Katakolon Olympia

The pier is in Katakolon, also called Katakolo, less than a five-minute walk from the town's main, and only, street and its many outdoor cafes. Duty-free is available on the pier itself.

Katakolon is the gateway to Olympia, where ancient Greeks gathered every four years for more than a millennium to celebrate sacred games for Zeus. Visit the Sanctuary ruins, with athletic quadrangles, stadium, temples and treasuries, then browse the modern Archaeological Museum, rich in Archaic, Classical and Roman sculptures including the famous Niki Winged Victory. Olympia Museum,

Take a printable map with you.

Katakolon is a western Ilia seaside town in the municipality of Pyrgos. Its centre lies in a gulf overlooking the Ionian Sea, on a peninsula with a lighthouse to the southwest. The Lighthouse of Katakolon first opened in 1865; the town has 612 inhabitants. Nice nearby beaches rent sunbeds.

The Museum of Ancient Greek Technology and The Museum of the Ancient Greek Musical Instruments and Toys are Katakolo's two most important sites.

Getting to Olympia:

Avis is a two minute walk from the port entrance, with a daily price of around 40 Euros.

For public transport, take a KTEL bus to Purgos, then change there for Olympia; do the same on the return. Katakolon-Purgos is 13 km and Purgos-Olympia 17 km. Taxis wait at the port, while several coach companies transfer passengers, with or without guides, to Olympia, beaches and Chlemoutsi Castle. Coach transfers to Olympia start at 15 Euro return and generally need no reservation. Buses stop directly in front of the pier. A standard one-way taxi to Olympia costs 43 Euros.

Direct trains also run from Katakolon to Olympia. If your cruise itinerary gives sufficient time in Katakolon, the modern train service is probably the best and most cost-effective option, taking about 45 minutes and costing 10 Euro return.

Katakolo train station sits at the far end of the shopping area, approximately 200 yards from the port gates. From the longest pier, allow about 15 minutes to walk to and from it. The Olympic site & Museum is a 5 min walk from the station.

Check train and bus schedules.

Museum and ruins admission is about 12 euro.

Horse and cart rides in Katakolon cost 5 euros per person. The horse waits until the cart is filled, so there may be a short delay. The pleasant route takes about 30 minutes, covering local streets and a beach section.

Katakolon's beaches begin at the end of town and form one continuous arc around the huge Kyparissian Gulf for at least 30 kilometers. Some are walking distance from the port, while others lie up to 40 kilometers away. They have a couple of decent fish tavernas and beach bars, and their warm, shallow waters are ideal for small kids.

Plakes Beach, also known as Reneta Beach, is the closest to Katakolon Port, only about 200 meters away on foot. This small pebbly beach has nice crystal clear waters that never seem to have jellyfish, a quiet beach bar with palm-like umbrellas, changing rooms and a shower. It is a good choice for a short Katakolon visit.

If Olympia is not for you, choose a leisurely seafront lunch instead. The main street has a good range of souvenir and other shops.

The pier's good duty free shop has competitive liquor prices and tobacco prices even better than onboard.

The currency is the Euro.

Greek is spoken, with English widely understood.

Most seafront bars and restaurants provide free, fast WiFi. With a little luck, you may connect directly from your stateroom balcony.

Public Services are open Monday to Friday, 8.00am – 2.00pm. Retail Stores & Speciality Shops open Monday to Friday, 9am – 1.30pm, return from 5pm – 9pm, and trade Saturdays, 9am – 2pm. Supermarkets operate Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm, plus Saturdays, 9am – 6pm. Most Tourist Shops and Convenience Stores set no official hours and usually remain open from dawn until well after midnight during summer.