Day 7: Dimitsana - What to see in Olympia in Greece - Galaxidi
Today is the day scheduled to enjoy the places to see in Olympia in Greece, one of the essential places to see in Greece and the one we know, will be the highlight of today's journey on the trip to Greece in 32 days.
After waking up at 6 in the morning and working a couple of hours, when it is 8, we go down to the breakfast room of the Archontiko Deligianni hotel, which has been our accommodation in Dimitsana tonight, to enjoy a breakfast included in the price of the room, which turns out to be excellent in every way, and gives us energy to start the day.
There are a few minutes to 9 when we pick up the rental car and make our way to what will be the first stop of the day, which is none other than visiting all the places to see in Olympia, one of the best known archaeological sites in Greece , which is 1 hour and a half from Dimitsana and is considered one of the best tours and excursions in Athens.
Part of the route runs almost entirely along a very narrow mountain road, surrounded by greenery, which goes through small medieval villages, like the ones we met yesterday after visiting the Epidaurus Theater and through those we could meet, although only It was a bit, from this area of Central Arcadia.
Although as we have said on several occasions, especially the day of the car rental in Athens, driving in Greece we do not think it is much less dangerous, we do have to take special care with the overtaking that they usually do in continuous line and more in This type of roads, which are very narrow and also with many curves.
Central Arcadia
We arrive at Olympia when it is 10:30 in the morning, after 80 kilometers of travel, parking directly in the parking lot of the archaeological site and taking advantage of for a few minutes, review all the places to see in Olympia that we have written down and thus fulfill one of the dreams of this Greece for free.
Tips for visiting Olympia
- In the archaeological site of Olympia there are two car parks, but keep in mind that they are approximately 300 meters from the site, which you can only walk on foot. Even if you see that there is a road, it is only accessible for taxis and authorized vehicles, so the car has to be left outside in the free parking lot.
- The schedule to visit Olimpia in summer is from 8 in the morning 8 in the afternoon and in winter until 5 in the afternoon. Check schedules in low season to confirm.
- The price of the ticket is 12 euros per person and in this case, you can not pay by card, being one of the few who do not accept this form of payment.
- Although the visit could last one day, since there are many places to see in Olympia, a tourist visit, will take you approximately two and a half hours or three hours seeing everything with tranquility and taking pictures.
- As in the rest of the archaeological sites of Greece, in most places to visit in Olympia there is not much shade, so it is convenient to come with sunscreen, a cap and water.
- Keep in mind that at the site there is no machine to buy water or soft drinks, so you must take them or go to Olimpia city, to buy.
- Something to keep in mind is to respect, as we always say, the place where you are. Having education, respecting other travelers and the archaeological site, should be basic things on the trip. Please do not get on any of the columns or touch anything, since the important thing is to leave things as we have found them, leaving no more than our tracks.
- The perfect complement to the visit of Ancient Olympia, is without a doubt, the museum of the site. We recommend you to come sooner or later and spend 30-45 minutes to visit, which will allow you to get to know this incredible place much more closely.
- Although you can visit Olympia for free without problems, if you do not want to rent a car, you are staying in Athens and want to know more about the place, a good option is to book this Circuit for Mycenae and Olympia for 2 days, the Classic Circuit for 4 days or the Classic 3-day circuit, all with guide in Spanish.
What to see in Olympia
What to see in Olympia in Greece
Known for being the place that hosted the Olympic games, Ancient Olympia is one of the most incredible places in Greece, which we are sure, will not disappoint you.
Site museum
Although we visit it at the end of the visit to the places to see in Olympia, after the experience, we believe that to have a more formed idea of Olympia, it is advisable to visit it before and so on, to be more aware of the importance of the place, to as well as being able to recreate it in our imagination more easily.
Museum of Ancient Olympia
Olympia gym
This is the first place you can see in Olympia and where you can also see the arena, known for being the place where participants trained.
As an observation, keep in mind that just at the entrance they do not provide you with any type of information, although in all the places of interest you will find informative cartels, in English and Greek, so if you want to have more data, it can be interesting to have a paper guide that includes places to see in Olympia.
Olympia gym
House of priests and Phidias Workshop
This place is known for being the place where the molds of the impressive statue of Zeus were discovered.
The workshop is located right next to the House of the priests or the Leonidaion, place where the leaders who arrived in Olympia were installed.
Phidias Workshop
Zeus enclosure
Known for being one of the most important places what to see in Olympia, is the location of the statue of Zeus that was destroyed by fire and although it is not fully restored, today you can see a column, with which we can get an idea of the incredible place.
Zeus enclosure
Olympia Stadium
This is probably the best known place and by which many travelers arrive in Olympia. It is accessed through an arch and as we saw in Nemea, here also the starting lines and the seats of the judges are preserved.
Although imagination is needed to intuit how it was, we recommend you go through it, even if it is hot, to be able to feel, at least in a certain way, the vastness of the place and what it came to represent at the time.
Olympia Stadium
Hera Temple
This Doric temple is the best preserved in Ancient Olympia and is next to the nymph, another of the most striking buildings of Olympia, which highlighted its Doric columns and the circular temple
Hera Temple
Book the best rated tours and excursions in Spanish to get to know Mycenae by travelers:
- Circuit for Mycenae and Olympia for 2 days
- Classic 4-day circuit
- Classic 3 day circuit
- Many more excursions and tours in / from Athens here
Book the best rated tours and excursions in Spanish to get to know Mycenae by travelers:We finish the visit to Olympia when it is 1 noon, to continue with the route of the day, which will take us to Galaxidi, the place where we sleep tonight. But as you imagine, being the time it is, we need to make a stop to eat and being so close to Olympia, a city today engulfed by locals focused on tourism and that we just don't like too much, we decided on Symposio Taverna, in the center of the city, where we ordered a salad of eggplant, olives, shrimp and a gyro of chicken plus beer, soda and two coffees for 40 euros.
Although it is one of the most recommended restaurants in this area, we have to confess that we have not quite liked it, although it is a good option to make a quick stop.
Symposio Taverna
It is 2 in the afternoon when we return to the parking lot of the archaeological site of Olympia that we have right next to the restaurant and we make our way to Galaxidi, which is 210 kilometers away and where we arrive in approximately 3 hours.
It is on this route that we fill the deposit for the first time, with 49 euros and a price of 1.62 euros per liter, a price that will remain on virtually the entire trip through Continental Greece and where at the time we leave the peninsula from the Peloponnese and we pass by the Rion-Antorion bridge, we have to pay a toll for 2 kilometers of 13.30 euros. The most expensive we have paid so far and that make us realize that tolls in Greece are not as cheap as it might seem when we started the trip.
Rion-Antorion Bridge
We arrive at Galaxidi when it is 5 p.m., going straight to Hirolakas Pension, which will be our accommodation in Galaxidi tonight, and from where we have unique views of the sea from our room, something that we take to rest for practically two hours, relax and enjoy a place as soon as we arrive, we can say that it has stolen our hearts.
Galaxidi
Galaxidi was an intermediate point between Olympia and the Hosios Loukas Monastery, which we will visit tomorrow, but from which we read little and from which we will not lie, we expected little. It is perhaps for that reason, that as soon as we arrive and see a small fishing village, without tourism, in which everyone greeted us on the street and worried about knowing where we were coming from, where we were going and where we were going to dinner, he immediately stole our soul and made us feel at home, becoming one of the places we will remember from this trip to Greece, as an essential, that without having anything special What to see, is one of the most incredible places and that made us feel the best of the trip.
More practical information to prepare your trip to Greece
- 10 essential places to see in Greece
- The best tips for traveling to Greece
- The 10 best Greek Islands
Galaxidi
Galaxidi
It is 7 in the afternoon when with practically 35 degrees, we begin to discover this charming little town, without a map or any defined route, entering its historic center, full of charming little streets, adorned with flowers on the balconies, and then turn around to the bay and reach the port, the liveliest area, where virtually all the restaurants in the city are concentrated and where the atmosphere is much more lively.
If you feel like visiting Galaxidi, keep in mind that in an hour you can visit the town, although if you are doing a route similar to ours, we can only recommend that you spend the night here to enjoy the walks bordering the sea and enjoying only the Charm of Greece and its small and picturesque villages.
Galaxidi
It is 8 pm when we decide to approach the Skeletovrachos Taverna restaurant, in the big port, where we order some eggplants with zucchini, squid, octopus and water for 28.50 euros, which are the end of a day full of surprises in the that after the places to see in Olympia, it has taken us to one of the most beautiful corners of Greece.
Dinner at Skeletovrachos Taverna
And so, we return to Hirolakas Pension, ready to rest and enjoy the sound of the sea in front of the window of our room.
Route of the day visiting Olympia and Galaxidi
Today's route has led us to know the places to see in Olympia and sleep in Galaxidi, a surprise on this trip, which has become one of our favorite places in Greece.
Day 8: Galaxidi - Visit the Osios Loukas Monastery in Greece - Arajova - Delphi
