JULY 2023
I visited Nafplio for the bougainvillea, but ended up exploring so much more. We used Nafplio as a hub to explore the area, but Nafplio itself is such a fun destination for a few days too! The foodie culture was great, so I have lots of restaurant recommendations for you. Nafplio is touristy, but it doesn’t get too busy during weekdays, so I would definitely add this spot to your Greece itinerary.
Where we stayed
We rented an apartment called apt.27-103, you can find it on booking.com and Airbnb. The apartment had two bedrooms and turned out to be incredibly kid friendly, with lots of accessories such as a high chair and toys. The apartement was only 10 minutes of walking to the city center and it was located opposite a supermarket. There was plenty of parking in the street. It was very comfortable, all necessities one might need were in the apartment. I highly recommend staying here! In May the apartment costs € 100 per night and it could host 4 adults if necessary.
Bougainvillea
The main reason I came to Nafplio was to see the bougainvillea. I know I would have been disappointed if it turned out not to be in bloom, but we got really lucky at the beginning of May. All of Europe seemed to have a cold spring in 2023, but luckily that didn’t hinder the bougainvillea from showing up in Nafplio. The main shopping street is completely covered in bougainvillea and every few buildings you will find another bougainvillea taking over the street. If you venture off the main shopping street for a little bit, you will find that most of the old city center is covered in stunning bougainvillea. Please note: Most of the bougainvillea in Nafplio is red, but I found that changing the color of the bougainvillea to pink improved my pictures as it better suited my dresses.
Activities in Nafplio
Besides the bougainvillea, Nafplio took me by surprise. We stayed in Nafplio for four nights and I was afraid it might be a bit much. However, there is so much to do in Nafplio and the surrounding area, that we really enjoyed our relaxed visit.
To enjoy the view of Nafplio we took the (free) elevator up to Akronauplia. These are ruins of a former castle which provide views all over Nafplio. From Akronauplia you can see the Palamidi castle really well. We didn’t visit Palamidi castle as we heard it gets really busy on weekends and we didn’t want to drive all the way up, but the location seems really special and the views must be even better than in Akronauplia.
Another interesting sight is the Lion of the Bavarians, which is a rock carving that was donated by Germans as a monument for Bavarian soldiers that died in Nafplio during a typhoid epidemic in 1833-1834.
Nafplio is perfect to do some shopping, there are many original stores, with affordable clothing, accessories and presents. We found Nafplio much cheaper and less upscale than the islands, so this is where you actually want to buy something!
The Bourtzi castle is located in front of Nafplio, in the water. It changed function several time: it has been a fortress, prison, castle and now is an event location. You can visit it as part of a boat tour.
It is very well possible to visit a beach in Nafplio, or near Nafplio. We visited Tolo Beach for a bit of beach fun, as this is one of the locations that has restaurants on the beach. I actually found the area a bit run down, but the water and sandy beach were nice.
Food
Nafplio is very touristy so naturally it features many restaurants, all in all we were very impressed with the choice of restaurants. I highlight some of the restaurants we visited below.
Mitato Grill: I am not usually one to visit a grill restaurant, but we were early and it was raining so we hopped into Mitato Grill. The ambience was not my thing, but the grilled cheese & aubergine were divine and the staff was very kind.
O Vasilis Taverna: Lovely little terrace, great for people watching. The moussaka was very cheap and tasty. Kind personnel. Dishes are very typically Greek.
ΕΣΤΙΑΤΟΡΙΟΝ ΕΛΛΑΣ: It is situated on the main square, so I was a bit hesitant. I didn’t look at the terrible reviews. However, the terrace was full with old locals, so I figured it must be good. The kitchen is kind of cantina style and you cannot imagine how tender the lamb is and how exceptionally low the price is. Definitely recommend.
Vyzantio: Actually I did not have the best moussaka in this restaurant, but I loved being able to lunch underneath a bougainvillea. A huge Bougainville was covering the entire terrace of this restaurant and we enjoyed it so much. The best atmosphere in Nafplio.
Μέντα εστιατόριο: We accidentally ended up in this street outside of the historical city center and found a bunch of trendy restaurants next to each other. We walked into Menta and adored the tiling and decorations. Food was good too, variations on Greek/international cuisine. The staff is incredibly accommodating (even when visiting with a small child).
Daytrips from Nafplio
Nafplio is the perfect hub to explore the area, it is situated on the beautiful Penepponese peninsula where there is so much to explore. From Nafplio we did two day trips: we took the ferry to Hydra island and we visited Epidaurus ancient ruins. However, there is so much more to do and Nafplio is perfect for visiting Mycenae or do a wine tasting trip to Nemea.
