About the Port
This inland route through the Peloponnese links three distinct chapters of Greek history. Sparta, once the dominant military power of the ancient world, anchors the region, though little of its classical fabric survives above ground. Nearby, the fortified hill town of Mystra rises in tiers of Byzantine churches, monasteries, and palace ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage site once so refined it earned comparison to Florence. The road onward to Olympia crosses olive-covered countryside, often with a stop at a local olive oil museum along the way.
Olympia itself holds the archaeological remains of the sanctuary where the ancient Olympic Games began, including the Temple of Zeus and the original stadium track. Because the sites sit well inland, this excursion typically requires a full day by motor coach from the coast, rewarding travelers with a sweep of antiquity, Byzantine art, and rural Greek landscape in one journey.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Sparta-Mystra-Olympia.
Climb the Ruins of Mystra
Wander cobbled paths past frescoed Byzantine churches and the Palace of the Despots on the fortified hillside; wear sturdy shoes, as the site involves a steady uphill walk of an hour or more.
Walk the Ancient Olympic Stadium
Step onto the original stone track where the first Olympic Games were held over two millennia ago, steps from the ruined Temple of Zeus in the sanctuary grounds.
Sample Local Olive Oil
Break the long inland drive with a stop at a regional olive oil museum, tasting the product of groves that blanket the Peloponnese countryside en route to Olympia.