In this blogpost we are visiting Kalamata in Greece. It belongs to the Messenia Region of the Peleponnese peninsula. When you hear Kalamata, you probably think about the famous olives. That’s right, they are from here, but Kalamata has so much more to offer in and around the city. Amazing beaches, stunning sea villages and some really great food.
But how to get to Kalamata? Kalamata is located on the Peloponnese peninsula in Southern Greece and it’s the second most populous city in the region after Patras.
Kalamata does have a small international airport with services from various places in Europe. The other option and the one we choose was to fly to Athens, rent a car and drive the roughly 260 km. The roads are very well maintained so it will only take you two and a half hours. There are some interesting sites on the way though. The first one being the Corinth Canal, an artificial canal built in the end of the 19th century. Breath-taking views and if you are a dare-devil, you can do bungy-jumping here.
The second stop we made on our road-trip to Kalamata was the Archaeological site of Mycenae. A fantastic archaeological site from the 12th century BC, set amongst some beautiful mountains with great views. The famous Lion’s Gate can be found here.
In the second millennium BC, Mycenae was one of the major centres of Greek civilisation, a military stronghold which dominated much of southern Greece.
1. Kalamata Castle
It’s a ruined medieval fortress where the present structure dates to the 13th century, being built by the Crusaders who founded the Principality of Achaea. It replaced an earlier Byzantine castle. The castle was largely destroyed in 1685, after being captured by the Venetians. The site offers some great views over the city. There is a small, contemporary amphitheatre which offers occasional concerts. The entry fee is €2.
2. Almiros Beach
It offers a relaxed vibe and is not very touristic. Sunbeds are free if you order anything from the beach bar. The beach consists of larger pebbles but becomes sandy 3-4 meters into the water. Here you will also find Thalassa Sports that are renting out kayaks, stand up paddle boards, paddle boats and more. There prices are really good, we rented a kayak for 1 hour for only 10 euros. The next day I tried Stand Up Paddle for the same price. A peaceful beach with crystal clear water and great views with the mountains in the background.
3. Poseidon Ocean View – Kalamata
For dinner tonight we are going to one of the top restaurants along the waterfront in Kalamata. Number 3 on our list is Poseidon Ocean View. An awarded seafood restaurant under the direction of Chef Demetrios Pyliotis. They also have a sister restaurant in Miami, Florida.
We start off with a Prawn Salad. Followed by their Grouper Ceviche. And as the main we share the Holy Mountain Seafood Pasta. Super tasty food in a beautiful spot. Service was friendly and quick. The bill came to 75 euros.
4. Kalamata Outdoor Cinema
After dinner we head into town and visit Kalamata’s Outdoor Cinema. A beautiful summer cinema in the middle of the city. Comfy chairs with tables and good variety of snacks and drinks. The quality of the picture and audio was perfect. There are one or two showings per night and you buy your tickets in the entrance.
5. Foneas Beach
It’s a new day in Kalamata and today we are driving out of the city to visit a couple of spots along the coastline. First stop and number 5 on our list is Foneas Beach. A spectacular beach made up of large round stones. There is a small bar at the top which serves drinks, snacks and souvlaki for lunch. Really enjoyable.
6. To Pefkaki Restaurant
A favourite restaurant around Kalamata with really good ingredients, classical greek dishes cooked very well. Great seafood and moderate prices. We are having a Greek salad to start. And of course with plenty of Kalamata Olive oil. A grilled octopus leg together with tyrokafteri, a spicy fetadip. You can’t go wrong with grilled prawns squeezed with lemon. As a complimentary dessert we got a slice of orange cake.
7. Kalamata Railway Park
If you or your kids love old trains, the Railway Park is a must see. Stretching all the way from the Marina to the main pedestrian shopping street this complex includes engines and rolling stock from the Grecian Age of Steam. A little run down, it is past its heyday of the ‘80’s which only means there won’t be crowds. The passenger station has been converted to a snack bar; there are playgrounds for the kids and some nice monuments.
8. Kastraki – kalamata
Now it’s time for a really cool spot in Kalamata called Kastraki. A really special bar and restaurant located on the steep hillside facing the city of Kalamata. For the best sunset view, you have to come to this place! It’s really something special.
You come here for the amazing views. The drinks were good, but the food we tried was not something special.
9. Palaia Traditional Restaurant
Next day we drive 30 minutes south of Kalamata. Our first stop is the small town Kardamyli. Beautiful stone houses and a relaxing vibe. Located in the old town of Kardamyli, it has great location and many excellent reviews. The menu features many traditional dishes. We received this cucumber and olive mix as an appetizer, together with a cold beer. This is agreen bean salad with figs, local cheese and pine nuts. Some toasted bread with tomato and feta cheese. And this is their speciality, Rooster cooked in tomato sauce with pasta. We took a quick look in the kitchen. Super friendly staff with great service. The bill came to 43 euros. This is a great place to visit! My favourite.
10. Ritsa Beach
5 minutes from the restaurant you will find this beach. A natural white pebble beach with great crystal clear water. There are sunbeds available and a café in the back. We really enjoyed this beach as it’s not very crowded.
11. Limeni
We travel 60 minutes further south and arrive to the magical village Limeni, this is number 11 on our list. They have some really great and modern bars and restaurants, like this one here where we had a glass of wine.
Close to Limeni lies the town Aeropoli. After a quick bite at Poti’s Grill, the we continue our day trip to
our final destination.
12. Caves of Diros
Parts of the caves are also covered with water and you can go for a boat ride in these parts of the cave system. Unfortunately it was sold out when we visited so make sure to book early ahead of your visit to make sure to get some tickets. These caves are a true work of nature. It has taken hundred of thousands of years to form these caves. Fossilised bones from panthers, hyenas, lions and deer, and the largest deposit of hippo bones in Europe, have been found in the cave.
Local people have known of cave’s existence since about 1900. But in 1949, when cave explorers Giannis and Anna Petrocheilou began to explore it systematically no one suspected the miracle that was hidden inside the cave.
That’s all from Kalamata, I hope you got some inspiration and enjoyed this blogpost!
See our YouTube video from Kalamata here:
