Ancient Olympia is the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Throughout the Classical years, the Olympic Games were held every four years, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD.
The archeological site of Ancient Olympia is also included in the list of UNESCO with the places of world heritage.
Itinerary
Starting our tour early in the morning from Athens we will be driving west towards Patra and after an hour driving we will be stopping at the Corinth Canal. This great piece of work was completed in 1886, connects the Aegean to the Ionian Sea and technically transforms the Peloponnese peninsula into an island. Originally, what used to be an isthmus, meaning a narrow strip of land connecting Peloponnese to Mainland Greece, is now a canal, which joins these two regions through several bridges. Continuing we will be driving for two and a half more hours before we finally reach Ancient Olympia.
In this site you will see the ancient stadium that hosted the Olympic Games every four years from 776 BCE to 393 AD, as well as the Palaistra were the athletes used to train for the wrestling events. You will also see the ruins of the temple of Zeus, where the colossal statue of Olympian Zeus, one of the seven wonders of the world, used to stand proudly. Last but not least, you will see the workshop of Phedias, the great sculptor, painter and architect who designed some of the greatest statues of his time, such as those of goddess Athena Parthenos, Athena Promahos and Olympian Zeus.
After your visit to the site and the museum of Ancient Olympia, we will be traveling back to Athens. Of course a stop for lunch should not be missed, as it will help you relax after a day of wonderful experiences.
Customize the tour
Don’t hesitate to ask for changes in the itinerary.
We are very flexible and able to adjust the itinerary as you wish.
Info
Tour duration: 10 hours
Tickets:
Museum & Archaeological Site꞉ Full: €12 / Reduced: €6
Reduced ticket: European citizens over 65 years old, University students
Free entrance: people under 18 years old, students from European Union
Holidays
January 1st: closed
March 25th꞉ closed
May 1st: closed
Easter Sunday: closed
December 25th: closed
December 26th: closed
Free admission days
March 6th (in memory of Melina Mercuri)
April 18th (international monuments day)
May 18th (international museums day)
Last weekend of September (European heritage days)
October 28th
Every 1st Sunday from November to March
Tips
Prefer to wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
Take a water bottle with you. You will find plenty of them in the vehicle.
Photography is allowed during the tour. Don’t lose a chance to take some nice pictures.
