Travelling Patras
Before You Travel
Patras. Not just the capital of the Carnival.
“Vales, mountains and oceans shine with Thee
Like unto a great temple of white and porphyry.
To which all peoples hasten to this temple
to worship Thee, Oh ancient immortal Spirit.
KostisPalamas”
Welcome to Patras, a bustling student city, a place where entertainment, history and culture mingle together to create a destination filled with wonderful discoveries.
PatrasStart your exploration around the city from Aghiou Nikolaou (AyiouNikoláou), the most famous pedestrian street. There, 192 steps await to lead you to the Old City. A romantic stroll around its cobbled streets will reveal grand colourful neoclassic mansions, reminders of the city’s glorious past. Visit the city’s Medieval Castle, built in the second half of the 6th century A.D. on the ruins of the ancient Acropolis. Its walls enclose an area of about 22 sq.m.; it consists of a triangular external compound enhanced with towers and ramparts. Walk past the remaining buildings, and take in breathtaking views of the city.
West of the Acropolis, in the “ÁnoPóli” (upper city), you will find Patras Roman Odeum, which was actually built earlier than the Athens Odeum (Herodion 160 AD). The geographer Pausanias, who visited Patras in 170 AD, wrote: “It has the most beautiful decoration I have ever seen, excluding of course that of Athens\". The surrounding space is turned into an archaeological area where mosaics, sarcophagi and other ancient findings are displayed. The romantic souls should seek for the city’s landmark, the Lighthouse, in order to enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the port.
A visit to Spinney, the pine-tree-covered hill, the so-called “Veránda” of Patras will certainly uplift your senses. Its specially formed paths and the shade offered by the tall trees make it an ideal place for you to enjoy leisurely walks, or even go jogging. There you can also find a Municipal tourist kiosk from where you can admire a breathtaking view of the city, the port and the Patras Gulf.
In the centre of the city, two historical monuments will certainly draw your attention: Saint Andrew Church, one of the biggest churches in the Balkans, and “APOLLON\" Municipal Theatre, one of the first opera houses in Europe. It was designed in 1972 by the German architect Ernest Ziller. Since 1988 it permanently houses the Patras Municipal Regional Theatre.
Several spots around Patrashonour the famous Greek poet KostisPalamas. His house is the most interesting one. It is the house where Palamas was born. When he moved to Athens it became the place where Serao family (from Italy) lived and where the Italian writer MatildeSerao was born. Today it houses the KostisPalamas Institution. The most famous statue of him stands at YpsiláAlónia Square.
Patras is one of the Greek cities that never sleeps. Follow its rhythm. Spend your morning walking around the city’s squares: Georgiou, Olgas or “YpsiláAlónia” (: meaning high raisin plateau), and admire the city’s beautifully restored neoclassical buildings. Visit the city’s museums: the New Archaeological museum, the Folk Art Museum, or the Museum of History and Ethnology. Discover Patras shopping area, and shop your heart out! When you feel tired, enjoy a fine meal, and relax at a lounge café. Then, when night sets in, observe how the streets of the city are transformed into venues of fun. Patras nightlife awakens.
Before you leave, pay a visit to the Achaia Claus winery, which is located on a green hill 8 km south-east to the centre of the city. You will definitely be amased by the stone buildings, the huge oak barrels, containing century-old mavrodafni, the traditional wine cellar and the unique scenery with the magnificent view.
Don’t miss a visit to the “Wall of Dymaeans”, the unique fortified Mycenaean acropolis in Western Greece. Discover a lesser-known, yet major archaeological site, just 35 km southwest of Patras. Feel free to wander through the ancient fort, built according to myth by Heracles, and admire its imposing towers and monumental gates!
Before you travel in Greece, it is advisable to bear in mind the following:
Depending on your country of origin, you might need a passport and a visa; you could obtain a visa through the Greek consulate nearest to your residence.
Call your bank or your credit card company to let them know that you will be using it in Greece.
The Electric Current in Greece is 230V AC (50Hz). Appliances from North America require a transformer and British ones an adaptor.
In order to have access to necessary health care, tourists from member states of the European Union (EU) wishing to visit Greece must be holders of the European Health Card (EHIC) or any other legal Community document issued by their competent social security agency. Tourists from countries other than the member states of the European Union must consult their social security agency for information before travelling.
Contact your phone company in order to make sure that your can use your mobile phone in Greece.
As a consumer, you are protected by Greek consumer protection law for all transactions you make while travelling in the country.
Patras Tours
