Our arrival was seamless: from Athens Airport we headed straight to the Corinth Canal, then continued along the winding east coast of the Peloponnese. Near the junction for Epidaurus, Palaia Epidavros, and Galatas/Methana, we stopped for a quick break—and chose a gem that many travelers miss: the Small Theatre of Palaia Epidavros, the excavated theatre of the ancient harbour town of Epidaurus. In the golden evening light, we captured a few last photos.

About 30 minutes later we reached Methana, welcomed—as always—by the island’s volcanic character: the sulphur fumes from the still-closed thermal baths. We rounded off the day with a delicious dinner with Vasiliki at Kapilio—the perfect start to our Methana trip.

Useful highlights for this route

• Athens → Corinth Canal → East Peloponnese coastal drive
• Stop at Palaia Epidavros for the Small Theatre
• Arrival on Methana (approx. 30 minutes after Palaia Epidavros)
• Volcanic atmosphere & thermal springs (currently closed)

With the weather still windy and cool, we kicked off our Methana stay with a short hop to Poros—about 30 minutes by road, then a 3-minute ferry from Galatas (fare €1). March is a quiet month on Poros, though a boat with about 100 day-trippers did pull in while we were there.

First stop: the Archaeological Museum of Poros, showcasing finds from Methana, Poros, and Troizen—including a selection from the 150 Mycenaean clay figurines discovered on Methana. After a leisurely walk through Poros’s charming lanes, we ferried back to the mainland and headed to ancient Troizen (Troezen)—traditionally linked to Theseus, the hero who slew the Minotaur on Crete.

On site we explored the foundations of the Asklepieion, the Hippolytos sanctuary, and the Episkopi ruin, before wrapping up with a quick nature stop at the Diavologefiro Gorge.

Quick facts

• Methana → Poros: ~30 min drive + Galatas–Poros ferry (3 min, €1)
• Highlights: Poros Archaeological Museum; Mycenaean finds from Methana
• Ancient Troizen: Asklepieion, Hippolytos, Episkopi; myth of Theseus
• Nature stop: Diavologefiro Gorge

We started our most beautiful hike on the Throni plateau, making our first stop at the ancient tower excavated by Michael Deffner (1912). From there we continued to the Agios Panteleimonas chapel—now fitted with evening lighting so it’s visible all the way to Methana town.

Passing the homestead of Matina & Vangeli, we paused at a bend to look at volcanic pumice before climbing onto the Lutesa high plateau. Early spring had just begun: we found the first wild orchids and photographed them along groves and gentle ridges.

A sudden rustle in the grass had us guessing “tortoise?”—but instead we ran into fellow hikers Utzi and Barbara, long-time readers of my website and first-time in-person friends. Encounters like these show how Methana keeps inspiring visitors. We met them again the next days at our favourite tavern, Kapilio.

On another terrace with ancient remains I did what I always do—careful stone-turning. Ever since the May 2016 reptile tour with Benny Trapp, I’ve kept an eye out for scorpions, lizards, and snakes. Luck was on our side: we spotted a rare leopard snake (Zamenis situla).

We finished by dropping into the Stavrolongos caldera valley—still very early in the season, but in a few weeks it would be bursting with flowers. A quick descent brought us back to town, and we rounded off the day with our new hiking friends.

Route highlights

• Throni plateau → ancient tower (Deffner 1912) → Agios Panteleimonas
• Volcanic pumice stop; climb to the Lutesa plateau
• Wild orchids and woodland sections in early spring
• Wildlife moment: leopard snake (Zamenis situla)
• Views into the Stavrolongos caldera

Starting at Kameni Chora in northwest Methana, the trail climbs gently through a pine forest. Within minutes we spotted Methana’s smallest orchid—a perfect subject for macro photography. A series of switchbacks leads into the former crater center, a landscape of massive lava boulders with a truly otherworldly atmosphere.

We made a short detour to the thermal tension fissure (cave-like in appearance). Sadly, parts of the rock have been marred by graffiti, a reminder of the pressure that increased accessibility can place on fragile volcanic sites.

After the descent, we had a relaxed lunch at Vathy harbor (Soula) and continued to the ancient acropolis of Paliokastro to round out the day with history and views.

Route highlights

• Kameni Chora pine forest → switchbacks to the crater center
• Macro find: the smallest orchid on Methana
• Thermal tension fissure with cave-like feel
• Vathy harbor lunch stop (Soula)
• Paliokastro acropolis: archaeology & panoramas

Our hike began at a rock-cut cistern marked with Early Christian symbols—a structure likely over 1,000 years old, beside the remains of an old wine press. From there we headed east across the fields, where spring had turned the valley into a carpet of anemones: whites, pinks, and deep reds unlike anything I’ve seen in 32+ years on Methana. We also spotted two orchid species, perfect for close-up photos.

We wrapped up with a well-earned pause at Las Olas (Maria’s taverna) and a plate of her excellent paella—the ideal finish to a wildflower hike.

Highlights

• Rock-cut cistern with Early Christian symbols (c. 1,000+ years old)
• Wine press remains beside the cistern
• Peak wildflower season: anemones in white, pink, and deep red
• Two orchid species along the route
• Las Olas taverna (Maria) — classic paella stop

Although Methana remains off most travelers’ radar, it’s well known in archaeological circles thanks to Eleni Konstolaki-Jiannopoulou’s 1990 excavation of a settlement dated to c. 1200–1400 BC. After seeing some of the finds at the Archaeological Museum of Poros, we visited the site itself—low foundation walls that demand a bit of imagination to envision one of the earliest temples.

Nature stole the show: the surrounding meadow was carpeted with tongue orchids (Serapias spp.). From there we descended to a small bay with the remains of a Roman bath and a working mofette—a cool gas vent releasing volcanic CO₂. The air carries a sulphur scent, and bright yellow sulphur crusts tint the rocks: a vivid reminder that Methana is very much a volcanic peninsula.

Highlights

• Mycenaean settlement (excavated 1990; c. 1200–1400 BC)
• Artifacts also on view at the Poros Museum
• Orchid meadow with abundant Serapias (tongue orchids)
• Roman-era bath remains in a coastal bay
• Active mofette (volcanic CO₂ vent) & sulphur deposits