full 15 days and still the visitor would have to come back to complete the tour. Read the guides of the individual destinations and make up your own mind.

The Highlights

• The archeological sites of Argolis: Mycenae and Epidavros.
• Ancient Olympia.
• The medieval city of Mystras.
• The caves of Diros, in Lakonia.
• The beaches of Elafonissos.
• The island of Kythera.
• The settlements and ancient castles along the coast of Mani.
• The resort hotels of Elia.
• The mountains and especially Taygetos in Lakonia.

We Recommend

• Drive around the region and explore its nature and archeology.
• Attend an ancient drama presentation in Epidavros.
• See the caves of Diros, and drive around Mani.
• Attend a show at the international dance festival in Kalamata.

We Do Not Recommend

• The top archeological and historical sites from 11 am to 5 pm in the peak summer months.
• Driving on the national highways, especially the northbound ones, on Sunday afternoons, when city folk return home after the weekend.