{"id":52249,"date":"2025-09-11T09:57:58","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T07:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/?p=52249"},"modified":"2026-03-08T22:10:29","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T21:10:29","slug":"olympia-peloponnese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greece-moments.com\/en\/olympia-peloponnese\/","title":{"rendered":"Ancient Olympia on the Peloponnese Peninsula"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the northwest of the Peloponnese Peninsula, in the region of Elis, Ancient Olympia<\/strong> rises like a monument to humanity and its insatiable longing for glory and eternity. Today, travellers can walk in the footsteps of history and experience the majestic aura of this place where the gods were once believed to decide the fate of athletes.<\/p>\n

“The Olympic Games, which rose like a phoenix from the ashes after 1,500 years of dormancy, are closely linked to the rediscovery of Ancient Olympia.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Welcome to Olympia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Across the vast grounds, antiquity seems to be carved in stone, while the past rests in the shade of olive trees. In the sacred olive grove of the Altis<\/strong>, the first Olympic flame was lit as early as the 8th century BC to ignite the hearts of athletes with the fire of competition.<\/p>\n

The rays of the past still cast their light into the present, because since 1936 the flame for the Olympic Games of the modern era has always been lit here in Olympia. Since 1989, the ancient site of Olympia has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this article, we reveal all the details and share our best tips for your trip to Olympia<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

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\ud83c\udfd6\ufe0f Dream beaches & hidden bays
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\ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f Must-see highlights & ancient sites
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#1 Arrival: How do I get to Olympia?<\/h2>\n

You can reach Ancient Olympia either by car or by bus. From Patras, it is around 115 km along National Road 9 (Patras\u2013Pyrgos) to Ancient Olympia. The historic site lies on the outskirts of Archea Olympia<\/strong>, a modern village that is perfectly geared towards tourism, with numerous hotels, tavernas and souvenir shops.<\/p>\n

How far is Ancient Olympia?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Athens to Olympia: approx. 300 km, approx. 3.5 hours by car
\nKalamata to Olympia: approx. 110 km, approx. 1.5 hours by car
\nCorinth to Olympia: approx. 200 km, approx. 2.5 hours by car
\nPatras to Olympia: approx. 115 km, approx. 1.5 hours by car
\nThessaloniki to Olympia: approx. 600 km, approx. 7 hours by car<\/p>\n

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Is it worth renting a car for Olympia?<\/h3>\n

For anyone already travelling independently around the Peloponnese Peninsula<\/a>, it is definitely worth driving to Olympia by rental car<\/strong>. National Road 9 from Patras is well developed and has recently been renewed in sections. If you are driving from Athens to Olympia, take the A8 motorway to Corinth and then the A7 towards Tripoli. Around Corinth, a little patience is needed during rush hour.<\/p>\n

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On the road with a rental car in the Peloponnese<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You can book your rental car online before travelling to Olympia<\/strong>. You can find affordable offers through our partner Discover Cars*<\/em>:<\/p>\n

\u27b2 Find cheap rental car deals*<\/a><\/p>\n

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Road trip in the Peloponnese<\/strong>: The Peloponnese is ideal for exploring by rental car. You can find out what there is to discover in our travel report: Peloponnese Tour<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

What is parking like on site?<\/h3>\n

There are several car parks in the village of Archea Olympia, most of them free of charge. If you arrive early enough (see info box on visiting hours), you should still be able to find a free space even in high season. On the southeastern edge of Archea Olympia, you will find the largest one, called the Olimpia car park<\/strong>. From here, it is about a 10-minute walk past the Olympic Museum to the ancient excavation site.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udca1 Best time to visit Olympia<\/strong>: The first bus groups from Athens and many cruise passengers usually arrive in Olympia at around 10:30 am, and that is when things can get a little hectic in the village of Archea Olympia. If you arrive early, you will get much more out of your visit. Olympia is open all year round, and in summer the site opens at 8 am, giving you plenty of time before the big crowds arrive. You can also book your ticket online in advance through our partner GetYourGuide*: Online ticket here*<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Is there a bus to Ancient Olympia?<\/h3>\n

The archaeological site of Olympia can be reached by bus from Athens and other Greek cities. From the capital Athens<\/a>, an intercity bus (KTEL Ileias) runs to Olympia once a day and takes just under 4 hours.<\/p>\n

From Patras, KTEL Achaias runs via Pyrgos to Olympia<\/strong> in around 1.5 hours. The fare is about \u20ac10 per person. More information and bus timetables are available from the bus companies KTEL Ileias (website of Ktelileias<\/a>) and KTEL Achaias (website of ktelachaias<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Alternatively, you can also take a look at a guided day tour to Olympia<\/strong>. These bus tours can be booked through our partner GetYourGuide*<\/em>:<\/p>\n

\u27b2 Explore organised bus tours*<\/a><\/p>\n

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By bus to Olympia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Arriving by Olympic Train from Katakolo<\/h3>\n

A more relaxed way to travel to Olympia is by taking the Olympic Train<\/strong> from the port town of Katakolo in the western Peloponnese. The railway line from Katakolo to Olympia has been revived in recent years for tourism and is mainly used by cruise passengers whose ships dock in Katakolo.<\/p>\n

The train journey to Olympia takes around 50 minutes, with the earliest departure from Katakolo at about 8:30 am. The Olympia train station<\/strong> is located a little north of the town centre and is a neoclassical building that is a real gem in the village of Archea Olympia. It was built in the 19th century by the German architect Ernst Ziller and has been extensively restored in recent years.<\/p>\n

\u2192 All details about the Katakolo\u2013Olympia train connection<\/strong>, including departure times, can be found here: HellenicTrain<\/a><\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udca1 Help with your Greece holiday planning<\/strong>: Not sure where to start or how to plan your trip to Olympia? No problem \u2014 benefit from our many years of travel experience in Greece and let us help you. We can advise you on all your questions and concerns, even via video chat. You can book your consultation here: Travel Advice Greece<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

#2 Opening hours of Ancient Olympia<\/h2>\n

Ancient Olympia is open 359 days a year, with separate summer and winter opening hours. From April to October, the site is open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, and from November to March from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. In Olympia, there are toilets (including in the museum), access for wheelchair users and prams, a caf\u00e9, and souvenir shops.<\/p>\n

Ticket prices for Olympia<\/strong>:<\/p>\n