Harry's Guide to the Peloponnese

A good trick to see the Peloponnese and the Aegean islands without returning to Athens is: depart Gythion, Peloponnese by ferry for Crete and from Crete to many Aegean islands. Crete has 3 major ports with differing connections and schedules, with Heraklion being the capital and largest port; with most connections and airport.

There are 7 Prefectures (nomes) in the Peloponnese. The nome names in use today are the ancient ones with spelling variations. (Elia vs Ilia) During the middle ages, under the Venetian and Byzantine Empires the Peloponnese was affectionately known as the The Morea. Possibly for its mulberry leaf shape.

The Peloponnese is a great place to drive in but not in August and only if you exercise caution on the winding seashore roads of the hinterland.

Due to the modern super highway from Athens to Tripoli drivers can reach the very heart of the Isle of Pelops in a couple of hours, smack dab in the middle of nowhere.

After that the mountain and many coastal roads revert to the winding, climbing, switchbacking, hairpin paths they were surely formed from. To be fair there are some perfectly fine roads on the flatter parts but many others pass through mountain passes or the winding shore on mountains or both. The rental cars in Greece generally have stick shifts unless you ask for automatic which are like corocodile tears.

When going down hills be sure and downshift. You knew that, but do it anyway to save the breaks. The topography is magnificent in many places but no Sunday drive at the best of times if you really want to go to several places. If its high season when you visit (late July or August) then you'll get stuck on one lane roads behind other vehicles and heavily ladden dali-kas or semi trucks more often than you'd like. It is not the best time to plan a drive around the Peloponnese.

Along the coast, in towns, it will be flatter. But once you exit most towns be prepared to drive defensively and to negotiate turns. Kindly slow down when entering towns. People live here, children play and sheep and goatherds are pretty common too. Consider yourself lucky should one pass near by. There are police patrols and funny signs warning of radar survelance in some areas too. Greek like to speed and have the worst fatality rate in Europe after Portugal. Away from the shore, if you encounter a herd of sheep or goats that indicates a high likelyhood of fresh food at the local tavernas too! Similarly small ports with fishing fleets are a good sign if you like seafood. Just pull over and make firends!

The Peloponnese has some good destinations if its a beach your looking to lay on too. Tolo is well known and you wont need a car. For historic ambience, a night or two in Medieval Naufplion or Monemvassia cant be beat. There are salt marshes for those that like bird watching and many beaches along the west coast with few visitors.

If you dont feel like driving here on your own here are a few Oracle Greece Taxi or Bus touring destinations in the Peloponnese (in bold) that you may choose from. Remember, Oracle will take you anywhere you specify.

Or please see the organized luxury coach tours page.

Athens, Cape Sounion, Ancient Corinth, Delphi & Ossios Lukas, Drama, Florina, Greneva, Chalkidiki, Imathia, Kastoria, Kavala, Kozani, Meteora, Mt. Athos, Mycenaea, Naufplion, Olympia, Pella and Vergina, Phillipi & Kavala, Dion & Mt Olympus, Sparta & Mystras, The Mani and Monemvasia, Thessaloniki,
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