© Peulle / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Day trip
Mystras
The Byzantine castle town above Sparta, with churches, palaces and one of the best-preserved Byzantine sites.
- 115 km
- about 2 hours by car
From Sparta the road climbs a few kilometres to Mystras, the castle town on the slopes of Mount Taygetos. The archaeological site is one of the few Byzantine sites preserved this well: houses, palaces and churches with wall paintings show how Byzantium lived and built.
What to see
Walk from the Lower Town with its churches up to the Palace of the Despots and on to the castle, from where the view spreads over the whole Sparta plain. The site museum shows important Byzantine pieces.
Good to know
The site is large and steep: wear good shoes, bring water and allow at least three hours. There are two entrances, lower and upper, so you can start at the top and walk down. Check opening hours before you go.
