Planning a Trip
Getting There
By Train -- There are several trains a day from Athens to Pirgos, where you change to the train for Olympia. Information on schedules and fares is available from the Stathmos Peloponnisou (train station for the Peloponnese) in Athens (tel. 210/513-1601).
By Bus -- There are three buses a day to Olympia from the Stathmos Leoforia Peloponnisou (bus station for the Peloponnese) in Athens, 100 Kifissou (tel. 210/512-4910;www.ktel.org). There are also frequent buses from Patras to Pirgos, with connecting service to Olympia. In Patras, KTEL buses leave from the intersection of Zaimi and Othonos (tel. 2610/273-694). For general schedule information for Athens-Peloponnese service, try 210/512-4910 or www.ktel.org.
By Car -- Olympia is easily a 6-hour drive from Athens, whether you take the coastal road that links Athens-Corinth-Patras and Olympia, or head inland to Tripolis and Olympia on the new Corinth-Tripolis road. Heavy traffic in Patras means that the drive from Patras to Olympia can take 2 hours.
Visitor Information
Olympia is basically a one-street town; the few things you do not find on Praxitelous Kondili will be just off it. The tourist office, on the way to the ancient site near the south end of the main street, is officially open daily, in summer from 9am to 10pm, and in winter from 11am to 6pm. Ask here for maps of the site and town, and for information on accommodations (tel. 26240/23-100 or 26240/23-125).
Fast Facts
The National Bank of Greece, on Praxitelous Kondili (the main drag), exchanges currency and has an ATM. The health clinic (tel. 26240/22-222) is signposted in town. The police (tel. 26240/22-100) are at 6 Ethnossinelefseos. The tourist police (tel. 26240/22-550) are handily located on a street behind the tourist office. Both the post office (on the main street) and the telephone office (just off the main street) are signposted.
Planning a Trip
Getting There
By Train -- There are several trains a day from Athens to Pirgos, where you change to the train for Olympia. Information on schedules and fares is available from the Stathmos Peloponnisou (train station for the Peloponnese) in Athens (tel. 210/513-1601).
By Bus -- There are three buses a day to Olympia from the Stathmos Leoforia Peloponnisou (bus station for the Peloponnese) in Athens, 100 Kifissou (tel. 210/512-4910;www.ktel.org). There are also frequent buses from Patras to Pirgos, with connecting service to Olympia. In Patras, KTEL buses leave from the intersection of Zaimi and Othonos (tel. 2610/273-694). For general schedule information for Athens-Peloponnese service, try 210/512-4910 or www.ktel.org.
By Car -- Olympia is easily a 6-hour drive from Athens, whether you take the coastal road that links Athens-Corinth-Patras and Olympia, or head inland to Tripolis and Olympia on the new Corinth-Tripolis road. Heavy traffic in Patras means that the drive from Patras to Olympia can take 2 hours.
Visitor Information
Olympia is basically a one-street town; the few things you do not find on Praxitelous Kondili will be just off it. The tourist office, on the way to the ancient site near the south end of the main street, is officially open daily, in summer from 9am to 10pm, and in winter from 11am to 6pm. Ask here for maps of the site and town, and for information on accommodations (tel. 26240/23-100 or 26240/23-125).
Fast Facts
The National Bank of Greece, on Praxitelous Kondili (the main drag), exchanges currency and has an ATM. The health clinic (tel. 26240/22-222) is signposted in town. The police (tel. 26240/22-100) are at 6 Ethnossinelefseos. The tourist police (tel. 26240/22-550) are handily located on a street behind the tourist office. Both the post office (on the main street) and the telephone office (just off the main street) are signposted.
