We will be there for only one night, arriving late afternoon and visiting the site the next morning. We'd love to park and walk to dinner/stroll around somewhere mellow and pretty if possible.
Also, I read about the Museum of Olive/Oil as another cool thing to check out - any other thoughts on this, or other things to see while we are in the area?
From where are you coming, and where do you head to after?
With such limited time, I would stay right there (I am not even sure of the name of the village, but you pass through a settlement with a pretty square and several restaurants as you arrive).
If you want to stay somewhere larger, Sparta is right there. Everyone always says the ruins there are not much to write home about, but since you are right there...
We’ve stayed a couple of times in the Byzantion in Mystras village. Nothing special but pleasant and clean and very convenient.
http://byzantionhotel.gr/wordpress/
The village is reasonable to stroll around and there are several tavernas.
If you fancy a longer stroll, or a very short drive, the small nearby village of Paropeio has some nice little fountains and a couple of tavernas.
Sparta looked like a not-especially-attractive modern town to me, which is how my guidebook had described it. It may still be the best option for you--sort of like spending the night before an early flight at the airport.
I loved Mystras.
We stayed in Sparta, a small city considering it’s past greatness. It was fine. We were the only Americans in the restaurant, good meal.
We really enjoyed Mystras.
Great feedback! We are SO excited about Mystras, it looks incredible and the area just stunning. I wish we could stay longer! We looking for a bucolic village type of accommodation arrangement, close to the site.
Additional questions:
- Visiting the site in mid June, will we want a pool to dunk in afterwards?
- How long to visit the site? Would it be advisable/appealing to visit it a bit in the afternoon, and then again in the early morning?
- Peaceful, authentic, pretty, and delicious dinner recommendations?
MM, if you want good answers -- you need to include a key fact, a very basic one. WHEN? If you are going in late April or Early May, you certainly won't want a "dip." BUt is it June? August? Who knoweth? We have lots of Pelopponese experts, who may know of pools or streams, but they are not mind-readers.
Hi Janet, thanks - I mentioned mid-June but not sure if we need to be more specific?
The last time we were there we ate in the Eleni on the main street
Tavern Hellen (Ελενη)
2731 302524
https://goo.gl/maps/Ac61ogeBGEDU11yw6
The street is quiet at night and it’s atmospheric rather than pretty. There were a lot of locals eating there, the people were friendly and the food was good. If you don’t fancy it there are two or three other places within a couple of minutes walk.
I would certainly opt for a dip afterwards. We were there in September and it was hot. June will be even more so.
It’s a big, and very steep, site so two visits might be a good idea. It would also mean avoiding being there in the middle of the day. There are two entrances: one at the bottom of the site and one half way up. If you make two visits I’d do the top half of the site in one and the bottom in the other. If you decide to do it in one visit I’d take a taxi to the upper gate. It will only be a few euros and it will save a long walk up the site at the beginning (if you drive yourself to the lower gate) or, worse, back up to the car at the end (if you’ve left it at the higher).
Alan
Oh, another thought. Be sure to take plenty of water. There’s nothing available on the site. There is a cafe opposite the bottom gate which has a good view.
mm -- i just read the original text at the top, and my eye glided over the small later posting ... sorry. It's good to assume careless reading, and try to put key facts up top. JUne is good because the days are so looong -- you get a day & a half for every day... a bargain in my book!
