LocationThe Peloponnese, Greece 37°24′N · 23°22′E
The corner of the Peloponnese where Mycenae, Epidaurus and Nafplio lie within an hour of each other.
Frontis. Akronafplia and the Argolic Gulf, from the fortress of Palamidi. Photo: George E. Koronaios IV Nafplio
Scroll to beginArgolida is a region in the north-east of the Peloponnese, between the Argolic and Saronic gulfs. Argos, Mycenae and Tiryns were among the great cities of Bronze Age Greece, and in 1829 Nafplio became the first capital of the modern Greek state. Ermionida, its southern tip, looks across the water to Hydra and the islands.
The region, chapter by chapter.
By sea · Hydra Bay Resort, next door
One of the hardest things to add to a stretch of Greek coast. It takes:
Hydra Bay Resort, next door, has done that work, and residents have access to its jetty. Moor your yacht or boat there, take a water taxi across to Hydra, or leave for the islands after breakfast.
Mooring terms and berth sizes to be confirmed.
Chapter IThe historic islands 01 — 03 · Figs. 2–13
From the jetty next door, Hydra is twenty minutes away. Spetses and Poros, each with its own place in Greek history, make an easy day on the water.
An island without cars, and a harbour town of stone mansions.
Hydra's town climbs in an amphitheatre around its harbour, lined with the grey-stone mansions of 18th- and 19th-century sea captains. There are no cars on the island: people get around on foot, by donkey, or by water taxi to the coves along the coast.
Don’t miss
~40 min By sea On the map
37°16′ N · 23°09′ E
Pine woods, horse-drawn carriages and the house of Bouboulina.
Spetses lies off the tip of Argolida. Its old harbour is still lined with boatyards, and the island is the home of Laskarina Bouboulina, a heroine of the 1821 War of Independence, whose house is now a museum. Every September, the Armata festival re-enacts the naval battle of 1822 in the harbour.
Don’t miss
~40 min Road and boat On the map
37°30′ N · 23°27′ E
A green island across a narrow channel, with a clock tower above the town.
Poros is separated from the Peloponnese by a channel only a few hundred metres wide, crossed by small ferries from Galatas. The town climbs a hill to its clock tower, and the remains of the Sanctuary of Poseidon lie in the pine woods inland.
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Chapter IIErmioni 04 · Fig. 14
Twenty minutes by car, for everyday life and long evenings on the harbour.
The town next door, and the most cosmopolitan harbour on this coast.
Ermioni sits on a narrow headland with a harbour on each side. Yachts and fishing boats share the waterfront, lined with cafés, bars and fish tavernas, and the pine forest of Bisti covers the tip of the headland. It has been lived in since antiquity, as ancient Hermione, and has ferries and fast boats to Piraeus.
Don’t miss
Chapter IIIGolf at Kilada 05 · Figs. 15–16
A Jack Nicklaus Signature course in the hills above the fishing village of Kilada, about thirty-five minutes by road.
~35 min By road On the map
37°24′ N · 23°08′ E
A Jack Nicklaus Signature course, in the olive groves above the Argolic Gulf.
Kilada Country Club, Golf & Residences is an 18-hole, par-72 championship course of about 7,100 yards, designed by Jack Nicklaus. It is routed into the natural contours of the hills above the fishing village of Kilada, among old olive groves, with views over the Argolic Gulf.
The course is designated PGA National Greece, and is described as the only Nicklaus Signature course in the eastern Mediterranean. Below it, across the bay, lies the Franchthi Cave, one of the oldest known prehistoric sites in Greece.
Don’t miss
Tee times and visitor access through the club; details to confirm.
Chapter IVNafplio 06 · Figs. 17–20
The capital of Argolida, under two hours by road.
~1h50 By road On the map
37°34′ N · 22°48′ E
The capital of Argolida, and the first capital of modern Greece.
Nafplio is the capital of Argolida and was the first capital of the modern Greek state, from 1829 to 1834. Its old town of Venetian and neoclassical houses sits below the Palamidi fortress, and the small castle of Bourtzi stands on an island in the harbour.
Don’t miss
Chapter VAncient Argolida 07 — 08 · Figs. 21–27
The theatre and sanctuary of Epidaurus, under an hour and a half away, and the citadel of Mycenae, a little over two hours.
The ancient theatre, with acoustics that still carry a whisper.
The theatre of Epidaurus was built in the 4th century BC and seats around 14,000 people. It is still used: on summer nights it stages ancient drama during the Athens & Epidaurus Festival.
Don’t miss
Also at Epidaurus
The sanctuary of the god of healing, a short walk from the theatre.
The Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus was the most celebrated healing centre of the ancient world, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Pilgrims came from across Greece to be treated here; its temples, the round Tholos and the halls where patients slept are being restored on the site.
Don’t miss
Mycenae was the centre of the Bronze Age civilisation that gave its name to an era of Greek history. The Lion Gate, the royal tombs and the vaulted Treasury of Atreus are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site shared with nearby Tiryns.
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Chapter VIGetting there Figs. 28–31
Hydra Bay Residences sits on the Ermionida coast, across the water from Hydra. Athens is about 3h20 away by car, and the islands a short boat ride from the jetty next door.
Approximate times from the residences, by road and from the jetty next door: five places within forty minutes.
By road · from your front door
~3h20
to Athens
The drive from the capital.
Directions in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Approximate times, calculated by road routing from the residences (by sea, from the jetty at water-taxi speed); traffic, weather and season vary. · 37°24′N 23°22′E
