Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ì
Pelops
Varélas 2
T
26240 22543,
W
hotelpelops.gr.
Run by a Greek-Australian couple and recently extensively
refurbished, this pleasant hotel is situated on a square by the
church. They offer delicious evening meals, for just €15.80, as
well as a range of courses that include cooki
ng,
art and
creative writing. Breakfast included. March-Oct.
€60
Hercules
Tsoúreka 2
T
26240 22696,
W
hotelhercules
.gr.
A congenial small hotel by the church and school on a
side street off Praxitéles Kondhýli.
ýli.
Wi-fi and parking free.
Breakfast included. March-Oct.
€50
Kronio
Tsoúreka 1
T
26240 22188,
W
hotelkronio.gr.
A
comfortable hotel, wi-fi
th w
i-i access in rooms. Breakfast
included. March-Oct.
€56
2
EATING AND DRINKING
Olymbía's main avenue is loaded with
tavernas
but, besides the
Hotel Pelops
, our favourites are across from each other on
the village's only diagonal side street.
Aegeon
Georgiou Douma
T
26240 22540.
Highly
recommended by locals, this unassuming place offers
everything from grilled lamb or roasted chicken to pizza.
Full meals €10-15.
Daily lunch & dinner.
Ì
Gefsis Melathron
Georgiou Douma 3
22916.
Excellent home-made dishes featuring fresh local
produce. Greek salads and
souvláki
go for €5.50,
briam
(traditional vegetable casserole) for €5, and most mains for
only a euro or two more.
Daily lunch & dinner.
T
26240
Pýrgos
PÝRGOS
is a large, modern town and the capital of Ilía province. It's pleasant enough in
parts, though serious diversions are nonexistent for the tourist. Still, it is a public
transport hub and it's handy if you have errands to run. The town has a grim history.
When the Germans withdrew at the end of World War II, it remained under the
control of Greek Nazi collaborators. They negotiated a surrender with the Greek
Resistance, who were met by gunfire as they entered the town. Full-scale battle erupted
and for five days the town burned.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
PÝRGOS
By bus
The bus station is to the west of town.
Destinations
Andhrítsena (2 daily; 2hr); Athens (8 daily;
5hr); Kyllíni (2 daily; 1hr); Olymbía (hourly, but none
12.30-3.30pm; 30min); Pátra (9 daily; 2hr).
By train
The train station is on Ypsilándou, a 15min walk
downhill from the bus station. At the time of writing
services were only running to Olymbía (5 daily; 30min).
ACCOMMODATION
Olympos
Patron & Karkavitsa 2
T
26210 33650,
W
hotelolympos.gr.
This modern high-rise hotel has
handsome rooms and is located right in the city centre, not
far from parks and shopping.
Amenities include a/c and
internet.
Bathrooms
are
small,
but
some
have
hydromassage tubs. Breakfast included.
€90
Arkoúdhi and Cape Tripití
About 25km to the north of Pýrgos, near the point where this most westerly coast of
the Peloponnese forms Cape Tripití, is
ARKOÚDHI
, a compact village resort that has
something of an island feel to it, and a fine sandy bay enclosed by a rocky promontory.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
ARKOÚDHI
Ì
Elia
T
26230 96493,
W
elia-arkoudi.com.
Located
on a hill up from the beach, this colourful, very friendly
family-run place offers both self-catering apartments and
a restaurant, with meals (€10-15) based on recipes
handed d
own
to chef Miranda from her grandmother.
May-Oct.
€35
R.Q.D.
T
26230 96167,
W
rqd.gr.
Located right down on
the beach, this restaurant-bar is mostly the latter. The food
is nevertheless gourmet and sometimes a bit pricey (pasta
dishes go for as much as €14) but the atmosphere is very
young and crackling with summer energy.
Daily morning
to midnight.
