Bus Hire in Sparta (Mystras)

Sparta sits in the broad Evrotas valley in Laconia, in the southern Peloponnese, with the wall of the Taygetos mountains rising to the west. The modern town has little left of the ancient warrior city, but it is the base for one of the great sights of medieval Greece, the Byzantine hill-city of Mystras just to the west, and the gateway to Monemvasia and the Mani beyond.

Because the famous sites sit a short way out of town and the routes south and east run through mountain and coast, coach work here is built around touring. A driver who knows the Taygetos passes and the approach to Mystras saves a group time on what are often full days out from a Sparta base.

Getting to Sparta

Sparta has no airport. Kalamata International (KLX) is the nearest at around 60 kilometres west over the Taygetos, about an hour and a quarter by coach, while Athens Airport is around 230 kilometres north-east, roughly three hours by way of Tripoli on the motorway. Most groups reach Sparta by coach as part of a Peloponnese tour, often arriving from Nafplio or Olympia.

Mystras

Mystras, around 6 kilometres west of the town on a spur of the Taygetos, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the highlight of any visit to Laconia. The Byzantine city climbs the hillside in tiers of churches, palaces, and the Despots' residence, up to the castle at the summit. There are two entrances, lower and upper, and coaches use the car parks at each; an experienced driver will drop a group at the upper gate to walk down through the site, which is much easier than the climb up.

Monemvasia, the Mani and the Valley

Two of the southern Peloponnese's best day trips run from Sparta. Monemvasia, the fortified rock-town on the east coast, is around 95 kilometres south-east, while the Mani peninsula with its tower-houses and the Diros caves opens up to the south through Gythio. Closer to home, the Menelaion, the olive and olive-oil museum in the town, and the mountain villages of the Taygetos give a touring group shorter half-day options.

Popular Day Trips from Sparta (Mystras)

What Bus Hire Costs in Sparta (Mystras)

As a rough guide, a minibus (up to 19 seats) in Sparta (Mystras) runs around 250 to 450 EUR per day, a midi-coach (around 35 seats) around 400 to 700 EUR per day, and a full-size coach (49 to 55 seats) around 600 to 1,100 EUR per day. Laconia is busiest from spring to autumn, when Mystras and the Mani touring season fill the calendar, so book ahead for those months. The final figure depends on your route, the date, and how long you need the vehicle and driver. We confirm a fixed price with no hidden charges, so send your exact details for a free quote.

Services Available in Sparta (Mystras)