Kalamata

Tired of the usual Greek islands? It’s time to discover Kalamata, a jewel of mainland Greece that boasts beautiful beaches worthy of more famous resorts.

This small town in the shadow of the great Taygetos Oros mountain range overlooks a wide gulf along which wide sandy shores and tiny rocky coves alternate. It is not yet famous, but we are sure it will become so because it has all the ingredients to be a successful tourist resort.

Here you come in search of an authentic Greece, with deserted beaches, villages where you can find just a few taverns and a couple of souvenir shops, and a typical product that has brought Greece to tables all over the world (does ‘Kalamata olives’ ring a bell?).

Don’t wait to go: we are sure you will fall in love!

Things to do in Kalamata

Set against a scenic natural backdrop between a wide gulf and the mountains behind it, Kalamata is a pretty little town with a quaint old centre, a castle in the middle of the sea, a pleasant seafront promenade, a city park where old and new model trains are on display and two museums not to be missed.

In the heart of Kalamata is the interesting Archaeological Museum of Messinia, which in a labyrinthine itinerary displays artefacts from the entire region: sculptures, ceramics, jewellery, votive and funerary objects and other exhibits from the Mycenaean, Classical, Hellenic and Byzantine periods.

This interactive museum is located on the site where the town market used to be held: the market building was destroyed in the 1986 earthquake and a new museum building was constructed in its place.

The other museum to visit in the centre of Kalamata is the Military Museum, interesting for those who want to learn more about Greek history from the Turkish occupation to the 21st century.

Having survived the earthquake, the fortress that dominates the city from above, built in the 13th century, is the perfect place to take panoramic photos or seek some peace.

Where to stay in Kalamata

Although tourism development is recent, a good number of hotels have already sprung up in the area, including some luxury hotels with dreamy infinity pools, and the romantic atmosphere of the area has become the location for one of the most famous cinematic love stories of recent years.

Recommended hotels in Kalamata

We offer a selection of hotels at Kalamata to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Kalamata, sorted by number of reviews.

Apartments and vacation homes in Kalamata

If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Kalamata. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Kalamata are in high demand.

Beaches in and around Kalamata

Kalamata is an ideal destination for those dreaming of a beach holiday because the area is full of beautiful beaches still untouched by mass tourism.

Uncrowded and wild-looking, the beaches of Kalamata and Messinia in general are a secret that, we suspect, will not last long: we are sure that word will spread of their beauty and that they will soon become a popular destination (Kalamata has already become a stopover on several cruises…)

Take advantage of this before the authentic atmosphere of these places is lost: book your holiday in Kalamata now!

Here, in our opinion, are the three most beautiful beaches in Messinia:

• Kolopanas, near Petrochori
• Glossa, frequented by naturists
• Voikokilia: the most beautiful beach in Messinia, about 40 km from Kalamata, between the sea and the Gialova lagoon. It has a curious, almost circular shape, which is why it is also called the ‘cow’s navel beach’.

How to get to Kalamata

Kalamata has an international airport, but there are only a few direct flights. To get to Kalamata one option is to fly to Athens and then take a direct train, or take a ferry to Patras and then a train to Kalamata.

Curiosities

The olives of Kalamata

The city of Kalamata gave its name to one of the most famous Greek products in the world: the famous Kalamata olives, considered one of the best types of olives in the world.

Distinctly black-purple in colour (there is no green Kalamata olive), they have an elongated shape and juicy flesh. They are excellent on their own as an aperitif, a must-have in any Greek salad or tasty stir-fried with a little chopped parsley.

Apart from excellent olive oil, of course, other typical products of the Kalamata area are figs, fresh and dried.

Kalamata Before Midnight

A curiosity for lovers of film-themed holidays: the Messinia region was the location for the film ‘Before Midnight‘, the third (and last?) chapter of the romantic saga starring Julie Delphi and Ethan Hawke in which the protagonists, Céline and Jesse, overcome a love crisis during a holiday in Greece.

The airport seen at the beginning of the film is actually Kalamata airport, while the hotel where an important scene of the film takes place is the West Inn Resort Costa Navarino.

Apparently, the actors were regulars at the Barbouni Beach Bar, an elegant seafood restaurant overlooking the beach: if you want, try passing by there to spot some celebrities or some turtles coming to the beach to lay their eggs. Should you go wrong, the breathtaking view will not make you regret having come this far.