The Corinth Canal

At the gateway to the Peloponnese, about 80 kilometers / 50 miles from Athens, the Corinth Canal is a truly remarkable technical feat: a passage carved through the rock of the Isthmus of Corinth, connecting the Aegean Sea and the Ionian Sea.

In short, it’s a must-see stop for any visitor passing through the Peloponnese! ⛵

👌 Captain Ulysses’ Recommendations: If you plan to explore the Peloponnese from Athens, Captain Ulysses highly recommends these two day trips, each making stops at the Corinth Canal, Mycenae, Nafplio, and Epidaurus:
– Very affordable excursion with audio guide
– Excursion with a professional guide
It’s the perfect option for exploring the Peloponnese on a day trip from Athens without any logistical hassle!

A Brief History of the Corinth Canal

The origins of the Corinth Canal

A wooden road (later transformed into a paved road with guide ruts) was built as early as the 7th century B.C. to allow ships to glide across the Isthmus of Corinth and avoid a 400-kilometer detour along the coast of the Peloponnese.

In 67 AD, the Emperor Nero was the first to start building a canal between the Saronic Gulf (in the Aegean Sea) and the Gulf of Corinth (in the Ionian Sea). But his project was very expensive and was therefore abandoned when the Emperor died.

The construction of the Corinth Canal

Fast forward to the 19th century: 18 centuries after Nero’s project, the idea of digging a canal through the Isthmus of Corinth finally resurfaced. Inspired by the construction of the Suez Canal, Istvan Türr, a Hungarian-born general who became a naturalized Italian, joined forces with French banker Jacques de Reinach to found the International Corinth Canal Company, with the backing of the Greek government.

But the work turned out to be much longer and more expensive than the investors had anticipated, and the company went bankrupt. Luckily, a Greek company, constituted by the banker and philanthropist Andréas Syngrós, took over the project and brought it to completion.

The Corinth Canal was inaugurated on July 25, 1893 in the presence of King George I of Greece, over 10 years after the beginning of the works.

Short description of the Corinth Canal

Dug through the Isthmus of Corinth, the canal connects the Aegean Sea, in the east, to the Ionian Sea, in the west. Since the Canal was built, the Peloponnese is technically no longer a peninsula but an island in its own right.

The Corinth Canal is about 6.3 kilometers/3.7 miles long and 24.60 meters/79 feet wide. The canal is therefore quite narrow as well as shallow (8 meters/26 feet deep) and can only be used by small boats. The trench is 52 meters/170 feet high at its highest point.

Visiting the Corinth Canal

The view of the Corinth Canal

Perched above the canal, a bridge is accessible to pedestrians and allows visitors to admire the view. Unfortunately, the surroundings are not very well maintained and the bridge can get quite crowded: be prepared, the experience can be a little disappointing.

To avoid the crowds, you can opt for another viewpoint: go to Isthmia, a small village nestled at the eastern end of the Canal. The panorama is less spectacular but you’ll be surrounded by much less tourists and you’ll be able to discover the submersible bridge which joins the two banks of the canal!

Cruises on the Corinth Canal

As an accomplished sailor, Captain Ulysses never says no to a boat ride! ⛵

If the majority of tourists are content to visit the Corinth Canal on foot, cruises also offer the possibility to sail on the canal. It’s perfect to discover the Corinth Canal away from the crowds.

👉 For more information: One-day excursion from Athens with a cruise on the Corinth Canal

Bungee jumping at the Corinth Canal

Attention, all thrill seekers! The provider Zulu Bungy offers the possibility to bungee jump over the Corinth Canal.

👉 For more information, click here: Bungee Jumping over the Corinth Canal.

Getting to the Corinth Canal

To get to the Corinth Canal, three possibilities:

Renting a car: the best option if you wish to visit freely the Canal and its surroundings. To book your rental car, Captain Ulysses recommends Rentalcars.

The bus: by far the cheapest option, but also a bit of a logistical hassle. For more information on schedules and rates, click here.

Organized tours: This is the option Captain Ulysses recommends if you don’t want to drive and prefer to avoid public transportation.
Captain Ulysses recommends two day trips, each making stops at the Corinth Canal, Mycenae, Nafplio, and Epidaurus:
– Very affordable excursion with audio guide
– Excursion with a professional guide

What to see and do around the Corinth Canal?

You”ll find plenty of iconic tourist attractions in the vicinity of the Corinth Canal. The Captain recommends exploring:

Ancient Corinth and the Acrocorinth: about twenty minutes from the Corinth Canal, the archaeological site of Ancient Corinth invites visitors to go back in time to discover one of the great Greek cities of antiquity.

Epidaurus: known for its wonderfully preserved ancient theater, the site of Epidaurus is also the cradle of medicine.

Mycenae: perched on a hill, Mycenae is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece.

Nafplio: a historical city nestled on the seashore. It’s a great spot from which to explore the Peloponnese and combine cultural visits, relaxation and sports activities.

If you’re planning on spending a few days in the Peloponnese, the Captain also recommends you going to Monemvasia, Mystras and Olympia.

Staying near the Corinth Canal: hotels & accommodation

If you wish to spend a night in Corinth, you will find here a selection of quality hotels and accommodation. But Captain Ulysses advises you to continue on your way and stop a little further on:

• Or in Ancient Epidaurus, near the archaeological site of Epidaurus: more info here
• Or in the charming port town of Nafplio: more info here