Ancient Messene: The Best Off-the-Radar & Off-the-Beaten-Path Outstandingly Preserved City and Stunning Site to Explore
This is NOT Mycenae! This is Messene! A stunning, genuinely spectacular setting & site that lies in a serene valley, surrounded by the Arcadian Mountains on one side and the Mediterranean Sea on the other.
Why this tour?
☼ You will be exploring the 4th century BC Ancient Messene in the region of the Mythical Peloponnese.
☼ The remains of this tremendous ancient city are complete and very well-maintained.
☼ A site that has never been destroyed or covered by later settlements and is located in an unspoiled area.
☼ Off-the-radar & off-the-beaten-path!
Ancient Messene underrated & under the radar spectacular [Photo: Eudaimonia Private Tours Athens Greece]
The remains of this tremendous ancient city include a grand ancient stadium, an ancient theatre with a capacity of up to ten thousand spectators, a fountain house, public buildings such as sanctuaries, temples, statues, a gymnasium, springs, and an agora that hosted political gatherings and many other everyday life events. This is a unique private day tour from Athens.Duration: 8-9 hours
Language: English
Departure: 8:00 a.m. from Athens or Nafplio
You can book this tour online now. The pricing shown is for 1 or 2 people (not per person).
For more pricing details & options, please see the “Pricing” tab below. For questions or to get a quote for more than two people contact us.
Private Tour Plan
For some, this is the most underrated site but also one of the best sites only second to the Acropolis of Athens. This is the trip’s itinerary:
Corinth Canal
The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus (canal) of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island.
Ancient Messene
Next, we head for Ancient Messene. The city has the rare advantage of not having been destroyed or covered by later settlements. This landscape combines the mountainous majesty of Delphi and the lowland riverine tranquillity of Olympia, with the looming bare limestone mass of Mt Ithome and its acropolis, and the low, fertile valley around the ancient city.
Ancient Messene was founded in 369 BC by the Theban general Epaminondas (after the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC, which resulted in Spartan defeat and the establishment of the Theban Hegemony). It became the capital of the free Messenian state following a long period (about four centuries) of occupation of the Messenian territory by the Spartans. The foundation of the city of Messene marked the end of Spartan dominion. The city became the political, economic, social, religious, and artistic center of the free Messenians, who in the previous centuries had been reduced to the status of helots or perioikoi under the Spartan yoke.
Messenia, the southwest region of the Peloponnese was, in Archaic and Classical times, under the control of Sparta. It was where the famous helots lived, the native population who the Spartans had reduced to a slave-like status, and who were forced to farm the land so that the Spartan citizens could devote their lives to full-time military pursuits. In the early 4th century B.C. that situation changed when Sparta experienced a series of catastrophic military defeats by Thebes. The Thebans, under their talented general Epaminondas, liberated Messenia and helped the people of the region find a new city to hold Sparta in check and prevent any resurgence of her power. Elite Messenian refugees, living in exile in other parts of the Greek world, also flocked back to Greece to take part in building this new city.
The city lies at the southern foot of Mount Ithome, a point of key strategic importance, described by some ancient authors together with Acrocorinth as being like the horns of a bull – whoever controlled both controlled the entire Peloponnese.
You will explore at your own pace and when ready your tour leader will treat you to a great lunch & drinks before heading back to your Athens accommodation but with a couple of stops to stretch and have a drink. [Eudaimonia Private Tours Athens Greece]
- Private tour.
- Hotel, airport, Airbnb, or cruise ship pickup and drop-off.
- Private driver/guide.
- Non-smoking vehicle and driver.
- Lunch & drinks, of course, are included with no limits or fixed menu.
- Vegetarian options are available.
- Each person is allowed a small carry-on bag.
- Complete and detailed itinerary of the trip.
- In-car, bottled water & information booklet.
- Flexible itinerary.
- Excess luggage not allowed.
- During lunch: Seafood or fish is excluded due to variable pricing.
- Entrance to the sites.
- Shopping/touristy stops unless specifically required.
- Gratuities (optional).
The price for this tour is €665, which is the total for 2 (two) people.
Discounted pricing: We offer alternative payment methods (family rates, solo travelers, small booking payments, pay on the day of the tour, etc.). Please get in touch with us to get the best rate based on your payment method, number of people, and age.
PS. Payments made by PayPal are subject to an additional 6% (the approximate fee PayPal charges on all transactions), and payments by AMEX are subject to an additional 2.80%-3%, which the client must pay to Eudaimonia on the day of the booked tour. There is no extra charge if you pay by any other credit card.
© Eudaimonia Private Tours Athens, Greece
Please note that not all destinations/stops are included in this google map. Its purpose is only to highlight the main route.
From your Athens hotel, Airbnb, airport, cruise ship (Piraeus port), Nafplio, or a pre-arranged meeting point very near to your location. For other starting locations please contact us.
Depending on the time of year, you can arrange to include the following add-on experience to your itinerary:
Andromonasteri (Men’s Monastery)
The Byzantine monastery fortress is only 5 kilometers from the archaeological site of Ancient Messina. It is the most impressive monastic complex in the Messenian countryside and one of the most beautiful in the Peloponnese, the remains of which testify to the prosperity it experienced during its long history. Due to its many years of abandonment, the complex remained unaltered by arbitrary modern interventions, preserving several authentic elements valuable for the study of monastic architecture.
The monastery was founded at the end of the 12th century. Since it was built like a fortress, it contributed significantly to the Revolution of 1821, where it suffered a lot of damage from Ibrahim’s troops.
More sites to visit near Ancient Messene:
Please Get In Touch for details and pricing. Not all add-ons can be included in all tours either because of time limitations (daylight time, closing times of sites) or because of the time of the year, etc. Some add-ons require an earlier starting time than the typical 8:00 a.m. pick-up.
These are reminders and additions to things you have already read in other sections.
All our tours include lunch and drinks, and all multi-day tours include quality accommodation. Professional guide, dinner (on multi-day tours), and all kinds of tickets (sites, trains, boats, etc) are not included. You can read more about What is included & excluded in our tours and why! from our FAQs-not-4-DUMMIES.
☼ To keep our vehicles fresh and comfortable, we ask that guests avoid eating or drinking (except water). Water is always available, and we’ll stop along the way as needed if you need to snack.
☼ Fish and seafood are not included in our budget, as their costs cannot be estimated with sufficient accuracy in advance. Pescatarian guests are invited to enjoy our delicious vegetarian cuisine during the tour. In the evenings, we’ll recommend the best spots for fresh seafood so you can experience it at your leisure. Got allergies, several restrictions, or foods you don’t enjoy? Tell us in advance, and we’ll do our best to please you!
☼ After you book, we will ask for some of the following: any food allergies, a single passport number (required by local authorities), names of all passengers, luggage details, pickup/drop-off locations, and a WhatsApp number, which is very helpful during the tour.
☼ Luggage is typically not included on day tours. In other situations (multi-day tours or transfers), we expect a maximum of one checked bag per person [65x40x25 cm or 26x16x10 inches] and a carry-on or backpack. We do not allow luggage on the vehicle’s seats or in your laps to protect both our passengers and our vehicles. If you have additional luggage, please let us know in advance. We can arrange for a larger vehicle or help you store part of it. We may have to cancel if you ... surprise us!
☼ If you are too tall or heavy, we need to know in advance! If we have advance notice, we can arrange the appropriate vehicle. Please use 225 lbs (105 Kg) as the maximum weight you need to inform us of. If in doubt, please let us know your weight and height before you book, and we'll get back to you. It’s not a personal question, but for your own comfort! We can use a larger vehicle if we have advance notice.
☼ An adult must always accompany children (minimum age is 8 years). Please let us know if anyone gets car sick! Greece is not flat!
☼ Due to uneven surfaces, most tours are not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users. We apologize for this, but if the sites don't or can't accommodate people with mobility issues, we can't help.
☼ We are flexible on tour duration, so there is no rush during the tour. We also expect you to be reasonable and respect your driver/tour leader's efforts. Sometimes there are specific restrictions (like not missing the sites' closing times during the off-season or catching a train, boat, etc.) which will "dictate" our itinerary/timing and require your full cooperation!
‘Eudaimonia’ is the trading name of Eudaimonia Private Tours & Experiences Private Company (IKE), a tour provider officially registered under the Greek National Tourism Organization (G.N.T.O.) with number/MH.T.E: 1245Ε70000034300, and Business Registry License Number (EUID): ELGEMI.181573613000.
The ‘client’ is the person or persons who have made a confirmed booking with “Eudaimonia Private Tours & Experiences Private Company“.
CANCELLATION POLICY FOR TOURS, TRANSFERS, AND SERVICES
(a) Cancellation Policy for day tours, half-day tours, and transfers:
☼ Cancellations made more than 60 days before the scheduled tour date will be fully refunded, minus service fees, as outlined below.
☼ Cancellations made between 60 and 30 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 75% of the agreed total tour fee minus service fees.
☼ Cancellations made between 30 and 7 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 50% of the agreed total tour fee minus service fees.
☼ Cancellations made 7 days or less before the scheduled tour date will incur a 100% charge.
EXPENSES: Additionally to the above but only after the 60-day whole refund period, all of Eudaimonia’s expenses agreed upon through the email exchange of communication concerning or are part of the day or half-day tours or transfers, such as site tickets, train/boat tickets, or any other bookings for the client (wine tasting, restaurants, etc) will be deducted from the amount to be refunded.
SERVICE FEE: Finally, a service fee of 9% (of the total amount agreed) will also be deducted from any refundable amount, including the 60-day full refund case. This corresponds to the time spent on the client’s booking.
(b) Cancellation Policy for multi-day tours (at least one night stay/overnight or more):
☼ Cancellations made more than 90 days before the scheduled tour date will be fully refunded, minus expenses and service fees as outlined below.
☼ Cancellations made between 90 and 60 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 75% of the agreed total tour fee minus expenses and service fees.
☼ Cancellations made between 60 and 30 days before the scheduled tour date will be refunded 50% of the agreed total tour fee minus costs and service fees.
☼ Cancellations made 30 days before the scheduled tour date will incur a 100% charge.
EXPENSES: Additionally to the above, but only after the 90-day whole refund period, all of Eudaimonia’s expenses agreed upon through the email exchange of communication concerning or are part of any multi-day tour, such as site tickets, train/boat tickets, hotels booked for the client, or any other bookings (wine tasting, restaurants, etc), will be deducted from any amount to be refunded. This will be approximately 25%-30% of the total tour cost.
SERVICE FEE: Finally, a service fee of 18% of the total amount agreed will also be deducted from any refundable amount, including the 90-day full refund case. This corresponds to the time spent on the client’s booking.
(c) Special client-specific arrangements/agreements & cancellation policy:
There may be client-specific payments & bookings (full or partial) agreed upon through e-mail communication mentioned -for example, as “non-refundable” or different from the main cancellation policy “refund dates”. Then, these client-specific agreements will take precedence over any interpretations of this main cancellation policy. Therefore, it is the specific written (email) agreement between each client and Eudaimonia that can only precede this main cancellation policy -if it is different- and determines the cancellation policy for each client.
(d) Other issues:
Eudaimonia reserves the right to make subtle changes to tour itineraries. Eudaimonia reserves the right to substitute vehicles and/or drivers should they arise. Eudaimonia reserves the right to change or cancel your booking without penalty, except by offering a full refund. Should change and/or cancellation prove necessary we will give you -if possible- reasonable notice & where available, offer you a comparable alternative. If an alternative is unavailable or unacceptable, you will be entitled to a full refund.
Eudaimonia encourages all clients to communicate as early as possible concerning cancellation issues, which could allow the agency to offer a better refund – partial or complete- to a client despite the standard cancellation policy described in this document. This is a decision not to be discussed with or disputed by the client, and will be made entirely by Eudaimonia to serve the client better, if possible.
Eudaimonia itineraries are flexible, and if possible, the requirements of clients will be facilitated. Eudaimonia reserves the right to vary, modify, or cancel any itinerary, either partly or wholly. Itineraries published are sample itineraries only and may be amended without notice. Eudaimonia also reserves the right to use alternative vehicles to those advertised.
Eudaimonia is not responsible for the costs of any other travel arrangements affected due to our cancellations or rescheduling of any tour departure.
Bookings can only be used by the client (s) to whom the booking was initially arranged; no other person may use the booking under any circumstances.
The client will be asked to provide a valid photo and/or passport number for identification, which is required both for our documentation and for local authorities during random police checks.
(e) Force Majeure
It is only at Eudaimonia’s discretion to refund fully, partly, or not at all if a customer cancels under certain conditions, including even “Force Majeure”, medical, etc. Disputing credit card or other means of payment is not permitted. Eudaimonia strongly recommends that the client purchase travel insurance.
Responsibility Clause
Eudaimonia Private Tours, shall not be or become liable or responsible for any loss, injury, or damage to person, property or otherwise in connection with any accommodation, transportation, or other services resulting directly or indirectly, from acts of God, danger, incident to the sea, fire breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of Government or other authorities, de jure or de facto, wars, thither declared or not, strikes, riots, customs regulations, delays or cancellations, or change of itinerary of schedules.
Baggage is at the owner’s (client’s) risk throughout the tour. Small articles, coats, wraps, cameras, phones, and other hand baggage are entirely under the passenger’s care, who is cautioned about the risk of leaving them in conveyances.
Clients wishing to join a tour or transfer are requested to arrive at the agreed departure point no later than 5 minutes before the scheduled departure time. This applies to all tours and transfers.
The client accepts that certain activities and aspects of Eudaimonia tours are weather-dependent and that under no circumstances can Eudaimonia be held responsible for weather conditions. The client will be informed by email of any potential weather issues and will be asked to decide, in agreement with Eudaimonia, whether to proceed with the tour. In this case, if the tour is completed or attempted, the client will not claim a refund. Rain or even snow is not considered a reason to cancel. Strikes can be grounds for cancellation if they really prevent the tour’s route. Windy weather and port authorities not allowing a boat to run are also reasons to cancel a day tour (but only in the case of a day tour), which is 100% dependent on the boat. A multi-day tour that includes a boat tour will not result in the cancellation of the whole tour, but only in an adjustment or an alternative option to replace the boat tour.
Passport Number
A valid passport must be carried by at least one client when traveling with us. This should be the lead traveler or the person who made the booking/communication, or payment.
Special Requirements and Conditions
At the time of booking, it is the customer’s responsibility to advise us of any special requests and circumstances, such as the need for a child car seat, mobility requirements, passengers who are much taller or heavier than average, food issues, car/boat sickness, excess luggage, etc. Then, we will notify the client in advance if we can accommodate their needs (larger vehicle, alternative options, etc.) and any possible extra costs.
Luggage is not allowed inside the vehicle; it must be stored in the trunk. Even backpacks need to be in the trunk, and it is the passengers’ responsibility to hold them on their laps and avoid scratches to the vehicle’s interior. We ask passengers to “keep their feet on the car’s mats” and not make a mess of the interior, which is kept in excellent condition, as you will see at the start of the tour.
For safety and a comfortable experience, we ask that you let us know in advance the approximate weights/heights of all passengers, as well as the corresponding luggage. This information is used only for vehicle allocation and will remain confidential. Failing to let us know can be grounds for canceling a tour, even when we meet.
Client Behavior
Eudaimonia reserves the right to terminate the transfer if a client’s behavior or conduct is disruptive towards the driver or any of our service providers (hotels, restaurants, etc).
Our drivers/tour leaders are carefully selected individuals who are genuinely polite and well educated. We expect you to treat them with respect. They will be there for you even after their typical 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but please do not take advantage of our “under-promising but over-delivering” attitude. They need their personal time and rest, plus some reporting to us and planning for the following days.
Passengers are forbidden to consume food or any drinks (except water) in our vehicles. Any costs incurred by you or your party due to damages on a tour or transfer must be paid by you (the passenger) or your party at your destination, and we or the supplier will not be liable for these costs.
Eudaimonia operates a strict no-smoking policy on all its vehicles and tours.
Liability
Eudaimonia has no liability for any tour or transfer arrangements, and in particular, for any illness, personal injury, death, or loss of any kind, unless caused by our negligence. Any claim for damages for injury, illness, or death arising from your use of the transfer services must be brought against the operator of the transfer services and will be under the jurisdiction of Greek Law. Eudaimonia operates under a Civil Liability insurance policy as required by Greek Law.
Validity & Disputes
Any disputes will be resolved by the Greek legal system and its laws without the need for any arbitration. If a client is unsuccessful in any legal action instituted against us, the client agrees to pay all our costs, including, but not limited to, legal fees.
The Client agrees to all the above when booking any of Eudaimonia’s tours, transfers, or services.
As of December 1st, 2025
