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I am, later this year, going on a cruise that will go to ancient Olympia in Greece.

My cruise line's website claims that no professional photo and video equipment is allowed in the site of ancient Olympia.

I cannot find any information about that anywhere else on the Internet. Is this information even at all accurate? What exactly is "professional photo and video equipment"? Does a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera already count as such?

The same web page also claims that no large bags are allowed there; is this true, and what counts as a large bag?

I do not want to ask my cruise line because I am probably not going to book their excursions; there seems to be a train line that is much cheaper. So any rules imposed by the cruise line would not apply to me.

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    I would take that to mean tripods, lights, remote flash systems, etc. A camera on a strap around your neck is standard tourist stuff.
    – Jon Custer
    Commented Mar 17, 2023 at 20:57
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    I've also seen previously that "big lenses" can be considered "professional". When the description is so vague, it's anyones guess as to what the mean.
    – Peter M
    Commented Mar 17, 2023 at 23:07
  • not specific to Olympia, but I've never anywhere had problems carrying 1-2 (D)SLRs with multiple lenses. Helps that I don't act like a nuisance and push people aside to get the ideal shot, I don't block paths with tripods, etc. etc.
    – jwenting
    Commented Mar 20, 2023 at 8:52
  • The requirement on large bags will also be relevant: a small mirrorless camera and modest lens will fit in a small camera bag, handbag, etc, but if you need a large rucksack or suitcase, you've got too much. Definitions of large bag are very vague, but if they don't have a specific rule it may mean anything bulky or obstructive or likely to swing around and smash into stuff - small handbag, cross-body bag, or bum bag OK, 40 litre rucksack or wheeled case not so good, other rucksacks a judgment call.
    – Stuart F
    Commented Mar 20, 2023 at 15:11
  • I am commenting on my own post to add the information that the train line I referred to in the last paragraph ended up not running at the time I would have needed, so I ended up travelling from Katakolon to ancient Olympia with a bus tour that was (very prominently) offered by a company in Katakolon.
    – wonderbear
    Commented May 23, 2023 at 11:13

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Now that my cruise is over, I can answer my own question.

I went in with an APS-C mirrorless camera, only empty SD cards (leaving those with already taken photos on the ship so no one would be able to delete them or force me to) and two lenses, one standard-zoom, one ultra-wide-angle. I took lots of photos both in the archeological site and the museum, and nobody told me not to do that or otherwise attempted to stop me from doing anything I did there. I saw other tourists with similar equipment too.

I did spot a sign that said that commercial/professional photography was not allowed (it did not seem to talk about equipment per se). This is of course very common and usually refers to outright filming music videos, movies, advertisements on the site, which an ordinary tourist has no interest in.

So the answer to the question is that there is nothing to seriously worry about.

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  • as is common in most historical sites and museums I've ever visited. And I tend to carry a LOT more photographic equipment around than that, including 4-5 lenses, a monopod or small tripod, sometimes even more than one camera. Never had trouble, only once or twice been asked (politely) if I were there professionally and on stating no left alone.
    – jwenting
    Commented May 23, 2023 at 11:15
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It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, they are very careful at the site and officials can simply do whatever they want "because there are rules", and they not always explain why they do things, but if you don't break any big rules: like sitting on archaeological items like walls and pillars you are safe. =)

In this review you can read about a good experience of someone being there with a camera, you can also see in the pictures (6th picture) she has a large camera with her.

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    Did you post the wrong link? There's no cameras in any of the photos, only a water bottle. And getting pictures deleted by officials, making the kid cry isn't exactly a "good experience".
    – user71659
    Commented Mar 30, 2023 at 19:27

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