What is Nafplio like?
Nafplio is a picturesque seaside town in the Peloponnese, about 140 km from Athens on the Argolic Gulf. It was the first capital of modern Greece after the War of Independence, and its old town has flower-lined lanes, neoclassical houses, fortresses and seafront restaurants. It suits a romantic weekend or a base for ancient sites.
When is the best time to visit Nafplio?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable: warm, less crowded, and you can climb to Palamidi without harsh heat. July and August are very hot. Nafplio is also great in winter because the town lives all year; it features in our Greece in winter guide.
How to get to Nafplio
By car: about two hours from Athens via the Corinth Canal and Argos. With a car it is easy to add Mycenae and Epidaurus. See our guide to renting a car in Greece.
By bus: KTEL buses run from Athens to Nafplio.
We found no direct Tel Aviv–Nafplio flight confirmed for 2026 on airline or airport websites. Nafplio has no airport; fly to Athens and continue by car or bus. Check current fares from Tel Aviv on Yavanet's flights page, updated every morning. Seasonal summer routes sometimes open, so check close to your dates.
Top things to do in Nafplio
- Palamidi Fortress: an early-18th-century Venetian fortress with nearly a thousand steps and views over the whole gulf. You can also drive up.
- Bourtzi: the little castle on an islet in the harbour, from 1473, the town's symbol.
- Akronafplia: the town's oldest fortress, on the rock above the old town.
- Syntagma Square: the heart of the old town, with the archaeological museum.
- The church of Agios Spyridon, where Kapodistrias, Greece's first governor, was assassinated in 1831.
- The promenade around Akronafplia to Arvanitia beach.
- A day trip to Mycenae, Agamemnon's city, less than an hour away.
- The ancient theatre of Epidaurus, a World Heritage Site, less than an hour away.
- Ancient Tiryns, on the way to Argos.
- Nemea's wineries, with an ancient stadium and temple.
Beaches near Nafplio
- Arvanitia: a small pebble beach right by the old town.
- Karathona: a long sandy beach a few minutes' drive away.
- Tolo: a beach town with sand and shallow water, good for families.
- Asini and Kantia: quieter beaches to the east.
Where to stay in Nafplio
The old town: guesthouses in old buildings, everything walkable. Most streets are closed to cars, so look for nearby parking.
Pronoia and the new town: more space and parking, a short walk to the old town.
Tolo: for a beach holiday with kids.
What to eat in Nafplio
The Argos valley is known for citrus and olives. The town has plenty of fish restaurants, tavernas and cafés, and ice-cream parlours on the square. Nemea wines from the region are known all over Greece.
Shabbat & kosher
We have not verified a Chabad house, active synagogue or kosher restaurant in Nafplio. Our Shabbat times & kosher in Greece page lists candle-lighting times and the kosher places we have verified around Greece. You can order kosher groceries and meals in advance from Chabad's e-kosher.gr, which delivers across Greece, including the islands. Order a few days before you arrive, especially ahead of Shabbat. The nearest Jewish community, with Chabad and a kosher restaurant, is in Athens, about two hours away; see our Athens page.
