Visit Épidaure, a high place of Greek antiquity

Would you like to discover this small Greek town in the northeast of the Peloponnese? Then follow our guide to visit Épidaure!

Located northeast of the Peloponnese peninsula, Épidaure is a small Greek city known from all over the world for its extraordinary antique theatre.

Built in the third or fourth century before our era, this ancient theatre of Épidaure is surely one of the most surprising places to visit throughout the country. Representations of some works are still held in this well-preserved space and the wonderful acoustics.

The district of Épidaure is full of things to see. The ancient city has what to delight lovers of history and culture. Would you like to explore it soon? Then discover our complete guide to visit Epideaure during your next stay in Greece!

Visit Épidaure, a dive in Greek antiquity

Located in the Illiade d’Homère, in the Catalogue of Ships, Épidaure is thus known as “Épidaure aux bons vineyards”. In the classical era, this ancient city enjoys a great prestige and fame thanks to its sanctuary dedicated to Asclepios, a healing god. This place was then home to very well-known doctors and there was a practice of dream medicine.

As in all Greek sanctuaries, sports and theatre events were held regularly in honour of the gods. In the Sanctuary of Asclépios, we celebrated the Asklepieia , pan-hellénic games including horse races. From the fourth century, the city also organizes poetry competitions.

Today, the sanctuary remains almost intact. This includes the famous ancient theatre of Épidaure, built in the fourth century before our era or in the beginning of the third century before our era to welcome the Asklepieia .

In Épidaure, there are also important vestiges of sports equipment and a large temple built in the early 4th century before our era.

What to see and what to do in Épidaure?

The District of Épidaure houses many wonders to discover during your stay. If you come to visit Épidaure, you will obviously not be able to make the impasse on the Sanctuary of Asclépios and its ancient theatre. These places are home to several must-sees:

The ancient site of Épidaure

In the Sanctuary of Asclepios, you can thus discover the remains of the Temple of Asclepios, of a Propyle, of restoration halls, temples and other buildings, as a stadium or Roman baths. The highlight of the visit will obviously be the sublime Théâtre d’Épidaure.

The best preserved building of the place, it passes for the most accomplished of all ancient Greek theatres. It was built to 500 metres from the sanctuary about 350 before our era, probably by the architect Polyctet the Young, according to Pausanias. Then it was enhanced by twenty rows of bleachers by the Romans in the second century before our era.

This ancient theatre has reached us in a very exceptional state. The granaries of grey limestone are almost all of their origin, only those on both wings must have been restored. The antique theater retains an extraordinary acoustic, which you can observe during your visit.

After this discovery, take a tour of the Musée d’Épidaure, which gathers sculptures and architectural elements discovered on the site.

From the beginning of June until mid-August, you can also participate in one of the oldest festivals in Europe: the festival of Athens et d’Épidaure. It welcomes many renowned artists from all over the world every year. In the field of theatre, dance and music, they perform in particular in the ancient theatre of Épidaure!

The cities of Épidaure

In addition to the ancient sanctuary and theatre, you can visit the small town Paleá Epídavros (Veille-Épidaure) located on the site of the ancient Greek city, on the coast of Argolide.

The village Piáda or Nea Epídavros (New Epidaure) sheltered in 1822 the National Assembly of Epidaure, the place of the first meeting of what has become today the Greek Parliament after the country’s independence. Nearby are also the ruins of a mysterious acropolis.

All these places are to be discovered during your stay! Enjoy the unique atmosphere and discover a variety of Greek culture by visiting Épidaure.

How to visit Épidaure?

To visit Épidaure, two options are available to you: a guided tour from Athens, often combined with other historical sites, or a visit directly on site, guided or by your own means. In the latter case, we recommend that you stay in the cities of Nouvelle Épidaure or Ancienne Épidaure and also enjoy the coast.

A trip from Athens

Numerous guided tours take place from Athens to Épidaure. These guided tours also include other sites of the Peloponnese, including the uncontourable ancient city of Mycenes .

They only cost an average of 100 euros per person. A trip usually lasts one full day . You will be transported to an air-conditioned bus or minibus. A professional guide will accompany you.

A walking tour of the site

For an autonomous visit to the site, know that the entrance costs 12€ full and 5€ reduced tariff April to October . De November to March , the full rate falls to 6€ . The ticket is valid for the ancient site (sanctuary, theatre) and the archaeological museum.

During this period, the site is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in April. From May to August, you can visit Épidaure from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Every fortnight until the end of October, the closing schedule is reduced by half an hour.

Hours may also vary on holidays. The site is closed on January 1, March 25, May 1, Easter Sunday, December 25 and 26.

Note there are no guides on site. You will need to find a guide before your visit. You can visit the Office of Local Tourism for more information or contact the ancient site directly.

How to get to Epideal?

By car

To visit Épidaure from Athens, you will need your own vehicle if possible. You can also take a bus to the cities of the coast. We recommend that you rent a car when you arrive in Greece or for this visit. You can also opt for a guided day or days trip.

From Athens, you will need by car to take the highway towards Corinth . Once the channel has passed, you will then have to follow the deviation for Épidaure. When you leave the highway, it will be necessary to take the coastal road for about an hour. You will follow the signs indicating " Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus "

From the cities of Ancienne Épidaure or Nouvelle Épidaure, the journey is only 20 minutes. You will follow as mentioned above the panels " Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus » or join the nearby town of Lygourio.

By bus

Two possibilities exist to visit the district of Épidaure from Athens. For example, you can take a bus or train to Nauplie . Some lines stop even on the way in coastal cities (Ancienne and Nouvelle Épidaure).

You can then take the local line that joins the ancient site. Travel is usually available every day in the summer, especially during the festival. We recommend that you contact the Tourist Office directly for specific hours.

From Nauplie you can also take a bus that goes directly to the archaeological site of Épidaure. This line is operational every day of the week and at different hours of the day. You can discover Nauplie and then visit Épidaure or join the coastal towns of Épidaure and then go to the ancient site.

Are there combined visits?

The visit of the ancient site of Épidaure is often coupled with that of other emblematic places in the Peloponnese region. You can book many guided tours from the Greek capital, Athens.

On this occasion you can discover Mycenes, visit Épidaure, but also Nauplie on the coast. These excursions usually last a day . They may cost 100 to 150€ per person.

We recommend this type of combined visits if you want to discover these ancient sites before boarding to the islands. You won’t have to worry about transportation. You can quickly discover each of these sites.

For an in-depth visit, it is better to take the time to visit Épidaure by yourself or with a dedicated visit.

The right addresses in Épidaure

For an unforgettable experience from the beginning to the end, Wanderlix has uncovered some good addresses to make your visit to Épidaure a memorable moment!

With regard to the accommodation, you can quite stay in Épidaure and visit the surrounding area, the sanctuary and the antique theater at your convenience. You can also stay in a large surrounding city and enjoy a guided day trip with transport.

In order to find your ideal accommodation, we recommend that you use a hotel comparison like Booking or platform Airbnb . If you want to stay close to the monuments of Épidaure, you can find two accommodations that can meet your desires.

Where to stay in Épidaure?

Avaton Hotel

This charming hotel is located in Lygourio, a village only 2 minutes the road to the ancient theatre of Épidaure.

The Avaton Hotel offers clean and comfortable rooms. They have a balcony, a refrigerator and a private bathroom. Furnished and decorated with sobriety, they are air conditioned. You will find everything you need to enjoy a pleasant stay in Épidaure.

Shuttle service free to nearby tourist sites is also at your disposal. You will also benefit from parking free on site. A vehicle is needed to easily reach the seaside towns of Épidaure.

Aristotelis

The elegant Aristotelis hotel is located on the heights of Yialasi. It is located near the ancient city of Épidaure and the beach of Yialasi. It has a restaurant, a bar, a swimming pool and a private parking.

You will enjoy comfortable and beautifully decorated rooms. They all have a large balcony with sea view. They also include anatomical beds, in addition to everything necessary for a dream stay in Épidaure.

Here you can enjoy relaxing moments near the pool, the bar or the hotel’s restaurant. The city is nearby, and you can discover it in leisure.

The best restaurants in Epidaure

Many restaurants are located close to Épidaure’s tourist site, but also in the seaside towns, especially in the Ancienne Épidaure.

Near the main site, you can have lunch at Moustákias in particular. On the road, the grill Smyrlis is also a more affordable option. On the coast we recommend visiting Mouria Restaurant , Stork or Athina Tavern for a meal the feet in the water!