Nafplion is a port of call on Mediterranean itineraries nearly year-round, concentrated from April through October, with Seabourn, Windstar, and Silversea among the cruise lines that call there.
Emerald AzzurraEmerald Cruises · docked in Nafplion — track the ship live →
About The Port Of Nafplion
Set on a small peninsula in the Peloponnese, Nafplion was modern Greece's first capital and retains the layered legacy of Venetian, Ottoman, and neoclassical rule. Its old town of cobblestone lanes, bougainvillea-draped mansions, and shaded squares sits directly below the hilltop Palamidi Fortress, whose stone ramparts offer sweeping views over the harbor and the Argolic Gulf. The waterfront Bourtzi, a small island fortress, adds to the town's storied, romantic silhouette.
The old town lies within easy walking distance of the pier, making it simple to explore tavernas, shops, and squares on foot before or after a longer excursion. Nafplion also serves as a convenient base for reaching two of Greece's most significant ancient sites, the theater and sanctuary at Epidaurus and the Mycenaean citadel with its famed Lion Gate, both within a manageable drive across the surrounding countryside.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Nafplion.
Climb to Palamidi Fortress
Nearly 900 steps (or a short drive) lead to this vast Venetian hilltop fortress, rewarding the climb with panoramic views over Nafplion and the Argolic Gulf.
Explore Ancient Epidaurus
This UNESCO site holds antiquity's best-preserved theater, famed for its acoustics, plus a sanctuary once dedicated to healing; reachable by a manageable countryside drive from port.
Visit Mycenae's Lion Gate
Wander the Bronze Age citadel of Agamemnon's legendary kingdom, entering through the iconic Lion Gate and exploring the beehive tombs and archaeological museum on-site.
