Archaeological Site of Olympia

Private tours

Travel back in time to the site of the first Olympic Games, and the Unesco-listed ruins of Ancient Olympia. Go directly to the archaeological site of the ancient Olympia, one of the archaeological highlights of the Peloponnese.Stroll and admire the remains of temples. See the Temple of Zeus, the largest temple in the Peloponnese, considered by many to be the perfect example of Doric architecture.Next, visit The Temple of Hera, one of the oldest monumental temples in Greece. Explore the stadium, hippodrome, wrestling school, and gymnasium where Olympic athletes trained. Continue to the archaeological museum that presents the long history of the most-celebrated sanctuary of antiquity: the sanctuary of Zeus. Take in a vast number of finds from the excavations in the sacred precinct of the Altis.Conclude your visit wit a stop at The Museum of the History of the Olympic Games in Olympia. Learn the important history of the Olympic Games and hosts findings related to the period when the ancient games took place.

Explore the Archeological Site of Olympia on your own with a roundtrip transfer from the Katakolo Cruise port. Drive through the scenic mainland of western Peloponnese and explore the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Return to the port, just in time for your cruise departure. Meet your guide outside of the cruise terminal and board an air-conditioned bus to Ancient Olympia. Buy your admission ticket upon arrival and enter the archeological site. Learn of the origin of the Olympic Games in classical times, held from 776 BC until 393 AD. Marvel at the Temple of Hera and the Olympic flame that burns outside during the modern-day games. See the Temple of Zeus that once housed one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Golden and Ivory statue of Zeus. Witness where competitors once swore an oath to honor the rules at the Stadium and Bouleuterion. Feel free to explore at your own pace and choose to visit the modern Village of Olympia for shopping or a traditional meal. Take a moment to swim at the nearby beach before returning to your awaiting cruise ship.

Meet your host at the local partner's office in Olympia, who will then explain how the virtual reality (VR) glasses work. After the short introduction, begin your virtual tour at the Archeological Site and step back in time to experience ancient Olympia. Listen to interesting facts about each monument and see many monuments come to life again.  You’ll first visit the Ancient Gymnasium, where athletes used to train for the Olympic Games before making your way to Palestra, the training place of boxers and wrestlers. Next, you’ll stop at the Phidias Workshop, where Phidias created one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Heading east, you will see the Temple of Zeus and virtually enter the monument to see the magnificent Statue of Zeus. Then, find yourself in the Ancient Stadium. Through your VR glasses, you will get to experience an ancient sporting event. See athletes competing for the Olympics and admire them from the finishing line. Then head over to the ruins of the Nymphaeum of Herodes of Atticus. With the help of your VR glasses, you’ll be able to see the ruins of the Nymphaeum in its full grandeur and see it come to life again. Last, see the lighting of the Olympic Flame in ancient times and discover that some traditions have remained the same until today. 15 monuments in total will be available for you to discover using virtual reality and audio guide.

Enjoy this convenient transfer from your cruise ship terminal at Katakolo Port, and head to the famous Ancient Olympia. Travel by air-conditioned vehicle and enjoy a VR Audio Tour where you can relive the past. Disembark from your cruise ship and find the local partner at the exit cruise terminal. Hop into an air-conditioned bus and start driving 30-minutes through the idyllic country side to Ancient Olympia. Reach Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic games. Relive the past with a Virtual Reality application and listen to the fascinating audioguide in 8 languages. Admire the wonder and thrill of the original Olympic Games, which were held from 776 BC. to 393 AD. Enter the famous archaeological site of Olympia and marvel at the Temple of Hera, in front of which burns the Olympic Flame during modern day Olympic Games. See the Temple of Zeus, which once housed the Golden and Ivory statue of Zeus (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) and the original Stadium and Bouleuterion, monuments unlike any other, where once competitors swore an oath to conform to the rules. The tickets for the Museum and the Ancient Olympia Site are not included. From April to October the tickets are 12 Euro per person. From November to March they are 6 Euro per person. Near the Archaeological site is the modern village of Olympia that you can easily reach for shopping, souvenirs, or a quick lunch, coffee, and snacks. After a day full of history and culture you will return to the Katakolo village and port. Enter your cruise or spend some time at the picturesque village by the sea.

Experience Olympia at your own pace with an e-ticket and a captivating self-guided audio tour on your smartphone. Receive your ticket by email, download the app and the audio tour on your phone, prior to your visit, and travel back in time to experience the glory of Olympia. Put on your headphones and explore the Gymnasium and continue to meet The Palestra, getting acquainted with the Prytaneion, The Phillipeion, and The temple of Hera. Through the power of storytelling and learn historical information and uncommon stories and anecdotes from ancient times. Tour’s content is the result of in-depth research, squeezed into brief original stories that will make your visit both engaging and informative. The audio tour can be used repeatedly and anytime, before or after your visit. This is an unmissable opportunity to enjoy the archaeological site of Olympia and discover the truth behind the world-renowned mythological story.

Day 1: Corinth Canal (short stop). Drive to Epidaurus, and pay a visit to the archaeological site and to the theatre, famous for its remarkable acoustics. Continue on to Nauplia for a short stop. Next, drive to Mycenae where you will visit the fascinating archaeological site. Depart for Olympia, passing through the central Peloponnese area and passing the cities of Megalopolis and Tripolis. Finally, arrive in Olympia for dinner and overnight stay. There is also a possibility of staying in Nauplia instead. (Dinner included). Day 2: In the morning visit the archaeological site and the museum of Olympia. Drive via Patras to Rion, cross the channel to Antirion on the state of the art suspension bridge, known as the longest and most modern in Europe. Arrive in Nafpaktos, then continue to Delphi. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay in Delphi. (Breakfast and dinner included). Day 3: First, visit the archaeological site and the museum of Delphi. Depart for Kalambaka, passing through Amphissa, Lamia and Trikala. Arrive in Kalambaka, and savor a dinner before your overnight stay. (Breakfast and dinner included). Day 4: In the morning, visit the breathtaking Meteora. In the early afternoon, start the drive back to Athens passing via Thermopylae and Kammena Vourla. (Breakfast included). This tour offers the opportunity to visit the most impressive historical Greek sites, giving you an insight into the glorious past of Greece.

Take a step back from the present day and delve into the wonders of ancient Greece over the course of 4 unforgettable days. Jump aboard the luxury bus, sit back and enjoy a zero carbon journey through the archeological sanctuaries of Epidaurus, Mycenae, Nafplio, Olympia, Delphi and Meteora. With stunning scenery along the way, incredible architecture and a place to rest your head at night, this tour has everything you could want and more. Day 1: Visit Epdiaurus, Nafpila and Mycenae The Day starts with a drive along the Corinth Canal to Epidaurus, the reputed birthplace of Apollo's son Asclepius, and a visit to the ancient theatre, renowned for its symmetry and exceptional acoustics. From here you will proceed on to the seaport town Nafplio for a short stop then on through the plain of Argos arriving at Mycenae. This archeological site was once a major centre to Greek civilisation and is home to the Tomb of Agamemnon. In the afternoon you will depart for Olympia, where you will spend the night. Day 2: Discover Olympia and Delphi There is much to be explored at the home of the Olympic Games. Stride among the gods at the temples of Hera and Zeus, cower at the alter of the Olympic Flame, where the sacrifices were made, and buff up on your history at the site's museum. The journey will continue on via Patras to Rio, across the state-of-the-art Rio-Antirrio bridge, past the city of Nafpaktos and along the beautiful coastal road to Delphi. Thought of by the Greeks as the middle of the entire earth, Delphi came to be known as the navel of the world. In the afternoon you will take a trip to the picturesque mountain village of Arachova then back to Delphi for an overnight stay. Day 3: Explore Delphi and Ovenight stay in Kalambaka Spend a relaxed and possibly spiritual morning in Delphi taking in the atmosphere of this centre of Greek worship, the place where heaven and earth meet. In the afternoon you will depart for Kalambaka. Overlooked by the Meteora Monasteries, this will be your resting place for the night. Day 4: The Meteora Monasteries and return to Athens Travel the heights to Meteora, where you can visit the most important complex of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece. Built high on 6 sandstone pillars overlooking Kalambaka, you will experience breathtaking views carved by the elements of nature. Your return trip will offer an optional trip to a factory of Byzantine style icons, then continue past the monument of Leonidas (King of Sparta), and finishing up your monumental tour back in Athens in the late afternoon.

This exciting 3-day and environmentally responsible tour takes you to the most important archaeological sites of classical Greece. Providing a superb introduction to some of the myths of the ancient world, you will visit the tomb of Agamemnon in Mycenae, the Temple of Apollo and Oracle at Delphi, and the altar of the Olympic flame at Olympia. You will also make short stops in the cities of Tripolis and Megalopolis, drive past the mighty Corinth Canal, and see the charming harbor town of Nafpaktos. Day 1: Epidaurus – Nayplia - Mycenae Following your departure from Athens, visit the Corinth Canal on the Saronic Gulf and admire the miraculous 19th-century feat of engineering. Continue to Epidaurus to tour the ancient theater, world famous for its outstanding acoustics. Proceed to Nafplia, former capital of the First Hellenic Republic, and drive through the plain of Argos. Upon arrival in Mycenae, visit the ruins of the citadel and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Continue to Olympia for your overnight stay, traveling via the cities of Tripolis and Megalopolis, where you can take short stops to stretch your legs or purchase souvenir items. Day 2: Olympia - Delphi Visit the archaeological remains of Olympia, site of the Olympic Games in classical times and sacred ground to the Ancient Greeks. Admire the Doric columns of the Temples of Zeus and Hera, see the remains of the Stadium, and go to the altar of the Olympic flame. Explore the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, located directly opposite the ruins and filled with excavated artifacts. Depart Olympia for Rion, and cross the Corinthian Bay via the new bridge to Antirion. Sit back and enjoy the ride along the coastal road to Delphi, passing the charming small harbor city of Nafpaktos. In the afternoon visit the picturesque mountain village of Arachova on the slopes of the Parnassus Mountains, before your overnight stay in Delphi. Day 3: Delphi - Athens Today, experience the mysterious atmosphere of Delphi up close, with a tour of the archaeological site perched high on the Parnassus Mountains. Once regarded as the center of the world, Delphi was connected to the worship of Gaia, or Mother Earth, and guarded by a Python dragon that was killed by Apollo. Visit the temple dedicated to Apollo and learn about the great Oracle of Delphi. Continue to the theater, where up to 5,000 spectators would watch plays, poetry readings, and festivals. Enjoy superb views of the Parnassus Mountains and valley from the top of the hill and explore an impressive collection of artefacts and relics associated with ancient Delphi at the Archaeological Museum. In the afternoon, make your way back to Athens, driving through the vine and olive tree-studded hills of Parnassus and the Valley of Phocis.

Start your tour with a visit to the Corinth Canal, a site of utmost historical significance. Enjoy a brief 15 minute stop here and take plenty of pictures whilst you have a refreshing beverage. Next, continue your travels to Ancient Olympia, where you will get to stop and discover with your driver for around 5 hours.  During your time here, you will get to visit some of ancient Greece's most iconic landmarks, such as the Archaeological Site of Olympia, the Philippeion, the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, the Museum of the Olympic Games and the Archimedes Museum. Whilst in the city of Olympia, your driver will be able to suggest a delicious, traditional Greek tavern for you to stop and have lunch.

In 776 BC there was already an idea for peace at Olympia sanctuary. Initially the festival started as a local event that has become Panhellenic (all Greeks) in the next centuries. The culmination was reached in the Greek classical period of 5 century B.C. The world of the gods. of the heroes. of myths, and the sacrificial symposia formed the ethos of the ancient Greeks and defined them as a unique moment in the history of humanity. The institution contributed decisively to the unity of the Greeks, equality,  peace, humanism and good competition which are among the characteristics of this period.  The harmony of body and mind evolved through sport and philosphy. The harmony is reflected in the statues of the gods and the myths.  This is a private guided walking tour of almost 2.5 hours in the Ancient Olympia. The tour goes through the sacred grove of Zeus with all the religious and auxiliary buildings.