Olympia Hotels: Where to Stay Near the Ancient Site

Stay in the village of Olympia itself if you want to walk to the ruins, the museums and dinner. The wooded hill just above town holds the hotels with pools and valley views. For sandy beaches, base yourself on the coast near Zacharo or Pyrgos, since the sea is a drive away from the village.

Where is the best place to stay in Olympia?

Olympia is small, and the choice comes down to how much you want to walk and how much a pool matters. The village is a compact cluster of tourist shops, cafes and restaurants beside the ancient site, which lies under tall shade trees near the Kladeos river. The Archaeological Museum stands across the road from the ruins, and the Historical Museum of the Olympic Games is in the village. The tourist office on Praxitelous Kondyli changes money and hands out maps and bus, train and ferry schedules.

In the village center

This is the easiest base. You walk to the site, eat out without a taxi and catch the train a few steps from your room. It suits first-timers, budget travelers and anyone without a car.

Hotel Hercules is family-run and next to the train station, with a warm welcome, simple clean rooms and hosts who give good advice on what to see. Hotel Inomaos is on the main street, facing a small square and a church. Some rooms have a small balcony over the square, and the owners are generous with tips. Hotel Kronio is friendly and family-run, with tastefully decorated rooms and modern comforts.

Restaurants are easy to find in town, good ones less so. Two tavernas draw recommendations here: Taverna Praxitelous, beside the police station, and Klimitaria, out at the edge of town along the Pyrgos road. Taverna Bacchus sits a short drive away in the village of Miraka, on the Tripolis road, in a stone building at the crest of a hill. Follow the signs for Ancient Pisa.

On the hill above town

Two well-reviewed hotels sit uphill. Hotel Europa Olympia looks out from a wooded slope over the town and the valley to the west. Olympion Asty Hotel, on Drouva hill, is about half a mile (1 km) from town and four minutes by car from the historic sites. It has a lovely pool, a good restaurant, large parking and quiet, comfortable rooms, some with a terrace.

Both hotels suit travelers who want a swim after a morning at the ruins. For dinner in town, plan on a walk downhill or a short drive, or eat at the hotel.

Just outside the village

Hotel Pelops is about a 15 minute walk from the ancient site, in a peaceful area, with orthopaedic mattresses. Amalia Hotel Olympia sits in a wooded area with spacious rooms, a generous breakfast and an evening buffet. One guest found loose tiles on the path to the pool and water that needed better filtering, so read recent reviews before you book. Olympic Village Hotel & Spa is in a quiet area, with a spa, a pool, buffet meals with good choices for vegetarians and rooms with balconies. It is plain but clean, and bus tours use it for one-night stops. Light sleepers should know that hallway noise carries and the beds are firm.

On the coast near Olympia

Beach hotels sit on the coast, a drive from the ruins. Aldemar Olympian Village, at Skafidia in the Pyrgos area, is a large five-star resort with beaches, more pools than you can try, several restaurants and golf buggies to carry you around the grounds. Plan on a long transfer from the airport.

Which area is best for first-timers?

A first visit here happens mostly on foot, so the village center is the natural pick. Hotel Hercules, Neda Hotel and Hotel Kronio all sit within easy reach of the site. What survives of the ancient buildings is mostly foundations, steps and columns, so a licensed guide such as Elena Aggeli brings the site and museum to life.

Which area is best for couples?

Couples may enjoy a wooded setting with views. Olympion Asty has a lovely swimming pool and a quiet setting a bit uphill from the center, and one guest mentions a nice terrace off the room. Couples who want a spa can book Olympic Village Hotel & Spa.

Where should families stay?

Olympia is far from Athens, which makes a day trip with young children a long, hard day. Plan an overnight in or near the village, or visit from a base elsewhere in the Peloponnese, such as Nafplio in the Argolis or the Navarino and Kalamata area in Messenia. Families arriving by cruise ship at Katakolon are already close.

For a longer beach holiday, Aldemar Olympian Village is a large resort that suits families with children.

At the site, go on a weekday if you can, when crowds are thinner, and expect some parts to be hard going with a stroller.

What should budget travelers book?

Hotel Hercules and Hotel Inomaos are two budget-friendly choices in the village. Inomaos adds free parking, some of it on the street out front, which helps if you rent a car. Hotel Pelops offers quality rooms at affordable rates.

Where should you stay without a car?

Trains run from Olympia to Pyrgos, half an hour away, where you can connect to Athens and Patras. Buses also link Olympia directly with Athens.

Cruise passengers docking at Katakolon usually find trains timed to the ship's arrival and departure, and the ride takes about 45 minutes. The bus works too, with a change at Pyrgos.

What is the weather like in Olympia?

Olympia can be visited at any time of year, and the site is especially pleasant once the crowds have thinned out. Unlike many Greek sites, the ruins here are shaded by tall trees. The sun can still be intense, though, so carry water, a hat and sunscreen. Rain can keep you out of the pool, which matters if a hill hotel's pool is the reason you booked it.

How much do hotels in Olympia cost?

The family-run village hotels, Hotel Inomaos and Hotel Hercules, sit at the low end, with Hotel Kronio and Neda Hotel a step above. Olympic Village Hotel & Spa falls in the middle. Book early, especially at the higher-category hotels, because tour groups fill them first.