Olympia Travel Guide: Visiting the Birthplace of the Olympic Games

Olympia is where the Olympic Games were born — and ran for 1,170 years without interruption. The sanctuary in the Peloponnese’s western valley was one of the most sacred places in ancient Greece, visited by pilgrims, athletes, and kings from across the Mediterranean. The remains of the temples, the athletic facilities, and the statues (partly documented by the excellent museum) give a clear picture of what was once the most important gathering place in the Greek world.

For full detail on the archaeological monuments, see our Ancient Olympia history guide.

The Site

The sanctuary is a large wooded area bisected by the Alpheios river — shaded by pine and oleander in a way that most Greek sites are not. The fallen column drums of the Temple of Zeus (once housing one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) lie exactly where the earthquake toppled them. The Temple of Hera is the oldest surviving Doric temple in Greece. The original sprint track of the Olympic Stadium is walkable — you can run the 192m distance from the original starting blocks.

Entry: €18 adult (April–October), €12 (November–March, as of 2026). Combined ticket covers the site and the Archaeological Museum.

Opening hours: 8am–8pm daily (summer); 8am–3pm Tue–Sun (winter, closed Monday).

The Archaeological Museum

One of the finest regional museums in Greece — the pediment sculptures from the Temple of Zeus (depicting the chariot race of Pelops and the Battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs) are displayed in full, the Nike of Paionios is exceptional, and the Hermes of Praxiteles is possibly an original (most Greek sculpture survives only in Roman copies). Allow 1.5–2 hours.

The Olympic Flame Ceremony

The Olympic flame for each modern Olympic Games is still lit at Olympia by a parabolic mirror focusing sunlight on the torch, in the Temple of Hera, by a woman dressed as an ancient priestess. The ceremony takes place approximately 4–6 months before each Games. When the Games are in a near year, the ceremony is open to a limited number of spectators.

Where to Stay in Olympia

The modern village of Olympia is a single street of hotels adjacent to the sanctuary.

Budget: Pension Poseidon (basic, from approximately €45/night), Hotel Kronos (small guesthouse, from approximately €55/night).

Mid-range: Hotel Pelops (friendly, central, from approximately €70/night), Villa Mercouri (slightly outside town, from approximately €85/night), Theokolos Hotel (from approximately €80/night).

Upmarket: Hotel Europa (hilltop position, pool, from approximately €110/night) — the most comfortable in the area.

Where to Eat in Olympia

The village tavernas are functional rather than excellent. Most visitors eat at their hotel or at the several unremarkable tavernas on the main road.

Taverna Melathron: The most consistently recommended — traditional Peloponnese food (grilled lamb, pastitsio, village salads), approximately €15–22 per person.

Kladeos: Riverside garden setting (near the Kladeos river at the edge of town), reliable grills and salads, approximately €18–28 per person.

Taverna Bacchus: Good selection of local dishes, fair prices, approximately €15–20 per person.

Kleomedis Restaurant: Upmarket option in the Europa Hotel — better cooking than the main-street tavernas, approximately €25–35 per person.

Practical Information

Getting there by car: From Athens, take the A8 motorway toward Patras (toll road, approximately €10 in tolls one-way), then south on the E55 toward Pyrgos and follow signs to Olympia. Parking is available at the site entrance.

Getting there by public transport: KTEL buses from Athens (Kifissos Terminal, approximately 5 hours, €30–35 each way) run twice daily. Train to Pyrgos (from Athens Larissa Station, change at Corinth or Patras, approximately 4–5 hours), then bus or taxi to Olympia — 30 minutes, approximately €15 by taxi.

Guided tours: Most visitors from Athens book a day tour (approximately €75–110 per person including transport, guide, and entry) rather than driving independently. Multi-day Peloponnese tours are available from €200 per person.

Accessibility: The archaeological site is mostly flat and walkable, though some surfaces are uneven. The museum is fully accessible. Shade is limited — bring water and sun protection.

Combining Olympia with Other Peloponnese Sites

Olympia is most logically visited as part of a Peloponnese circuit:

Athens → Nafplio (2 nights) → Olympia (1 night) → Patras (or back to Athens): The best mainland history loop. Nafplio gives you Mycenae and Epidaurus; Olympia rounds out the ancient sites.

Athens → Patras → Olympia → Kalamata → Sparta/Mystras → Nafplio → Athens: A week-long Peloponnese circuit covering the best of the region. Requires a car.

Nearby: Ancient Elis and Bassae

Ancient Elis (15km north of Olympia): The city that governed the Games — a large but largely unexcavated site with the remains of the agora and gymnasium. Worth a detour if you are driving; no entrance fee required for the accessible area.

Temple of Apollo at Bassae (63km southeast of Olympia): A UNESCO World Heritage Site in an extraordinary mountain setting (1,131m altitude) — one of the best-preserved temples in Greece, designed by the same architect as the Parthenon (Iktinos). The temple is currently enclosed in a protective tent while conservation work continues. Entry approximately €6. The mountain road is scenic but requires a car.

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