How to Get to Nafplio: The Bus Wins, a Private Transfer Saves a Long Night

Nafplio has no airport and no train, and no ferry docks in town. Most visitors reach Nafplio by road from Athens, whether on the KTEL bus, in a private transfer or behind the wheel of a rental car. On a first trip, the bus is the easy choice. A private car is worth the upgrade when you land late and tired.

How do you get to Nafplio from Athens?

The road heads west out of Athens, crosses the Corinth Canal, where it's worth stopping for a photo, and continues into the Peloponnese. Nafplio sits on a small peninsula on the Gulf of Argolis, about 85 miles (135 km) from Athens. The bus, a private transfer and a rental car all take about two hours. No train runs to Nafplio, and the ferry route is covered further down.

The KTEL bus from Kifissos

The intercity KTEL bus is prompt, modern and cheap. A one-way ticket from Athens to Nafplio costs €15.70 and a return €29 (2026), a small saving if you plan to come back the same way. The official timetable lists the ride at about 1.5 to 2 hours, though some travelers report a trip of just over two hours. Buses leave from the Kifissos terminal (KTEL Bus Station A) at Leof. Kifisou 100, west of the center. On the way they stop at Fichti, the village about 2 miles (3.5 km) from Mycenae, and at Argos. The Nafplio bus station is right in the center of town.

Buses leave Kifissos roughly every hour or two, from about 6:00 a.m. on weekdays (a little later on weekends) until the last departure around 9:30 p.m. Weekend afternoons have gaps of up to two hours, so plan around the day you travel. Going back, the first bus leaves Nafplio early in the morning and the last one around 8:30 p.m. Times change with the season, so check the KTEL Argolidas timetable before you go.

Buy your ticket inside the station, then ask right away where your bus pulls up. Passengers wait in a roofed, open-air strip beside a driveway, where seating is limited. It's easy to sit in the wrong spot and find out five minutes before departure that you have no idea where the bus is. The driver checks tickets at the door, and anything bigger than a small bag goes in the compartment underneath. The onboard restroom has been known to stay locked, so use the station's before you board. There's a working ATM a few steps from where the bus stops, plus at least two cafes.

How do you reach the Kifissos terminal?

From central Athens, the closest metro stop is Agios Antonios on the red line (M2). From there it's about a 15-minute walk. With luggage, a taxi is easier, and it's cheap from almost anywhere in the city. Pickpockets work Athens public transportation, especially the metro, so keep your wallet and passport close. From the airport, the X93 bus runs straight to Kifissos.

Rental car

A car suits travelers who want to roam. The drive runs past the Corinth Canal and Argos, with tolls along the way, and you can stop wherever you like. Once you're based in Nafplio, Mycenae is about 25 minutes away, Epidaurus about 30, and Tiryns is just outside town. The catch is that the historic center is no place for a car. Parking is covered below.

How do you get from Athens airport to Nafplio?

A long flight changes the math. The airport is about 104 miles (168 km) from Nafplio, and a private transfer takes around two hours, depending on traffic. Mr.Shuttle is one company that runs this route. The driver meets you at the airport and drops you at your address in Nafplio. You can choose optional stops when you book: the Corinth Canal view, the archaeological site of Isthmia, the archaeological museum of Ancient Corinth, the castle of Acrocorinth and Ancient Nemea.

A private car costs far more than the bus. Still, if you land late, it's often the smart call. The alternative is a night in Athens, which can cost more than the transfer and takes a night away from Nafplio.

Don't pick up a rental car and drive straight to Nafplio after a long flight. Tired driving on unfamiliar Greek roads is a real risk. If you land at a reasonable hour on a budget, take the X93 to Kifissos and then the KTEL bus. It costs a fraction of the car.

Is it better to take the ferry or fly to Nafplio?

Neither one gets you all the way. Flying brings you to Athens, which has flights from abroad and from all the Greek islands. From there you finish by road.

The ferry looks tidy on a map and turns out to be complicated. Boats from Piraeus sail to the port towns of Ermioni and Porto Heli. From either port you ride a bus to Kranidi and change there for Nafplio. Once you add the trip out to Piraeus and two bus connections, the direct bus from Kifissos wins easily.

How do you get to Nafplio from other islands?

The Saronic islands, off the east coast of the Peloponnese, are the closest Greek islands to Nafplio. From Hydra, Poros or Spetses, take a boat to Ermioni or Porto Heli. The crossing takes an hour or less. Most of these ferries sail no more than once a day, so book ahead instead of counting on a seat at the dock. Another option is Galatas, the port facing Poros, about 1 1/2 hours from Nafplio by car.

From farther away, such as the Cyclades, the Dodecanese or the Ionian islands, take a ferry to Piraeus or fly into Athens, then continue by bus or car. You can also catch a second ferry from Piraeus and finish by bus.

Which way should you pick?

• First trip: take the KTEL bus. It's simple, frequent and cheap.
• Late arrival or lots of luggage: book a private transfer from the airport.
• Tight budget: ride the X93 to Kifissos, then the KTEL bus, and buy a return ticket.
• Road trippers: rent a car, but pick it up after a night's sleep.

A day trip from Athens is possible, but with about two hours on the road each way, it makes for a long day. Stay at least one night. Day-trippers tend to leave in the evening, and that's a lovely time to see Nafplio as a real Greek town.

How do you book ferries and buses to Nafplio?

Buy KTEL tickets at the Kifissos station, or check the KTEL Argolidas website before you go. Validate any ticket you hold. On Greek public transportation, having no ticket, the wrong ticket or an unvalidated one can bring a fine of up to 60 times the basic fare.

Ferry tickets can be booked on online platforms that compare several operators. Book a private transfer online before you fly, and confirm where the driver will meet you.

How do you get around once you reach Nafplio?

On foot. The old town beach is roughly half a mile from the bus station, and the town is very walkable.

If you drive, leave the car outside the Old Town, where there's no parking at all. The main free lot is on the waterfront at Akti Miaouli, about a third of a mile (500 m), or roughly six minutes on foot, from Syntagma Square. The free lot at Five Brothers Square is small and best for quick stops. The free parking at the Arvanitia and Acronafplia edge is about a 0.6 mile (1 km) walk along the coast, and in summer you need to arrive early. Thieves in Greece are known to break into rental cars to steal passports, valuables and luggage, so it's wise to take those things with you.

For day trips, local buses leave from the Nafplio station. A ticket to Mycenae or the Epidaurus theater costs €3.50, and to Tolo or Tiryns €2.20 (2026).

What do Americans need to know before traveling to Nafplio?

U.S. citizens can visit Greece without a visa for up to 90 days. Your passport should have at least three months of validity beyond your planned departure date. To drive, Greek law requires both a valid U.S. driver's license, and insurance companies may require an international driver’s permit. Drive carefully: Greece has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the European Union.

What should you check the day before you travel?

Check for strikes. They're common throughout Greece and can shut down roads, public transportation, taxis, seaports and airports. Then pull up the current timetable for your exact travel date. Bus times can change, and ferry schedules vary by season and by day of the week.