Epidaurus, a destination for sea and culture - stay suggestions

John KarkalatosMay 21, 2025

The first thing that comes to mind hearing about Epidaurus is the ancient theater and the summer theatrical performances, but Epidaurus is not only the theater that certainly has a global reach, the beauties of the region are many more.

There are also two picturesque villages of the Saronic Gulf, Ancient and Nea Epidaurus which we will explore in depth in this article.

To put things in perspective let me first say that when we visit the ancient theater we are not visiting Epidaurus. It was built by epidaurians on the land that was then Epidauria but today belongs to Lygourio village. The residents of Lygourio generously donated their fields for the excavations and for this reason they have priority in hiring for the theater's jobs.

Ancient Epidaurus is an ideal spot for food and coffee by the sea with a picturesque harbour where traditional boats and pleasure boats dock. A very nice place to enjoy the sun, the sea and food. It also has a few spots for those who want to swim, nothing special but convenient if you can't get to the beaches.

I really like to walk the pedestrian street that crosses the entire beach, I find it refreshing and a reason to visit Agios Nikolaos church which has a very nice view.

Nea Epidaurus is a very nice sandy beach with tavernas but the village is not there as it is quite a bit higher up. There is nothing special to visit there except a monument to the first National Assembly that took place there in 1821 but I still don't think it's worth going just for that.

Where to eat

The dining options are pretty much both in Ancient and Nea Epidaurus. In Ancient I recommend:

• Mike for traditional food with an emphasis on fish but also with meat and cooked food by the sea
• ta Klimata for delicious traditional food on a balcony
• Bolbos in a wonderful courtyard here we eat from the meat experts
• Michel something different from Michel a Dutch chef who decided to stay permanently in Greece. Prefer him for greek seafood cuisine through his eyes. With menu for gastronomic trips and all with fresh ingredients. He serves sushi too
• to Perivoli in a colourful courtyard with flowers and food as if you were eating at home

In Nea Epidaurus I recommend:

Two taverns, Ippokampos and Marilena on the beach for seafood and fresh fish.

Read also: How to get to Nafplio and Argolis' destinations

The 4 best beaches

Gialasi

The most well-known and best beach of Ancient Epidaurus. Large with plenty of free space but also peaceful beach bars with sunbeds for coffee and food. The beach is perfect for children. It is located outside Ancient Epidaurus and you need a mean of transportation to get there.

Nea Epidaurus beach

A large and pretty pleasant beach suitable for small children with a view of the Saronic islands. The marina is the busiest spot where the tavernas with sunbeds are concentrated. There is only one part of the beach there, the larger one is further down, much more peaceful with more space to spread out and tamarisk trees for shade.

Vagionia

It's nothing special but for those who can't get around is convenient. In Ancient Epidaurus.

Polemarcha

A beach that is not so suitable for swimming because despite its beauty has large stones and sea urchins. However the lush green landscape, as seen in the photo, is incredible and is a very good spot for relaxation and sunbathing. Here is the old church Panagia Polemarcha which centuries ago was a monastery.

What to do

Visit the ancient theater, museum and archaeological site

And yes, after all this we arrived at the rather impressive theater, the best preserved of the ancient world. Many people test the acoustics which your ears really won't believe as the slightest sound in the orchestra is heard clearly to the last seats of the cavea.

It was built in the 4th century BC by the architect from Argos, Polycleitus the Younger and has survived intact to this day because it was covered with soil. It is worth experiencing the theatrical performance, but I personally lose the flow of the play very easily and find it difficult to follow.

In the archaeological site was located the Asclepius sanctuary, the most important therapeutic center of the greek and roman world. It is the seat of the god Asclepius whose fame exceeded the borders of Argolis and thus his place was considered by all greeks as the birthplace of medicine. The sanctuary has been under restoration for several years.

Near the theater is the museum which houses impressive sculptures that provide information about the cult of Asclepius. However it is very small and the exhibits are literally stacked.

The most ancient bridge and other attractions

Beyond the ancient theater, the land of Epidaurus hides other surprises. Between the Saronic and Argolic gulfs you will find the most ancient bridge in Europe and perhaps the world, dating back to the 13th century BC. It is part of a road that used to connect Mycenae with Epidaurus, and if you go to Nafplio you must visit it. It is noteworthy that it is 100% functional and intact. It is called the Kazarma bridge and I have written an article about it. Further up the hill is a citadel which is not open to the public but the wall and the tower are impressive. I went up and I confess that I was impressed.

In Lygourio there are also the ruins of the pyramid which is completely destroyed and nothing of its shape is visible, it is known from old testimonies and engravings that it was a pyramid.

In addition, if you like hiking and discoveries I recommend the Foniskos castle which is unseen and unknown and you will not find it even on Google Maps. It is a mycenaean castle smaller than Kazarma but has the ruins of a round tower. I note the location on the map below.

Nearby destinations

Three days are enough to see the sightseeings and enjoy the beauties of Epidaurus. For more days you can combine it with a visit to Nafplio.

On the map below I mark all the locations I mentioned in the article.

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