The 8 things to do in Olympie • Wanderlix

During your trip to the Peloponnese, visiting Olympie is not just a wish, it is an emergency!

In the northwest of the Peloponnese, the classified village of Olympie is absolutely magnetic for lovers of mythology and history. This ancient city thus marks a great stage during a trip to the Peloponnese, in the same way as Mycenes, Epidaure or Mystra, also listed in the Unesco world heritage.

If places to visit in Olympie usually hold on ten fingers of the hands, all are worth a visit! Particularly its archaeological site that houses some of the most famous vestiges of Antiquity.

From points of interest to points of interest, here he has a delicious romantic atmosphere and a constant poetry. Hand in hand with laurels, cypresses and olive trees, Olympie invites you to ejaculate the rivers, discover the white stones in the sun and succumb to the softness of taste buds... Here are 8 things to do in Olympie!

1. Antique site

The ancient site of Olympie is vast and millennium. Still today, he is one of the most sacred in Greece. A walk through these vestiges is the most important thing to do in Olympie! Raise time in the footsteps of a grandiose civilization and, for that, appeal to your imagination. You will see, it is only a few minutes for the areas in archaeological yard to regain their demeasure and their size of old. Ranked at Unesco since 1989, it is divided into three main areas:

The sanctuary: This area includes the doric temple of Hera (woman of Zeus, goddess of fertility and marriage, guardian of the home), the colossal temple of Zeus or the Metrôon (temple dedicated to Rhea, the mother of the gods). These remarkable buildings testify to the important role of Olympie as a religious centre. Among the three temples, that of Zeus, which housed a monumental statue of God sitting on a throne, is the culmination of your visit. Moreover, this sculpture is considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, shaped in gold, ebony and ivory, by the famous Phidias .

The quadrilateral: a kind of “Olympic village” including the Prytanée (where the banquets were held in favor of the winners), Leonidaion (house of important visitors during the Olympic Games), the thermal baths, the Atelier de Phidias (where he carved the famous Celephantine statue of Zeus) or the Bouleutêrion (seat of the Olympic Council).

Sports facilities: This area counts the gymnasium and its palestre (training place for fight, boxing and pancrace athletes) as well as the antique stadium we speak below.

Good to know: the entrance ticket for the ancient site, currently at 12€ , also includes the entrance to the archaeological museum.

2. History Museum of the Ancient Olympic Games

It's hard not to reconcile. It is indeed in Olympie, between the year 776 and the year 393 before Jesus Christ, that were born the Olympic Games (they were held every 4 years, as today)! If our modern sports differ from the sporting events of the past, some have been able to cross the millenniums. Walking, car racing, fighting, record throws and bleaching were the flagship disciplines of the first Olympic Games!

Only men could participate, even as spectators. As for the winners, they received many privileges. However, these events were of great value: a mandatory truce between the nations at war was respected during the Games.

But the best way to discover this History is to visit Olympie through its museum entirely dedicated to the Games and the details of the events.

3. Archaeological Museum

The great lovers of history and archaeology will not miss the archaeological museum for anything in the world. The latter contains representative pieces of Olympie. We walk in modern and air-conditioned spaces, discovering the long history that connects Greeks to Zeus and sport. This is especially the place where archaeologists store and store all the findings of the site. No wonder he is one of the must-sees in Olympie!

For example, it houses the impressive decorations of the temple of Zeus, including foreheads, metopes illustrating the twelve works of Heraclès or sculptures representative of local myths. You will also meet the statue of the Victory of Paionios. The displays, for their part, jealously retain precious collections of helmets, figures and finely preserved bronze weapons.

Heartburn for the gigantic statue of Hermes holding Dionysos, carved by Praxitèle. During your visit, you will also be able to admire the huge collection of statues in terracotta: an organ point often expected from visitors. Finally, the archaeological museum recounts thousands of years of art, in chronological order, from prehistory to Roman times!

4. Olympic Stadium

The Stadium of Olympie and its adjacent hippodrome are an integral part of the ancient site of Olympie. They saw hundreds and hundreds of competitions. Close your eyes. Hear the roar of forty thousand spectators. Feel the smell of the earth beaten by the horses’ gallop and the trampling of the riders. Admire the athletes who proudly raise their olive crown... There you are!

In the Olympic Stadium, are you ready to jump into a " stadion or a "double stadion"? Is that a race of one to two stages lengths, 192 or 384 metres? Yeah, it still stings...

On leaving the stadium you will see a series of statue bases of Zeus. These were erected by fines distributed to those who violated the rules of the Olympic Games.

5. Shopping Street

The modern and living village of Olympie is full of charm and tranquility. Travellers take advantage of the shops, especially along the famous Shopping Street. It is also a favorite place to relax in a traditional Greek tavern and make some shopping!

6. Olympic Botanical Garden

Between the archaeological site and the archaeological museum, a pleasant path is drawn through endemic plant species. It is actually a very representative botanical garden of the Greek flora in the Olympie region.

7. Museum of Archimedes

Do you have any time to dedicate to our must-see in Olympie? Go through the Musée d’Archimède: this state-of-the-art genius that can be proud to compete with the greatest inventors of history.

If his name is often familiar, few of us really know the unique theories of this great man, springing between the ancient and modern sciences. In its dedicated museum, you discover its inventions and this in an interactive, playful and very well explained way. In addition, this museum nestled in the main street of Olympie is entirely free !

8. Klio’s Honey Farm

You probably know the party, the mussaka and the tzaziki. But do you know that among Greek culinary specialties, we also find honey? Since the night of time, Greeks have maintained a strong bee tradition. It is impossible to visit Olympia without making a little greedy crochet at Klio, discovering this quasi-magic product born from the nectar of flowers.

In its traditional and family farm, this Greek beekeeper receives you and initiates you to his passion. In the shade of his garden, he guides you to his friends the bees, gives you the secrets of his production and – apotheosis of the guided tour – invites you to a tasting of his products.

How to go to Olympia?

Like all the sites of the Peloponnese, Olympie is not directly served since the France and little connected to the Greek islands. By plane we advise you to take a flight for Athens . If it is also possible to reach the Kalamata airport (closer but requiring at least one stopover), the Greek capital has the advantage of offering a multitude of direct flights from France!

If you are particularly flexible, you can eventually land in Araxos. This city is very close to Olympie but mainly served for charter and unregular flights. Greece is a very accessible destination but, for an ever more economical stay, you will find defiant tickets to our partner Skyscanner .

If you wish to transit through Athens, nothing very complicated once on site. Rent a car or take the bus to Olympie.

The journey lasts about 3:30 by car or 5:30 by bus (from the airport directly). If you have the chance to visit Olympie during a boat cruise, the nearest ports are Katakolon, Killini (from the Ionian Islands) and Patras that connects the Italy By ferry.

Where to stay in Olympie?

Given the large number of activities to be carried out in Olympia, we recommend that you devote at least two days to it and therefore stay at least one night in a nearby hotel. To be close to the ancient site and museums, opt for accommodation in the modern city of Olympie, Airbnb For example.

Nestled at the foot of Mont Cronion, you will find other apartments in the middle of nature but more excited! In any case, our Compare hotels will help you find the rare pearl for your stay in the Peloponnese.