Top Things to do in Aetolia-Acarnania Region
Top Restaurants in Aetolia-Acarnania Region
Countries
The 10 Best Things to do in Aetolia-Acarnania Region, West Greece
Discover the best top things to do in Aetolia-Acarnania Region, Greece including Viticulture & Winery Gerokostopoulos, Rio-Antirrio Bridge (Charilaos Trikoupis), The Venetian Castle of Nafpaktos, The Statue of Cervantes, The Garden of Heroes, Lake Trichonida, Nafpaktos Old Port, Adelfotis Metamorfoseos Sotiros Nafpaktou, Vathiavali Beach, Ancient Palairos.
Restaurants in Aetolia-Acarnania Region
1. Viticulture & Winery Gerokostopoulos
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Enjoy the excursion to our local winery in Paleros which has been active since 1861. The wine expert and owner will giive you a tour in the vineyard and wineyard, explain the wiine procees and give you a taste of various organic wine followed by Greek traditional meze!!
Reviewed By kibethewalrus
We had tour of the vineyard by the charismatic host followed by a lovely buffet and a chance to try his best wines accompanied by fabulous local organic produce. We had a great time and the wines were lovely, came away with a few clinking bottles and a promise to return. I can't recommend this highly enough, even my well travelled in laws were blown away by the service and hospitality shown by our host as well as the lovely wine! Hope the other guests don't mind being pictured!
2. Rio-Antirrio Bridge (Charilaos Trikoupis)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 378 reviews
Reviewed By K521SJmaryd
Other than driving over it and viewing it from a distance, it doesn't require a lot of participation. It is a beautiful bridge that the Greece's are rightfully proud of creating. It makes travel to and from the Pelopennese much easier.
3. The Venetian Castle of Nafpaktos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 285 reviews
Free castle with nice view and a lot of history.
Reviewed By amX1021ZF - Reading, United Kingdom
You can reach the castle from the town by different routes but all are quite intriguing and steep! The castle is kept in reasonable condition but once at the ramparts, keep hold of children as there is nothing in place to stop them from falling over the walls! There is a guide if you need help and also a small chapel at the top. The castle has been rebuilt many times and extended by the Venetians when occupied by them. It has various levels of defences up the hill. It would be nice to have a cafe for refreshments as it is thirsty work climbing up to and in the castle grounds so don't forget to bring water bottles with you. It takes around 30 minutes by foot to travel from the town harbour to the castle entrance or 5 to 10 minutes by car. Views from the ramparts are spectacular.
4. The Statue of Cervantes
5. The Garden of Heroes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 95 reviews
Reviewed By froghop96 - Pataskala, United States
We visited today and greatly enjoyed visiting the memorial to a turning point battle in the war for liberation. We were very lucky to run into a very friendly and knowledgeable grounds keeper who took the time to answer our questions. If you are looking for Lord Byron, you will not find his heart (it is indeed in England) but you will indeed find internal organs buried where Byron wanted to be buried. His statue is between the memorial for the mass grave of soldiers and the powerful memorial to a man showing his grieving daughter. The park is free and is built where a fort was with very small remnants left. Definitely a place to see!
6. Lake Trichonida
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 70 reviews
Reviewed By REDMAN5314 - Egaleo, Greece
State create it, for power generation by the hydro energy. Great views and mountains and great local food on taverns.
7. Nafpaktos Old Port
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 319 reviews
Reviewed By DirkW107 - Alexandra Headland, Australia
I would imagine most people see Nafpaktos as a stop on the way to better known landmarks ; disgorge the bus to visit the toilets, take some quick snap-shots and maybe a drink. Nothing wrong with that, but the little really deserves a longer visit. The old Venetian port and castle are so charming and picturesque ; they also have a lot of history behind them - remember The Battle of Lepanto . . . that was here ! Walk around the old port (don't miss Cervantes Statue !), through the arch in the fortified wall towards the Gulf of Corinth and watch the young people dive off the small pier, then have a stiff drink in one of the many cafe's around the small harbour. Now continue your trip.
8. Adelfotis Metamorfoseos Sotiros Nafpaktou
9. Vathiavali Beach
10. Ancient Palairos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By george45 - Perth, Australia
Ancient Palairos (also known as Kechropoula) is located NW of the Town of Palairos (Paleros) and is 11 kilometres by road. The best way to reach the ancient ruins is to drive from Palairos north along the main road towards Vonitsa. About 6 kms from town on the left will be a sign directing you to the Ancient City ruins. Just follow the signs through the rural area (that in itself is interesting when you come across a farmer driving his sheep along the road for milking or another driving his Water Buffalo to do the same). Just be careful as the road is narrow and winding. An alternative way but longer and less clear is from the Town of Pagonia which is located west of Palairos. There is a Ticket Office now at the site and an entry fee of 4 Euros from memory is all that it costs to enter the site. Can't remember the actual opening hours but I think they were 10:00 AM to about 2;30 PM. Near the office there are boards explaining the history of the city and providing some information about what to see on the site. The Ancient City is believed to be of Mycenaean origin possibly dating from 600 BC and obviously a powerful and important city at its zenith in the 3rd Century BC The city population was forcibly relocated to the new city of Nikopolis (east of the current city of Prevezza north of Vonitsa) built in 31/30 BC after the Battle of Actium and the victory by Octavian Augustus over Marc Antony and Cleopatra. The city walls are over 2 kilometres in length partly built with polygonal building blocks of gray limestone. Lengthy sections of the walls remain with several stairs to the top of walls intact and several of the city gates remain with defensive towers in various states of ruin. The site has only been partially excavated mainly near the city gates and the soil returned in place so as not to encourage looters. . One of the interesting areas is the ancient agora to the right as you enter the main city gate closest to the ticket office. The city was built on a steeply sloping site and to explore the whole takes time and effort. The easiest area to visit is closest to the main gate where the site is less steep. Worth at least a couple of hours walking around exploring. Take water.
