Here’s a day trip suggested by one of our readers. This is an original way to discover the Corinth Canal.
This escapade nevertheless requires rental car for the day. You can also combine a visit to the Corinth Canal with a visit to Acrocorinth, Lake Vouliagmeni-Loutraki and even the northern Peloponnese such as Nafplio, Mycenae or Epidaurus. In this case, you will find on Get Your Guide for all-inclusive day or two-day excursions from Athens.
There’s even an excursion departing from Piraeus if you’re stopping off on a cruise to Athens.
The Corinth Canal: a brief history
The Corinth Canal provides a direct route from the Saronic Gulf to the Gulf of Corinth, avoiding the 400km-long Peloponesis contour.
As early as the 7th century B.C., an ingenious system of wooden tracks enabled ships to glide from one gulf to another. Later, under the reign of Nero in 67, work began on digging the canal. But the project was abandoned after his death for lack of funding.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that the idea resurfaced. The creation of the Suez Canal decides the Greek government. The latter entrusted the project to the International Corinth Canal Company founded by István Türr and the French banker Jacques de Reinach. Work began in 1882, but took much longer than expected, bankrupting the original investors. In the end, a Greek company headed by Andréas Syngrós completed the work, and the canal was inaugurated in 1894.
Discover the Corinth Canal from the mouth of Isthmia
Here’s Hervé’s advice:
“The aim was to show my friends the famous Corinth Canal, but to approach it in a different way than the traditional stop at the rather “ugly” parking lot at the exit of the bridge that crosses it.
So we set off by car from Athens, heading for the quiet little seaside resort of Isthmia, located at the mouth of the canal on the Saronic Gulf side. It takes about an hour on the freeway.
Once there, don’t miss the opportunity to cross the submersible bridge linking the two banks of the canal on foot. This bridge, highly original in its design, sinks into the water to allow ships to pass. It’s quite impressive to see this piece of road being swallowed up in the depths of the canal’s turquoise water! On foot, you can stop in the middle of the bridge to enjoy the exceptional perspective of the canal along its entire length, seen for once at water level and not from a height of eighty meters, which changes things quite a bit.
Note: the same bridge exists at the other end, at the mouth of the Gulf of Corinth. “
Cruise through the Corinth Canal
“From the quays of Isthmia, daily mini-cruises (at least in the tourist season, there can even be several in a day), which last an hour each way and enable you to sail the entire length of the six-kilometer canal. Guaranteed effect! You feel very small at the bottom of the blue trench, and you’re stunned by the height of the cliffs and the work accomplished. It’s the kind of experience that impresses.”
Please note that opening times vary according to the number of visitors, and there is no ticket office for on-site information. You must visit their Facebook page “C.A.T. ARGO “and leave them a message to ask for the program. They respond very quickly. Price (September 2023): about €30.00 / person.
A quiet return to Athens: still full of surprises
Hervé also gives us tips on how to extend the day and return to Athens along the school children’s route:
“Then, if you have time, you can go for a swim on the nice little beach to the right of the canal management authority premises, at the end of the parking lot. For the rest, I’d encourage you to have lunch a quarter of an hour’s drive from Isthmia, in Loutraki on the shores of the Gulf of Corinth, rather than in Corinth itself, which isn’t very interesting. There’s a huge pedestrian waterfront in Loutraki with a multitude of restaurants. For those who, like me, enjoy restaurants frequented by Greeks, they tend to be clustered at the end of the waterfront, near the little harbor. They offer mouth-watering fish and seafood at reasonable prices. Of course, there are also all kinds of restaurants and bars with a more touristy feel.
Finally, for the return journey to Athens, why not take theold road rather than the freeway (approx. 2 hours). Not only is it free, it’s also full of charm, winding its way along the sea and through small seaside resorts. In particular, there are a few spectacular kilometers of corniche and magnificent views over theisland of Salamis.
The Palea EO Athinon Kotinthou is taken just after crossing the bridge over the Canal. There’s a well-marked fork in the road before entering the freeway at the toll booths. “
Sleeping in Corinth
To prolong the pleasure, don’t hesitate to spend a night in Corinth.
You will find a wide range of accommodation on Booking.
What a lovely day!
Idea and original text by Hervé T.
More ideas for escaping Athens for a day in the following article.
