Nafplio, Greece: The Most Romantic Destination in Greece

February 26, 2018 Ruth Dela Cruz

Nafplio, Greece: The Most Romantic Destination in Greece

On our last full day in Greece, we decided to do a full-day trip to Nafplio (in Peloponessse) with our Welcome Pickup Driver and new friend, Nikos.

Nikos is the very first Greek who welcomed us and showed us around Athens. He is fun and has a lot of stories to tell. Going around with him is like going out with a friend.

Our A Day in Peloponnese Tour was booked via Welcome Pickups. Welcome Pickups is like a butler-style service that provides transfer services, essential products like WIFI and SIM Cards, pre-ordered tickets to top attractions, tips and tailor-made experiences led by locals.

What I love about the Welcome Pickups service is that they use a private car which is very convenient for the tourists. It is perfect for those who are traveling with kids or seniors, or couples who want a private time. Our Welcome Pickups Driver Nikos is also very accommodating to our inquiries. He even invited us to join them during the New Year’s Eve. It was like having a friend that you can call anytime. It was truly comforting to have someone familiar to the place like Nikos during a trip to an unfamiliar place. Welcome Pickups also has services in Spain, Italy, Hong Kong, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Israel, Neatherlands and Czech.

If you wish to book a service via Welcome Pickups, check it out the packages here: https://www.welcomepickups.com/athens/

Nikos picked us up at around 8 in the morning from our hotel in Athens, Stratos Vassilikos, Our original schedule was at 7 in the morning, but we told him we needed to catch sleep from our 2-day trip in Meteora. It was a simple request as if we only re-scheduled something with a friend. I appreciate his flexibility. We drove around for 2 hours to Nafplio. The truth is, I mostly slept in the car. Nikos let us sleep while he drove us safely in our destination. He said that he was happy that we got to sleep and we found his driving safe and comforting. 😀 He understood how tired his two new Asian friends were exploring his country.

Nikos actually took us to other interesting sites and museums (but I will tell you more about that in a separate post).

Nafplio is geographically located on the eastern side of Peloponnese and is a popular weekend destination in Greece. Nafplio is the origin of the modern State of Greece. It offers a great view of the sea, city and mountainside.

Nafplio is a photographer’s dream destination. There’s a stunning view of the seaport, elegant mansions, old fortress castles, shabby chic cafes, and calm beaches to photograph.

We walked around the hidden squares and narrow streets surrounded by bars, taverns, cafes, and restaurants embraced by bougainvilleas of different shades of pink.

There are old houses and mansions in Venetian designs that are now hotels and inns. They have their own charm that even climbing a dozen step would be like a trip to a paradise.

There are so many interesting taverns, cafes and restaurants in Nafplio. But Nikos took us to his favorite restaurant, Alaloum Restaurant. It is rated 4.4 in Trip Advisor and is highly recommended by tourists and locals. What I love about the Alaloum Restaurant is, it offers different dishes everyday. So if you are staying in the area for a week, you get to enjoy different mains and food.

Nafplio, Greece Things to Do Alaloum Restaurant

We had lunch inside the enclosed porch so we can still enjoy the view of Nafplio outside. I enjoyed the food – from the bread, salad, down to the main courses. Nikos said that in Greece, they usually just order different dishes and share the food (and the bill).. It is very much like how we do it in the Philippines. We spent around 15 Euros each for lunch. A good deal for delicious meals with generous servings.

After lunch, we drove to the Palamidi Hill to see these views.

It was very nice, cold yet romantic. It was like standing in your very own castle.

We went down to have coffee and just enjoy the afternoon. Nikos said that Greeks also love coffee and hanging out in coffee shops with friends. I love that Filipinos’ love for coffee is something we share with the Greeks. Brewed coffee and cappuccino costs around 3 to 5 euros.

I had to take a photo of the water closet! Haha

While strolling around Nafplio, I spotted sights that are ruined yet still look picturesque.

We ended the trip with gelato on cone from Antica Gelateria di Roma. It is the only gelato shop in Nafplio which is made of natural and local ingredients.