Olympia Shore Excursion from Katakolon: Ancient Site & Museum

The Temple of Zeus once held one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

This shore excursion from Katakolon Port takes cruise passengers to Ancient Olympia and its Archaeological Museum in a single morning, with certified English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, and guaranteed on-time return to the ship. You choose between the museum or free time in the modern village after exploring the ancient site. The operator has 20 years of experience with cruise schedules and offers a full refund if your ship fails to arrive.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ancient Olympia1h · entry included
2. Archaeological Museum of Olympia1h · entry included

Explore Ancient Olympia and surroundings

• Meet local team at cruise terminal
• Travel by air-conditioned coach to Ancient Olympia
• Explore Ancient Olympia archaeological site
• Visit Archaeological Museum of Olympia or free time in modern village
• Return by coach to Katakolon Cruise Port

The experience

Your guide meets you just outside the cruise terminal and leads you onto an air-conditioned coach for the drive through the Peloponnese countryside: olive groves, rolling hills, and traditional villages pass as you head inland toward Ancient Olympia. The site itself spans nearly 3,000 years of history: you walk through the Temple of Zeus, where one of antiquity's Seven Wonders once stood, and the Temple of Hera, where the Olympic Torch ceremony still begins before every modern Games. The ancient gymnasium and training grounds where athletes prepared for competition are still visible on the ground.

After the archaeological site, you either enter the Archaeological Museum of Olympia or spend free time in the modern village. The museum holds the Hermes of Praxiteles, one of Greece's most celebrated sculptures, alongside sacred treasures and artifacts excavated from the sanctuary itself. If you skip the museum, you can browse local shops, sit in a traditional café, or eat at a taverna. The itinerary can shift depending on traffic and crowds, but the operator aims to fit all the main stops into the morning.

The return journey to Katakolon Port is built around your ship's schedule: the operator guarantees an on-time arrival back at the terminal. If your ship does not reach port as scheduled and the tour cannot be rescheduled, you receive a full refund. The whole excursion runs about five hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off at Katakolon Cruise Port.
• air-conditioned coach transportation.
• certified English-speaking guide.
• admission to the Archaeological Site of Ancient Olympia and the Archaeological Museum of Olympia (or free time in the modern village).
• 24/7 customer support.
• full refund if your ship does not arrive as scheduled.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 17:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (19 to 88 years) · Youth (13 to 18 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by iTRAVEL MYKONOS

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and leads the group through both sites, so you follow the commentary comfortably if English is your language. The five-hour window is tight for a cruise port, but the operator's 20 years of experience means the schedule stays locked to your ship's timeline. You're never rushed back, and you're never left behind.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What was Ancient Olympia used for before it became a tourist site?

Ancient Olympia was the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were first held in 776 BC and where they continued to be held for over a thousand years. The Temple of Zeus housed one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the Temple of Hera is where the Olympic Torch ceremony still begins before every modern Games. Athletes trained in the ancient gymnasium on the same grounds you walk through today.

Do I have to visit the museum, or can I spend that time in the village instead?

You choose: after exploring the ancient site, you either enter the Archaeological Museum of Olympia to see the Hermes of Praxiteles and other treasures, or you have free time in the modern village to shop, eat, or relax at a café.

How much time do I actually have at Ancient Olympia itself?

The exact time at each stop can shift due to traffic and crowd levels, but the operator structures the excursion to include the main temples and grounds at the ancient site before moving on to either the museum or the village. The entire tour runs about five hours from pickup to return.

What happens if my ship is delayed and I miss the departure time?

The operator guarantees an on-time return to Katakolon Port and has 20 years of experience timing tours to cruise schedules. If your ship does not arrive as scheduled and the tour cannot be rescheduled, you receive a full refund.

Is there food included, or do I need to bring money for lunch?

Food and drinks are not included in the tour price. If you choose free time in the village, you can eat at a traditional taverna or grab something at a café, and you'll need to budget for that separately.