Kalamata in Greece is famous for its rich historical and mythological heritage, vast olive groves and of course, its beach. Kalamata Beach makes Kalamata the ideal destination for a seaside break, but that isn’t the only beach in the region. The Peloponnese in general can lay claim to some of the best beaches in Greece, so to make sure you don’t miss out, here are 10 of the best beaches in and around Kalamata!
This is a paid article written in partnership with Mythical Peloponnese, with products or services supplied by them. Full editorial integrity is maintained at all times. The views and opinions expressed are entirely the authors own based on personal experiences when travelling and are honest and factual without any bias.
The Peloponnese Peninsula has some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, with a largely untouched coastline, a backdrop of the magnificent Taygetus mountains and of course some of the deepest cerulean blue waters you have ever seen! So before you make a beeline for the world famous island beaches, you need to check out some of these lesser known Greek beaches that are just as stunning and often less crowded and touristy!
Starting from the scenic coastal city, Kalamata, here are some of the Peloponnese peninsula’s most epic, lesser known beaches that you can easily reach from the city.
Kalamata Beach.
Dominating the city centre of this picturesque coastal city is the Blue Flag certificated, yellow white sand of Kalamata Beach. The warm, shallow waters are perfect for swimming, water sports and families alike so there is something for everyone here which means it is popular, but its sheer size means it never really feels crowded, and it also means that there is a long, gentrified boardwalk filled with bars, restaurants, tavernas and shops that make for a chilled seaside experience during the day and a lively nightlife when the sun goes down.
Stoupa Beach.
A little further out from Kalimata, Stoupa beach is another family friendly haven with crystal clear, shallow waters teeming with sea life, and a gentrified esplanade full of little tavernas and cafes as well a some hotels and resorts.
Santova Beach.
Just a few kilometres from Kalamata Beach, Santova is the perfect laid back party beach! A mixture of pebbles and sand, there are a wide variety of beach bars and activities to choose from as well as regular organised beach parties.
Mikri Mantinia Beach.
Just a few kilometres from Kalimata Beach is the small seaside village of Mikri Mantinia, with views of the Taygetos mountain in the background and the picturesque beach making it a popular stop for travellers. Mikri Mantinia Beach has shallow, warm waters and a water park, as well as a lot of sunbeds, shops and tavernas lining the shore which make it a perfect beach for families or travellers with children.
Voidokilia Beach.
Probably the single most Instagrammed spot on the entire Peloponnese peninsula, with the spectacular Voidokilia beach making up the majority of the Gialova Lagoon, a designated nature protection area and special area of conservation under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. This is quite simply one of the most stunning beaches in Greece, period, and it is easy to spend the day snorkelling and just soaking in the beauty, and the sun, but just a short walk away at the southwest end of the beach in Nestor’s Cave. Nestor was the only son of King Pylos spared by Heracles, who later became King himself and appears in both the Iliad and the Odyssey. Above that is Pylos castle, where Hermes is said to have hidden the cattle he stole from Apollo. The real reason to come here though is the view, which takes in Voidokilia Bay, the Gialova lagoon, the Bay of Navarino, the Peloponnesian countryside and the city of Pylos.
Peroulia Beach.
Further out from Kalimata in Messinia, Peroulia Beach’s soft yellow sand is surrounded by lush vegetation and olive groves, with clear, turquoise water.
Foneous Beach.
If any beach has a claim to the title of hidden gem in the Peloponnese, this is it! A small, pebble beach less than 100 meters long, Foneous Beach in Kardamili – about an hours drive from Kalimata – is surrounded by dramatic cliffs and sea caves to explore. Largely unknown to tourists, it is a popular beach with locals, and is a perfect place to do some exploring, hiking and diving! Check out the large, protruding rock out to sea where locals love to swim out to and cliff jump from.
Mavrovouni Beach.
A couple of hours drive from Kalamata on the east coast of the Mani Peninsula is Mavrouni Beach, one of the longest beaches in the Peloponnese at 6 Kilometres long and also one of the most popular beaches on the peninsula. It has all the facilities you can imagine along its long promenade, including a ton of hotels, tavernas and bars, and a few resorts dotted along the coastline. It is another Blue Flag beach, making it perfect for swimming, but it’s two main claims to fame are the strong winds that draw windsurfers from all over Europe, and the endangered Loggerhead sea turtles that nest and lay eggs here every year!
Kalogria Beach.
This stunning beach is dominated by a view of the Taygetos mountains and a turquoise ocean that gives it a tropical rather than a Mediterranean feel, but its real claim to fame is that the Greek author Kazantazakis wrote his famous novel Zorba the Greek here, and used it as a setting in his book!
Kitries Beach.
This small, pebbly beach just 12km from Kalamata isn’t the best in the Peloponnese. It’s not even the best on this list, to be honest with you. The real draw here is the small fishing town that surrounds it and the many tavernas that serve the freshest fish that come straight from the small dock and the fishing boats that come in! Nothing beats freshly cooked fish by the seaside!
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Michael Huxley is a published author, professional adventurer and founder of the travel website, Bemused Backpacker. He has spent the last twenty years travelling to over 100 countries on almost every continent, slowly building Bemused Backpacker into a successful business after leaving a former career in emergency nursing and travel medicine, and continues to travel the world on numerous adventures every year.
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