Top Things to do in Sparta
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Top 10 Things to do in Sparta, Greece
Sparta in Greece, from Europe region, is best know for Ancient Ruins. Discover best things to do in Sparta with beautiful photos and great reviews from traveller around the world here!
Restaurants in Sparta
1. Mystras
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 675 reviews
Reviewed By Lizzypumpkin - Montreal
Mystras is one of the most important Byzantine sites in Greece.
The site stretches about halfway up the mountain and is quite a long climb. There are several churches with some reminents of well preserved frescoes. There is a steep path to the convent and church of Pantanassa, where there still live some older nuns who produce beautiful handmade table linens embroidered with Byzantine motifs. The room that they sell them would be the last one at the end of the convent. Be sure to take a look at their beautiful handiwork and maybe buy a piece of two.
The Palace was closed so we did not bother to go beyond the convent. There are two paths to go up there, either the one that goes along the edges with no railings and uneven terrain or the better set of steps on the left side.
The site will probably take 2-3 hours to thoroughly visit. We started at the bottom and as time was running out did not bother to drive to the top. This site was one of the highlights of our trip to Greece. A truly magical peaceful place.
2. Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 205 reviews
The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil, in Sparta (Peloponnese), transports you to the culture, history and technology of the olive and olive oil production in the Greek realm, from prehistoric times to the early 20th century. The Museum's objective is to highlight the ineffable relation of the olive with the identity of our country and, more generally, the Mediterranean basin. The olive and olive oil are presented here from different optical angles: the economy, nutrition and the olive's uses, religious worship, art and technology. The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil offers you the opportunity to see the very first testimonies about the presence of the olive tree and the production of olive oil in Greece: Rare fossilized olive leaves, 50,000-60,000 years old, from the island of Santorini, the oldest findings offering proof of the presence of the olive tree en Greece Linear B Tablets of the 14th century BC (exact replicas), with the first written testimonies about the olive and olive oil.
Reviewed By Mark P - Greece
After driving through Sparta, signage is helpful in locating the museum, located on a back street. Very modern and well maintained, the exhibits are sequenced and the descriptions of the exhibits )(In both Greek and English) are wonderfully informative and compelling. There's even a hands-on section to give one the feel of ancient presses. Well, worth the scenic mountainous drive and the miniscule admission fee.
3. Taygetus Mountains
Overall Ratings
5 based on 75 reviews
A scenic mountain range located in the south of The Peloponnese, great for hiking.
Reviewed By Dimitris L - Sydney, Australia
Driving on and around these Mountains is an experience in itself. We drove around a number of towns and villages in this area and the views are absolutely breathtaking, literally! We drove on many narrow, winding roads, high up on the Mountains, and the feeling was indescribable. The driving became even more intense as the narrowness of the road forces you to drive slower and if you are not used to the conditions then you feel as if you are about to just drop! No, we did not drop, but it was highly exciting, especially in areas close to Sparta and Mystras.
4. Leonidas Monument
Overall Ratings
4 based on 154 reviews
Reviewed By MuhammadDudha - Dewsbury, United Kingdom
No significant history but the story of Sparta is about Leonidas, worth the visit and a picture memorabilia. Located near the ancient ruins, worth a drive to it.
5. Acropolis and Ancient Theater
Overall Ratings
4 based on 122 reviews
Reviewed By PaoloLong - Neuchatel, Switzerland
Afternoon visit in the Spartan park of the ruins of the ancient city. Unfortunately under the archeological point view there is not much to see. However, the park has a nice atmosphere with ancient ruins in this park with few people around and only the sound of the wind blowing through the olives threes. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the neighborhood but probably not a trip dedicated.
6. The Menelaion
Overall Ratings
4 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By smrgeog - Vancouver, Canada
As was described earlier, the turn off is about 3km from Sparta on the road south to Gytheio. There is a sign indicating the turn off and is also marked by a roadside shrine. I would suggest parking at the church and walk the remaining 1km or so unless you have a 4×4 as the road becomes a dirt one and can get slippery, muddy and steep as well.
The site itself has what appears a Mycenean ruin and affords fantastic views or both Sparta and the Eurotas valley and is well worth the visit and should not be missed.
7. Archaeological Museum of Sparta
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 126 reviews
Reviewed By mjrg59 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
We came all the way to Sparta to visit this museum but found a sign on the door stating that it was closed due to a strike. For such a long journey, this was devastating.
8. Archeologikos Xoros Sparti
Overall Ratings
4 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By Superkatt - Sweden
There is not much left of Spartan Acropolis, the most of monuments here are from roman times. First on a way to Acropolis you pass roman Acropolis walls, coming to the ruins of a Round Building, Rotunda. Then turning left after some 200 meters you reach the ruins of roman Theatre, large but mostly unexcavated. None the less the views to Taygetes Mountains from here are magnificent, and if you can read greek inscriptions, there is a lot of Reading waiting on the remaining walls of Theatre. When you climb up to the upper rows of the Theatre, you reach the highest part of Acropolis, there little to the left can be seen the ruins of ancient Sanctuary to Athena Chalkioikos, Guardian of the City, dating back to Archaic Spartan times, 6 c BC. The first Temple to Athena on those grounds was build of bronse, hence the name - Of Bronse House. Very little of Temple remains, but anyway here it was. More on the site on the way down to the right - ruins of early Christian Basilica. Promenade roads here are very pleasant, whole area is planted with giant and very old olive trees, in the springtime multitude of flowers flowering everywhere and it smells wonderful.
Address: follow central street Konstantinou Paleologou to the North, turn left along the Stadium and then turn right and up to Akropoleos street.
This Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia was grounded ca 8 c BC.
If driving car, Sanctuary is easy to find following road-signs, some 200 m from the bridge over Eurotos on the bank of the river. Unfortunately, the Sanctuary is closed until further notice, and the most one can get is to go around the enclosure and take some pictures through the fence. If walking, be aware that the area is somewhat down, and further ahead on the way there are very poor living/industrial quarters.
Very very pity that no one can open the gates if interested people coming by. Maybe it can be a proposal to those in charge: sometimes in the world it is possible to example to pick up keys somewhere (often at the Archeological museum of the city) and so see the attraction for additional cost.
So it is impossible to say anything about how this Sanctuary looks like, but - we were there
Sanctuary of Apollo Amycleos
This Sanctuary is along with those dedicated to Athena Chalkioikos and Artemis Orthia, one of few remains in the area dated from times of Archaic and Classical Sparta, it was grounded ca 8 c BC. The Sanctuary yo Apollo karneo was built on previous religious cultsite of Mycenaean times to divinity of vegetation Hyacintos. The god was venerated here as Apollo Hyacintos.
If driving car, Sanctuary is easy to find following road-signs, some 10-15 km200 m from the centre of Sparta by road to the south and sea.. Unfortunately, the Sanctuary is closed until further notice, and the most one can get is to go around the enclosure and take some pictures through the fence. The nearly park-area around the Sanctuary is extremely pleasant with old olive trees, green grasses and lots of flowers . Views to Taygetes Mountains with its snow-covered peaks from here are the most emotionally perfected I ever seen.
Menelaion
This Sanctuary is known from ancient times of geometric period, and was dedicated to Helena of Sparta and Menelaos, her husband. The structure in form of a pyramid we can see now is from Classical Hellenistic times.
To get to the site you need to go north out from the city of Sparta, then cross the bridge over Eurotas, and then immediately turn right, and in some 7-10 km follow signs to Menelaeio to the left. A small not-paved road will take you up hill through woods (some 2-3 km more) to the height of some maybe 30-40 meters, where it is possible to park a car in the end of the road. The way is not easy, but possible to find and make, just get enough time if you drive lost.
The view to the Taygetes Mountains, the Eurotas river, the modern road and Sparta town itself beneath is surprisingly captivating, and nature all around here is unspoiled and fresh.
Very rewarding to come here and feel to be a part of something bigger.
The Leonidaion, or the Tomb of King Leonidas
In the central part of the town there is an ancient temple-formed structure made of large rectangular stone blocks, which is beleived to be a Tomb of Spartan King Leonidas.
The Spartans that died during the Battle of Thermopylae were buried where they fell, however, the custom for Spartan kings was that they were returned home to Sparta for burial. It was approximately 40 years after the battle that the Spartans retrieved the body of King Leonidas, or so they thought.
TheTomb was rised in Sparta for King Leonidas then. Some think that is a cenotaph, that is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person whose remains are elsewhere.
Address is: corner of st. Fermopilon and Agidos.
There is also in Sparta a monumental statue to King Leonidas bearing helmet, sword and shield with Gorgon head on, with inscription ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ. Gorgon head referring to wife of Leonidas, her name was Gorgo Statue is situated in front of city stadium, right below the ancient Acropolis and Theatre of Sparta, it dates was from 1968.
Address is: corner of st. Konstantionou Paleologou and Ton Triakosion.
Archeological Museum of Sparta is not very large, but big enough to contain the most excuisite pieces , found in the area of Lakedemon. It is housed in classical building standing in the well-planned park in the centre of modern Sparta and can well be seen in some 2 hours. The exposition is unique and was made by dedicated people who wanted to present them as good and as optimal as possible, and they succeeded! To walk through rooms of this museum is a pleasure. Every piece tells an wonderful story if one listens.
9. Koumantareios Art Gallery of Sparta
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By YANNIS K - Seattle, Washington
We came to Sparta for some history, probably like most people do, and came across this fantastic Art Gallery featuring historical iconography from a small town outside Sparta called Vamvakou. It was a fantastic experience, and the people at the gallery were extremely friendly and helpful. The setting is an old mansion right in town, and the gallery only takes up a few rooms, but it is a must see experience part of the National Gallery of Greece.
10. Temple of Artemis Orthia
Overall Ratings
3 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By Superkatt - Sweden
This Sanctuary is along with one dedicated to Athena Chalkioikos, one of few remains in the city dated from times of Archaic and Classical Sparta, it was built ca 8 c BC.
If driving car, Sanctuary is easy to find following road-signs, some 200 m from the bridge over Eurotos on the bank of the river. Unfortunately, the Sanctuary is closed until further notice, and the most one can get is to go around the enclosure and take some pictures through the fence. If walking, be aware that the area is somewhat down, and further ahead on the way there are very poor living/industrial quarters.
Very very pity that no one can open the gates if interested people coming by. Maybe it can be a proposal to those in charge: sometimes in the world it is possible to example to pick up keys somewhere (often at the Archeological museum of the city) and so see the attraction for additional cost.
So it is impossible to say anything about how this Sanctuary looks like, but - we were there.
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