Steeped in the echoes of ancient glory, a visit to Ancient Olympia in Greece is a journey back in time, where the spirit of the Olympic Games first ignited.
Nestled in the verdant landscape of the Peloponnese, this archaeological marvel resonates with the footsteps of athletes and the enthusiasm of spectators from antiquity.
Revered as the birthplace of the Olympic Games, the site exudes a profound sense of history and cultural significance.
As you walk through the sacred grounds, imagine the grandeur of the ancient stadium, where athletic prowess and camaraderie take center stage.
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Table of Contents
How to visit Olympia Greece
A short history — What is Olympia best known for?
The 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo had an estimated viewership of 3.05 billion people, almost 40% of the world population. If you’d like to visit the place where it all started, you should definitely drop by Ancient Olympia.
Despite its name, Olympia is on the western side of the Peloponnese peninsula, far away from Mount Olympus. The tomb of King Pelops, the guy after which the peninsula was named (i.e., Pelops’ Island), forms a central part of Olympia’s founding myth.
What started as a focal point for the peninsula’s inhabitants developed into a Panhellenic center, a lighthouse of unity and shared identity for Greeks all over the ancient world.
The site’s history is way too long and complex to be covered in this short article, so I’ll share only a few highlights, enough to pique your interest in visiting it.
The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC, and the last recorded competitions were in 393 AD, that is, until its modern resurrection in 1896 AD.
Unlike today’s competitions, the Games were held every four years in the same place, Olympia, and they became a point of reference for the people of the time. For example, someone would say they were born in the 1st year of the 5th Olympiad, an Olympiad representing the four-year period between two successive games.
The periodic events were so significant that wars stopped during the Games, so people could travel and participate unimpeded. Same as today, the different states used the competitions to instill a nationalistic fervor among their subjects—it was a less destructive way to soothe grievances.
Any free Greek male could participate in the Games, and successful athletes became stars, not unlike their contemporary peers.
Unsurprisingly, when money and politics mixed, skullduggery was inevitable. For instance, a famous athlete named Sodates won the competition as a representative of his native island of Crete. Next time, however, being bribed by the Ephesians, he participated and claimed victory for his new patrons; uproar followed the controversial deal. Eventually, Sodates was banished by his Cretan countrymen—I guess the bribe was large enough to afford him a lavish lifestyle elsewhere.
Over 1000 years of being the sporting and cultural center of the Greek world left its mark on the site. At its peak, there were circa 760 buildings and monuments, many ruins testifying to their former grandeur.
Follow in the footsteps of superstars of old and discover the magical archeological site of Ancient Olympia.
Is Olympia Greece worth visiting?
Definitely yes! The large archeological site is well-maintained, offering a window to one of human history’s most famous sporting venues.
How to get from Athens to Olympia?
Ancient Olympia is around 300 km southwest of Athens.
There are two options to get there: by car or bus; either way, you are looking forward to a 4-hour long trip (8 hours round trip).
If you are planning to rent a car, do it ahead of time, especially when traveling in peak season.Discover Carsis a great aggregator that will help you find and book the best option for your trip, helping yousave up to 70% on your car rental. Get the best offer here!
If you choose to go by car, the drive is easy, mostly on highways (A8 and A7)—only the last 100km is on a national road (1-lane road).
While using national roads is free of charge, the highways are paid. You’ll pass through toll gates regularly, where you can pay by cash or debit/credit card—the total amount will add up to circa 12 euros for a one-way trip.
Read also: Driving in Greece – Your Complete Guide
Still, driving for 8 hours to get there and back can be tiresome, so you should consider spending the night in Olympia before returning to Athens—several hotels are available.
If you prefer to wrap up everything in one day, consider leaving Athens early so that you have time to enjoy Olympia before returning.
Alternatively, the more convenient option is to book a guided tour, including a bus trip. This way, you can rest on the journey, make the best of your Olympia visit, and still be back in Athens at the end of the day.
Book your ancient Olympia tour from Athens
Another great option is to book an excursion with a private taxi.
Where is Ancient Olympia
Address: Archaia Olympia 270 65, Greece on the western side of Peloponnese
How to get to Olympia from a port?
If you are visiting Greece on a cruise ship and want to go on a day trip to Ancient Olympia, the closest port will be the Katakolon Port.
You can either book a trip on the ship or book a Roundtrip Transfer to Ancient Olympia ahead of time.
The trip is around 40 minutes one-way, and the cost of the public bus ticket is very similar to the private transfers.
How do you spend a day in Olympia, Greece?
Simply put, you should visit three different places in Olympia: the modern town, the archeological museum, and the archeological site.
We visited by car, so after spending several hours in the car, the first thing we did was stroll through the streets of the modern town of Olympia, looking for a place to eat.
The main street is lined by tourist shops, restaurants, and cafes, so there is a large enough variety to choose from.
We decided on a traditional Greek place, having two large plates of tasty gyros.
Refreshed and energized, we were ready to explore the archeological site.
We acquired the entry tickets at the entrance, which were also valid for the museum. They cost 12 euros per adult and were free for the baby; you can pay by cash or card.
Or you can book your ticket ahead of time. We recommend doing so especially if you travel during the peak season (May to early September). As we visited in late September there were no crowds, but there were still plenty of people.
Book your Archaeological Site & Museum E-Ticket & Audio Guide here!
Book Your Self-Guided Virtual Reality Tour of Olympia
Given its long history, the UNESCO World Heritage site contains ruins from different periods: Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman. I’ll try to list some of the more important ones.
The Prytaneion
In the northern part of the site, you’ll find the Prytaneion.
Typically, the prytaneion was the seat of the executive branch in Greek city-states, the equivalent of the White House in modern-day Washington or Whitehall in London.
However, in the case of Olympia, it was the building where the officials and the winners of the Games met.
The Philippeion
The Philippeion was a circular memorial monument dedicated to Philip II of Macedon’s family.
In ancient times, it contained ivory and gold statues of three generations of the Argead dynasty: King Amyntas and Queen Eurydice, their son, Philip, and his wife, Olympias, and their grandson, Alexander the Great.
This family left its mark on the world, their larger-than-life exploits (and dysfunctions) being remembered to this day (e.g., the historically inaccurate but otherwise entertaining 2004 movie starring Colin Farell, Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer, and Anthony Hopkins, among others).
To the south of the Philippeion—and beyond the treasuries of the various city-states—you’ll find the Metroon, an ancient Greek temple dedicated to a mother goddess.
The Echo Stoa
The Echo Stoa, a once-covered public walkway used as a sort of bazaar, lies to the east. Its name, echo, reflects its former acoustic qualities; it is said that one spoken word would echo seven times.
Further to the east lies the hippodrome and later stadium; the site was a sporting venue, after all.
Another covered walkway was the South Stoa that passes by the remains of the Council Chamber, or bouleuterion.
The western part contains the wrestling grounds, the so-called palaestra.
Close by was the gymnasion, a training facility used by the athletes, hence the modern name of the gym. What few gym goers realize today is that the term gymnosmeans naked, for the ancients used to train without clothes on. So when you say, “I am going to the gym,” it literally means, “I am going to the (place with) naked people.”
All the participating athletes had to stay somewhere during the Games; that place was the Leonidaion, in the southwestern part of the site. One Leonidas of Naxos funded and designed it, hence the name.
Last but not least, ancient Olympia was known for housing one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Statue of Zeus.
The statue was lost and destroyed during the early Middle Ages under unclear circ*mstances, but we possess eyewitness accounts of its grandeur.
It was a giant seated figure made of ivory plates and gold panels mounted on a wooden structure. The statue was realized by Phidias around 435 BC in the workshop situated on the western side of the archeological site.
The Archaeological Museum of Olympia is near the archaeological site of Olympia, and it houses an extensive collection of works of art, weapons, pottery, and other interesting pieces covering 1000 years of history from the archaic times up to the late Roman period.
Opening Hours
High Season (April – Oct): Daily, 8:00 – 20:00
Low Season (Nov – March): Daily, 8:30 – 15:30
Last Admission: 15′ before closing time
Holidays:
1 January: closed
25 March: closed
Good Friday: 12:00-17:00
Holy Saturday: 8:00-15:00
1 May: closed
Easter Sunday: closed
25 December: closed
26 December: closed
Can you visit the Statue of Zeus at Olympia?
Unfortunately, the wondrous monument has not survived; it was probably destroyed in the 5th or 6th century AD.
According to one account, it was moved to Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire (a.k.a. the Byzantine Empire), where it was later destroyed during a fire or earthquake.
Alternatively, it was suggested that the ivory statue of Zeus was destroyed on the orders of Emperor Theodosius II in an effort to wipe out all traces of pre-Christian monuments.
When to visit
We visited in late September.
Despite being autumn, the weather was warm and we had to rest in the shade a few times, especially since I carried our little baby in one of those frontal bags.
I can only imagine the sweltering heat of July and August. Thus, the best time to visit is in late April to early June or late September to early October.
If, however, you choose to go during the peak season, make sure to bring a lot of water. You will need it!
What to bring
A fulfilling visit to Olympia would include a lot of walking under the open sky. So, make sure to wear comfy shoes, light-colored clothes, and a sun hat (or umbrella in case of cloudy weather).
In addition, you should pack a bottle of water since there are understandably no stores inside the archeological site.
Lastly, charge your phone or camera; you’ll encounter plenty of Instagramable spots.
Where to stay in Olympia, Greece
If you are traveling from Athens and choose to stay the night, here are our top 3 picks for staying in Ancient Olympia.
Hotel Europa Olympia – a top-rated hotel with a swimming pool, within walking distance of the city center. See more here!
Anesi Rooms To Rent – a nice family-run hotel located 750 metres from the Archaeological Site and Museum of Ancient Olympia. See availability and prices here!
Prytanio – cozy rooms within walking distance to the restaurants and archeological site. See more here!
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