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Patra

Greece's third-largest city, Patra is named after King Patreas who ruled Achaïa around 1100 BC. Little is evident of this busy port's 3000 years of history, during which it was an important trade centre under the Mycenaeans and the Romans. Though there's a gritty side to the city, it has attractive squares and lively pedestrian streets, and a great bar and restaurant scene filled with the young and the trendy.

Though most travellers come here to hop on a ferry or cross the Rio–Andirio suspension bridge, an engineering feat that links the city with western continental Greece, it's well worth spending a day or two, visiting Patra's wonderful castle and archaeological museum and making the most of the diverse eating choices and nightlife, fuelled by the presence of Patra’s 20,000 university students.

Explore Patra

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Patra.

  • Museum

    Archaeological Museum of Patras

    This fabulous museum should be shouting its existence from its space-age rooftop. Its exhibits comprise regional objects from prehistoric to Roman times…

  • Castle

    Kastro

    Patra's castle stands on the site of the acropolis of ancient Patrai. The Romans were the first to build a fort here around AD 550, but the present…

  • Church

    Church of Agios Andreas

    Seating 5500 people, this church is one of the largest in the Balkans. Tradition holds that the Romans crucified St Andrew here in Patra (on the diagonal…

  • Archaeological Site

    Roman Odeion

    Patra was an important Roman city and this brick-built odeion (small theatre), built in the 2nd century AD, is one of several remains scattered about the…

  • Theatre

    Apollon Theatre

    This nineteenth-century neoclassical theatre building designed by Ernst Ziller is a landmark on the main square of Patra.