Described by Andrew Bostock in The Bradt Guide, Greece: The Peloponnese, as ‘Easily the prettiest town on the Peloponnese’ and it’s easy to see why.
The former capital of Greece is a vibrant and bustling town that maintains an air of sophistication. It’s near wonderful sites such as Epidavros and Mycenae. There are also the rarely visited ancient sites of Tiryns, Dendra, Midea and more which are not far away and are worth seeking out.
Parking [and driving] in the town centre can be a bit of a nightmare so park for free by the harbour, there are usually plenty of spaces, and walk in. Despite its charm Nafplio does have another side to it: poverty is evident and there are numerous people begging on the street and some beautiful buildings are run down and dilapidated. Even the Mosque in the main square which had been converted into a cinema lies empty and looks very sad.
We first stayed in Nafplio for a couple of nights in 2013 and fell in love with it. Nafplio has much to offer – museums, superb castles [there are three!] and an attractive harbour setting.
Nafplio Festival
In July 2026 we were in Nafplio for their 35th Festival and there were free concerts in the town which was a lovely surprise. For more information on the festival, click HERE.
| Quick links– For more info on things to see and do in Nafplio click here. The town centre and beyond has a wide range of inviting tavernas and restaurants. If you fancy a swim there are a few options in the town or just outside. |
The old centre is maze of streets and passageways with interesting boutiques and shops.
It can get busy as it is within striking distance of Athens but it’s a great place to wander, relax, eat and drink. It has a sleepy vibe by day and a vibrant feel in the evening.
We love it here so much we now return every year and stay for a couple of nights.
Quick Links:
Things to see and do in Nafplio
Gruntie's Travels 