Things to do near Ancient Corinth

The Corinth Canal is the first thing you see when you visit Corinth, if you approach it from Central Greece. The canal cuts through the Isthmus, thus separating Peloponnese from the Greek mainland while connecting the Corinthian Gulf in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It was constructed in the 19th century (finished in 1893) and it is still used today. However, because it’s too narrow for large contemporary vessels, nowadays it’s used mainly by smaller boats, tourist cruises, and for bungee jumping experiences!

People in antiquity tried to construct a canal as well, but failed. So instead, they’ve built Diolkos, a paved trackway in order to connect the Ionian to the Aegean Sea and avoid the dangerous circumnavigation of the Peloponnese peninsula. Diolkos was used to transfer goods and even whole ships across. It was constructed at around 600 BC and was used for hundreds of years! The best place to see part of Diolkos is at the northern end of the Canal, near the sinking bridge of Poseidonia.

Cenchreae, known in Greek as Kechries, used to be one of the ports of ancient Corinth. The natural harbor at the western side of the Saronic Gulf, was the ideal location for a port connecting Corinth to the eastern trading routes. Nowadays, you can relax on the small beach and explore the ruins -part of them is underwater- of the artificial pier, warehouses, an ancient temple of Egyptian goddess Isis and an early Christian church.

Last but not least, a visit to Ancient Corinth is not complete if you’re not visiting Acrocorinth, since this was an inseparable part of the ancient city. Acrocorinth is the citadel on the huge rocky hill overseeing the ancient city. It was the fortified acropolis for ancient and medieval Corinth. It’s definitely a highlight near ancient Corinth, where you can hike, explore ancient ancient ruins, medieval churches, mosques, cisterns. If you want to know more about Acrocorinth check out this post.