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Sparta Attractions: A Complete Travel Guide to Ancient Ruins, Museums, Beaches, and Modern City Life in Greece's Historical Center
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In ancient times, Sparta was one of the most important military and political centers in the Peloponnese. Modern Sparta, however, is far less harsh. The city is home to about 18,000 people, most of whom are engaged in agriculture, cultivating citrus fruits and olives. The people of Sparta take great care in preserving their rich history, though there are only a few landmarks that have survived to this day.
In this article, I will tell you how to get to the ancient city, what tours you can take to fully immerse yourself in Sparta’s history, and I’ll share my personal itinerary for exploring it. Additionally, I’ll highlight some of the local entertainment options and recommend nearby hotels where you can stay.
Sparta: what's left of it and what it's still famous for
Ancient Sparta was one of Greece’s most significant cities, with a legendary history known far beyond Europe. Once the most powerful military force of its time, the city-state was famed for the unparalleled bravery of its warriors.
Regrettably, modern Sparta offers little in terms of ancient landmarks for history enthusiasts. Visitors will find only a few scattered ruins across the city and exhibits in the Archaeological Museum, as much of its rich heritage has not survived the passage
The landscape of Ancient Sparta, although there are many ruins, the city still has not lost its charm
How to get to Sparta
The main mode of transportation in Sparta is buses, and car rentals are also common. By the way, it is possible to turn in a rented car at any other rental point or at the airport, if the rental period is more than three days.
Intercity buses connect Sparta with both the nearest villages and more distant large cities. The cost of the trip depends on the distance. For example, a ticket to Kalamata costs 4.4 euros, to Corinth – 10 euros, to Athens – 16.8 euros. Buses run on schedule and quite often.
It may be useful: I have an extensive article on my website about renting a car in Greece, where I told about all the intricacies of this service in the country. If you, like me, like to be independent from the schedule and routes of public transportation during travel, I advise you to allocate a few minutes and read it.
For those who are going to visit Sparta on their own: in order to find a great option for renting a car in Greece, based on the “price/quality” ratio, I recommend using the following three services to compare offers of different car rental companies: DiscoverCars, EconomyBbooking, AutoUrope.
Map of the location of the city of Sparta in Greece
Walking Route in Sparta
My way lies to the famous Sparta, about which I knew so much, and so little.
The road amongst the hilly terrain is unexciting, there is very little traffic on the highway, so it was a smooth ride. On the road everything looks beautiful, but this is only modern Sparta, laid in 1834. There is almost nothing left of the ancient city.
At the entrance to Sparta you will be greeted by a sign with the name of the town
I managed to park my car for free on one of the city streets, although it was not easy at all. It is hot in the city, so a small supply of water in your backpack will not be superfluous at all. On the way there are monuments to famous Spartan citizens, monuments and bas-reliefs in honor of ancient and modern Olympians of Sparta.
It’s a bit hot outside in Sparta, but that didn’t stop me from taking long walks here
Eventually, I found myself at the city stadium, where a statue of Sparta’s most famous and legendary king, Leonidas I, stands at the entrance. Leonidas perished at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, leading 300 Spartans, along with Thespians and Thebans, in a heroic stand against the vast Persian army. His bravery forever etched his name into the annals of history. The monument is truly striking and leaves a lasting impression.
The monument to Leonidas I still pleases the eyes of the Tursites with its countenance
Not far away, in a public garden, there is a pile of large stone blocks. It is believed that this is where the remains of the Spartan king were reburied 40 years after his death.
Alleged burial place of Leonidas I
Behind the stadium some remnants of ancient Sparta have been preserved. Now there are only ruins and ruins left here. But still it is always interesting to walk among the ancient stones.
This is pretty much all that remains of ancient Sparta
I return to the modern city and walk towards the central square, taking in the other sights of Sparta along the way.
Square with fountain and monument to the heroes of the National Resistance
The Archaeological Museum of Sparta was built in the late 19th century and was the first provincial museum in Greece. The building is located in a picturesque park with lots of greenery, fountains, and unusual sculptures.
Archaeological Museum of Sparta, outside and inside
The museum is quite small, with just a few rooms, and you can easily explore it in about half an hour, but the exhibits are truly captivating.
Of course, being in Sparta, I was eager to find out where the infamous cliff was located, from which weak infants were allegedly thrown. The staff at the information center informed me that I needed to head to a place called Tripi, about 10 km northwest of Sparta.
When I reached Tripi, I stopped in the center of the village, but it turned out that I needed to drive to the very end of the settlement. This is where the trail to the historic site of Keadas begins.
The ascent to the cliff starts right next to the road, with a modern staircase that makes it an easy climb. There were no crowds of tourists—I was the only one there.
Beginning of the ascent up the stairs to Kedas
Recently, many scientists have begun to question the fact that the ancient Spartans were so cruel and threw sick babies off the cliff into the abyss, saying that this is only a myth. They base their claims on the fact that modern archaeological excavations conducted in the gorge have only found human remains of adults. In fact, it is assumed that only captives and criminals were executed at this place.
But other scholars have a different point of view. They say that so far archaeologists have dug little and not deeply. Traces of such a cruel way of killing infants may be hidden under the multi-ton collapses that have occurred here during earthquakes throughout the long history of the rock and gorge.
After climbing the ladder, I approached the cliff. But it was not an open cliff as I had envisioned it, but only a cleft in the rock leading into a cave. The well-trodden path showed that I should go on.
And here is a narrow cleft in the rock
I slowly move forward through the cave. I can walk at full height, but sometimes I have to bend low and literally crawl under the rock. Gradually it got darker and darker, and the passage became more and more sloping. It became a bit creepy, and I realized that I had to turn back.
In total, the explored section of the cave is about 50 meters long and slopes from 35 to 50 degrees. And then there will be a 600-meter deep abyss. You should go further only after thorough preparation with a good guide and a powerful flashlight.
This is what the cave looks like inside
Private tours from Athens to Sparta: one-day trips
Before heading on a trip to Sparta, you need to decide on the format of the journey, whether you’ll get there on your own or it’s better to book a tour.
If considering the option of an independent trip – the journey to Sparta from Athens will be on a KTEL bus. A round-trip ticket (for one adult) will cost 50-60 euros (for children under 12 years there is a 50% discount). Travel time is about 3-3.5 hours, buses run every 3 hours, starting from 6:30 in the morning until 8:30 in the evening.
Most archaeological monuments can be viewed for free, except for the Archaeological Museum of Sparta (ticket 6 euros) and the Olive Oil Museum (ticket about 4 euros). You should also set aside money for lunch, which at a local restaurant will cost about 15 euros.
In my opinion, an independent trip has some disadvantages: a fixed schedule and the need to strictly adhere to it, the need to spend a lot of time on the road, less mobility on site.
That’s why I prefer private tours, which can offer maximum route flexibility, travel in a private air-conditioned car, availability of a personal guide, time savings, and the possibility of visiting additional locations along the way (for example, Mystras).
This travel option will cost approximately 250-350 euros (excluding lunch and museum tickets). But you need to book at least 2-3 days before the trip. In one day of such a tour, you’ll be able to visit modern Sparta, the Archaeological Museum, the ruins of ancient Sparta, the Acropolis and Mystras (while independently, if you’re lucky, you might visit one more of these places, but you definitely won’t have such a rich journey).
As for the last city, Mystras (sometimes also called the “dead city”), I especially recommend paying attention to it when planning a trip or choosing a tour. This is a medieval Byzantine city located just 5 km from Sparta. Here you can see the Pantanassa Monastery with an active women’s monastery and the Metropolitan Church with frescoes from the 14th century.
While planning our trip, I reviewed many different available private tour programs, comparing them, and now I’m ready to share the best options I managed to find:
- One-day tour to ancient Sparta with a visit to Nemea and wine tasting at a winery. Duration – 8 hours with a professional guide. The cost of such a trip for 1 adult is 180 euros (90 euros for a child 12 years and younger). The price includes transfer to/from the hotel in an air-conditioned car, bottled water, services of a professional driver (with knowledge of the history of these places).
- Individual one-day tour from Athens to Sparta with a visit to Mystras. During the walk you’ll see all the significant places of Mystras and discover the history of Laconia and, of course, walk the streets of ancient Sparta. The cost of the trip for a group of up to 3 people is 540 euros (that is, whether traveling alone or with three people, this amount must be paid, if the group is more than 3 people, you need to pay extra for each additional person), which includes transfer by private transport and driver services, bottled water. Licensed guide services (if needed) are paid separately (330 euros), as well as food, drinks and museum entrance tickets.
- Another option for a private tour of Sparta and Mystras is a trip costing 539 euros for 3 adults (here the price situation is the same as in the previous option), which includes driver services with knowledge of ancient city history, transfer in a comfortable Mercedes Benz. Lunch and museum entrance tickets are paid separately.
- The last, but in my opinion, the most eventful one-day tour to Sparta and Mystras, during which you’ll have the opportunity to see the monument to Leonidas, the Sparta Olive Oil Museum, Mount Taygetos, the Kydi Valley. The cost of the trip for 2 people is 570 euros (if you choose the option with a licensed local guide – 880 euros). The price includes transfer from Athens in a comfortable car with a personal driver, bottled water, entrance to Mystras and the Olive Oil Museum (guide services, if the corresponding option is chosen).
The Area Around Sparta
The surroundings of Sparta are fascinating. Just 5 km from the city, you can visit the medieval fortress of Mystras, perched on a hill on the slopes of Mount Taygetos. This site is particularly intriguing because it not only features palatial structures but also the homes of ordinary townspeople.
Nearby, you’ll find several churches—St. Sophia, Evangelistria, St. Nicholas, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Athanasius—all built between the 11th and 14th centuries. These churches are outstanding examples of medieval ecclesiastical architecture.
The Peribleptos Monastery, especially its main cathedral, is famous for its unique frescoes. Another impressive castle, which blends harmoniously into the surrounding landscape, is located near the village of Geraki. This castle is considered a monument of traditional Greek architecture and consistently attracts the interest of connoisseurs.
Further away from Sparta, you’ll find remarkable natural wonders like the caves of Alepotrypa, Katafigi, and Glyfada. These caves are adorned with stalactites and stalagmites in unexpected shapes, and on their walls, you can even spot fragments of prehistoric drawings.
Sparta, Olympia, Mycenae + Kaiadas cave – our ancient Greece route that we plan to take next time
We had several reasons to visit Sparta, Olympia, Mycenae and Kaiadas cave. And it’s not only the minimal distance between all these monuments, but also their uniqueness. Olympia is a historical gem of Greece, the cradle of the Olympic Games. Here are concentrated unique archaeological monuments, such as the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, the ancient stadium, the Temple of Hera and the palaestra.
Mycenae is an ancient city recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The legendary city of King Agamemnon is famous for its renowned Lion Gate and well-preserved royal acropolis with cyclopean walls. The Tomb of Agamemnon, or Treasury of Atreus, is another impressive monument of Mycenaean civilization. As for the Kaiadas caves, we decided to visit them because they are a unique monument of Spartan culture and a symbol of the harsh educational system of ancient Sparta.
We were very lucky to find a private tour that includes visiting all these places, and now I’m ready to share the details with you. A one-day trip to ancient Olympia, Kaiadas, Apollo, Sparta, Mycenae lasts about 14 hours. During the tour you’ll have the opportunity to see the greatest archaeological monuments of Greece, including ancient Olympia, Kaiadas cave, the Temple of Epicurean Apollo, ancient Sparta and Mycenae.
The cost of the tour for a group of up to 4 people is 750 euros, which includes transport (Mercedes-Benz sedans or vans), insurance, personal driver services, bottled water, snacks, transfer. Only museum entrance tickets are paid separately.
A Little About the Beaches of Sparta
Although Sparta is inland, the beach infrastructure in the region has improved greatly in recent years. The closest beaches are in the Messinian and Laconian Gulfs.
These beaches may be small, but they offer a cozy atmosphere and are fully equipped for a pleasant stay. You can relax and enjoy the sun, take a swim, or engage in sports like tennis, volleyball, basketball, and windsurfing. For those seeking a bit more excitement, paddleboats and parasailing are also available for rent.
Entertainment in Sparta
The surrounding fishing villages are incredibly picturesque and hospitable. In any of them there is a colorful tavern, where guests will be welcome, and guests will be satisfied with a lunch of freshly caught seafood and local vegetables.
And if the time of rest coincides with the time of a local holiday in Sparta or one of the surrounding villages, vivid memories are guaranteed: the festival of ancient drama, folk festivals in honor of the Virgin Mary, Easter celebrations will not leave anyone indifferent.
On the last Saturday and Sunday of September, Sparta hosts traditional sports competitions – Spartaflo, which are attended by locals and tourists alike. No less interesting is the holiday, which has nothing to do with sports – the day of Kamsa. It is held in Elafonisos, a small fishing village.
Hotels in the city of Sparta: where to stay
In the heart of Sparta, you’ll find the modern Maniatis Hotel, a 3-star accommodation with stylish rooms offering city views and elegantly designed common areas. Tourists appreciate the hotel’s central location, which provides easy access to the city’s main attractions.
Another highly-rated hotel is Dioscouri 3*, situated near the National Library. Guests enjoy its scenic views of the city and the Taygetos mountain range, along with the excellent quality of the food served at the hotel.
The Lakonia Hotel, also rated three stars, has made its way into the top choices for travelers. Visitors praise both its convenient location and high level of service.
One of the most sought-after hotels in Sparta is the Menelaion 3*, housed in a neoclassical building in the city center. Guests love the luxurious, classically decorated rooms, as well as the superb Mediterranean cuisine, made from fresh ingredients and served in an elegant dining hall.
You might find it useful: view all hotels, apartments, and villas in Sparta at this link.