Portoheli as a destination in the Argolis is synonymous with luxury and opulence.

Together with the individual settlements of the area, such as Ermioni or Petrothalassa, it is the jewel of the area. A walk along the coastal promenade overlooking the marina with the luxury boats will surely convince you.

Portoheli is of course suitable mainly as a summer destination and rightly so, since it has some of the most beautiful beaches of the Argolis. Some of the most famous are Ververonda with its pebbles, Hinitsa with its sandy beach and the various small beaches around Agios Emilianos.

The wider area consists of a lacy coastline with countless small coves and numerous, magnificent organized or more deserted beaches, suitable for all tastes. Portoheli exudes a cosmopolitan atmosphere that is reflected in the impressive villas of its rich and famous vacationers.

What many do not know is that Portoheli also has a rich archaeological interest with a history of thousands of years. The skeleton of perhaps the oldest human in Europe was found here. We are of course referring to the Franghthi cave, which is one of the few places in Greece where traces of habitation from the Paleolithic period, i.e. 20,000 BC, have been found. The cave is large and impressive, although access is relatively difficult − the path that starts from Lampagianna beach and climbs up the rock requires climbing, but the experience is worth it. The finds from the excavations that took place in the cave are today in the Archaeological Museum of Nafplion.

In Portoheli was also the ancient city ‘Fishermen’, a city that was at its height in the 5th century BC. A large part of the ancient city is today under the sea, quite shallow, so it can be seen with a simple dip.

Some more beautiful places that are definitely worth a visit are the picturesque fishing village of Koilada, 13 kilometers from Porto Heli. Koilada is a quiet seaside village with cafes and tavernas. The village has a rich shipbuilding tradition, with shipyards that operate normally to this day. The Koilada marsh is a protected wetland, which hosts a multitude of migratory birds every autumn.

In the area there is also the beautiful Katafyki canyon, suitable for hiking, but also the ‘Dolines’ in the area of Gemini. This is an impressive geological phenomenon, two giant craters created by water erosion, and look from the inside like caves without a roof. The legend says that the small cave is the well-known cave of the Cyclops Polyphemus, from’ where Odysseus and his companions escaped.

As we have already seen, the area is mainly suitable for the summer months, therefore mainly for a holiday home. The fact that most coastal settlements in the area do not have a water supply network and the residents are served by using private tanks and water trucks contributes to this. During the winter months, the coastal settlements are quiet, the landscape changes, but the charm of this area remains.

In Portoheli one can find all the basic shops for everyday needs as well as several entertainment options. There is even a medical center which covers the immediate needs of the wider area. About 1,500 residents live here permanently.