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    Ancient Olympia

    Greece

    Ancient Olympia

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    Ancient Olympia is located in the region of Elis in the west of the Peloponnese, where the Kladeos flows into the Alpheios.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Greece
    7. Peloponnese
    9. Ancient Olympia
    Ancient Olympia is located in the region of Elis in the west of the Peloponnese, where the Kladeos flows into the Alpheios. From 776 BC to 393 AD, the Olympic Games were held here every four years in honor of Zeus, for almost twelve centuries. Of the sanctuary, foundations, toppled column drums, and the stadium are preserved; the sculptures are in the museum opposite.

    Sights in Ancient Olympia

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Ancient Stadium of Olympia

    1Ancient Stadium of Olympia

    The Stadium lies east of the Altis, entered through an arched passage athletes used. The track measures 192.27 meters between two stone starting sills whose grooves marked foot positions. No stone spectator stands: up to 45,000 visitors sat on earthen embankments; only judges and Demeter's priestess had stone seats. Its current 5th-century BC form replaced two older structures further west. The track is freely accessible; summer photo queues form at the start line.
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    Tempel der Hera

    2Tempel der Hera

    The Hera Temple originated around 600 BC, making it the oldest temple in the sanctuary. Its columns were originally crafted from wood and, over the centuries, were individually replaced by stone, which is why they vary in diameter and fluting—a rare testament to the transition from wooden to stone construction. The traveler Pausanias still saw one of the wooden columns standing in the opisthodom in the 2nd century AD. In 1877, the Hermes of Praxiteles was discovered inside, which now resides in the museum. In front of the temple, the Olympic flame is still lit today with a parabolic mirror; the ceremony takes place a few months before each game. Of the 6 by 16 columns, several have been re-erected.
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    3The Grove of Olympic Peace

    The grove is located between the Archaeological Museum and the archaeological site, at the foot of Kronos Hill near the Kladeos River. It was established by the International Olympic Truce Centre and the Antiquities Administration of Ilia. It commemorates the Ekecheiria, the truce that was observed in antiquity during the Games and, according to tradition, was recorded on the discus of Iphitos in the nearby Temple of Hera. Under poplars, pines, and plane trees, paths lead through the grounds, which you cross on your way from the Museum to the Altis.
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    Philippeion

    4Philippeion

    The Philippeion is the only circular building in the Altis and the only structure in the sanctuary dedicated to a ruling family. Philip II of Macedon began its construction after his victory at Chaeronea in 338 BC, and it was completed after his death under Alexander the Great. Inside stood five statues, according to Pausanias made of gold and ivory, depicting Philip, his parents, his wife Olympias, and Alexander – an honour typically reserved for gods. The building thus marks the moment when Macedon assumed political leadership in Greece. Some Ionic columns were re-erected in the 2000s, making the ground plan clearly visible today.
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    Temple of Zeus at Olympia

    5Temple of Zeus at Olympia

    The Temple of Zeus was the largest building of the sanctuary, erected between 470 and 456 BC by the architect Libon of Elis. Inside stood the twelve-meter-high seated statue of Zeus, made of gold and ivory, a work by the sculptor Phidias and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. An earthquake toppled the columns in the 6th century AD; to this day, they lie as a series of drums, just as they fell, which conveys the scale of the structure better than any reconstruction. A single column was re-erected in 2004. The pedimental sculptures, depicting Pelops' chariot race and the battle against the Centaurs, are housed in the Archaeological Museum.
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    Workshop of Phidias

    6Workshop of Phidias

    West of the Altis stands a rectangular building with the exact internal dimensions of the Cella of the Temple of Zeus. Here, around 430 BCE, Phidias worked on the colossal statue of Zeus, as he could only assemble it in a room of the correct size. During excavations, tools, clay molds for the gold sheets, and a drinking cup were found, bearing an inscription stating it belonged to Phidias, a rare direct piece of evidence for an ancient artist. The cup is exhibited in the museum. In Byzantine times, a church was built into the structure, its apse still visible today.
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    City walks in Ancient Olympia

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Ancient Olympia: In the Footsteps of Gods and Athletes

    Discover the cradle of the Olympic Games on this circular walk of about two hours. Stroll through the sacred Altis, admire the remains of ancient temples and competition venues and immerse yourself in the fascinating history of gods and athletes.

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (8)

    Dining & Drinks

    1

    Symposio tavern

    The Symposio tavern is located on Aimiliou Kountse in Archaia Olympia, near the main road. The cuisine is Greek, making it a good stop before or after visiting the excavations.
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    2

    Pheidias Grill House

    The Pheidias Grill House on Praxiteli Kondyli, the main street of Archaia Olympia, is a grill restaurant serving regional cuisine. The focus is on grilled meat dishes.
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    3

    ΔΗΜΗΤΡΑ restaurant & wine

    The Dimitra on Georgiou Douma in Archaia Olympia is a restaurant and wine bar. The menu features Greek dishes, along with wines from the region.
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    Food and Drink in Olympia

    Elis is an agricultural region, home to olive groves, vegetable fields, and pastures. Village taverns cater heavily to day-trippers; a few streets away from the main thoroughfare, things become simpler and more affordable.

    Olive Oil of Elis

    The slopes around Olympia and Krestena are densely covered with olive trees, harvested from November to January. The wild olive tree already played a role in antiquity; from its branches, the victor's wreath was woven. Several small mills in the neighboring villages sell directly. When buying, it's worth asking about the acidity and harvest year.

    Wines from Ilia

    The regional district of Ilia has a small but distinctive wine scene, especially along the coast between Pyrgos and Katakolo. Alongside international varieties, the indigenous red Avgoustiatis and Refosco, introduced from Italy, are cultivated. Wineries usually accept visitors by appointment. In the tavernas of Olympia, local house wine is often on the menu.

    Watermelons and early vegetables

    The Alpheios flood plain is one of Greece's most important growing regions for watermelons and early vegetables. From May, farmers' roadside stalls line the country roads. Tomatoes, aubergines and peppers end up in tavernas as Gemista – stuffed and oven-baked. The season ends in late summer.

    Cheese from the Foloi Highlands

    On the Oak Plateau of Foloi, east of Olympia, livestock is traditionally raised. From there come Feta and semi-hard sheep and goat cheeses, which are sold in the villages and at weekly markets. In taverns, you'll find them fried as Saganaki or in pies. The mountain thyme honey from the same area pairs well with them.

    Olympia: Holy Ground, Competition, and Truce

    A Thousand Years of GamesOlympia was not a residential area, but a sanctuary that became a competition venue every four years. The preserved list of victors begins in 776 BC; initially, there was only a race the length of the stadium, with wrestling, boxing, pentathlon, and chariot racing added later. Free Greeks were eligible to participate, with a wreath from the wild olive tree as the prize, while the fame in their hometown was all the greater. During the Ekecheiria, the sacred truce, the path to Olympia was protected for participants. Towards the end of the 4th century AD, the games ended with the prohibition of pagan cults under Emperor Theodosius I. The sanctuary fell into disrepair and was sealed by earthquakes and alluvium.Art and RediscoveryThe sculptor Phidias created here the approximately twelve-meter-high statue of Zeus, made of gold and ivory, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The gables and metopes of the Temple of Zeus are considered masterpieces of the Severe Style. Olympia was excavated starting in 1875 by German archaeologists under Ernst Curtius; the finds remained in Greece after a specially concluded agreement. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the International Olympic Committee, is honored in Olympia with a monument where his heart is interred.

    Getting to and travelling in Olympia

    Getting ThereKTEL intercity buses run from Kifissos Bus Station in Athens, via Patras to Pyrgos, where you transfer to a regional bus for the final 20 kilometers to Olympia. Additionally, some regional trains run daily between Katakolo, Pyrgos, and Olympia; check the current Hellenic Train timetable. By car, drive from Patras along the coast to Pyrgos and then into the Alpheios valley.In the Village and on the SiteThe village, museums, and archaeological site are close together and easily accessible on foot. On the site, paths are gravel and partly uneven, with shade found primarily under the trees on Kronos Hill. Taxis are available in the village; for trips to the surrounding area and the coast, a rental car is more practical, as buses run infrequently outside the main routes.

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    Nearby

    Peloponnese

    Peloponnese

    The Peloponnese hangs off the southern end of the Greek mainland and, strictly speaking, is an island since the construction of the Corinth Canal. Mycenaean castles, the Sanctuary of Olympia, Byzantine ruined cities, and Venetian sea fortresses lie close together here.Between them, mountain ranges rise to over 2,400 meters, with Taygetos reaching 2,407 meters. The coastal roads remain narrow and winding; those who travel the peninsula are better off planning with few base locations and day trips.
    Zakynthos (Island)

    Zakynthos (Island)

    Zakynthos is the southernmost of the larger Ionian Islands and presents two faces: in the north and west, a rugged coastline with caves and Shipwreck Bay Navagio; in the south, flat sandy beaches where loggerhead sea turtles lay their eggs. In between lies a fertile plain with vineyards and olive groves. The Venetians named the island Fior di Levante.
    Mycenae

    Mycenae

    Mycenae is situated on a hill at the northern edge of the Argolic Plain, approximately 25 kilometers north of Nafplio. Between approximately 1350 and 1200 BC, the citadel was the center of a palace culture that gave its name to an entire era. Heinrich Schliemann excavated the shaft graves starting in 1876, and since 1999, the site, along with Tiryns, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site.
    Nafplio

    Nafplio

    Nafplio lies on Argolis' east coast, on the Argolian Gulf, some 140 kilometers southwest of Athens. From 1823 to 1834, it served as the first capital of independent Greece, having previously seen Venetians and Ottomans alternately rule its port. The city retains three fortresses, a compact old town of Venetian and neoclassical houses, and a scenic rock path encircling the peninsula.
    Galaxidi

    Galaxidi

    Galaxidi is a small port town on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth, about 30 kilometers southwest of Delphi. In the 19th century, it was one of Greece's most important shipping towns, and in the 1860s and 1870s, its merchant fleet comprised over 400 sailing ships. The stone captain's houses from this period still define the townscape today.You come to Galaxidi for a quiet evening at the harbor after visiting Delphi, for the Maritime Museum, and for walks between the two harbors and through the pine forest opposite. On Kathara Deftera, Clean Monday at the beginning of Orthodox Lent, the flour battle Alevromoutzouroma attracts many visitors.

    Sources & method

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