Is the Corinth Canal Overrated? Here’s My Honest Opinion

2025-03-28

Corinth Canal: Must-See or Skip? Is the Corinth Canal worth seeing? After all, what’s so interesting about this sea crossing between the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf?

That’s exactly the question I asked myself on my last trip to the Peloponnese.

And since it was close by, I decided to go there to find out why this place is one of the most visited in Greece!

The fact that it took 2,500 years to build must have helped make the canal so famous, as it was started by the emperor Nero, but only finished in 1893.

I can assure you of one thing: by the end of this article, you’ll know what I think, i.e. whether or not the Corinth Canal is worth seeing. And I also promise you that I won’t say “it depends”! Is that it?

People crossing the Corinth Canal on foot.

What is the Corinth Canal?

The Corinth Canal is an artificial passage that connects the Aegean Sea to the Ionian Sea, separating the Peloponnese peninsula from mainland Greece.

The idea of connecting the Gulf of Corinth to the Aegean Sea already existed in antiquity, but was only realized in the 19th century.

So, the ancient Greeks were the first to try to make this connection and even Emperor Nero began excavations, but the project never went ahead.

The canal was only completed in 1893, making navigation much faster by avoiding the loop around the Peloponnese.

It is about 6 km long and has impressive rocky walls, creating a unique landscape.

The final part of the construction of the Corinth Canal was between 1881 and 1893.

What are the best places to see the Corinth Canal?

There are three main points from which you can get the best views of the Corinth Canal.

The road bridge on the main road (between Athens and Loutraki) offers the best view, in my opinion.

However, as I suffer from vertigo, I have to confess that I had a hard time staying calm when the bridge was shaking with cars passing by.

There is also a viewpoint on the right-hand side if you have problems with heights, as well as a tourist office where you can get information about the canal.

In addition, there are the submersible bridges at Isthmia and Posidonia, which are much lower and where you can see the mechanism that sinks for the boats to pass.

In other words, for the boats to pass, at both ends of the Corinth Canal, there are two points that sink.

Finally, another way to see the Corinth Canal is on boat trips, which allow you to cross the canal and see its rocky walls from a different perspective.

These tours leave from the port of Isthmia, but only take place in summer.

West Submersible Bridge of Corinth's Isthmus. — West Submersible Bridge of Corinth’s Isthmus.

Is the Corinth Canal worth a visit? My honest opinion!

Yes, it’s worth it!

The Corinth Canal is an impressive feat of engineering and history.

What’s more, the view from the bridges is spectacular, with the steep rocky walls descending almost 80 meters to the blue water.

You can also see boats crossing the canal, which gives you a real sense of its size.

So yes, I recommend that you include the Corinth Canal in your itinerary in Greece.

Everything you need to know before visiting the Corinth Canal

Where is it and how to get there?

The Corinth Canal is located in Greece, connecting the Gulf of Corinth to the Saronic Gulf, i.e. it separates the Peloponnese peninsula from the rest of Greece.

The best way to get to the Corinth Canal is by car, and from Loutraki you can expect to travel 6 km or 75 km from Athens, the country’s capital.

If you’re in Athens and would prefer to join a tour to visit not only the Cal of Corinth but other places nearby, here are my top suggestions:

👉 Do you need to rent a car in Corinth? I always use Discovercars!

Corinth Canal, near the Gulf of Corinth.

Do you have to pay to see the Corinth Canal?

No, there’s no ticket required—seeing the Corinth Canal is completely free.

Are there boat trips through the canal? And are they worth it?

Yes, boat tours run through the canal, giving you a close-up view of its towering walls. But I can’t personally say if they’re worth it—I haven’t had the chance to take one yet.

Not because I don’t want to, but simply because these tours only operate in the summer!

Are there bridges where you can stop to take pictures?

Yes, there are bridges across the Corinth Canal where you can stop to take pictures.

At either end of the canal, there are the Isthmia and Posidonia underwater bridges, and more or less in the middle of the canal, there is the road bridge, i.e. the road that connects Athens to Loutraki.

Is the canal still used for commercial navigation?

Yes, but only for small and tourist boats crossing the Corinth Canal.

This is because the canal is only 21 meters wide, which is too narrow for large international ships.

However, even with this limitation, around 11,000 boats cross the Corinth Canal every year.

What is the story behind its construction?

As I mentioned earlier, the idea of building the Corinth Canal originated in antiquity, but only came to fruition in the 19th century.

The first plans date back to the 6th century BC, when the tyrant Periander thought of connecting the Gulf of Corinth to the Aegean Sea, but ended up building only a stone road to transport boats overland.

Despite the Romans, including Julius Caesar and Nero, tried to start the work, they abandoned it due to technical difficulties.

The canal was finally dug between 1881 and 1893, becoming an important route for small ships and a tourist attraction.

Is it possible to go bungee jumping on the canal?

Yes, next to the road bridge there is a company that organizes bungee jumping.

Are there other points of interest near the canal that are worth visiting?

Yes, near the Corinth Canal I recommend visiting Ancient Diolkos, the ancient city of Corinth, with the impressive Temple of Apollo, as well as the city of Loutraki, the Vouliagmen Lagoon and the archaeological site of Heraion in Perachora.