10-Day Peloponnese Islands Tour Packages
The Peloponnese deserves plenty of your time! Explore ancient sites like Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia, Sparta, Byzantine and Mystras. Nafplio makes a beautiful base with Venetian architecture and fortress. The peninsula combines history with beaches, with wine regions around Nemea, and coastal cycling routes. Time here reveals mainland Greece beyond just Athens and the islands.
Insider tips: Recommended 10-day Peloponnese Islands tour itineraries
Compiled by
MelissaPeloponnese Islands travel expert at TourRadar
9 Days in Greece, incl. Athens and Olympia
The 9-day cultural tour winds through 8 Greek cities, from Athens to the Peloponnese peninsula. Ancient Olympia's Temple of Hera stands as a highlight, while Byzantine-era Mystras captivates visitors. Nemea's 3,000-year-old winemaking traditions come alive with exclusive tastings at family-owned farms. Costs approx. $490 per day.
- Days 1-2
Athens:
Start in Athens with two full days to explore. Get to the Acropolis before 8:30 AM to avoid crowds and heat. Visit the Panathenaic Stadium in late afternoon when the marble has cooled. Book your stay in the Plaka neighborhood for easy access to major sites and local tavernas.
- Day 3
Athens to Olympia:
Stop at the Corinth Canal mid-morning for the best photos of the 260-foot-deep channel. Take the historic Odontotos rack railway through Vouraikos Gorge. The one-hour ride climbs 750 meters with stunning canyon views. Pack sturdy shoes for the uneven platforms.
- Day 4
Olympia:
Visit the archaeological site early before it gets hot. You can run the ancient Olympic stadium track just like athletes did thousands of years ago. In the afternoon, visit a local honey farm to learn about Greek beekeeping. Bring cash for honey products.
- Days 5-6
Kalamata and Sparta Region:
Explore Kalamata's olive culture and visit Pylos, a coastal town with a Venetian castle overlooking the bay. In Sparta, walk the Byzantine ruins of Mystras. The paths are steep but the valley views are worth it. Stay in boutique hotels near the Taygetos mountains.
- Day 7
Nemea Wine Region to Athens:
Stop in Nemea on your way back to Athens. Try the local Agiorgitiko red wines during late morning tastings when your palate is fresh. The drive to Athens takes about 2 hours.
- Day 8
Aegina Island Day Trip:
Take a 40-minute ferry from Piraeus to Aegina. Start at the Temple of Aphaia, then visit a pistachio farm. One visitor said, "The pistachios here have an amazing sweet flavor you won't find anywhere else. Make sure to try the pistachio butter!" Catch an afternoon ferry back for sunset views of Athens.
- Day 9
Athens:
Spend your final morning walking through the National Gardens or shopping at the Monastiraki flea market. Plan to leave for the airport at least 90 minutes before your flight due to unpredictable traffic.
9 Days in Greece Ionian Islands, incl. Corfu and Zakynthos
Island hopping takes you through 4 distinct Ionian gems over 9 days. Corfu's UNESCO-listed Old Town, Homer's Ithaca, Kefalonia's hidden caves, and Zakynthos' legendary Navagio Beach await. Accommodations include Oasis, Nostos, Maribel, and Varres hotels.
- Days 1-2
Corfu
Start in Kerkyra (Corfu's main town) and stay in the Old Town area. You'll find great restaurants and historic sites right at your doorstep. The streets can be tricky to navigate, so download an offline map beforehand. Start your first full day at the UNESCO-listed Old Fortress to beat the crowds and avoid midday heat. In the afternoon, head to Paleokastritsa Beach for a swim. Bring water shoes since the shore is rocky, but the water is incredibly clear.
- Day 3
Corfu to Ithaca
The ferry to Ithaca takes about 4 hours. Take motion sickness tablets if needed since the sea can get rough, especially in the afternoon. Once you reach Vathy, Ithaca's main port, stop at one of the waterfront tavernas and try the local bourdeto fish stew.
- Day 4
Ithaca
Start your day in the northern part of Homer's legendary island before it gets too hot. The walk to Odysseus's Cave takes about 40 minutes on uneven ground, so wear good shoes. End your day in Kioni village where you can take beautiful sunset photos of traditional stone houses leading down to the harbor.
- Days 5-6
Kefalonia
The ferry to Kefalonia is about 1.5 hours. Stay in Argostoli or Skala for convenient access to everything. Get to Myrtos Beach before 10 AM to find parking. Plan your Melissani Cave visit for early afternoon when the sunlight makes the water look magical. A recent visitor said: "The underground lake at Melissani is otherworldly, but book your boat tour in advance – lines can stretch to 2 hours in peak season."
- Days 7-8
Zakynthos
Take the 1.5-hour ferry to Zakynthos. Visit the Navagio Beach viewpoint early for the best photos and to avoid tour buses. Book a morning boat tour to the Blue Caves and Navagio Beach from Agios Nikolaos port when the sea is calmer and visibility is better for swimming.
- Day 9
Leave from Zakynthos Airport
Try to book afternoon flights since morning fog can cause delays. Get to the airport 2.5 hours before international flights as the small airport gets crowded quickly.
9 Days in Greece, incl. Athens and Kefalonia
The Peloponnese reveals its treasures from ancient Olympia's stadium to Nafplio's Venetian charm. Kalavryta's cave lakes and mountain vistas await. The historic Odontotos train curves through Vouraikos Gorge, offering spectacular forest and waterfall views.
- Days 1-2
Athens: Get an early start at the Acropolis around 8am before the tour groups arrive.
Spend your morning exploring the ancient citadel and Parthenon. Remember to wear shoes with good grip since the marble steps can be slippery. Take a walking tour through Plaka and Anafiotika in the afternoon. These neighborhoods really come to life after 7pm when locals fill the tavernas.
- Day 3
Athens to Nafplio: Get your rental car and drive south to the Peloponnese.
Stop at the Corinth Canal about an hour from Athens. You'll get the best view of the 6km channel from the old bridge. Visit Mycenae around 3pm when the Lion's Gate is quiet then continue to Nafplio. Book accommodation in the old town for easy access to waterfront restaurants.
- Day 4
Nafplio to Olympia: Begin with an olive oil tasting at a local Nafplio mill.
The drive to Olympia spans 157km through Arcadia's mountains. Take a scenic detour to Kalavryta and ride the rack railway through Vouraikos Gorge. The one-hour trip offers great views but remember the last train leaves at 3pm.
- Day 5
Olympia to Kefalonia: Visit the ancient Olympic stadium early before taking the 90-minute ferry from Kyllini to Kefalonia.
Consider motion sickness pills if you're sensitive to rough seas. Once you arrive head to Melissani Cave Lake. Book the final boat tour around 5pm to see stunning lighting effects on the turquoise water.
- Day 6
Kefalonia to Ithaka: Take the morning ferry from Sami to Pisaetos port on Ithaka.
The journey takes about an hour but check schedules carefully as ferries run less often to this quiet island. Stay in Vathi where traditional waterfront tavernas serve excellent fresh seafood.
- Day 7
Ithaka to Delphi: Return to mainland Greece at Patras by ferry.
Cross the Rio-Antirrio bridge to reach Delphi. Plan to arrive in late afternoon after the tour buses leave. The site closes at sunset so save your visit for tomorrow morning.
- Day 8
Delphi to Athens: Start at the Temple of Apollo and Delphi Museum when they open at 8am.
Drive back to Athens through Arachova a mountain village known for woven textiles and local cheese. The 186km journey takes roughly 3 hours without stops.
- Day 9
Athens: Return your rental car and prepare to depart.
Book an evening flight if traveling in summer to avoid morning traffic to the airport.
Peloponnese Islands 10 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
Legendary Greece
Ionian Island Hopping | Corfu - Ithaca - Kefalonia - Zante | 9 Days | Greece
Self Drive 9 Days Ionic Tour in Odysseus.
Greece Real Food Adventure
The Best Wine and Culinary Tour of Peloponnese
Tracing the Steps of Hercules in the Peloponnese and Delphi 10 days
A Circular Tour around the Peloponense 10 days
Athens, Peloponnese and the Beautiful Aegean Int
8-Day Group Tour: Ancient Greece, Acropolis & Saronic Islands
10 Days Amazing Culinary Tour Athens Peloponesse and Crete
What people love about 10-day Peloponnese Islands tours
- Greece Real Food Adventure
My clients LOVED their experience on Greece food tour! They said it was the best vacation of their lives. From the friendly tour guide, to the well planned activities, and even the best travel companions that they hadn’t known before, they said the entire experience was perfect.
- Grand Classical Tour Of Greece plus Mani and Monemvasia (Small group - In depth culture, Historical, Nature, Culinary guided tour)
Oh boy what a trip!!Sooo memorable. It was such great value for money! Accommodation was very good & varied.Scenery was gorgeous!! The ancient sites & relics tremendous! - Ioannis our guide was a walking encyclopedia of Ancient Greece-always feeding us with extra information-we learned soon much-Thank You. Cristos our driver kept us safe on the roads-yes at times very windy and often very narrow in the towns. He made sure we savoured the Greek delicacies thru the various quaint towns-so yum!! The size of the group is kept small and flexible. We had fabulous travelling companions along with Ioannis & Cristos made us all feel like Whanau(family) Kiwis NZ
- A Circular Tour around the Peloponense 10 days
There were only two of us on this family run tour and it was customised for our dates, which we appreciated. The scenery was beautiful and the history here is mind boggling. We especially loved the daily lunches that had been hand-picked to represent the best of Greek cuisine. Every day the food was fabulous (and plentiful) - and we often did not need to eat an evening meal. We also enjoyed a wine tasting in the Peleponnese and an olive oil tasting at Delphi. All the hotels selected were very comfortable. Our guide, Argeris was great. He was friendly, helpful (when I lost my camera) and knowledgable about the places we visited. A late amendment to our tour included a three day visit to the island of Aegena, where we had a cooking class with the matriarch of the family, Argena. This was the final sector of an extended vacation, but proved to the highlight of the entire trip. Highly recommended.