A Peloponnese road trip is the ultimate Greek odyssey for any driver. You drive through the Mani where stone towers rise from the dry, red earth. The landscape is tough and beautiful like the warriors who once lived here. You find sea caves and ghost towns at the very end of the coastal road. It is a place where the sun feels stronger and the history feels deeper. The mountain roads of the interior are a lush contrast to the rocky southern capes.
Stop at the ancient theater of Epidaurus to hear a tiny whisper from the stage. Then drive to the hidden castle of Monemvasia which sits on a massive rock in the sea. You park outside the main gate and walk into a silent medieval dream. The roads here hug the coast for miles and miles, offering views of the blue Myrtoan Sea. Every village you pass has a story of a hero or a myth attached to it.
Finish your loop at Olympia where the first Olympic games began. You walk under the shade of ancient trees and see the original starting line. The drive back through the mountains of Arcadia is lush, green, and full of waterfalls. It is a complete journey through the soul of Greece in one big loop. You will return your rental car with a much better understanding of the Greek spirit.
Peloponnese highlights
- Monemvasia Castle Drive to the giant rock in the sea and walk into a hidden medieval town through the gate. You park at the bridge and leave the modern world behind for a walk through stone history. It is a romantic dream of a town with no cars allowed inside the walls.
- Mani Tower Houses Explore the rugged south where people built tall stone towers to protect their families and land. The landscape is dry and wild and looks like a set from a grand old movie about war. The roads hug the cliffs and offer views of the deep blue sea below.
- Ancient Epidaurus Visit the best preserved ancient theater in the world hidden in a quiet and green pine forest. The sound is so good you can hear a tiny whisper from the stage while sitting in the top row. The drive through the hills of Argolis is very lush and scenic.
- Voidokilia Beach Drive to this beach that is shaped like a perfect circle and has golden sand and clear water. It is tucked behind a quiet lagoon and a hill with an old castle watching over the bay. The water is very calm and perfect for a relaxing swim in the sun.
- Mystras Byzantine City Climb the slopes near Sparta to see a whole city of ruined palaces and stone churches. The views of the valley below are massive and show the old power of the Byzantine Empire. It is a city made of stone that feels very quiet and grand today.
- Corinth Canal Stop the car on the old bridge to see the narrow and very deep cut that separates the land. The walls are straight and high and the water at the bottom is a bright and glowing blue. It is a great photo spot for anyone entering the region by car.
- Lousios Gorge Drive through the high mountains of Arcadia to find old monasteries hanging on the vertical cliff walls. The river below is wild and the forest is thick with old oak and plane trees. The roads are narrow and offer a true mountain driving experience.
- Methoni Fortress See this giant castle with a unique octagonal tower that sits right in the crashing sea waves. You can walk the thick stone walls and look out at the open water toward the south. The drive along the coast is easy and passes many olive groves.
- Polylimnio Waterfalls Follow a hidden path to find a series of bright green lakes and tall waterfalls in the forest. You can swim in the cool fresh water during a hot drive through the southern hills. It is a secret jungle spot that feels very hidden and special.
- Diros Caves Take a boat trip through a long underground river filled with white and red stone shapes. The caves are huge and the water is very deep and dark as you float through the earth. The drive to reach the Mani coast is epic and full of views.
The local Four
History of Peloponnese
The Peloponnese is home to the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae, which reached its peak in 1350 BC. On a Peloponnese road trip, you pass through the Lion Gate, the oldest piece of monumental sculpture in Europe. The city was the center of a civilization that used a script called Linear B, the earliest form of the Greek language. To the south, the city of Sparta was the only Greek city state that had no walls as its citizens claimed their soldiers were the walls.
In the 13th century, the region became the Principality of Achaea under Frankish crusaders. They built the castle of Mistras, which became the last great center of Byzantine learning before the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The Mani peninsula remained so rugged and rebellious that the Ottoman Empire never fully conquered its people. The local clans lived in over eight hundred stone tower houses designed for defense during long family blood feuds.
The modern Greek state was effectively born here in 1821 when the revolution was declared at the monastery of Agia Lavra. In 1827, the naval Battle of Navarino took place in the bay of Pylos, where the combined British, French, and Russian fleets destroyed the Ottoman navy. The region also features the theater of Epidaurus, built in the 4th century BC with acoustics that allow a coin drop to be heard in the back row. It is a land of ancient epic wars, medieval towers, and revolutionary fire.