Olympia

Birthplace of the Olympic Games

Olympia is a small town in Greece where ancient history comes alive. It’s home to the original Olympic Games site, where athletes competed over two thousand years ago. The area features ruins of temples and stadiums that once hosted global events. Visitors can explore museums displaying artifacts from those early games. The landscape includes olive groves and rolling hills, creating a calm setting for learning about Greece’s cultural roots. Local guides share stories about the region’s role in shaping sports traditions still celebrated worldwide today.

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Town in Greece

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$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.2

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	8

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, and at all tourist sites. Museum panels and guided tours are available in English, making it easy for international visitors to explore and learn.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Olympia Summary

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Famous for ancient Olympic history. Explore archaeological ruins, visit the Olympic stadium and learn about ancient sports traditions in museums.

Place score

7.8

Best at:

Historic sites

Ruins

Walkable

Museums

Guided tours

Personal score

Suited for

👶 6

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

👩 7

Solo

Greece – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 3/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in urban areas. However, many small shops and rural locations still prefer cash payments. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Greece. In restaurants, 5-10% is typical, though rounding up is also common. Tipping taxi drivers is customary, and small tips for hotel staff are appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally allowed in Greece, especially in designated areas or during festivals. However, it’s prohibited in some areas like public transport or near schools.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places. There are designated outdoor smoking areas in most restaurants and public buildings.

Easter (March/April)	Easter is a significant religious holiday, and many businesses close. Popular for family gatherings and church services.
Assumption of Mary (August)	A national holiday with parades and festivities. Expect crowded tourist areas and higher accommodation prices.
Christmas (December)	Christmas celebrations take place in many towns and cities, with lively events, though many businesses close for the holiday.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Beat, TaxiBeat, Uber
Other:	Greece is a popular tourist destination, particularly in summer, so be prepared for high demand for accommodation and services during peak months.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

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Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Olympia, Greece

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

☀️

Apr

☀️

May

☀️

Jun

🔥

Jul

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Aug

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Sep

☀️

Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	April - June, Sep. - Oct.
Shoulder season:	March, July - Aug.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Archaeological site opens around 8:00 and has shorter hours November to March, arrive early in summer to beat heat and tour groups

Cruise ship day-trippers from nearby Katakolo crowd the site late morning, April to October

Don't miss

🏛️ Explore the ancient ruins of the Archaeological Site
🏺 Visit the majestic Temple of Zeus remains
🏟️ Walk the original Olympic Stadium and starting line
🗿 Discover ancient artifacts at the Archaeological Museum
🔥 Witness the Olympic Flame lighting ceremony if possible

You've been here?

Why travel to Olympia?

Olympia is a must for anyone fascinated by ancient history, sports or Greek mythology. Walking through the archaeological site, you’ll see the remains of the Temple of Zeus (once home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), the original Olympic stadium and the Temple of Hera, where the Olympic Flame is still lit for each modern Games. The on-site museums are packed with treasures, including Praxiteles’ Hermes and the stunning pediments of the Temple of Zeus. Olympia’s peaceful setting, surrounded by olive groves and rivers, makes it easy to imagine the excitement and ceremony of the ancient Games. Just be aware that it can get crowded during peak season and cruise ship arrivals and the summer heat can be intense – plan to visit early or late in the day for a quieter, cooler experience. Some paths are uneven or exposed, so bring good shoes, water and sun protection.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Palaestra
2 Archaeological Site of Olympia
3 Stadium
4 Temple of Zeus
5 Philippeion
6 Echo Stoa
7 Temple of Hera
8 Museum of Ancient Greek Technology

🎡Places for activities

1 Gymnasium
2 Archimedes' Museum
3 Nemouta Waterfall

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Alpheus

🎈Events

Olympic Flame Lighting Ceremony
Ancient Olympia Festival (theatre, music)
Dreamland Music Festival
Local sports tournaments
Cultural exhibitions
Religious processions
Spring wildflower walks
Summer music concerts
Harvest festivals
Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations

Explore on map

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Knowledge before you go

Visit archaeological site and museum together.
Walk through Krypte tunnel to ancient Olympic Stadium for authentic athlete experience.
Start early morning at Temple of Zeus ruins to avoid tour groups and enjoy quiet atmosphere.
See Hermes of Praxiteles statue in museum before site visit for better context understanding.

How to travel to Olympia

Olympia is less than 4 hours from Athens by car or bus and about 1 hour from Patras port or Kalamata airport. There are daily buses and trains from Athens and other Peloponnese towns. Many visitors arrive on organized tours or as a cruise excursion from Katakolo port.

Access summary

From Araxos/Patras Airport (GPA): Car or transfer, typically about 1.5 hours.
From Athens: KTEL bus or car via Corinth–Pyrgos, usually 3.5–4 hours.
From Kalamata: Scenic drive or transfer through Peloponnese, roughly 2–2.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Olympia

Olympia offers a range of accommodation, from family-run guesthouses and boutique hotels to larger resorts with pools. Many are within walking distance of the archaeological site. Book ahead in summer or during festivals, as rooms fill up quickly.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

The Convo Athens Riviera

9.2

Hotel Antonios

6.5

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Olympia

Olympia is compact and walkable, with most major sites and museums close together. The modern village is just a short stroll from the archaeological area. Taxis and local buses can take you to nearby attractions or beaches. Paths can be uneven, so wear sturdy shoes.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-19 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 19% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Tripoli, Greece - 67 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£57	£117	£292
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£21	£49	£105
🍝 Food per day	£31	£61	£166
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£7	£21

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£22
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£12.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£13
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£9
☕ Cappuccino	£3.10
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£3.60

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.05
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£12.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£7
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£33
🤧 Cold medication	£4.30
💇 Basic haircut	£8

Safety information overview

General safety

Olympia is very safe for travelers, with low crime rates and a welcoming atmosphere. Standard precautions apply, especially with valuables in crowded areas or on busy festival days.

Health & Medical

Basic medical care and pharmacies are available in town. Tap water is safe. Summer heat can be intense — stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade. Emergency services are reliable.

Accessibility

Many main paths are accessible, but some ruins have uneven ground and steps. Wheelchair access is possible in museums and some site areas, but not everywhere. Ask about accessible routes at the entrance.

Tap water

Tap water is safe and widely available in Olympia. Bring a reusable bottle to refill as you explore. Bottled water is also easy to find in shops and cafés.