landmark
Mani Peninsula
A wild, remote region of the southern Peloponnese with tower houses, Byzantine churches, and the mythical entrance to Hades at Cape Tainaron.
12 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeGreecePeloponnese
Gýtheio
Peloponnese, Greece · Europe
About Gýtheio
Gýtheio is worth a stop: 25 minutes from Skála, 21km from Diros Caves.
Gýtheio is in Peloponnese, Greece, with about 4,300 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Skála, about 14 km away.
Gytheio (Greek: Γύθειο [ˈʝiθio]) or Gythio, also the ancient Gythium or Gytheion (Ancient Greek: Γύθειον), is a town on the eastern shore of the Mani Peninsula in the Peloponnese of southern Greece, in the historical and administrative region of Laconia. It is the largest and most important town in Mani. Gytheio isRead more
the seat of the municipality of East Mani. Gytheio is significant in the history of Mani and the Maniots.
Ancient Gytheio was the seaport of Ancient Sparta, approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) north. Gytheio continued to be a major port until its destruction in the 4th century CE, possibly by an earthquake. Its strategic location made it a coveted possession for foreign powers into the 20th century.
The small island of Cranae, where, according to myth, Paris and Helen spent their first night together before departing for Troy, lies off the coast of Gytheio.
Gytheio was formerly a municipality in Laconia. Since a nationwide 2011 government reform it is part of the municipality East Mani, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 197.313 km2.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Gýtheio?
Within an hour or so of Gýtheio: Mani Peninsula (12 km), Limeni (19 km), Diros Caves (21 km), Vatheia (35 km).
Are there any good drives near Gýtheio?
The nearest famous roads are Langada Pass.
Where is Gýtheio?
Gýtheio is in Peloponnese, Greece, about 14 km from Skála.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 4,279
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Greece
- Region
- Peloponnese
- Timezone
- Europe/Athens
- Coordinates
- 36.7550, 22.5642
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Greece
Tourist police (English-speaking): 171.
Full driving guide for GreeceTags
Worth the detour from Gýtheio
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
photogenic
Limeni
The old harbour of Areopoli: a handful of stone houses and tavernas set directly on water so clear the fishing boats appear to float in air. Sea turtles cruise the shallows; the Mavromichalis clan tower still guards the bay.
19 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Diros Caves
Glide by boat through a flooded subterranean river of stalactites deep in the wild Mani.
21 km · about 25 min drive
photogenic
Vatheia
The most dramatic of the Mani tower villages: a hilltop cluster of grey stone war towers built by feuding clans, largely abandoned and standing against the sea on the road to Cape Tainaron.
35 km · about 40 min drive
ancient ruins
Mystras
A spectacular fortified Byzantine ghost city on a steep hillside near Sparta, with churches containing precious medieval frescoes.
40 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Cape Tainaron
Mainland Greece's southernmost tip, with a lighthouse, ancient ruins and the mythic gate to Hades.
42 km · about 50 min drive
mountain pass
Langada Pass
Legendary mountain road between Sparta and Kalamata, carving through the Langada Gorge over the Taygetus range: hairpins, sheer drops and some of the finest driving scenery in the Peloponnese.
43 km · about 50 min drive
castle
Monemvasia
A hidden medieval fortress town carved into a massive rock island off the Peloponnese coast, connected to the mainland by a single causeway.
44 km · about 50 min drive
Driving roads near Gýtheio
- 43 kmLangada PassLegendary mountain road between Sparta and Kalamata, carving through the Langada Gorge over the Taygetus range: hairpins, sheer drops and some of the finest driving scenery in the Peloponnese.
Driving in Greece
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.88/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€7.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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