Nafplio Cruise Port Guide

The short answer

Nafplio is a tender port with a lovely, walkable old town. The big climb is Palamidi Fortress (€20), famous for its long stairway. Mycenae and Epidaurus (each €20) are about 30 minutes away by car.

Getting ashoreTender boat ashore

Distance to townShort walk from the tender pier to the Old Town.

Gateway forNafplio Old Town, Palamidi Fortress, Mycenae, Epidaurus

Walk to Old TownA few minutes · Free

On the chart

Where Nafplio lies

Antique-style chart of Greek Isles & Eastern Med with ports marked

Nafplio Istanbul Athens Argostoli Bodrum Chania Corfu Heraklion Itea Izmir Katakolon Kos Kuşadası Limassol Milos Mykonos Patmos Rhodes Santorini Sarandë Syros Thessaloniki Volos Zakynthos

Where your ship docks

Ships anchor offshore. Tenders land at a pier a short walk from the Old Town (Celebrity Cruises).

Shuttle. Tender only. A hop-on hop-off bus links the pier and Palamidi (Celebrity).

From the gangway

Getting to the sights

The way	Time	Cost
Walk to Old Town	A few minutes	Free
Taxi or tour to Mycenae	About 30 minutes (Hellenic Heritage)	Unverified
Taxi or tour to Epidaurus	About 30 minutes (Hellenic Heritage); under an hour (Celebrity)	Unverified
Stairs or hop-on hop-off bus/taxi to Palamidi Fortress	Stairs are a long, steep climb	Stairs free; fortress ticket €20

Walk to Old Town

Time A few minutesCost Free

Take the tender.
Walk into the Old Town and Syntagma Square.

Taxi or tour to Mycenae

Time About 30 minutes (Hellenic Heritage)Cost Unverified

Agree a round-trip taxi price with waiting time.

Taxi or tour to Epidaurus

Time About 30 minutes (Hellenic Heritage); under an hour (Celebrity)Cost Unverified

Agree a round-trip price.

Stairs or hop-on hop-off bus/taxi to Palamidi Fortress

Time Stairs are a long, steep climbCost Stairs free; fortress ticket €20

Find the stairway at the edge of the Old Town.
Or take a taxi/bus to the top gate.

Celebrity says 999 steps to a hill 216 m high. Some sources give a lower count; either way it is steep.

Worth the trip

What to see

Palamidi Fortress

Huge 18th-century fortress with 360° views.

How: Climb stairs or ride to the top.
Time: 1.5–2 hours
Tickets: €20 full (Hellenic Heritage). Winter 08:30–15:30.

Old Town and Syntagma Square

Neoclassical streets, cafes.

How: Walk.
Time: 1–2 hours
Tickets: Free

Bourtzi water castle

Castle on an islet in the harbour.

How: Short boat ride.
Time: 1 hour
Tickets: Unverified

Mycenae

Lion Gate and Agamemnon's citadel.

How: Taxi or tour.
Time: 2.5–3 hours with travel
Tickets: €20 full; includes the Tomb of Atreus and museum (Hellenic Heritage).

Epidaurus theatre

Best-preserved ancient theatre with famous acoustics.

How: Taxi or tour.
Time: 2.5–3 hours with travel
Tickets: €20 full; includes site and museum (Hellenic Heritage).

Archaeological Museum of Nafplio

Mycenaean finds in a Venetian building on the square.

How: Walk.
Time: 45 minutes
Tickets: €10 full (Hellenic Heritage).

A day ashore

Your day, hour by hour

Planned for a typical call. Check your ship's all-aboard time and be back an hour early. The ship will not wait.

Take an early tender.
If climbing Palamidi, start at once, before the heat.
Or take a taxi to Mycenae or Epidaurus (choose one) and be back by early afternoon.
Lunch in the Old Town.
Be at the tender pier 60 minutes before the last tender.

Wise counsel

What goes wrong, and how to avoid it

Beware

Tender waits.
Very steep Palamidi stairs in heat.
Taxis limited on busy days.

Do this

Go down the Palamidi stairs instead of up: ride up, walk down.
Choose one ancient site, not both, on a short day.

Practical matters

Fees, money and access

Rules & fees

Greek cruise passenger fee (per person, per port, from 21 July 2025): Santorini and Mykonos €20 (1 Jun–30 Sep), €12 (Apr–May and Oct), €4 (Nov–Mar). All other Greek ports: €5 / €3 / €1 for the same seasons. Most lines add it to your onboard bill. MSC says it charges only guests who go ashore; other lines may charge everyone.
Greek state sites: 'reduced' prices are mainly for EU citizens. Most Americans pay full price. Free entry on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month from 1 Nov to 31 Mar, and on a few set dates.