Greece - Blog Part 4: Olympia & Nafplio: Running with the Ancients
Exploring Greece, one ancient ruin (and one massive beer) at a time — Olympia, Náfplio, Mycenae, and Epidaurus never disappointed.
After our spontaneous side trip to Sofia, our plans were a little looser. Originally, I’d even considered Romania, but after Bulgaria we decided one extra country was enough. That left us with some open days in Greece — so I searched for places we could still visit.
When I spotted Olympia on the map, I knew it was the perfect fit. With the Winter Olympics going on at the time, it felt like fate — how could I pass up seeing where it all began? Honestly, I was surprised I hadn’t even thought of it when I first started planning. To be fair, I was also trying to squeeze in Sparta — mostly just for the chance to shout “This is Sparta!” like in the movie — but there was no time for that now.
First steps in Olympia — bags dropped, adventure mode on.
Night Train to Athens, Early Bus to Olympia
From Thessaloniki, we boarded a night train to Athens. By the time we arrived, the city was just waking up. Without much pause, we grabbed an early bus onward to Olympia.
It was one of those long, blurry travel days, but knowing we were heading to the birthplace of the Games kept us going.
The Greek countryside rolled by as we made our way from Athens to Olympia.
Olympia: Birthplace of the Games
We arrived in Olympia and were able to check into Pension Posidon early, just long enough to drop off our bags before heading straight to the archaeological site.
The site was practically deserted — looking back at my photos, there isn’t a single other person in them. It felt like we had the birthplace of the Olympics all to ourselves.
I was wearing my new Greek dress and sandals when we reached the stadium. I couldn’t resist lining up at the ancient starting line, taking a deep breath, and sprinting forward like an Olympian. Not exactly Olympic material (sandals aren’t the best running shoes), but it was one of those surreal moments you never forget.
Couldn’t resist running the original Olympic track — when in Olympia!
Nafplio Charm
From Olympia, we caught a bus to Nafplio. The buses in Greece were almost always full, and Liza and I didn’t often get to sit together. On this ride, she ended up a few rows away while I found myself next to a friendly Greek woman.
She started speaking to me in Greek, assuming I was a local. I had to laugh and explain that I was actually Canadian. She was surprised — not just that I wasn’t Greek, but that we would even take a local bus in the first place.
I told her that when I travel, I try to travel like a local — buses, trains, markets, everyday life. To me, those little moments are just as much part of the experience as the big ruins. She smiled and nodded, and what could’ve been just another crowded bus ride turned into one of my favorite little memories.
When we arrived, we checked into Pension Nikolaos at the normal time. The owners were welcoming and helpful, and once we dropped our bags we realized just how hungry we were. We headed to a square nearby and ordered way too much food — souvlaki, moussaka, fresh bread, salads, you name it. Everything was so good we couldn’t stop ourselves, and by the end we were absolutely stuffed.
From the pension, we could see parts of Akronafplia’s Castle in the distance. We saved going up until the next day once we had a car, but just knowing it was perched above us added to the charm of the town.
Woke up to this view from our pension — mountains, ocean, and a touch of history.
Mycenae & Epidaurus
On our last full day in Greece, we set out early with our rental car to explore the ancient sites nearby. The sky was cloudy, with light showers drifting on and off throughout the morning. It gave everything a slightly moody, dramatic atmosphere — almost fitting for visiting such legendary places.
At Mycenae, walking through the Lion Gate felt like stepping straight into a myth. The massive stone walls loomed around us, slick with rain, and I couldn’t help imagining the legendary kings who once ruled here. It was a busy site — plenty of people wandering around — but still awe-inspiring.
From there, we drove to the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. Famous for its perfect acoustics, the theatre is still used for performances today. Naturally, Liza wanted to test it out. She stood at center stage while I climbed all the way up to the top rows. Together, we sang O Canada — and to my amazement, I could hear her perfectly, every note carrying through the air as if the theatre had been built just for us.
Afterward, we sat in the seats with the camera behind us, the stage stretching out in front. We were laughing, taking selfies, and imagining what it would’ve been like to watch a play here thousands of years ago. That’s when a cat strolled in, made a beeline for me, and kept demanding to be petted — totally photobombing our pictures. Our unexpected furry “audience” turned into the star of the scene.
From ancient ruins to timeless stages — Mycenae and the Theatre of Epidaurus.
The Car Return Fiasco
We thought we were being clever by only renting the car for half a day. After dropping it off, though, we discovered the hard truth: every “early” bus (2–3 p.m.) was sold out. The next available one wasn’t until 7 p.m.
That left us stranded, luggage and all. So we found a bar, parked ourselves at a table, and passed the time. I ordered a couple of beers, Liza stuck to soda, and we wrote postcards while watching the world go by. The weather turned rainy, which somehow made the cozy bar feel even more like the right place to be.
We thought we were winning by saving money on the rental — but after so many little mishaps on this trip, we should’ve known better. At least this one came with good people-watching.
Rolling through the charming streets of Nafplio with all our bags in tow.
Return to Athens
After finally catching the bus, we made it back to Athens for one last night. We had hoped to relax a little before our flights, but by then time had slipped away.
The next day, my flight left early in the afternoon. Liza’s wasn’t until 5:05 p.m., but she insisted on coming with me to the airport. She said she didn’t want to risk getting lost — which honestly felt like the perfect ending to the trip. From the beginning, she’d been the tagalong, happy to let me plan and lead the way. And so, we finished our Greek adventure exactly as we’d started: together.
Back where it all started — our final stop in Athens before heading home.
💡 JD’s Tip:
Buy bus tickets early — even in winter, they can sell out and leave you waiting hours for the next one.
If you want to visit Mycenae and Epidaurus, the easiest way is by car. Local buses are sparse, especially in the off-season.
