Best things to do in Patras

The New Archaeological Museum of Patras is located in the city of Patras, Greece. It opened on July 24, 2009. The construction plans for the museum were initially announced by the then Minister of Culture, Melina Mercouri. However, the construction plans did not materialise until 2004.
Built on a 28,000m2 plot of land, with 8,000 square metres of interior spaces, it is the second-largest museum of Greece. The area surrounding the museum comprises a 500m2 pool, a shiny metallic dome and greenery. In the near future, the vacant land next to the museum will be turned into a cultural park.
It houses collections about the history of Patras and the surrounding area from prehistory to the end of Roman times. The museum was designed by the architect Mr. Theofanis Bobotis with an original cost of 21.5 million euros that ended up at a total of 25 million. It was originally planned to open in 2006, when Patras was the cultural capital of Europe, but despite the construction being ready, the structure remained empty, with the opening being delayed several times.
The museum has four thematic sections, three of which permanent and one periodic. From the three permanent, currently only two are open to the public with the third expected to be opened by the end of the year. The periodic section will be hosting various exhibitions around the year. According to the archaeologists of the 6th Antiquity Conservancy, the 70% of the items exhibited are seeing the light of day for the first time in the past thirty years. The museum is open daily from 8 am till 3 pm, except Monday; entrance is currently 4 euro (August 2011).
In all sections of the museum, there are projectors showing optical informative material, depending on the items exhibited.

Discover the beginnings of Western culture at Archaeological Museum of Olympia, built to house the constant stream of artifacts from ancient Olympia and located just across from an archeological site. The museum houses the Nike of Paeonius, depicted on the 2004 Summer Olympic medals; visit the statue and wonder at her flowing skirt and proud body. The arms and wings exist in pieces, but even the ruins serve as an impressive example of Greek artistry. Other artifacts range from the Archaic to the Roman period with terracotta, bronze, and sculptures. Consider combining the museum with a tour of the archeological site.

On my farm in Ancient Olympia, from which my grandparents made their living and today is the basis of my own agricultural activities, is where you will enjoy Greek hospitality.

You will walk into our cool and refreshing garden with trees and vegetables.

I will guide you through my private collection, where I will show you the secrets of honey production and other agricultural products from both past and present.

Finally, you will taste the products of my little farm and traditional sweets with honey from my bees which, with the help of my mother, will be prepared in front of you.

Klio the beekeeper

The Rio–Antirrio Bridge (Greek: Γέφυρα Ρίου–Αντιρρίου), officially the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge, is one of the world's longest multi-span cable-stayed bridges and longest of the fully suspended type. It crosses the Gulf of Corinth near Patras, linking the town of Rio on the Peloponnese peninsula to Antirrio on mainland Greece by road. It opened one day before the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics, on 12 August 2004, and was used to transport the Olympic flame.

Live the spirit of the Olympic Games at Archaeological Site of Olympia, the birthplace of the world's most popular sporting event. The site of the first Games, held in honor of Zeus, took place in this spot in 776 BCE. Remains of food and burnt offerings unearthed in the area show evidence of a long history of religious activity at the site, dating back to a period long before the first Games. The ancient sanctuary contains the ruins of temples dedicated to Zeus and Hera, an altar area made for sacrifices, and an alleged tomb of Pelops, a figure in Greek mythology. To see where the ancient world's top athletes trained and competed, take a guided walk around the ruins.