The Kastania cave.

© Heracles Kritikos/Shutterstock

Kastania Cave

Top choice


The extraordinary Kastania Cave, located at the end of a spectacularly winding 13km route northeast of Neapoli, contains some of the best examples of rare stalactites and stalagmites in Europe, estimated to be around 3 million years old. Guided tours in English depart hourly; as you walk around a raised and lit 3km circuit, guides are quick to point out octopuses, exotic plants and otherworldly creatures cast in stone. Call ahead to check hours, as they vary seasonally.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

2. Petrified Forest

7.28 MILES

Amateur geologists will appreciated the petrified forest, an expanse of trees fossilised several million years ago. It's located on the coast around 16km…

3. Monemvasia Archaeological Collection

10.47 MILES

This small museum housed in a former temple, Agios Andreas (596 AD), displays finds unearthed in the course of old town excavations, such as pottery from…

4. Kastro – Medieval Village

10.48 MILES

Almost wholly surrounded by ocean, Monemvasia's fortified medieval village is divided into the lower town, bisected by a main cobbled street lined with…

5. Agia Sofia

10.65 MILES

In a spectacular clifftop position in the upper town, this foursquare Byzantine church was built in the 12th century. Its interior is richly decorated…

6. Katouni Bridge

25.82 MILES

Supported by 13 arches and measuring 110m long, the largest stone bridge in Greece spans a shallow ravine on what's now a minor road, east of Livadi…

8. Archaeological Museum of Kythira

28.3 MILES

Hora’s impressive archaeological museum, beside the main road at the northern end of town, traces the history of ‘this small island’ in two rooms. Among…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "greece/lakonia/attractions/kastania-cave/a/poi-sig/1386643/1316577",
      "position": "superzone"
    }