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Katakolon (Olympia): when your ship stops here

The small port for Ancient Olympia: the sanctuary where the Games began, its museum, and the train that goes there on its own.

Facts checked Nov 3, 2026, each with its source. No prices on this page.

Katakolon (Katakolo) is a harbour village on the west coast of the Peloponnese, 11 km (7 miles) west of the town of Pyrgos, and a regular stop for cruise ships because it is the port for Ancient Olympia, 20 km (12 miles) beyond Pyrgos. Ships tie up at the pier beside the village, with the main street a short, flat walk away, and a railway station in the village links Katakolo with Pyrgos and Olympia.

Sources: Wikipedia: Katakolo; Wikipedia: Olympia, Greece; Adventour Begins (a cruise port guide site): Katakolon

Top 3 things to do

  1. 1. Ancient Olympia, the sanctuary

    The place where the ancient Olympic Games were held, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989. The Temple of Zeus was built in the middle of the 5th century BC and held the gold and ivory statue of Zeus by Pheidias, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World; the length of the stadium gave the ancient Greeks their unit of distance, the stadion.

    Tip: A cruise guide to the port says to allow 2 to 3 hours on the site, plus the travel each way.

    Sources: Wikipedia: Olympia, Greece; Adventour Begins (a cruise port guide site): Katakolon

  2. 2. The Archaeological Museum of Olympia

    Beside the site, with the finds from the sanctuary of Zeus: the Hermes of Praxiteles, the Nike of Paionios and the sculptures from the Temple of Zeus.

    Tip: Open daily: 8 in the morning to 8 in the evening from April to August, closing earlier through September and October, and 8.30 to 3.30 from November to March; last entry 20 minutes before closing. Closed on 1 January, 25 March, 1 May, Easter Sunday, 25 and 26 December.

    Sources: Hellenic Ministry of Culture: Archaeological Museum of Olympia; Hellenic Heritage: Archaeological Museum of Olympia

  3. 3. The train from Katakolo to Olympia

    Hellenic Train runs a Katakolo to Pyrgos to Olympia service, a 45 minute ride, from Monday to Saturday; the station is in the village.

    Tip: There is no train on Sunday, and the times are a download on Hellenic Train's page, not fixed to ship days: make sure a return train gets you back well before all aboard before you get on.

    Sources: Hellenic Train: Katakolo to Olympia; City of Pyrgos: the Katakolo to Olympia train; Wikipedia: Katakolo

What to skip

Before you go ashore

You do not have to book a tour: you are free to go ashore on your own. Royal Caribbean sets the all aboard time about 30 minutes before the ship sails, posts it near the gangway, and says the ship does not wait for guests touring on their own.

Source: Royal Caribbean FAQ: Do I need to book a shore excursion?

Back-to-backs that stop in Katakolon

Back-to-back cruises from these home ports have a stop in Katakolon, from the Royal Caribbean sailings we track:

Sources

Read on Nov 3, 2026. Opening days, hours and rules change: check with the place itself before you go. legtolegcruises.com is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Royal Caribbean International or any place named here.

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