Loutraki

Loutraki is a seaside resort on the Gulf of Corinth, about 80 kilometres west of Athens and only a short drive from Corinth across the isthmus. Its name comes from the Greek word for baths, and with good reason: the town is regarded as the home of Greek thermalism, its warm mineral springs prized since antiquity for their therapeutic waters.

The long seafront is the heart of town life. A wide promenade runs beside a pebble beach and clear water, backed by cafes, tavernas and hotels, with the mountains of the Perachora peninsula rising across the bay. In the evening the front fills with strollers, and the bottled spring water that carries the town's name is served everywhere. The historic thermal spa and hydrotherapy centre remains the classic reason to visit, offering mineral baths and treatments a short step from the sea.

Loutraki also has a reputation for entertainment: it is home to one of Europe's largest casinos, and the town has drawn weekend visitors from Athens for generations. Yet it stays relaxed and family-friendly, more a place to unwind than to party.

The surroundings reward a little exploring. West along the peninsula lies the beautiful Lake Vouliagmeni, a calm saltwater lagoon good for swimming, and beyond it the lonely Heraion of Perachora, an ancient sanctuary set on a headland by a small lighthouse. Inland, the monastery of Osios Patapios clings to the mountainside above the town, reached by a long stair and repaid with a huge panorama over the gulf.

Because it sits so close to the isthmus, Loutraki pairs naturally with Corinth: many travellers combine the canal, the ancient city and Acrocorinth with a night here by the water. It makes an easy, restful first or last stop on a Peloponnese trip, close enough to Athens for a simple transfer yet firmly relaxed in mood.