Duration: 12 hours

Why should I choose this tour?

In a few hours trip you have the unique opportunity to travel back in time and see monuments engraved in the name of world history. Mystras is not just a wayside stop, but a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site and one of the most important historic places in Greece. A visit to Mystras is an unusual experience, mixing the beauty of the local topography, its exuberant greenery and fragrant flowers, with great views over the plain of the Eurotas River and the site of ancient and modern Sparta, and with a plethora of painted churches, bearing frescoes from the 13th to 15th centuries, most of them of extraordinarily high quality. It’s among the most important historical sites in the Peloponnese. This is where the Byzantine Empire’s richly artistic and intellectual culture made its last stand before an invading Ottoman army, almost 1000 years after its foundation.

What are we going to do:

A day trip to Mystras is a truly different destination. We start from Athens and will continue through Corinth towards Tripoli where we will make our first stop. Moving on, the route is spectacular, as we will cross the famous mountain of Taygetos, a land full of myths and traditions. Passing through ravines, tunnels, caves and green forests, we will arrive in Sparta where we will admire the statue of Leonidas and have a relaxing walk in the city. We will have the opportunity to visit the modern Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in Sparta and maybe purchase some souvenirs. About 214 kilometers from Athens, in the southern Peloponnese and specifically in the prefecture of Laconia, is Sparta, a small provincial town with a glorious history, a borderless reputation and a tourist attraction of all lengths and widths around the world. Five kilometers from Sparta is the picturesque village of Mystras.

Ready for a trip back to history?

The Castle of Mystras or Mizithra was built in 1249 by Franco Prince William II Villarduin on the east side of Taygetos, on the top of a steep and conical hilltop. The name Mizithras, which appears to be earlier than “Mystras”, is due either to the shape of the mountain that resembles cheese or to the name of an older owner called Mizithras. We start from the Upper Gate. At the highest point of the Castle, remnants of the wall will bring back the time when Mystras was threatened by conquerors while the view of both Sparta and Taygetos is stark. It features the remains of impressive churches, the castle town and narrow streets. We will have the opportunity to stroll around the Acropolis of William, where once walked princesses and Byzantine emperors. You can also visit museums within the cluttered walls, full of elements of daily life and monasteries still functioning.

After the visit to Mystras and before we head back to Athens, you can enjoy a light lunch of Mediterranean traditional dishes at the local restaurants.

What are we going to see:

→ Corinth

→ Famous Mountain of Taygetos

→ The Statue of Leonidas

→ Sparta

→ The modern Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil 

→ ALL TOURS INCLUDE: Water, sodas and snacks

→ NOT INCLUDED: Tickets for Archeological sites and Museums, Hotel Accommodation, Lunch and Dinner