Corinth Canal Ancient Corinth Epidaurus Private Tour

Limestone walls of the canal, temple ruins on the Peloponnese, a UNESCO theatre, and a fortress town in one day

A private day tour from Athens to four archaeological sites across the Peloponnese: the Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth with its Temple of Apollo, the Theatre of Epidaurus (a UNESCO World Heritage site), and the hilltop Palamidi fortress in Nafplio. Hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport are included. Your driver speaks English and can answer questions about the sites, though entry fees and a licensed guide at each location are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Corinth Canal15m
2. Theatre of Epidaurus15m

Tour of Corinth, Nafplio and Epidaurus

• Pick up from hotel or port
• Drive 1 hour to first stop
• Ride on Corinth Canal
• Visit Ancient Corinth monuments
• Explore Acrocorinth acropolis
• Visit Archaeological Museum of Corinth
• Drive 1 hour to Nafplio
• Visit Palamidi fortress
• Free time for lunch and shopping in Nafplio
• Drive 30 minutes to Sanctuary of Asclepios
• Visit Sanctuary of Asclepios
• Visit Theatre of Epidaurus
• Visit Epidaurus museum
• Drive 2 hours back to Athens

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Athens hotel or Piraeus port, then a one-hour drive to the Corinth Canal: a 1893 limestone cut that separates the Peloponnese from mainland Greece. From the road above, you see the steep walls drop to the water channel below. The route then moves to Ancient Corinth itself, where the Temple of Apollo and the Bema of Saint Paul stand among the ruins of what was once one of Greece's most powerful city-states. Acrocorinth, the acropolis perched on a monolithic rock 216 metres above the plain, overlooks the entire archaeological zone. The Archaeological Museum of Corinth holds a collection of artifacts from the site. You have about an hour there before the drive continues south.

Nafplio comes next, a charming old town built around Palamidi fortress: a Venetian stronghold from the 1680s that crowns a steep hill. You get an hour and a half of free time to walk the narrow streets, browse handmade souvenirs, and eat lunch at your own pace. From there, it's a 30-minute drive to Epidaurus, home to the Sanctuary of Asclepios (the earliest organized sanatorium in the ancient world) and the Theatre of Epidaurus, one of the most intact Greek theatres ever built and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988. The museum at Epidaurus shows reconstructions of temples and columns. The return to Athens takes about two hours.

Your driver is knowledgeable and speaks fluent English, offering commentary throughout the route and answering questions about what you see, though they do not enter the archaeological sites themselves. The vehicle is air-conditioned, WiFi is available on board, and bottled water is provided. Entry fees to the sites, any licensed guide you hire at each location, and gratuities are separate from the tour price.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with hotel or port pickup.
• bottled water and WiFi on board.
• driver commentary in English throughout the route.
• stops at the Corinth Canal, Ancient Corinth Archaeological Museum, Nafplio old town, Epidaurus Sanctuary and Theatre, and the Epidaurus Museum.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 09:00

AgesAdult (6 to 80 years) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 60

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by LS Tours

Is this one for you?Your driver speaks English fluently and can answer questions about each site, so you don't need to book a separate guide if you want context as you travel, though entry to the archaeological sites and any specialist guide at each location are booked separately. The private vehicle means the itinerary stays on your schedule, and the nine-hour route fits comfortably into a single day from Athens.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Corinth Canal and why is it on this tour?

The Corinth Canal is a narrow waterway cut through limestone in 1893 to connect the Aegean and Ionian seas, separating the Peloponnese from mainland Greece. The tour passes over it by road, giving you a high vantage point to see the steep walls and understand the geography that shaped ancient Corinth's power as a trading hub.

Can I walk inside the Theatre of Epidaurus, or do I just see it from outside?

The Theatre of Epidaurus is an archaeological site you can enter and explore. Your driver will not accompany you inside, but the theatre is open for visitors to walk through and experience the ancient structure firsthand. It is one of the most complete Greek theatres surviving today.

How much free time do I have in Nafplio?

You have one hour and thirty minutes in Nafplio to walk the old town, shop for handmade souvenirs, and have lunch. The town is compact and walkable, so you can cover the main streets and eat without rushing.

Is a professional tour guide included, or just the driver?

Your driver provides commentary in English and can answer questions about the sites, but they are not a licensed archaeological guide and do not enter the sites with you. If you want a specialist guide at any location, that is arranged separately and is not included in the tour price.

What happens if I want to skip one of the stops?

The itinerary is fixed as a private tour covering all four locations. If you need a different route or want to spend more time at one site, you can discuss custom arrangements when you book, but the standard tour follows this sequence.