Peloponnese apartments - holiday apartments throughout Peloponnese

PELOPONNESE

Olympia - John Polos

This is the cultural heartland of Greece, where you'll find revered ancient sites, mythic towns and some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Ancient Olympia, on Peloponnese's western shore, is one of the must-see sights here. Start your visit at the informative museum, then tour the ruins of the mammoth Temple of Zeus that sits on the mountaintop.

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On the eastern shore is ancient Corinth, historically one of Greece's most frivolous cities. Here you can visit the Temple of Apollo and a handful of later, Roman monuments. Other areas well-worth visiting are Sparta, where the warring Spartans have left a few ruins, and the Byzantine towns of Mystras and Monemvasia, both full of churches and palaces, some open to the public. Nafplion, the first modern capital of Greece, is a charming town whose streets are lined with palaces and fine old houses.

The beaches along the Messinian Mani are some of the best Greece has to offer. With the Taygetos Mountains behind and the shimmering Mediterranean stretching as far as the eye can see, the setting is unbeatable. Resort towns like Kardamyli, a great hiking base, and Stoupa, a popular beach town, are good places to visit. More remote is Lakonian Mani, another pretty coastal stretch. It's known for its quiet villages, rocky peaks and barren landscape.

Olympia - John Polos

Along the Pelopennese coast, expect a beautiful Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot summers. Inland, the climate is more continental, which means cooler, slightly rainier winters and very dry summers.

Olympia - John Polos

Most international flights head first to Athens' international airport, and then connect to other Greek cities from there. Olympic Airlines, the national carrier, goes to most airports in the country, including Kalamata and Kithira airports in Peloponnese.

Buses, Trains and ferries all head into Greece from surrounding countries, but this is a slow way to travel that can be far more expensive than simply flying.

Once on the ground, bus travel is a relatively straightforward way to get around. There's also a limited train service, though just one line heads into Peloponnese. You can also catch ferries or hydrofoils to travel from Piraeus, near Athens, to towns like Nafplion and Kyparissia.

If you choose to rent a car, be extra cautious; Greeks have a reputation for ignoring road rules and for not being the most careful of drivers.

Olympia - John Polos

You'll want to spend plenty of time exploring the historic sites of southern Greece, most of which involve a good bit of strolling, but leave a few days for active outdoors pursuits too.

Coastal resort towns offer the usual variety of daring water sports, including wake boarding, water skiing and kayaking. For the more daring, paragliding is also available.

Thanks to the mountains that run along the coast, this is a great place for climbers. Sheer rock cliffs rise out of the Mediterranean, making it possible to climb with the sea right at your back. The mountains are also good places for hiking, and there are countless trails running through the region.