Discover the Best Holidays in the Peloponnese!
The Peloponnese, celebrated for its enchanting waters and dotted with quaint villages and cities rich in history, is a destination you'll want to revisit time and time. With such a plethora of options, choosing your next adventure can be a delightful challenge. That's why we've handpicked five must-visit spots for you. Whether you're looking to dive into crystal-clear waters or stroll through picturesque towns, the Peloponnese, Greece’s largest peninsula, offers endless possibilities for unforgettable excursions.
Peloponnese: Hermione, a magical peninsula for a short escape
Holidays in Peloponnese: Pylos, Messinia
Pylos is that place where once you visit it, you will believe that you are really on an island even though you have not crossed the sea to reach it. Houses painted all white, with roofs of tiles surround its sheltered bay, while opposite it, stands Sfaktiria, the small island that invites you to discover it by boating. Niokastro, built by the Ottomans, overlooks the city from above, signing that the view from its walls will be more than magnificent, as long as you decide to go uphill to meet it.
However, Pylos is not only known for its long history, the Battle of Navarino took place in its waters during the revolution, but also for its wonderful beaches that will leave you impressed once you visit them. The dreamy Voidokilia, with its crystal clear, shallow turquoise waters and fine sand, is an unorganized earthly paradise, inviting you and your family to visit it along with your supplies. The organized sandy beach of Divari opposite the settlement of Gialova, as well as its homonymous beach, is waiting for you to dive enjoying the scenery out of a fairy tale.
In Gialova, apart from diving, you will also enjoy your meal, since its pedestrian street overlooking the sea has to offer you a variety of traditional taverns with fresh fish to choose from.
How to get to Pylos: Pylos is 275 km from Athens and in about three hours you will be there.
Gytheio, Laconia
Gythio exudes a special aura from the first moment you set foot on its territories. The ultimate combination of mountain and sea makes this city a destination that you should put on your excursion list. Paths carved from stone and neoclassical houses of the last century, give the necessary air of picturesqueness, in the former commercial port. Walked on the waterfront and south to find yourself through a small bridge to Marathonisi, where you will be able to admire up close the Tzanetakis Tower and the Lighthouse that served as the starting point of Paris' trip with the beautiful Eleni.
In Gytheio, apart from enjoyable walks, you will also take wonderful dives. On its northeastern side, at a distance of 7 km, you will find the fully organized Selinitsa with its blue flag-awarded waters, while right next to it, lies Glyfada.
The absolute attraction of the area is the wreck of the ship "Dimitrios" which has been stranded on the beach since the early 1980s. Following the western direction on the map, you will find the
Mavrovouni, with its vast sandy beach and crystal clear waters. Along its length, there are Organized and unorganized spots to make your dives, while you will meet many lovers of wind-surfing, who prefer it because of the visit of the winds on its coast.
Good food in Gythio is more than a given. Its seaside taverns will offer you fresh fish and homemade stews, completing your summer travel experience
How to get to Gytheio:
Gythio is 260 km from the center of Athens, a route that will take about 3 hours to cover.
Holidays in Peloponnese: Leonidio, Arcadia
Leonidio, a small, almost isolated town, among its cosmopolitan neighbors, is a place that also functions as a retreat for the traveler. With one side surrounded by rocks in shades of red and the other facing the sea, the wild landscape of Leonidio will enchant you at first sight. Walking in its alleys you will admire mansions and towers of past centuries, while the Christian tradition is reflected in the appearance of its monasteries built on the slopes of the mountain.
Leonidio as a coastal settlement, has coasts popular for their crystal clear waters, which offer a relaxing rejuvenation in mid-summer. The beach of Fokianos with its verdant landscape and blue waters, is the beach that will leave you speechless. Along the pebbled beach, you will find organized and unorganized sections, which manage to stay as a hidden secret away from the crowds. Plaka, on the other hand, is the most famous beach in the area, covered with pebbles and clear waters, which in places are quite cold, has full organization making it the ideal choice for a wonderful swim.
Leonidio is famous for the Tsakonian eggplants that grow on its soil, so at one of your food stops choose a dish that contains them to try.
How to get to Leonidio: Athens is 210 km from Leonidio, and with a three-hour trip you will manage to reach your destination.
Kardamili, Messinia
Well, Kardamili has a scenery that seems to have come out of the pages of a magazine. Stone streets and houses that seem to belong to another era compose such an idyllic atmosphere that you will not want to stop enjoying the view. With just 10 10-minute walk you will find yourself in the Old Town, where the famous towers stand proudly over the centuries, you can visit the one that now serves as a museum and small stone churches.
In Kardamili, however, you will also find beaches where you will dive that will be unforgettable. Foneas with its impressive rocks, sandy Delfinia (both have a canteen), but also the famous Ritsa, with its partly organized, are the beaches where you should swim and enjoy their unique waters.
How to get to Kardamyli: Athens is separated from Kardamili by a distance of 300 km, which will take you a little less than 4 hours to cover.
Methana, Argolida
This is the place where its morphology will exert an unparalleled charm. The volcano with thirty craters, the acropolis of the 3rd century BC, and the castle with the four turrets will enchant you with the archaeological significance of this verdant place, full of destinations waiting for you to explore on foot. Methana of course is famous for its thermal springs, so do not miss the opportunity to indulge in thalassotherapy.
The peninsula of Methana also has unique beaches, organized or without amenities, so you can enjoy your dives. The organized Limnionas, with its crystal clear waters and green environment, and Nissaki (Agioi Anargyroi), which is connected to Methana through a narrow landline, but also the unorganized Palaiokastro and Agios Nikolaos, are water diamonds that you need to dive during your stay.
The taverns of the area guarantee you a delicious meal. Prefer to try fish soup or shrimp pasta, made from fresh fish and seafood
How to get to Methana: Methana is 160 km away from Athens via the Athens-Corinth highway and it will take you a little less than three hours to reach your destination.
The summer weather requires regular short trips for rest and coolness. Choose one of the above destinations and pack your bags.
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