How to Visit Ancient Corinth on a Day Trip from Athens
How to Visit Ancient Corinth on a Day Trip from Athens
Blog Article
Corinth is worth a day trip from Athens. The marvelous and tranquil setting welcomes one into Greece’s classical past. Even better, the ruins feel a tad bit less touristy than their Acropolis counterparts.
For Christians, Ancient Corinth has even greater significance since Apostle Paul preached there for eighteen months, penning both letters of First and Second Corinthians. This guide hopes to enlighten you on how to reach Ancient Corinth, what awaits you on your visit, and the main attractions in the areas surrounding it.
Where is Corinth?
Corinth was placed approximately 80 km (50 miles) west of the capital, forming an entry into Northwestern Peloponnesus. Ruins of the Ancient Corinth lie slightly beyond the boundaries of the present town of Corinth, around 8 kilometers (5 miles) southwest of the center of town.
How to Reach the Ancient Corinth
Multiple routes lead to Ancient Corinth from Athens, and each option is worth your consideration.
By Tour – The simplest route to get to Corinth is through an organized tour. There are several options available, for example half a day or full day. Many are accompanied with a bus tour. You may even have the option to add a visit to the picturesque, nearby town of Nafplio. We always find GetYourGuide the most trustworthy worldwide internet source for booking guided tours. It surely is a wonderful and effective way to visit Corinth, especially if one lacks time.
By Car – You have this additional freedom and rented car option. Very easy, a ride from Athens to Corinth would take about one hour on a well-maintained highway. Renting a car is the best option if you’d want to check out Corinth at your own time. Well, regular rental services are available in Athens, including DiscoverCars. It’s definitely advantageous to have your own wheels with this kind of configuration because some of the nearby attractions are also best enjoyed with a leisurely visit.
By Train If you want a very cheap and easy way, then travel by train. Trains run every two hours from Larissa Station in Athens and take around an hour. The Corinth train station is a little further from the ruins, so a little taxi ride of around 10 minutes will bring you to the archaeological site from it. There are taxis waiting at the station and even around the ruins.
When I mention the really cheaper option, then I must mean KTEL buses from Athens to Corinth. Hourly buses operate from the Kifisou station (it takes about an hour to the Isthmus bus station) and take you closer to Ancient Corinth. Then from the Isthmus, a 15-minute taxi ride takes you to the ruins. The best part of this route is that it almost takes you to the Corinth Canal, so it’s worth a visit.
What to See at Ancient Corinth:
Ancient Corinth contains so many ruins that a visit to the archaeological site will give you an idea of the city’s past glory. Some attractions that cannot be missed among the highlights:
Temple of Apollo One of the most recognizable sights in Ancient Corinth is Apollo’s Temple with viewed from the stunning columns. Circa 560 BC, the temple remains, unswayed by the years of its existence, and gives you a true taste of the bygone glory of the city. The temple looks striking with an imposing backdrop of the Acrocorinth mountain, all within a muted calm—the kind of scenery-like atmosphere you would not find in the crowd at the Acropolis of Athens.
Fountain of Peirene This edifice is about 500 BC. The city was once linked with this reservoir supply. Marble halls are now no longer filled with water, but the fountain speaks volumes to the beauty and significance it holds in ancient Corinth, allowing a view of daily life.
The Judgment Seat The Judgment Seat, the important place for those interested in Biblical history, went by this name. To accuse Apostle Paul of preaching against the law of the Jews, he was brought here for judgment. But the case was dismissed by the Roman Proconsul Gallio, and today you can access that very spot where all these took place. Nearby stands a sign, offering historical context about the significance of this spot.
Excavations of Ancient Corinth Don’t be deceived by its relatively small size; it does have a wonderful collection of ancient artifacts, including statues, pottery, mosaics, etc. This ancient ruin, after you took a wandering within, can’t be synthesized without a visit to this small museum. The end of all these is well-curated museum, offering accessible informative English-language signs, which makes it easy to understand the history behind the objects.
Opening Hours & Fees
Ancient Corinth is open year-round. However, its hours differ depending on the time of year:
Summer (April 1 – October 31): 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM (or 8:00 PM from May 1, 2025)
Winter (November 1 – March 31): 8:30 AM – 3.30 PM (closed on Tuesdays)
Admission prices reflect seasonal considerations:
Summer: There’s an entrance fee of 8€ for visiting the entire site and 4€ for only the museum.
Winter: 4€ is charged for both the site and museum.
How Much Time Is Needed
A visit to Ancient Corinth would last a maximum of 2-3 hours. You could actually finish this in half a day if you have nothing else planned; otherwise, you should think about extending your time at Ancient Corinth if there are other sites you want to visit nearby, such as the Acrocorinth fortress or the Corinth Canal.
Other Sites Worth Visiting in Corinth
The region of Ancient Corinth presents a horde of attractions, and they all deserve a visit.
Acrocorinth: The massive fort stands on high ground, and indeed the views extend both over the Aegean and the Ionian Seas. To reach the ruins takes a five-minute drive, but the potential visitor should be encouraged to at least stay for one to two hours, enjoying what this marvelous site and views have to offer.
Corinth Canal: An engineering wonder by itself, through which the vessels are capable of passing over the Isthmus of Corinth effectively circumstantancing the Peloponnese. A short drive away from the archaeological site.
Beaches and Monasteries: If you feel like lying back and relaxing, in that case, one possible destination is Paralia Kalamia, a beautiful beach a mere 3 km away from the train station in Corinth. Another option is Moni Agias Triadas, which is a pretty monastery located just south of the city and offers a peaceful retreat.
Conclusion:
Corinth has an unforgettable journey, a journey through history along with scenic views that contrast the generally relaxed atmosphere with that in other famed archaeological sites in Greece, such as the Acropolis. Admission is a must for history lovers, Christians concerned with the life of Apostle Paul, or any traveler simply interested in finding a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of Athens.
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