What a gem. A walk through a medieval historic castle -settlement with ancient churches and glorious views of the Spartan valley. A challenging walk ,at some spots through steep stone paths. At normal pace it takes 1 h 50 minutes (including stops to admire the different churches and the small museum) to reach the mountaintop acropolis. The fully renovated palace was closed due to final touches and is opening officially April 2026. Very helpful and knowledgeable staff . Tip :You can drive up to the second entrance ,which is closer to the mountain top and then drive back to enter via the main entrance to see the museum and the larger monuments and areas. Go for it.

It would be a nice place to see if it were taken care of better. It’s like actual ruins. No signs of making it place.. lots of grass. Looks like still abandon place. The entrance fee of €20 seems too much for it. The place had its glory times and the history behind is fascinating, however, nowadays it’s just a place for making money and not restoring such a nice place. Such a shame. The views from the top are just stunning. It’s quite a walk uphill but it definitely worth it.

One of best visits while in Greece. We parked at bottom and walked all the way to the citadel before back down on the trails. Took our time enjoying the incredible views and getting some an amazing pictures. Do not recommend if wet as lots of dirt and loose rock. Watch your steps as can easily fall.

Worth visiting. Great views, nice walks and a donkey with his dog pal are some of the few things you might encounter. Of course the odd old geezer who can’t gather the energy to climb up but that’s life. Bring a bit of water. Quite a climb in the burning heat! We didn’t even pay entree. Not sure if that was supposed to be like this?

Beyond awesome! A huge open air museum of a Byzantine town with loads of intact churches, a ruined castle and lots of other ruins. Lots of walking uphill and down dale so you need to be reasonably fit and wear good shoes. You need all day!!!!

One of the most impressive and intriguing archeological sites in the Peloponnese from the historical and christianity point of view! There are 2 gates one at the lower part and one at the upper end! You can park the car down and go up the hill and then descend on another path. You need at least 2 hours to really enjoy the place. In the evening is less crowded. The staff is wellcoming and helpful!

Beautiful churches and ruins of the original town. Not all the churches are open though. The town is against a hill and people with difficulty walking will not be able to manage all the stairs.

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Great museum that walks you through the history of olive growing and has model presses and mills. They had a spot of all the local oils, but no one was staffing it when we went (early October, Thursday morning) and a small gift shop.

Wonderful museum, where are you can learn anything that you can imagine about olives and olive oil

This museum has really cool stuff: amphorae, large stirrup jars, equipment used to press oil. Plus a comprehensive story of the olive tree, the history of & culture around olive oil, and a nice gift shop. Don’t miss the outdoor display! The building is also mobility-accessible. Beautiful natural lighting and a lovely film about Greek olives round out the experience. Definitely worth the drive to Sparta.

This is an OK museum, a lot of replica so it's a bit disappointing, but it's great to learn about olive and oil.

This was a great visit to the ruins of this historical city. Well worth the visit. There is an abby halfway up. She has been there for 57 years. The best part was the gift shop where a wonderful old nun was handing out homemade sweets. She was selling handmade items that the nuns make. She was so thankful that we stopped by and made a purchase. She could not have been more thankful. Great visit, great purchase!

We drove a bit out of our way to stop here and glad we did. What a fascinating museum. A lot to learn with a nice presentation of everything. Across the street is a little shop you can sample and purchase Greek Olive Oil.

First thing: do not compare it with that other Acropolis in Athens… then you are in for a disappointment. Although in ancient times it could compete with its rival on equal footing nowadays it does not attract the same funds for archeological research when I go by on what is displayed. That said it is free to enter and at each point of interest there is an info board. There is no dedicated parking lot but just outside there is ample parking space. The toilets I saw were of porta-poti style, were all locked and with no cafes or tavernas in the vicinity that was the biggest bummer. Visit it when you are inspired by all things Spartan otherwise worth a detour when you happen to be in the vicinity

Not much left to see but a great spot to visit and enjoy the beautiful views of the mountains. There is still plenty to discover in this site. I am sure this place was beautiful when it was established. Free parking.

First things first - do your bathroom before coming to Sparta:) Coz gods forbid to see that on-site portables and even come near them if you don't want to throw up. And there are no any other restrooms nearby. Not even in the museum! Don't understand why it's so difficult to maintain a basic infrastructure at location such popular by tourists? But other than that it's a beautiful place free to walk and explore history.

The arqueological site have very few discoveries; but the place is nice, with many Olive trees and a good view of the city. The entrance is free

Not a great deal to see but if you are on the area it is nice to see the foundation of an ancient site.

Really peaceful during the week to walk around the ruins in the olive trees!

Special energy here, really different from the modern city of Sparta

Good stop for a very brief visit of Greek artifacts from Sparta. We maybe spent 20-30 minutes here. Interesting plaques and informative signs for the mosaics and statues. Well worth 2€ each for the small size of the museum. We visited in early November.

A small and tidy museum. Too boring for teenagers actually. However I like it. Be aware that the parking places around are limited and not secure becase of the local Romans. Best to leave your car in the nearest secured parking 1 minte away from the museum - i.e. Σταθμευσις Α.Ε. Also the museum doesn't have WC be aware if you visit it after a long trip.

The Archaeological Museum of Sparta is worth a stop for its central location, pleasant grounds, and collection of interesting local artifacts that give a glimpse into the city’s ancient past. However, the museum itself feels a bit underwhelming compared to other Greek museums—it’s small, not climate-controlled, and could benefit from better upkeep. While we enjoyed the visit, the entry price seemed a little high for what is offered.

Small museum and not much to see (other than the Spartan statue) and not worth going out of your way. For me Sparta itself does not require a stop. If time is short save it. Also, for a 10 euro entrance fee to the museum, WC should be included. Nearby Mystra definitely worth half a day.

We came here after visiting the archaeological site and the statue, and since there were nowhere any restrooms we expected them here. No. Museum ladies strictly denied them and told to look around in the restaurants around. There was heavy rain outside, and we cut short our visit, quickly looking around two rooms, one with older exposition and another with newer addition about Leonidas. The collection is nice though and well structured. While there, I heard two other groups of people asking staff about the restrooms and also being denied. This was also the only place, staff had problems understanding the disability document we provided for our kid to get a ticket. In all other tourist locations around Greece, staff immediately recognised the disability ID (coz they all issued following the same EU standard).

Would expect a better maintained museum in such historical place. Any way, worth to go, if you're around.

Well worth a visit. First walk around the archeologiavl site of Sparta, then visit this measure trove of mosaics, busts, engravings and bronze weapons. Not big, and hour to 1.5 hrs well spent if you love history

The highest mountain of Peloponnese. History and Myth meets here! The view from the peak is amazing! #nomadspathgr

Im in that point of my life that I feel so Taigetos-positive mentally that I just wanna travell there and jump off of it for old time’s sake…

The mountain of Ancient Sparta, with lots of stories to tell, wonderful rides, extraordinary view and wild nature! If you are in the area, don't miss the opportunity to explore it. Here, you can see me as a baby with my family!

RIP poor spartan babies ❤🙏✝️

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alexios doesn't like this place.

so basically this is where they yeeted babies in sparta 10/10 would yeet my children off this mountain too

Rough unpaved road to the top from either direction (we took the northern one by the church), but passable (carefully, when dry). A truly fantastic view on the Taygetus and the Eurotas plain of Sparta--worth visiting for those who know what they are seeking.

The Menelaion is a fascinating site to visit, offering sweeping views over Sparta and the surrounding valley, with ruins that are easy to walk among and parking that’s conveniently close. The drive up is a bit challenging on narrow roads, and once there you won’t find any plaques or explanations, so it’s best to do a little research beforehand to fully appreciate the significance of the site. Despite those drawbacks, it’s well worth the trip for the history and the breathtaking scenery.

I don't care if it's not the original palace of Helen & Menelaus; it's a spectacular place to visit, with great views over the Spartan plain, & across to the mountains behind. Well worth the lengthy hike up from the road.

No details on site so google it beforehand. Squared conglomerate limestone blocks forming a stepped base are all that remains. Great view. Up a steep singletrack paved roadway from north. Walk last 400 m. or continue up dirt track.

The Menelaion is not far from Sparta, but the road up is very narrow and only partially paved. We ended up parking about a half a mile away, by an old church and walking the rest of the way. It’s a bit steep here and there, but the road is fine and it’s a beautiful walk amidst olive groves. There is nothing at the site to inform the visitor, but the remains of the fortress there are clearly Mycenaean in style. The area provides a gorgeous 300 degree view with no problem, so it probably served as a stronghold, lookout or perhaps a summer retreat since the airs is nice and fresh up here. We watched two hawks in flight while we were there, so if you want to just get out on your own, this is a a lovely place. Plus great photo ops for Sparta from above and afar.

Do NOT park at the church! We just parked there to walk up to the site and in the 30 minutes we were gone, our car was broken into, and everything was stolen. They got almost nothing of value, but all of our clothes and everything we packed for the trip. This is apparently VERY common. Be cautious as this site. Thieves watch the parking lot all day long.

Definitely worth to came here. Very nice view from up there. We decided to leave our car 1km from this place and make last 1000m on foot because road was too dangerous for car. I do not know how road looks like from the north side but we arrived by car from the south side and it was almost impossible to get up there.

Be aware, this place is dangerous and by the gods don't make the same mistake I did and go here alone!! I was beset by Gypsies that started to push me and ask for money. I got away by firmly walking away and telling them again and again that I don't have any money. Eventually I raised my voice when they pushed me for the second time, They backed off a little bit and luckily an older man appeared and they disappeared... Maybe this old man was Zeus in disguise 🙏🤗 And I plead now to the local authorities, clear up this place of this rabble and restore some order🙏

You can't see much of the sanctuary and, as another recent reviewer noted, there's currently a camp of Roma nearby that tried to stop our car and make us pay money to drive away. It's not worth the stop.

It's actually a pretty cool historic site to see. As other reviewers noted there are signs of vagrants hanging around. We went very early on a weekday morning, and didn't encounter anyone. It's also not maintained anymore, which is very sad. It's pretty easy to get inside though. It looks like it's closed, but there's a big whole in the fence on the other side of the gravel road that you can just walk through. I gave it 4 stars because there are some pillars with ancient writing on them, that was a super cool discovery. If you've explored a lot of these historic ruins in Greece, you'll know it's very rare to see any with writing on them. I just wish I knew what they said. So definitely be very careful when you go, but I would still recommend you do.

The gate is locked and the area is overgrown with weeds and neglected. It's down a crummy dirt road lined with garbage.

Unfortunately not well kept. Overgrown weeds and rocks. We were told we should not be down there alone without police escort due to Gypsy encampment so be careful.

Amazing temple ruins, amphiteatre remains, the altar also survives somewhat. The garbage around the place however should be cleaned up.

One for those with a knowledge of history to visit and imagine the scenes where the somewhat excessive and violent whipping ceremonies took place, particularly in Roman times for Roman tourists. Imagination is vital as little remains and it is poorly looked after as it has become a site for the modern ceremonies of excessive alcohol drinking by the young, judging by the litter.

Amazing and unique museum. As a photography hobbyist this was very interesting. Highly recommended for a quick stop by on the way to Mystras castle

I have been waiting a long time to see itSince the last time I went past this village, the museum was closed. I was happy to find it open. The service was excellent. The museum keeper speaks English. The museum is very beautiful. There are a lot of cameras from different eras, of course. it's not the entire collection because this man has collected over 1000 cameras over the years.

What a fantastic surprise, discovering this collection—the world’s largest according to Guinness—panning nearly the entire history of photography. Lots of well-known classics and more than a few that are very niche indeed. If you’re in the area and interested in photography, this free museum is definitely worth a visit.

This new museum in the centre of Kalamata is one of the best Greek museums. Opened in 2016 it is a gem of a museum. Its collection of extraordinary costumes is exhibited in a theatrical and mesmerising manner while details of each costume can be found in touch screens. Do not miss this museum even if you are for a short visit in Kalamata.

Visited here today and was pleasantly surprised. It is a nice modern building with much to see & worth spending 30mins wandering around in.

Nice smart museum with FREE ENTRANCE of interest to everyone but particularly camera enthusiasts

We visited 10 am Tuesday - not open

A beautiful neo classic building that houses magnificent original works of art. A must see when in Sparti.

Pretty nice building, interesting, beautiful and classic architecture. The exhibition was closed for maintenance during my visit.

It was a lovely surprise my visit to Koumantarios Gallery! The collections were amazing as they have many famous paintings. It is housed in a wonderful two storey neoclassical building in the city center. It is the first branch of the National Gallery. Definitely worth a visit!

This was a lovely surprise. All beautiful paintings and art that made an impact. Very nice.

Definitely a must see in Sparti

(Translated by Google) An annex of the National Gallery and a true gem of the city. On two floors, sculptures and paintings by foreign and Greek artists are exhibited (from Halepas and Lytras to Tsarouchis, Gaitis, Engonopoulos), while congratulations are due to the people of the gallery who welcome and guide the visitor with details and love for each of the exhibits. (Original) Παράρτημα της Εθνικής Πινακοθήκης και πραγματικό στολίδι της πόλης. Σε δύο ορόφους εκτίθενται γλυπτά και πίνακες ξένων και Ελλήνων εικαστικών (από Χαλεπά και Λύτρα έως Τσαρούχη, Γαΐτη, Εγγονόπουλο), ενώ συγχαρητήρια αξίζουν στους ανθρώπους της πινακοθήκης που υποδέχονται και ξεναγούν τον επισκέπτη με λεπτομέρειες και αγάπη για καθένα από τα εκθέματα.

(Translated by Google) This particular gallery is a real gem for Sparta. Two floors full of very well-known works. The guided tour by the curator, Ms. Monica Diamantis, was amazing, well-documented and heartfelt, and we thank her warmly for her guidance to the trainees of the Kalamata Art School. (Original) Πραγματικό στολίδι για την Σπάρτη η συγκεκριμένη Πινακοθήκη. Δύο όροφοι γεμάτοι με πολύ γνωστά έργα. Καταπληκτική, τεκμηριωμένη και από καρδιάς η ξενάγηση από την επιμελήτρια κ. Μόνικα Διαμαντή που έκανε στους εκπαιδευομένους του ΣΔΕ Καλαμάτας και την οποία ευχαριστούμε θερμά.

What a gem. A walk through a medieval historic castle -settlement with ancient churches and glorious views of the Spartan valley. A challenging walk ,at some spots through steep stone paths. At normal pace it takes 1 h 50 minutes (including stops to admire the different churches and the small museum) to reach the mountaintop acropolis. The fully renovated palace was closed due to final touches and is opening officially April 2026. Very helpful and knowledgeable staff . Tip :You can drive up to the second entrance ,which is closer to the mountain top and then drive back to enter via the main entrance to see the museum and the larger monuments and areas. Go for it.

It would be a nice place to see if it were taken care of better. It’s like actual ruins. No signs of making it place.. lots of grass. Looks like still abandon place. The entrance fee of €20 seems too much for it. The place had its glory times and the history behind is fascinating, however, nowadays it’s just a place for making money and not restoring such a nice place. Such a shame. The views from the top are just stunning. It’s quite a walk uphill but it definitely worth it.

One of best visits while in Greece. We parked at bottom and walked all the way to the citadel before back down on the trails. Took our time enjoying the incredible views and getting some an amazing pictures. Do not recommend if wet as lots of dirt and loose rock. Watch your steps as can easily fall.

Worth visiting. Great views, nice walks and a donkey with his dog pal are some of the few things you might encounter. Of course the odd old geezer who can’t gather the energy to climb up but that’s life. Bring a bit of water. Quite a climb in the burning heat! We didn’t even pay entree. Not sure if that was supposed to be like this?

Beyond awesome! A huge open air museum of a Byzantine town with loads of intact churches, a ruined castle and lots of other ruins. Lots of walking uphill and down dale so you need to be reasonably fit and wear good shoes. You need all day!!!!

One of the most impressive and intriguing archeological sites in the Peloponnese from the historical and christianity point of view! There are 2 gates one at the lower part and one at the upper end! You can park the car down and go up the hill and then descend on another path. You need at least 2 hours to really enjoy the place. In the evening is less crowded. The staff is wellcoming and helpful!

Beautiful churches and ruins of the original town. Not all the churches are open though. The town is against a hill and people with difficulty walking will not be able to manage all the stairs.

Great road, very exciting drive, views are amazing, nature is wonderful, lots of birds.

Amazing road through absolutely spectacular scenery

Interesting route, but exceptionally windy (curves), switchbacks, and many road closures -- so you may not get where you want to. A "short cut" but not really.

Nice place, fresh air... Amazing views!

This road goes through the mountains in a very dramatic fashion and will offer plenty of awe-striking sights! It's a much better way to go to Kalamata than through the highway :)

Definitely not a shortcut, but gorgeous views that are well worth the detour! Had no issues with road closures in July 2023 from Sparta to Kalamata; it looked like they had redone some sections of road recently when we were there.

Storied area for outdoor enthusiasts especially motorcyclists!

Flawless acoustics with panoramic mountain views including the lit up ruins of Mistra.

What an amazing theatre, I was lucky enough to perform here during the 27th Kalamata dance festival

When in Sparti, check to see what is playing. Caught Despina Vandi in Mamma Mia!!

Nice garden with an amphitheatre for walks and runs, nice scenary

Amazing view and well kept.

Well maintained

Romantic walk