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This elegant Peloponnese town delivers Venetian architecture, three massive fortresses, cobblestone streets dripping with bougainvillea, and some of the best food on the mainland β at a fraction of the island prices.
I keep coming back to Nafplio. It was Greece's first capital after independence, and you can feel that history in the neoclassical mansions, the fortress walls, the harbor promenade where locals stroll every evening. It's compact enough to explore entirely on foot, romantic enough for a couples getaway, and historically rich enough that you genuinely won't run out of things to do.
If you're planning a Peloponnese road trip or looking for a mainland alternative to the islands, Nafplio deserves at least two nights β and the right hotel makes all the difference.
Here are the best hotels in Nafplio, organized by what actually matters when you're choosing where to stay.
Quick Answer: Best Hotels in Nafplio by Category
Short on time? Here's the cheat sheet:
- Best luxury hotel: Nafplia Palace β hilltop setting, private pool villas, panoramic Argolic Gulf views
- Best boutique hotel: 3Sixty Hotel & Suites β the most stylish address in town
- Best hotel with pool: Hotel Ippoliti β Old Town location with a proper swimming pool
- Best for couples: Gambello Luxury Rooms β intimate, with Bourtzi fortress views
- Best outside town: Frunze Luxury Apartments β garden retreat with the best breakfast in the region
- Best budget stay: Pension Dafni β charming, clean, unbeatable Old Town location
Find hotels in Nafplio on Booking.com
Where to Stay in Nafplio: Neighborhood Guide
Nafplio is small β you can walk everywhere β but where you base yourself shapes the feel of your stay.
Old Town (Παλιά Ξ Ολη) is where most visitors stay, and for good reason. Pedestrianized streets, restaurants tucked into alleyways, and the harbor promenade are all at your doorstep. The trade-off: some streets get lively on summer evenings, and parking is practically nonexistent. If you're driving, ask your hotel about parking arrangements before you arrive.
Arvanitia & Acronafplia sit on the southeastern edge, between the Old Town and the rocky Acronafplia promontory. Quieter, with sea views and proximity to Arvanitia Beach β Nafplio's main swimming spot. Hotels here trend slightly more upscale.
New Town & Outskirts extend beyond the Old Town walls. You'll find larger properties with pools, free parking, and a more relaxed vibe. Some excellent country-style hotels are set among olive groves. Perfect if you're driving and want space β though you'll need 10β20 minutes on foot to reach the heart of things.
Luxury Hotels in Nafplio
Nafplia Palace Hotel & Villas
Perched on Acronafplia Hill, this is Nafplio's grand dame β the only hotel where you look down on the town and out across the Argolic Gulf toward the mountains.
The main building could use updating, but the recently renovated private villas are genuinely special. Many come with plunge pools and can sleep four, making them surprisingly good for families or couples who want space.
The communal pool is large and has a snack bar. An elevator connects the hilltop to Old Town streets below β and trust me, in July heat, that elevator is worth its weight in gold.
Price range: β¬150β400/night
Best for: Couples wanting panoramic views, families in the villas
Good to know: Splurge for a villa. The main-building rooms don't match the views they're charging for.
Check prices for Nafplia Palace on Booking.com
Amphitryon Hotel
Sleek, modern, and right on the waterfront. The rooms are airy with private sea-view balconies, pale wood furnishings, and a refined minimalism that feels more Riviera than Peloponnese.
Two restaurants serve excellent Greek and Mediterranean food. If contemporary design matters more to you than old-world charm, this is the one.
Price range: β¬180β350/night
Best for: Design-conscious travelers, waterfront dining
Good to know: It's polished but can feel corporate compared to Nafplio's boutique options. You're paying for location and finish.
Check prices for Amphitryon Hotel on Booking.com
Boutique Hotels in Nafplio
3 Sixty Hotel & Suites
Probably the most stylish address in town. Housed in a restored 19th-century neoclassical mansion, 3Sixty has spacious suites with grey and deep purple or green tones, oak floors, Marshall Bluetooth speakers, Nespresso machines, and in some rooms, working fireplaces.
The whole place feels like it was designed by someone who actually stays in hotels rather than just decorates them.
The ground-floor restaurant β also called 3Sixty β has become one of Nafplio's best dining spots in its own right, specializing in premium grilled meats and Peloponnese wines. The breakfast is exceptional.
Price range: β¬130β280/night
Best for: Couples, anyone who appreciates a hotel restaurant they'd choose to eat at even if they weren't staying there
Good to know: No pool. In the Old Town, you won't miss it β Arvanitia Beach is a 10-minute walk.
Check prices for 3Sixty Hotel on Booking.com
Grand Sarai
Set in a building that once housed the first Court of Modern Greece (yes, the actual first court), Grand Sarai sits in a quiet but central spot under Acronafplia Castle.
The rooms have Cocomat beds β a Greek luxury mattress brand that alone justifies a stay β modern bathrooms, and wonderful views from higher floors.
What sets Grand Sarai apart from other Nafplio boutiques is the spa: a large pool, multiple jacuzzis, steam room, and sauna. For a small-town boutique hotel, that's unusual.
Price range: β¬140β300/night
Best for: Spa lovers, history buffs who want luxury with substance
Good to know: Ask for a higher floor. The difference in views is significant.
Check prices for Grand Sarai on Booking.com
Regno di Morea
Modern and beautifully appointed on a quiet pedestrian street in the heart of the Old Town. The styling is mid-century-meets-modern β fresh without trying too hard. Rooms have high-tech extras like tablet controls and Marshall speakers, but the standout is the breakfast served in the ground-floor wine bar. It's the kind of breakfast that makes you linger over a third coffee.
Price range: β¬100β220/night
Best for: Couples wanting central location with contemporary style
Good to know: Rooms are on the smaller side β fine for couples, potentially snug for extended stays.
Check prices for Regno di Morea on Booking.com
Aetoma Hotel
An 18th-century mansion right in the center of the Old Town, Aetoma has been a Nafplio institution for years. Character-filled rooms with antique touches and genuine warmth from the staff. The newer Navria by Aetoma annex nearby adds a more contemporary option if you want modern comfort but appreciate that the people running the show actually know and love this town.
Price range: β¬80β160/night
Best for: Travelers who prefer historic character over sleek design
Good to know: Some rooms have quirky layouts β that's the charm of an 18th-century building. Embrace it.
Check prices for Aetoma Hotel on Booking.com
Gambello Luxury Rooms
An intimate property on Acronafplia Hill, freshly refurbished with bright, stylish rooms and balconies offering some of the best views in town β including Bourtzi fortress floating in the harbor. It's the kind of place where you'll spend ages on your balcony doing absolutely nothing, and that's the whole point.
Price range: β¬90β180/night
Best for: Couples, photography enthusiasts, view-seekers
Good to know: Only 18 rooms, so it books up. Reserve early for peak season.
Check prices for Gambello Luxury Rooms on Booking.com
Hotels with Pool in Nafplio
If you're visiting in summer (JuneβSeptember), a pool moves from "nice to have" to "sanity-saving." Nafplio's Old Town is gorgeous but gets properly hot.
Hotel Ippoliti
The answer to "is there a good hotel with a pool that's actually in the Old Town?" β which is a question everyone asks and few properties answer well. Ippoliti is an elegant boutique near the harbor with Tuscan-themed decor, in-room fireplaces, hydrotherapy showers, and whirlpool tubs. Family suites sleep four across two levels.
The pool isn't resort-sized, but after a morning climbing Palamidi's 999 steps, it's exactly what you need. The breakfast buffet can be enjoyed poolside, which on a warm June morning is close to perfection.
Price range: β¬120β250/night
Best for: Families, anyone who wants pool + walkable Old Town
Good to know: The pool is compact β don't expect laps. But for cooling off, it's ideal.
Check prices for Hotel Ippoliti on Booking.com
Frunze Luxury Apartments
About 6km outside the Old Town, set in a tranquil garden with olive trees, a proper pool, jacuzzi, and sauna. It feels like a countryside retreat β and the breakfast, delivered to your room each morning, is the stuff of legend. Made with local ingredients, with options for dietary restrictions, and prepared by a family that guests mention by name in nearly every review.
Price range: β¬80β150/night
Best for: Drivers wanting tranquility, couples seeking romance away from crowds
Good to know: You need a car. The 6km to Old Town means driving in and out for dinner and sightseeing. If you have wheels, it's one of the best values in the entire Peloponnese. If you don't, it'll frustrate you.
Check prices for Frunze Luxury Apartments on Booking.com
Anthemion Suites & Villas
Surrounded by gardens and olive trees, about 800 meters from the Old Town. Heated swimming pool, a restaurant serving locally inspired dishes, and spacious rooms. The villas work well for small groups or families wanting extra space and privacy.
Price range: β¬100β200/night
Best for: Families, couples wanting a garden setting with pool
Good to know: An easy walk to the Old Town, but there's a gentle uphill on the return that you'll notice in the heat.
Check prices for Anthemion Suites on Booking.com
Beach Hotels Near Nafplio
Nafplio's own Arvanitia Beach is small and pebbly but has crystal-clear water and sits right below the Old Town walls. For proper sandy beaches, head to Karathona (2km south, walkable or a quick drive) or Tolo β a family-friendly beach town 12km away that makes an excellent day trip.
The Grove Seaside Hotel
A 4-star property with direct beach access, pool, playground, and genuinely family-friendly facilities. It's outside the Old Town but works brilliantly if sandy toes and easy swimming are your priority. Pet-friendly too, which is rare in this part of Greece.
Price range: β¬100β200/night
Best for: Families, beach lovers, travelers with pets
Good to know: You're not in the Old Town β plan to drive for dinners and sightseeing. But the kids won't care.
Check prices for The Grove Seaside Hotel on Booking.com
Budget Hotels in Nafplio
Pension Dafni
Beautifully restored, located in the Old Town underneath Palamidi Fortress, just 200 meters from Arvanitia Beach. The rooms are tastefully decorated with bright, clean interiors and a snack bar on-site. At these prices, in this location, Dafni is one of the best budget stays anywhere in the Peloponnese.
Price range: β¬55β100/night
Best for: Budget-conscious travelers wanting an Old Town base
Good to know: It's a pension, not a full-service hotel. No pool, no restaurant beyond the snack bar. But for the price and location, that's a trade-off worth making.
Check prices for Pension Dafni on Booking.com
Practical Tips for Staying in Nafplio
Getting there. No train to Nafplio. The KTEL bus from Athens (Kifissos station) takes about 2 hours 10 minutes. Driving is roughly 2 hours via the motorway β one of the easiest and most scenic drives from Athens. Nafplio also makes an excellent stop on a broader Peloponnese road trip through Epidaurus, Mycenae, and the Argolic coast.
When to visit. Spring (AprilβJune) and autumn (SeptemberβOctober) are ideal β warm enough for swimming, cool enough for fortress-climbing without melting. JulyβAugust are hot but vibrant. Unlike the islands, Nafplio works year-round, including winter weekends.
Parking. If you're staying in the Old Town, sort parking before arrival. Street spots are scarce and regulated. The main lot is along the waterfront near the marina. Hotels outside town usually have free private parking.
Day trips. Nafplio is perfectly positioned for visiting the ancient theater of Epidaurus (30 minutes), the Mycenaean citadel of Mycenae (45 minutes), and beach-town Tolo (15 minutes). It's also close to the Saronic islands β Hydra, Spetses, Poros are accessible from nearby ports.
Combine with islands. A few days in Nafplio followed by a ferry to the Saronic islands is one of the best-kept itinerary secrets in Greece. If you're planning a Greece trip that mixes mainland history with island relaxation, our AI trip planner can help build the perfect route.
Written by
Athens-born engineer Β· Coordinates a 5-expert Greek team Β· 50+ years combined field experience
I write every article on this site drawing on real, first-hand expertise β mine and that of four colleagues who live and work across Greece daily: a Peloponnese tour operator, a transfer specialist across Athens, Mykonos & Santorini, a Cretan hotel owner, and a Northern Greece hotel supplier. Nothing here comes from a single visit or desk research.
Informed by 5 Greek experts
Every destination we cover has been visited and vetted by at least one team member β not for a review, but as part of their daily work in Greek tourism.