Naupacte (Nafpaktos in Greek) is a village on the northern coast of the Gulf of Corinth, in western Greece. Naupacte is a 2.5-hour drive from Athens. It was here, in 1571, that one of the greatest naval battles in history took place, the famous Battle of Lepanto. Cervantes, father of Don Quixote, lost a hand.
The port of Naupacte
It’s impossible not to fall under the spell of this little port! It’s protected by perfectly preserved fortifications. You can stroll along the ramparts and admire the view.
What’s more, there’s no shortage of cafés, restaurants and ice-cream parlours along the harbour.
Naupacte castle
From the port, we recommend climbing up to the Venetian citadel. It’s a steep climb… but a pleasant one. Between the pines and cypresses, the view of the Gulf of Corinth is fantastic. Enough to motivate you!
And when the season allows, you’ll find beaches close to the port.
A stop at Nafpaktos is a must
Naupacte is a pleasant place to stop:
- If you are travelling to the west coast of mainland Greece, for example to the the Zagories
- It is also a possible stopover for those planning to visit Lefakada or Corfu from Athens for a pleasant lunch break.
- Of course, it’s also on the way to the road that runs north along the Gulf of Corinth to Galaxidi then up to Delphi .
- Finally, you can also spend a weekend in Naupacte or make it a stopover on a tour of the northern Peloponnese.
To cross the Gulf of Corinth at its western end, you’ll need to cross the magnificent cable-stayed bridge of Rion-Antirion, which links the Peloponnese to mainland Greece. The crossing is subject to a fee (13.70 euros one way in 2022).
We hope you enjoy discovering Naupacte.
Elodie H.