Ancient Olympia From Cruise Port Katakolon, Greece
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Visit Katakolon cruise port and tour ancient Olympia—home of the Olympic flame. Follow our itinerary to see Olympia from Katakolon on your own or by tour.
Planning a cruise to multiple Greek Islands? Check out our Guide to the Cruise Ports of Greece!
Arriving in Katakolon On a Cruise Ship
Katakolon cruise port is one of the easiest DIY stops in Greece—walk straight off the ship and into town in about 10–15 minutes on level sidewalks. If you’re meeting a tour to Olympia, follow signs past the small terminal to the taxi and coach area to save time and avoid last-minute confusion.
Departing the ship in Katakolon, Greece is very easy. A small cruise terminal building contains a duty-free shop and some port personnel offices. You’re able to walk off the ship and directly head into town or to your next destination.
How To Get To Katakolon, Greece From The Cruise Port
You can reach Katakolon town on foot from the cruise terminal, making this a low-stress stop for shopping and lunch near the marina. If mobility is a concern, look for the local mini-train or short taxi hops posted at the port information desk.
The small town of Katakolon is easily reachable on foot. Stepping off the ship until the first shop in the town will take 10-15 minutes of level walking with sidewalks.
What To See in Katakolon, Greece
Plan a quick loop of the main street for olive-wood crafts, Greek souvenirs, and waterfront cafés with marina views. Add the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology for hands-on exhibits before or after your Olympia visit if you want something educational close to port.
There’s not a lot to see in the small town of Katakolon. There is a shopping street that runs about six blocks. There are a lot of small shops selling interesting local items including clothing, grocery items, leather goods, and interesting woodcrafts made from local olive tree wood.
There are also several Greek restaurants to choose from. The majority of the restaurants have an outdoor patio overlooking the small marina.
The Museum of Ancient Greek Technology is a small museum that would be interesting to anyone who loves engineering or history. There are many well-crafted interactive exhibits that bring science to life.
How To Get To Ancient Olympia From Katakolon
Most visitors go from Katakolon to Ancient Olympia by prebooked shore excursion or taxi; expect about 30–40 minutes each way and consider paying the driver to wait. The local train service is limited or seasonal, so verify current schedules in advance and have a backup plan like a shared minivan or coach tour.
This is one of the rare places where a pre-arranged cruise shore excursion may be your best option.
The Archeological Site of Ancient Olympia is about 20 miles (33 km) from the port of Katakolon. A one-way taxi ride will cost you about €40, you may be able to negotiate a better price if you are willing to pay the driver to wait for you as you tour the site. In the best-case scenario, a round-trip taxi ride will cost you €70-€90.
There is a train that runs from Katakolon to a stop near the Archeological Site. Tickets are advertised at €10 for a round-trip ride. The train was not running during our visit, and all reports seem to indicate that budget cuts may have closed the train for the time being.
Admission tickets for the Archeological Site are currently €12 each.
What To See at The Archeological Site of Ancient Olympia
Highlights include the Temple of Zeus, Temple of Hera (where the Olympic flame is lit), the ancient stadium with its stone starting line, and the Archaeological Museum of Olympia packed with marquee finds. Give yourself 2–3 hours to explore the ruins and museum at an easy pace, with water and sun protection for the open grounds.
Entrance Tickets: GetYourGuide, Viator
The Archeological Site of Ancient Olympia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some amazing pieces of history. It is one of the best ruins I have ever been to.
The Temple of Zeus was the largest and most central structure on the site. Now mostly in ruin, your imagination is tasked with visualizing the size of the structure. The impressive girth of the fallen stone columns leads us to believe it must have been massive.
The Stadium at Olympia is a massive field that was once used for many Olympic events. You can imagine the hills filled with spectators. The stone starting line is still visible in the ground.
Also on display are the ruins of the Temple of Hera, where the Olympic torch is lit for the start of the modern Olympic games.
There’s also the Philippeion, a circular monument built by Philip II of Macedon to show off his family—Alexander the Great included. The structure is partially reconstructed, which helps give you a better sense of what it looked like.
The Palaestra and Gymnasium are mostly ruins now, but these were the training grounds for the athletes. You can still see the layout and a few upright columns.
The Workshop of Phidias is worth noting too. This is where the statue of Zeus was built. Archaeologists found tools, molds, and even bits of gold and ivory here, which is how they figured it out.
The Echo Stoa once separated the religious sanctuary from the athletic spaces. Its acoustics gave it the name, but now it’s mostly just a long row of columns.
If you’re into the logistics of the Games, check out the Bouleuterion and Metroön. These were administrative and political buildings—nothing flashy, but a good reminder that this was an organized event, not just a free-for-all of naked guys running around.
Slightly outside of the archeological area, you will find the Archaeological Museum of Olympia. Admission to the museum is included in the ticket price. Inside there are some of the more precious artifacts recovered from the site including numerous statues and marble carvings.
Things To See at The Archeological Site of Ancient Olympia:
Temple of Zeus
Temple of Hera
Ancient Stadium
Philippeion
Palaestra
Gymnasium
Workshop of Phidias
Echo Stoa
Bouleuterion
Metroön
Leonidaion
Archaeological Museum of Olympia
What Else Is There To See in Olympia?
After the archaeological site, stroll the small shopping street for cafés, gelato, and lower-priced souvenirs than at the port. If time allows, pop into additional local museums or grab a quick lunch before heading back to Katakolon for all-aboard.
A short walk from the parking area is a street lined with a few souvenir shops. They are very similar to the shops at the port (but the prices here seemed to be a little bit less expensive). If you have time, it is worth a quick stroll down the street.
