Nafplio is arguably the prettiest town in the Peloponnese. Perched on a headland near-mythical Mycenae and ancient Epidaurus, washed by the sea on three sides, dominated by two castles, the setting is all you could hope for. Its historic pedestrianised centre is full of pastel-painted mansions, bustling streetside tavernas (a couple of which are actually rather good), and a marble-paved piazza that could be Tuscany - if you replaced the iced coffees and Karelias with cappuccini and gelati. There's a harbour with bobbing fishing boats, an instagrammable island with a prison-castle, and a small pebble beach shaded by pines - which could, at a pinch, be Croatia. (And yes, there's the concrete shell of an old hotel - just to remind you that you are definitely in Greece).
3Sixty, meanwhile, is arguably the prettiest hotel in Nafplio. Set in a handsome 19th-century townhouse painted a trendy grey, it occupies its own mini-block (hence 360°) one lane back from the seafront. The ground floor is an achingly hip cafe-restaurant offering Greek fusion food and late-night DJs. Upstairs are 7 parquet-floored suites, furnished with chandeliers, Italian beds and designer fireplaces. Some have balconies overlooking bougainvillea'd lanes, others top-dollar TVs disguised as mirrors. We've been waiting years for a true boutique hotel in this civilised town; now it's here, you'll need to move fast to get a room.
Highs
- We loved the suites' high ceilings, tall windows and elegant airiness: rare in a Greek city hotel
- Some suites have sofabeds or sitting rooms if you need extra space
- The buzzy café-restaurant serves upscale un-Greek fare: think wagyu steaks, tuna tartare, fine wines and cocktails
- You're a block from the seafront, a block from Syntagma Square, and a minute's walk from the one driveable road through town
- Nowhere in Greece combines ancient and medieval history, beach- and town life quite like Nafplio
Lows
- Unsurprisingly the town does get busy with weekending Athenians and school parties (less so in summer)
- Parking in the old town is tricky; be prepared for a short walk to the hotel
- Don't expect white-on-blue Greek simplicity: these suites are opulent, bordering on bling
- As befits a small town-centre hotel, there are no gardens, pool or guest lounge
Best time to go
Nafplio is popular all year round, especially among Greeks. Weekends fill up with Athenian couples on romantic breaks; midweek sees some school groups - but both drop off in summer. We love it best in April and October, but midsummer is good too - plenty of swimming and al fresco living.
Our top tips
If you come without a car (there are 10 daily buses from Athens) and fancy stretching your legs, walk east out of town to the art centre of Fougaro - you'll see its tall chimney - which also rewards you with a café, library and occasional workshops. A little further southeast is the pretty little monastery of Panagia, with a cypress-shaded chapel just above: the perfect picnic spot.
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 3 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Good location (although no car park so parking is on the front , easy to get a space in June but unsure how easy in high summer, can unload /load in front of the hotel to avoid dragging bags through the town ). Friendly and polite staff. The pre-booking of time and items for breakfast is probably not necessary now - it would have been nice to have flexibility time wise. A hearty breakfast though which included eggs and nice local bacon. Lots of restaurants within walking distance (some better than others but the restaurant reviews on line will point you away from the mediocre) . Good for overnights stops en route to or from Athens airport heading to the rest of the Peloponnese. Lovely clean and big rooms.
Quite a swanky hotel in this stylish hip little town full of boutiques, cafes and historical sites. A great stopping off point en route to the gorgeous Peleponese and Mani peninsula . We stayed twice on journey to and from Athens .The attached restaurant was good. Only drawback is no early breakfast and we had to leave to drive back to airport without enough time to properly sample the delicious food.
Lovely little hotel with very plush suites. The restaurant was great and surprisingly good value and Nafplio itself is a hive of Bougainville scented alleyways and squares lined with cafes, bars and boutiques. There are castles to explore, harbours to wander along and little swimming spots. The only slight downside is having to park away from the hotel, but public car parks are free and the walk back to the hotel a chance to wander and window shop.
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape