Just inside the entrance, the Palaestra is the most photogenic part of Olympia: a square courtyard of the third century BC, ringed by a Doric colonnade, many of whose columns have been re-erected. Around it were rooms for undressing, oiling, bathing and teaching — this is where wrestlers, boxers and jumpers trained.
To the north lies the much larger Gymnasium of the second century BC, a vast open court with a covered track as long as the stadium, where runners and javelin and discus throwers practised. Athletes had to train under the eyes of the judges for a month before the Games; this is where they did it. South of the Palaestra is the Leonidaion, the grand guesthouse built for distinguished visitors.
What to see at Palaestra & Gymnasium
Walk the Palaestra colonnade
Follow the rows of columns around the courtyard; in the north-east corner, look for the ribbed stone floor thought to have been used for wrestling practice or bathing.
Trace the Gymnasium
Its eastern colonnade ran for about a stade and sheltered runners in bad weather. The remains are low, but the scale is impressive.
See the Leonidaion
Built around 330 BC and paid for by Leonidas of Naxos, it housed officials and honoured guests; the Romans later remodelled it around a garden and pool.
How to get to Palaestra & Gymnasium
- On site: the first monuments you reach after the entrance, on the western side of the site.
Insider tips
- The best photographs are along the colonnade in the soft light of early morning.
- Stand in the courtyard and try the VR tour here: it restores the roofs and walls around you.
Best tours & tickets for Palaestra & Gymnasium
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Palaestra & Gymnasium with context:
Self-guided VR from €25 Olympia: The Famous VR Glasses Tour with Audio Guide
The best-reviewed experience at Olympia. Hold up the VR glasses at marked points around the site and the ruins in front of you are rebuilt as they looked in antiquity, while an audio guide tells the story. The site entry ticket is usually separate — check the listing.
- See 15 monuments reconstructed through VR glasses
- Multilingual audio commentary at your own pace
- The Temple of Zeus and Philippeion as they once stood
Private tour from €246 per group Private Guided Tour of Ancient Olympia
A private guided walk of almost two and a half hours through the Altis: the temples of Zeus and Hera, the treasuries, the workshop where Pheidias made his statue, and the stadium. Priced per group, so the more of you there are, the better the value.
- Private licensed guide for your group
- The sacred grove of Zeus and all its main buildings
- Priced per group (up to 7) — great for families
