2 Day Private Tour of Sparta, Mystras & Monemvasia - Overnight
Description
The site of Sparta is completely surrounded by major mountain ranges. In contrast to other ancient Greek cities, Sparta was not a compact fortified city-state center with monumental civic and religious buildings. It was a loose collection of smaller villages spaced over a large rural area and 6 low hills. The highest of these knolls served as the acropolis and location for the Temple of Athena Chalkioikos. In the Hellenistic period a theatre, stoa and agora were built near the acropolis but the Temple of Athena and the earlier remains at the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia on the West bank of the Eurotas are almost the only archaeological remains from Archaic and Classical Sparta. The complex of the ruins of Mystras offers the image of a city with a brilliant destiny that was deserted by men and threatened by the return of encroaching vegetation which is splitting the walls and covering the slopes, thus destroying here and there fragile traces of history. In 1989 the ruins including the fortress palace , churches and monasteries were named a Unesco World Heritage Site!Visit the mystical tower of Mystras and let yourself be captivated by this destination’s medieval splendour. Wander around the castle city and sense through the silence the city’s sheer grandeur. Stroll leisurely through the “Kastro” ( the Frankish Castle ) the Upper Town and Lower Town whose architecture creates a dreamy setting. With your minds eyes visualize Frankish princes and princesses living in palatial mansions;foreign delegations arriving bearing gifts and peasant pilgrims or traders filling the bustling streets. Monemvasia in Greece is one of the most romantic places in the country. A medieval castle Town exclusively carved on the slopes of a rock. This fantastic place was originally constructed in the Medieval Ages and has been continuously inhabited since then.A World Cultural Heritage monument and a major attraction for every traveller in the Peloponnese and the whole of Greece it has a unique magical atmosphere and a fascinating history. Monuments and churches are scattered through out the old town. An important archaeological collection is housed in the old mosque in the Square of Elkomenos Christos. Today most of the old mansions have been converted into guesthouses and boutique hotels. Authentic tavernas, fabulous restaurants and cosy coffee shops also add to the spark of Monemvasia. Outside the Rock, there is a new modern town with many tourist facilities. Built in the shadow of the Rock on which the Medieval fortress stands, the new town of Monemvasia has become a lively tourist destination in its own right. A large variety of hotels restaurants and coffee bars attract thousands of visitors all year round . Both within and around Monemvasia are a number of excellent clean,crystal clear beaches.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Your personal driver/guide will pick you up and return you to your hotel in Athens, meeting you at the lobby. In case of an AirBnb apartment, he will contact you upon arrival so you can meet him at the entrance of the building. For Airport and Port pickup, your driver/guide will meet you at the gate holding an Ancient Greece Tours sign for you to spot him upon arrival.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Animals or pets allowed
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Infant seats available. Please notify us upon booking request.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Reviews(6)
I had the exact once-in-a-lifetime experience which I hoped for as someone highly interested in ancient Greece, early Christian and Byzantine culture. Moreover, the scheduled tour guide, Peter K. is so convivial, knowledgeable, responsible and receptive to all questions. My dream of better understanding these cultures via personal experience honed in on Ancient Greece Tours and Transfers, as these sites were key locations in the early Greek culture. Peter K. and I freely spoke through the entire trip and since Corinth was on the way to Sparta, provided an additional chance to the seen the ancient and modern canals connecting the two seas, each of these being monumental engineering feats. While Sparta is a city rebuilt in the 19th Century, Peter K. connected the ancient times with history, the moderns representations and monuments, as well as Sparta's present role in an annual race. Mystras is a hands-on amazing adventure of a near-entire city in ruins with amazingly preserved Byzantine churches with frescos - a 20 euro fee for lifetime memories.. Moderately challenging hiking is needed to explore the upper and lower parts, and better starting with the upward climb to the fort. The Byzantine churches made the ending incredible. One church docent was incredibly kind to have me photograph the well-preserved mosaics (no flash use allowed). Monemvasia is epic though. The sea at sunset, an incredible hotel on the ismuthus' end and the mixture of a modern village and the ancient fortifications / churches, is breathtaking against the royal blue sea. The hike to upper town and church is moderately technical, so be advised that being careful will reward in exhilarating views. An logistic I had to accept that as a solo traveler, there was no shared pricing. I wish that was different. However, the experiential value was absolutely worth it. I hope to return to Monemvasia and would be eager if Ancient Greek Tours and Peter K. could be part of that adventure.
Thank you so so much for your 5★ review! We’re thrilled to hear that your 2-day tour of Sparta, Mystras, and Monemvasia was everything you hoped for and more. Peter K. takes great pride in sharing his knowledge and passion for ancient Greek, early Christian, and Byzantine culture, and it’s wonderful to know his guidance made the history come alive for you. We’re delighted you enjoyed the breathtaking sites, hikes, and local experiences along the way. Your detailed feedback and recommendation mean a lot, and we’d be honored to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in Greece. Warm regards, Ancient Greece Tours & Transfers
We had a wonderful journey!!!! Monemvasia was like living in a fairy tale. We hiked up to the fort and church. The frescos in the church were beautiful. The next morning we got up to watch sunrise. We pretty much had the whole village to ourselves. Tas was an awesome driver and historian. Mystra was amazing. Tas drove us to the top and we walked down. Much easier and more convenient than hiking uphill in the heat.
Hello Therese, Thank you so much for your glowing review! We're delighted to hear that your journey through Monemvasia and Mystra was nothing short of magical. It sounds like you truly immersed yourselves in the beauty and history of ancient Greece, from the stunning frescos in the church to the peaceful sunrise over the village. Tas is indeed a gem, combining his expertise as a driver and historian to enhance your experience. We're thrilled to have been a part of your unforgettable adventure. Looking forward to welcoming you back for more exploration soon!
Since we had planned to spend 3 nights in Monemvasia, I contacted Ancient Greece Tours & Transfer to arrange the transportation for us between Athens and Monemvasia. Yiannis, our driver, was awesome! He was very attentive to our need for coffee breaks and restroom stops. He spoke great English and was very knowledgeable about Greek mythology, history and culture. We asked many questions and learned a lot from him. The drive, 4.5 hours each way, didn’t seem that long with interesting conversations with him. Monemvasia is a unique destination with amazing historical sites and beautiful view. On our way there, we visited Mystras for about 2 hours. It was the last major Byzantine culture center by the 15th century and is now an UNESCO site. We truly enjoyed the Monemvasia-Mystras tour and would highly recommend it with Yiannis!
It was an absolutely amazing experience, Tas our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and very considerate. I would recommend this company to anyone, this trip meant a great deal to us and the service was above and beyond. I learned a lot, I was able to relax and enjoy myself and my grandmother was able to go at her own pace, it was a lovely tour. For the Tripadvisor category, I was with my elderly grandmother, not young children, but there was no option to chose family travel without children.
Our two day trip went really well! Our taxi guide was brilliant, very understanding of our desires and gave us time to enjoy each place. We were in no rush for time. In addition, he gave us great places to eat and drink and we have never been disappointed! I recommend this tour and this taxi guide which was awesome! Thank you again 😄
Thank you so so much for your wonderful review! Monemvasia is truly magical and Mystras breathtaking! It was my pleasure being your chauffeur/tourist guide and introducing you to parts of the Peloponesse. We pride ourselves with our Black Edition luxury vehicles and our aim is to bring a smile to our valued guests creating wonderful memories for them. Im sure you will enjoy the rest of your holidays in Greece! Have fun! Tas
I was very happy with this tour and the cape sounion sunset tour that I booked through Ancient Greece tours! Nothing was a hassle for the owner Tas, who tailed the tours to our needs. I travelled with my two parents, who also really enjoyed the tours. The car was clean, we had bottles of water and cookies provided and wifi in the car. Tas also took us to great restaurants, excellent food and good prices. Tas was also an informative tour guide about all the places we visited! So if you want to avoid big tour groups and travel in comfort and style, I would definitely recommend Ancient Greece Tours! Thanks Tas and team!