Hi everyone, this is the Santorini Dave guide to Where To Stay in Nafplio.
In this video we offer
a broad overview of one of the most beautiful and romantic towns in all of mainland Greece,
and an attractive year round destination. Only 2 hours from Athens, Nafplio is a very popular
weekend getaway and swells with domestic and international visitors during the summer.
Located on the Argolic Gulf on the eastern side of the Peloponnese, Nafplio was the first capital
of independent Greece, and Syntagma Square at its center, was the first square of the Greek state.
Today, the old part of the city,
where most visitors choose to stay, is filled with pedestrian friendly alleys, posh boutique shops,
and a great dining scene. The narrow streets are filled with elegant Venetian houses,
a collection of interesting museums, and many excellent small hotels.
Now everything featured in this video is explored in our Nafplio travel pages,
and, along with all the other top destinations across Greece
are explained in far greater depth at SantoriniDave.com.
And make sure to subscribe to this channel as we’re constantly adding new content that’ll help
you plan your visit to Greece.
Nafplio’s waterfront is a pleasure to enjoy, with Bourtzi Castle, the iconic fortress island at the
entrance to the harbor. Over the years, the castle has evolved from prison, to residence,
to hotel and restaurant, to tourist site today where summer music festivals are held. A shuttle
boat from the waterfront ferries visitors the short journey across the harbor to the castle,
with multiple daily routes. Along the coast heading south, the lovely Arvanitia Promenade
stretches for nearly 1 km, passing by the Lido, a unique seaside swimming area that’s great
for families, and ending at the small Arvanitia Beach. This area is especially popular at sunset.
On the hillside high above town, is the towering Palamidi Fortress, one of the most beautiful
castles in all of Greece. Visitors can choose to walk up roughly 1,000 steps to the top, or take a
quick and inexpensive taxi up from town. From the castle there are fabulous panoramic views over the
old and new city and across the sea far into the distance. One possibility is to cab up and then
walk down. 2 great museums in town include the Archaeological Museum of Nafplio with exhibits
displaying ancient artifacts of the surrounding region, and the Peloponnese Folklore Foundation,
which is devoted to the preservation of regional arts and crafts, with a great gift shop.
Nafplio has many appealing places to stay, all scattered around the old town
and along the hillside below the castle. Some of our favorites include
3 Sixty Hotel and Suites, a 4 star sophisticated property very close to the waterfront.
Grand Sarai, a 5 star boutique hotel tucked into the residential area above the old town
in a historic pink building. And Gambello Luxury Rooms, in a converted mansion also near the
waterfront, with elegant furnishings in spacious rooms with wood floors.
At only 2 hours drive from Athens, Nafplio is close enough to do as a day trip or perfect
for a weekend getaway. The easiest and most comfortable way to get from Athens
to Nafplio is by rental car or a private transfer service like Welcome Pickups.
Since most of Old Town Nafplio is pedestrian only, a car isn’t necessary while staying in town.
It’s also an ideal base from which to explore many important archaeological sites in the region,
such as Mycenae and Epidaurus. While Nafplio isn’t specifically known as
a beach town, there are a few good beaches in or on the edge of town, including Arvanitia Beach at
the end of the promenade, beyond that in the same direction is Karathona Beach, accessible by car or
via a lovely 40 minute walk along the waterfront, and continuing in the same direction will bring
you to Tolo Beach, which is too far to walk to, but accessible from Nafplio by car or bus.
As always, you can find lots more detailed information about Nafplio and the rest of
Greece’s most popular destinations across the pages of our website SantoriniDave.com. If you
enjoyed this video, make sure to like it with a thumbs up, and to subscribe to our channel as we
are constantly adding new content that will help you in planning your visit to Greece and Beyond.
Thanks for watching.