Athens and going to the Peloponnese
My boyfriend and I wanted to go somewhere with warm weather at the end of September, so Greece quickly became the perfect choice. After a short flight for me and a much longer journey for him, we finally met up in Athens. We spent our first two nights exploring the city on foot and, of course, visiting the Acropolis. I assumed September would be quieter, but wow… it was still packed! Luckily, Athens has so much more to offer: ancient temples around every corner and charming neighborhoods like Plaka, full of cute shops and amazing food. And yes, we had to try traditional gyros… absolutely worth it!
After Athens, we picked up our rental car and hit the road toward Nafpaktos, with a stop in Delphi along the way. Delphi was stunning, an archaeological site with incredible views and thankfully much less crowded. Once we arrived in Nafpaktos, the rain took over, so we spent more time indoors than planned. But we still explored, visited the castle, and even squeezed in a very wet run. I’m training for a marathon, so skipping a session wasn’t an option!
Next stop: Kalamata, in the Peloponnese. On the way, we visited Ancient Messene, probably the most beautiful archaeological site of the whole trip, still quite intact and quiet. Also, the views there were stunning! Kalamata itself is a lively coastal city with big yachts and probably a busy city in the summertime. From there, we did a day trip to Pylos, a charming small town with an incredible castle and ocean views. Also, we visited this beautiful beach, Voidokilia Beach, 15 min drive from Pylos, shaped as a moon.
In Kalamata, I also completed my 23 km long run. Exploring a new city by running is always an adventure, especially when there’s no real pavement! Also quite dangerous, so I had to stay very aware of my surroundings.
Our final stop was Nafplio, a picturesque seaside town that’s a bit more touristy but still charming. Climbing the nearly 1,000 steps up to the castle is a real workout, but totally worth it for the view! Along the coast, there’s a scenic walking path that reminded me of Vancouver’s Seawall, where I used to live.
On the way back to Athens, we stopped at the Corinth Canal, where you can watch boats pass through (and even people bungee jumping!). We spent our last day enjoying more Greek food and soaking up the city one last time before flying home.
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What to do in Athens, Greece
Athens, Greece’s historic capital, blends ancient ruins, local culture,…
