Nafplio, Greece, is an extraordinary destination to discover, brimming with charm, not just for touring but for shopping and dining experiences as well. We spent three nights here in August 2024, far too brief to explore all the treasures Nafplio has to offer. We did a good job of exploring all the sites around Nafplio but ran short of time when it came to actually enjoying everything Nafplio itself has to offer. What we missed was the wonderful coastal walk that we had heard so much about. Nevertheless, our time here was nothing short of wonderful; with just a couple more days, we could have experienced even more of the culture, shopping, great food and sites.
If you are looking for a more organized way to visit Nafplio, Greece and experience its charm, you can take a walking tour of the town through Viator tour group by clicking here.
The Streets and Views of Nafplio
As per our usual, we enjoyed wandering through the streets of Nafplio; as like many towns in Greece it is filled with charm.To our surprise, Nafplio was less crowded than we had anticipated for the end of August. The heat was fierce, though; perhaps most people were finding relief at the beaches and pools, leaving us to discover Nafplio, Greece unrushed and relaxed.
Nectar and Ambrosia
Steve and I are absolutely love honey from Greece, and when we found a honey shop in Nafplio called Nectar and Ambrosia, I was thrilled! This little shop, run by the Reppas family who have been devoted to beekeeping since 1817, offers an array of honey varieties that truly are delicious. Depending on the season, they stock 6-7 different varieties of honey, all sourced from their very own hives! Honey has been used for centuries for its healing properties, and each variety boasts its own health benefits. After several tastings, we gladly purchased two jars each of orange honey, chestnut honey, and thyme honey. Since returning home, we have been enjoying these honeys, both in our morning yogurt and evening tea. If you find yourself in Nafplio, make sure to stop by this shop and take home some of the finest honey you’ll ever taste!
The Worry Bead of Nafplio
This fun shop we stopped at gave us more than just your average shopping experience! Among their wares are worry beads and handmade jewelry. We stopped because, as I was walking by, a pair of earrings caught my eye. Ever indulgent, my husband insisted I should look at them closer. The lady in the shop was wonderful, had a great smile, and was so fun! She helped me with my attempts at speaking Greek, taught me how to use worry beads, and even taught Steve a Greek dance! You don’t find this type of experience often while shopping!
In addition to the earrings, I bought some worry beads, (now that I knew how to use them). They came in handy the remainder of the trip with Steve confidently driving through Greece thinking he was a local, and me worrying! She also recommended a great spot to eat, Alaloum. We took her advice and headed that way!
Alaloum Restaurant
This was a great spot to eat, so glad we asked a local for a recommendation! The ambiance was nice and traditional. Even though it was still very hot, we sat at one of the cozy outdoor tables and enjoyed the night. Throughout our meal, musicians roamed the street passing by us while playing traditional music. The food was delicious. Our waiter was very good and entertaining. He sat down in my spot when I went to take a photo! On his advice, I tried the rooster. It was delicious. Although I have had chicken before, I had never had rooster. Steve had enjoyed his moussaka. All in all, a great meal to remember.
Ethimo
We stopped in this shop after dinner as we were looking for regional olive oil. This store had an extensive variety both local and from throughout the Peloponnese. Actually this store carried many made in Greece products at a reasonable price. A great spot to shop!
Nafplio at Night
Night time in Nafplio is really quite beautiful. The city lights up and Palamidi Fortress looks even more grand illuminated against the night sky high on the hill.
Conclusion
We did not spend near as much time as we would have liked shopping in Nafplio town and will have to return some year during another vacation to Greece to discover more of its charm. We had a good time and thoroughly enjoyed what we did see and do in the town of Nafplio.
Can’t make it to Greece for honey? You can order Greek honey through Klio Tea in the US. Klio Tea carries a variety of honey from different areas of Greece. I order frequently and they are always prompt! Check out Klio Tea by clicking here.
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Click on the links below to follow my 2024 Greek Travels and also my Past Greek Travels:
Acronauplia Fortress-August 2024
Argos Theatre and Agora-August 2024
Exploring the Larissa Castle of Argos,Greece-August 2024
Snorkeling the Sunken City of Epidaurus. August 2024
Ancient Epidaurus: Birthplace of Modern Medicne August 2024
Mycenaean Bridge and Acropolis of Kazarma-August 2024
Ancient Nemea Greece-August 2024
Ancient Mycenae Greece-August 2024
2 Weeks in Greece-Delphi, Meteora, Corfu, Santorini, Athens, Sept 2022
14 Days in Greece-Crete,Naxos, Santorini Sept 2021
10 Day Greece Itinerary-Crete, Santorini, Athens, September 2019
8 Day Greece Itinerary-Athens, Milos, Santorini, September/October 2018
The Gen-X Travels recommendations for hotels, restaurants, activities or tour companies are based on our own experiences unless noted. We are not sponsored by any business or company and all trips are at our expense. All photos are by myself or my husband unless otherwise noted. We are affiliates of some companies such as Amazon,Viator, and others which we do receive a small commission from, at no cost to you if you buy or book through one of our links.
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Thank you for sharing! We also visited Napoli and several other Greek cities last year and had one of the best trips of our lives. The scenery and people are beautiful and would love the opportunity to visit again 😊!
It is for sure a great area! Hoping to return some year!
We loved Nafplio! My husband hiked to the top of the fortress. I went shopping!! Agree about the Greek honey. I bought many a jar of unlabeled honey from random villages while we were in Greece. Delicious!
We love honey from the random villages too! Came home with over a dozen jars!
Just as charming as we found it in 1984 Lori. Looks like a lot more to do there now and those personal shopping and dining experiences in a small town can not be beaten. Happy Friday. Allan
Nafplio is such a beautiful town and no far from Athens or Mani. The perfect location really and I MISS the oranges off their trees! A place filled with so much beauty. xx
I agree! We loved the area and definitely will go back. Especially the Mani. Loved the rugged beauty there! And the oranges were wonderful!
Aww, missing Mani and my family so much! I hope to see you one day soon in Mani.
That would be fun!
If you had to choose between Nafplio and Naxos, which would it be and why? Where did you like the food better and why?
That is a hard one. Both are so very different. Food was great both places. Olive oil fantastic in the Peloponnese. Potatoes delicious at Naxos. Naxos is an island with a lot to see. It is a Cycladic island. Although we lived our time at Naxos, there are other Cycladic islands we like better. Nafplio as a city is fantastic. So much history. The Area Nafplio is at is the Peloponnese and we will be returning to the area in 2026 and again staying at Nafplio.
I feel we saw everything we wanted to in Naxos so probably won’t return there again unless during a ferry stop over.
Hope this helps. It’s just really hard to compare the two as they are so very different.