Where to stay
A red-cliff town on the quiet east coast, close to mountains, beaches and the great sights of the region. Here is why we think it makes the best base.
The short answer
Most visitors pick Nafplio and drive on. The east coast around Leonidio rewards a longer stay: red cliffs, a quiet sea, mountain villages and easy day trips, without the crowds.
This is our opinion, so we will be plain about it. We run a small hotel here and we think Leonidio is the best place to stay for people who want the Peloponnese to feel like itself. We also explain who might prefer somewhere else.
Written by the Sampatiki Suites team. Updated September 2026.
Best for
Beaches, walking, climbing, quiet
From Athens
About 3 hrs 20
Day trips
Monemvasia, Nafplio, Mystras
Feel
Small, local, unhurried
Scenery
Leonidio’s red cliffs rise behind the village while the Myrtoan Sea lies in front. The mix of mountain and sea is what people photograph, and it is what you wake up to.
From the pool at our hotel you look straight out at it, and every suite has a sea view.
Culture and food
Leonidio is less known than Nafplio or Monemvasia, and it keeps a slower pace and a strong local identity. It is the heart of the Tsakonian region, where a rare dialect survives, and its neoclassical mansions and traditional houses give it a timeless feel.
The food is a highlight. Leonidio is known for its slim Tsakonian aubergine, celebrated at a local festival, and the area also produces good olive oil, honey and wine. At the hotel, breakfast is built around local produce.
Beaches
Plaka
The closest beach
A lively harbour front with tavernas and water activities.
Active holidays
Leonidio has become well known for rock climbing, with thousands of routes. Add hiking trails through Mount Parnon, cycling through olive groves and mountain villages, and boat tours or kayaking along the coast.
Day trips
You can see the best of the region without changing hotel. All of these are day trips from the east coast, so allow a full day for each.
Nafplio
About 1 hr 45
Elegant streets and historic fortresses.
Mycenae and Epidaurus
About 2 hrs
Archaeological sites that shaped ancient Greece.
Our tip
Group two sights on one day, for example Mycenae and Epidaurus, and stay a night elsewhere only if you want to.
Which base suits you
Nafplio
First-timers who want culture
Restaurants, museums and the old town on your doorstep, but busier in summer.
Monemvasia
A night inside the walls
Magical, but small, and best for one or two nights.
The east coast
Beaches, walking, climbing and quiet
Leonidio and Sampatiki. Slower and more local, with the sights a day trip away.
Our hotel
Sampatiki Suites & Spa is a family-run hotel with eleven sea-view suites, balconies, an infinity pool and a spa. It is a few minutes from Leonidio, so you get the town, the beaches and the trailheads close by.
Guests tell us what they value most is the calm, the view and the way we look after them. That is the kind of stay we set out to offer.
Keep exploring
Questions
What is the best place to stay in the Peloponnese?
It depends on the trip. Nafplio suits first-timers who want culture. The east coast around Leonidio suits people who want beaches, walking, climbing and quiet, with the great sights within a day trip.
Is Leonidio worth visiting?
Yes. It combines red cliffs, mountains, beaches and good food in a small, local town that is still uncrowded.
How far is Leonidio from Athens?
About three hours and twenty minutes by car.
Where should I stay near Leonidio?
A base by the sea with a view. Our hotel at Sampatiki is a few minutes from the town, with sea-view suites, a pool and a spa.
Stay with us
Eleven sea-view suites, a spa and a breakfast built around local produce, a few minutes from Leonidio.
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