
The frightening and dizzying road to Kyparissi in Greece
Greece, europe
14.6 km
N/A
moderate
Year-round
Kyparissi is a tiny coastal gem tucked away in one of the most remote corners of the Peloponnese, perched on Laconia's northeastern shore in Greece. And fair warning: the road getting there is absolutely wild.
This scenic, nail-biting drive winds through the mountains with countless hairpin turns and impossibly narrow sections. The entire 14.6 km (9.07 miles) stretch from Lampokampos is fully paved, but here's the catch—it clings to the mountainside for miles without guardrails in places. If you're scared of heights, seriously, just focus on the road ahead and maybe don't look down. The combination of sheer cliffs, plunging ravines, and zero safety barriers? That's exactly what's kept Kyparissi so beautifully untouched and isolated.
Built back in the 1960s, the road includes a small Byzantine church right at the entrance to the sea—honestly, it's the perfect spot to pull over, catch your breath, say a little prayer (or a lot of them), and psych yourself up for the final twenty minutes of white-knuckle driving.
The payoff? One of Greece's most spectacular villages, so pristine it feels like you've stepped back in time. It's even caught the attention of some famous visitors—George W. Bush, Prince Charles, and Princess Diana all vacationed here. So yes, the drive is intense, but Kyparissi itself? Totally worth the adrenaline rush.
Where is it?
The frightening and dizzying road to Kyparissi in Greece is located in Greece (europe). Coordinates: 39.6964, 21.7982
Road Details
- Country
- Greece
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 14.6 km
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 39.6964, 21.7982
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