Nafplio is one of the easiest towns in the Peloponnese to reach, about two hours from Athens by a good road and served by frequent buses. There is no train and no airport at the town itself, so nearly everyone arrives from Athens or its airport by bus, car, taxi or organised tour. Knowing the options, the times and the costs makes the journey simple, whether you come for a day trip or as the start of a longer stay in the Argolid.
This guide covers how to get to Nafplio in full: the bus from Athens, the drive by car, the routes from Athens airport, why there is no train, how long it takes, getting around the town and reaching the ancient sites and beaches. Read it beside the full Nafplio travel guide, the guide to day trips from Nafplio and the guide on where to stay in Nafplio.
How do you get to Nafplio?
You get to Nafplio from Athens, about 140 kilometres away, by direct KTEL bus from the Kifissos terminal or by car on the national road via the Corinth Canal, both taking around two hours. There is no train or airport at Nafplio, so the bus, a car, a taxi or a tour are the ways to arrive.
Athens is the gateway. Nafplio lies about 140 kilometres southwest of Athens, some two hours away by road, so nearly every visitor comes from the capital or its airport, either as a day trip or as the start of a longer stay in the Peloponnese, making Athens the natural starting point for the journey.
The bus and the car are the main ways. A direct KTEL bus runs from the Kifissos terminal in Athens to Nafplio in about two hours, and the drive on the national road through the Corinth Canal takes a similar time, so both public transport and a hire car reach the town easily and directly.
There is no train or local airport. Because no railway and no airport serve Nafplio, the options are the bus, a car, a taxi or private transfer, or an organised tour, so travellers choose between the cheap and frequent bus and the freedom of a car, as the sections below set out.
How do you get from Athens to Nafplio by bus?
Direct KTEL buses run from the Kifissos terminal in Athens to Nafplio several times a day, taking about two hours to two hours and ten minutes, with tickets around 13 to 15 euros. The buses drop you at the town terminal near the old town, close to the sights and most hotels.
The buses leave from Kifissos. KTEL Argolidas operates frequent coaches from the Kifissos bus terminal in Athens to Nafplio, running through the day, so the bus is a reliable and inexpensive way to reach the town, with several departures that make a day trip or a longer stay easy to plan.
The journey is quick and cheap. The bus takes about two hours to two hours and ten minutes and costs in the region of 13 to 15 euros one way, so it is both fast and affordable, running down the national road through the Corinth Canal and across the Argolid to the town.
It drops you by the old town. The Nafplio bus terminal sits close to the old town, within walking distance of the squares, the waterfront and most hotels, so arriving by bus leaves you right at the heart of things, with no need for onward transport once you reach the town.
How do you reach the Kifissos bus terminal in Athens?
The Kifissos bus terminal in Athens is reached by the blue metro line to Elaionas station and a short walk or a connecting bus, by city bus 051 from Omonoia, or by the X93 express bus from Athens airport. A taxi from the centre or airport is the quickest but dearest option.
The metro is the simplest route. Taking the blue metro line to Elaionas station and then walking about a kilometre and a half, or transferring to a local bus, is the easiest public way to reach the Kifissos terminal, so travellers staying in central Athens reach the bus for Nafplio without much trouble.
City buses also serve it. Bus 051 runs to the Kifissos terminal from Omonoia in the centre of Athens, so those near the city centre reach the terminal by a single bus, though the metro and a short connection are often faster and easier to follow for visitors.
The airport connects by the X93. From Athens airport the X93 express bus runs directly to the Kifissos terminal, so arriving travellers can reach the bus for Nafplio without going into the city, making the terminal accessible from both the centre and the airport of Athens.
How do you get from Athens to Nafplio by car?
You drive from Athens to Nafplio in about two hours on the national road, following the motorway to Corinth, crossing the Corinth Canal, then taking the road towards Tripoli and the signs to Nafplio and Mycenae. The distance is about 140 kilometres on fast, well-signed roads.
The route is straightforward. From Athens the drive follows the national motorway west to Corinth, crosses the famous Corinth Canal at the Isthmus, then turns south on the road towards Tripoli, leaving it at the well-signed exit for Nafplio and Mycenae, so the way is easy to follow and mostly on fast roads.
The drive takes about two hours. Covering roughly 140 kilometres on motorway and good national road, the journey takes around two hours depending on traffic leaving Athens, so a car reaches Nafplio in a comfortable morning, with the Corinth Canal a worthwhile stop on the way.
A car opens the region. Beyond reaching the town, a hire car gives the freedom to explore the ancient sites of Mycenae, Epidaurus and Nemea and the beaches at your own pace, so driving is the ideal choice for those who plan to tour the Argolid, as the guide to day trips from Nafplio explains.
How do you get from Athens airport to Nafplio?
From Athens airport to Nafplio there is no direct service, so the usual public route is the X93 express bus to the Kifissos terminal and then a KTEL bus to Nafplio, about two hours and fifty minutes in total for around 18 to 19 euros. A taxi or private transfer takes about two hours.
The bus route needs one change. From the airport the X93 express bus runs to the Kifissos terminal in about an hour, where a KTEL bus continues to Nafplio in a further two hours, so the total journey by public transport is around two hours and fifty minutes, not counting waits, for a combined fare of roughly 18 to 19 euros.
A car reaches it directly. Hiring a car at the airport, drivers join the motorway and follow the signs first to Elefsina, then Corinth and finally Nafplio, so those with a car reach the town directly in about two hours, avoiding the change of bus and gaining the freedom of the road.
A taxi or transfer is quickest. A taxi or private transfer from the airport covers the roughly 170 kilometres to Nafplio in about two hours for a fixed fare of around 150 euros, so travellers who want a direct, door-to-door journey without changing buses choose a private transfer, especially in a group.
Is there a train to Nafplio?
There is no train service to Nafplio. The old railway to the town closed and no passenger trains run there now, so the bus, a car, a taxi or a tour are the only ways to reach it. The nearest useful rail links are in Athens, from where the bus or the road complete the journey.
The railway no longer runs. Nafplio once had a railway, but passenger services to the town ended, so despite old maps and stations no trains reach Nafplio today, and travellers hoping to arrive by rail must instead take the bus or drive from Athens.
The bus fills the gap. Because there is no train, the frequent and cheap KTEL bus from Athens is the main public way to reach Nafplio, running the journey in about two hours, so the lack of a railway is no obstacle to reaching the town without a car.
Athens is the transport hub. All routes to Nafplio pass through Athens and its bus network, so travellers arriving in Greece by air or rail reach the capital first and then take the bus or the road to Nafplio, with no direct rail option to the town itself.
How long does it take to get to Nafplio from Athens?
It takes about two hours to get from Athens to Nafplio by car or direct bus, covering roughly 140 kilometres. From Athens airport the journey is about two hours by car or private transfer, or around two hours and fifty minutes by public transport with a change at the Kifissos terminal.
The direct journey is about two hours. Whether by the KTEL bus from Kifissos or by car on the national road, the trip from Athens to Nafplio takes around two hours, so the town is an easy half-day journey from the capital, comfortably reached in a morning.
The airport adds time by bus. From Athens airport the drive or a private transfer still takes about two hours, but the public route, with its change from the X93 to the KTEL bus at Kifissos, runs to about two hours and fifty minutes, so arriving travellers do well to allow extra time.
Traffic leaving Athens matters. The main variable is the traffic on the way out of Athens, heaviest at rush hours, so timing a departure outside the busiest periods keeps the journey close to two hours, and an early start also means arriving in Nafplio with the day ahead.
How do you get around Nafplio once you arrive?
You get around Nafplio on foot, as the old town is compact and largely pedestrian. The sights, tavernas and waterfront are all within a short walk, a road and taxis serve Palamidi, boats cross to Bourtzi, and a car or bus is needed only for the beaches and the day trips.
The town is walked. The old town of Nafplio is small, paved in marble and closed to most traffic, so walking is the easiest and most pleasant way to see it, with the squares, museums, churches and harbour all within a few minutes of one another on foot.
The nearer sights are easily reached. A road and taxis run up to Palamidi, and small boats cross to the island castle of Bourtzi from the waterfront, so even the sights beyond the old town are reached without a car, on foot, by taxi or by boat.
A car helps beyond the town. Reaching the beaches at Karathona and Tolo and the ancient sites of the Argolid is easier with a car or the local buses, so a hire car comes into its own for exploring beyond the town, as the guide on where to stay in Nafplio notes for drivers.
How do you get from Nafplio to Mycenae and Epidaurus?
From Nafplio the ancient sites are reached by car, local KTEL bus or organised tour. Mycenae is about half an hour north, Epidaurus about forty minutes east, and Tiryns only four kilometres away, so a car makes the day trips easy, with buses serving the main sites for those without one.
A car reaches them at will. With a hire car the citadel of Mycenae, the theatre of Epidaurus, the palace of Tiryns and the wine country of Nemea are all reachable in well under an hour, so a car is the simplest way to tour the ancient Argolid at your own pace from Nafplio.
Buses serve the main sites. Local KTEL buses run from Nafplio to Argos, Mycenae and Epidaurus, so the three nearest and most important sites are reachable without a car, though services are less frequent than a car allows, so the timetable is worth checking in advance.
Tours cover them without a car. Organised day tours from Nafplio take in Mycenae, Epidaurus and the further sites, so travellers without a car still reach the great monuments of the region in a single guided day, as the guide to day trips from Nafplio describes.
Can you take a tour or private transfer to Nafplio?
Yes, organised day tours and private transfers run to Nafplio from Athens and its airport. Day tours combine the town with Mycenae and Epidaurus, while a private transfer gives a direct, door-to-door journey in about two hours, both good options for those who prefer not to drive or take the bus.
Day tours combine the sights. Many organised tours from Athens pair Nafplio with the ancient sites of Mycenae and Epidaurus in a single day, so a guided trip is a convenient way to see the town and the great monuments of the Argolid without planning the transport or hiring a car.
Private transfers are direct. A private transfer or taxi from Athens or its airport takes travellers straight to Nafplio in about two hours, door to door, so it is the most comfortable option for families and groups who want to avoid the change of bus and reach the town directly.
They suit non-drivers. For visitors who prefer not to drive and want more comfort than the bus, tours and private transfers fill the gap, so the choice of how to reach Nafplio ranges from the cheap public bus to a private car, matching every budget and style of travel.
Where does the bus stop and where do you park in Nafplio?
The KTEL bus stops at the Nafplio terminal on the edge of the old town, a short walk from the squares and hotels. Drivers park in car parks and streets at the edge of the old town, since its marble lanes are pedestrian, so both bus travellers and drivers end up on foot in the centre.
The bus terminal is central. The Nafplio bus station sits close to the old town, within a few minutes’ walk of Syntagma Square, the waterfront and most hotels, so arriving by bus leaves you right in the heart of the town with no need for onward transport.
Parking is at the edge. Because the old town is paved and closed to most traffic, drivers leave a car in the car parks and streets around its edge and walk in, so a car is parked once and the town explored on foot, as most guesthouses expect and advise.
The town is walked from there. Whether arriving by bus or car, visitors reach the sights, tavernas and waterfront of Nafplio on foot from the terminal or the car parks, so the compact, pedestrian old town is easy to explore once you have arrived and set down your bags.
Can you visit Nafplio as a day trip from Athens?
Yes, Nafplio makes a popular day trip from Athens, about two hours away by bus, car or organised tour. A day allows the old town, a fortress and a meal, and tours often pair it with Mycenae and Epidaurus, though the town rewards an overnight stay for its quiet evenings.
A day trip is easily done. At about two hours from Athens, Nafplio is close enough for a day out, so many visitors come for the day by bus, car or tour, taking in the old town, the climb or drive up to Palamidi and a meal on the waterfront before returning to the capital.
Tours combine it with the ancient sites. Organised day trips from Athens often pair Nafplio with the citadel of Mycenae and the theatre of Epidaurus, so a single guided day covers the town and the greatest ancient sites of the Argolid, a full and rewarding itinerary without a car.
An overnight is better still. While a day trip works, Nafplio is at its best in the evening once the day visitors have left, so staying a night or two turns a rushed visit into a proper experience of the town, as the guide on where to stay in Nafplio explains.
How do you get to Nafplio from other cities in Greece?
You get to Nafplio from other Greek cities by KTEL bus or car through the Peloponnese. Corinth is about an hour away, Tripoli and Argos are close, and Sparta, Kalamata and Patra are reachable by road, so Nafplio is well connected across the region, though most services route through Athens or Corinth.
Corinth and Argos are close. Corinth lies about an hour north of Nafplio on the road to Athens, and Argos is only a few kilometres away, so both are easily reached by bus or car, and Corinth in particular is a common connecting point for journeys across the Peloponnese.
Tripoli links the south. The town of Tripoli, in the centre of the Peloponnese, sits on the main road south from Nafplio and is a hub for buses onward to Sparta, Kalamata and the Mani, so travellers heading deeper into the peninsula often change there.
Patra and the west need a longer drive. The port city of Patra and the western Peloponnese are reachable by road from Nafplio in a few hours, so those combining Nafplio with the west of the peninsula are best served by a car, given the less frequent cross-country bus links.
How do you get from Nafplio to the beaches?
You get from Nafplio to the beaches on foot, by bus or by car. Arvanitia is a few minutes’ walk from the old town by the promenade, Karathona is a short drive or a coastal walk of about forty-five minutes, and Tolo is served by frequent buses down the coast as well as by car.
Arvanitia is walked. The town cove of Arvanitia lies just beyond the old town, reached in a few minutes on foot by the seafront promenade, so no transport is needed for a quick swim, making it the easiest beach to reach from anywhere in the centre.
Karathona is close by road or path. The long sandy beach of Karathona is a short drive from Nafplio with a car park behind it, served by a local bus in season, and reached on foot by the scenic coastal path from Arvanitia in about forty-five minutes, so it is accessible with or without a car.
Tolo has frequent buses. The resort of Tolo, eleven kilometres down the coast, is served by regular buses from Nafplio as well as by car, so the main beach resort of the area is easy to reach for a beach day, as the guide to the Nafplio beaches sets out.
Is it worth renting a car for Nafplio?
Renting a car is worth it if you plan to explore the ancient sites and beaches of the Argolid, but not necessary for the town itself. The old town is pedestrian and best seen on foot, so a car is parked at the edge, but it comes into its own for day trips to Mycenae, Epidaurus and the coast.
The town needs no car. Because the old town of Nafplio is compact and largely closed to traffic, a car is little use within it and is parked at the edge, so for a stay focused on the town alone the bus from Athens is enough and a car an unnecessary expense.
The region rewards one. For exploring beyond the town, a hire car reaches Mycenae, Epidaurus, Tiryns, Nemea and the beaches at will, far more freely than the less frequent buses, so anyone planning to tour the ancient Argolid gains greatly from having a car for those days.
Timing the rental helps. Some visitors take the bus to Nafplio and hire a car only for the days they explore the region, avoiding parking charges for the town days, so matching the rental to the day trips is the way to get the value of a car without its drawbacks in the pedestrian town.
What is the best way to get to Nafplio?
The best way to get to Nafplio depends on your plans: the direct bus from Athens is cheapest and drops you in the centre, a hire car is best for exploring the Argolid, and a private transfer is the most comfortable for families and groups. All reach the town in about two hours from Athens.
The bus is best for the town alone. For a stay focused on Nafplio itself, the direct KTEL bus from Athens is the simplest and cheapest choice, taking about two hours and dropping you near the old town, so visitors who plan to explore on foot need nothing more.
A car is best for the region. For a trip that ranges across the Argolid, a hire car is the best way to reach and use Nafplio, giving the freedom to visit the ancient sites and beaches, so those planning day trips are best served by driving from Athens or hiring a car on arrival.
A transfer is best for comfort. For families, groups or those who prefer not to drive or take the bus, a private transfer from Athens or its airport gives a direct, door-to-door journey in about two hours, so comfort and convenience come at a higher price but with the least effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get from Athens to Nafplio?
The two main ways to get from Athens to Nafplio are the direct KTEL bus and driving. The bus leaves from the Kifissos terminal in Athens several times a day, takes about two hours to two hours and ten minutes, and costs around 13 to 15 euros, dropping you at the Nafplio terminal near the old town. To reach Kifissos, take the blue metro line to Elaionas and walk or transfer to a local bus, or take bus 051 from Omonoia, or the X93 express from the airport. Driving, the route follows the national motorway west to Corinth, crosses the Corinth Canal, then takes the road towards Tripoli and the signs to Nafplio, covering about 140 kilometres in around two hours. There is no train to Nafplio, so the bus, a car, a taxi or private transfer, or an organised tour are the options, with the bus the cheapest and a car the most flexible for exploring the region.
Is there a direct bus from Athens airport to Nafplio?
There is no direct bus from Athens airport to Nafplio, so the public route needs one change. From the airport you take the X93 express bus to the Kifissos terminal, which takes about an hour, and then a KTEL bus onward to Nafplio, a further two hours, for a total of around two hours and fifty minutes, not counting waiting and transfer time, at a combined fare of roughly 18 to 19 euros. For a direct journey, a taxi or private transfer covers the roughly 170 kilometres from the airport to Nafplio in about two hours for a fixed fare of around 150 euros, which is the most comfortable option for families and groups. Hiring a car at the airport is another direct choice, following the motorway signs to Elefsina, Corinth and then Nafplio, and it gives the freedom to explore the ancient sites and beaches of the Argolid once you arrive.
How far is Nafplio from Athens?
Nafplio is about 140 kilometres southwest of Athens, a journey of around two hours by car or direct bus. From Athens airport, on the eastern side of the city, the distance is a little greater at roughly 170 kilometres, still about two hours by car or private transfer. The route runs west from Athens on the national motorway to Corinth, crosses the Corinth Canal at the Isthmus, and then heads south through the Argolid to Nafplio, on fast and well-signed roads the whole way. The Corinth Canal makes a worthwhile stop on the drive. Because the journey is short and straightforward, Nafplio is a popular day trip and weekend escape from Athens, though its beauty, sights and position as a base for the ancient Argolid reward a longer stay of two or three days rather than a rushed day trip.
Do you need a car in Nafplio?
You do not need a car to visit Nafplio itself, as the old town is compact, largely pedestrian and easily explored on foot, with the sights, tavernas and waterfront all within a short walk, a road and taxis up to Palamidi, and boats to the Bourtzi. The town is comfortably reached by the direct bus from Athens, and many visitors come without a car. A car becomes useful, however, for exploring beyond the town, reaching the beaches at Karathona and Tolo and touring the ancient sites of Mycenae, Epidaurus, Tiryns and Nemea, which are served by less frequent buses and organised tours but reached most easily by road. So for a stay focused on the town a car is unnecessary and even a nuisance given the pedestrian streets and edge-of-town parking, while for a trip that ranges across the Argolid a hire car is the best way to make the most of Nafplio’s central position.