Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Train -- There are about five trains a day from Athens to Argos. Information on schedules and fares is available from Stathmos Peloponnisou (railroad station for the Peloponnese) in Athens (tel. 210/529-8735 or 210/323-6747), or at the Argos train station (tel. 27510/27-212). Trains take at least 3 hours. The Argos train station, on Leoforos Vas. Sofias (tel. 27510/67-212), is about a kilometer from the central square.

By Bus -- Five buses a day run to Argos from the Stathmos Leoforia Peloponnisou in Athens, 100 Kifissou (tel. 210/512-4910; www.ktel.org). The bus ride usually takes just under 3 hours. Argos is also served by frequent buses from Nafplion (about 30 min.). Argos has two bus stations: the Athinon station (buses to and from Athens), on Leoforos Vas. Georgiou B. (tel. 27510/673-24); and the Arcadia-Laconia station (buses for Tripolis), at 24 Peithonos (tel. 27510/67-324). For general information on Athens-Peloponnese schedules and fares, call tel. 210/512-4910 or check www.ktel.org.

By Car -- From Athens, take the National Road to Corinth, and then follow signs for Argos and Tripolis. The road divides just after the sign for Ancient Corinth. The speedy new Corinth-Tripolis toll road has green signposts with drawings of highways. Take the Argos exit and follow the exit road until it reaches an obvious main road (the old Corinth-Argos road). Turn right, cross the bridge, and you'll soon enter Argos. If you take the old road to Argos, it runs straight into the town. It's never easy to park in Argos, but you'll probably find a place on one of the side streets off the central square or by the ancient theater.

A Word of Caution -- Argos's confusing system of one-way streets and potentially lethal three-way intersections make driving almost as chaotic as the night in 272 B.C. when Pyrrus of Epirus stormed the city with a large force -- including two war elephants, one of which overturned and blocked the main gate into the city. In short, drive with particular care here.

Fast Facts

The National Bank of Greece and several others on the main square, Plateia Ayios Petros, all have ATMs. The hospital (tel. 27510/24-455) is signposted on the main road into town from Athens. The police are at 10 Agelou Bobou (tel. 27510/67-222). The post office, 16 Danaou, off the central square, is open Monday through Friday from 7am to 2pm. The telephone office (OTE), 8 Nikitara, is usually open Monday through Friday from 7am to midnight. Café Net, at 4 Oktavriou 28th, offers Internet access for 6€ per hour.