Where to Stay in Kalamata: Beach or Old Town?

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The seaside town of Kalamata is the central port of the region of Messinia in the Peloponnese, and one of my favorite stops in Greece. Despite being from Hawaii, I’m not much into beaches (I know!) but I do LOVE being near the water. Towns with mountains that slope down to the water, as the Taygetos slope into the Messinian Bay, it’s just one of the most relaxing combinations for me! 

The Peloponnese is full of historical sights and miles of beautiful coastline, so if you’re a history buff or love the beach, you are in luck! But what I really love is the variety – the tranquil mountain villages and vineyards in the central part of the Peloponnese as well. Since Kalamata is less than a 3-hour drive from Athens and also accessible by flights, it’s becoming a popular base or start/end to a trip around the Peloponnese.

But of course, as with anywhere I travel – my main focus is always on getting deeper into a place through its food and language! And on this, Kalamata doesn’t disappoint. Famous worldwide for its olives and olive oil, but also home to a host other of local products and specialties, which I’ll cover in another post.

Best areas to stay in Kalamata

So you’ve decided to visit, but where should you stay in Kalamata? Choosing where to base yourself may come down to your interests and also the season you will be visiting. 

The biggest question that arises is: 

Should you stay near the waterfront in Kalamata and visit the old town for the wonderful open market? Or stay near the old town for its lively restaurants, museums and shops and then visit the waterfront to cool off with a cocktail or a swim? 

I’ve stayed near the waterfront on both visits to Kalamata, so I’ll share my thoughts on those accommodations and also the options I’m looking into for my next trip!

Map of Kalamata

I’ve plotted out some of the places to stay along with all my favorite foodie spots, activities, and other points of interest:

Quick tips – best places to stay in Kalamata

During the summer peak season (June-September) you may want to be close to the beach to escape the heat – you can opt for the hotels at the marina end of the waterfront Navarinou Street, such as Pharae Palace, which are right in the middle of the action. 

For the quieter end of the waterfront, another option is near the Filoxenia resort. If you will be driving, you have an easy access to the road that runs to coastal towns and fishing villages on the Mani Peninsula like Kitries or Mikro Mani. From this end and you are right at the foot of the Taeygus mountain range sloping down to the Messinian Gulf.

Located just behind the Grecotel, this Airbnb was a perfect base for an extended stay in Kalamata. Near to the beach for picnics and swims, with 2 bedrooms and a kitchen. Best of all, you get to meet your super host, Michael!

If you’re after a more local experience or if you want a kitchen to take advantage of the amazing Kalamata open market, you may want an apartment rental or Airbnb near the old town area. (Personally, I always wish for a kitchen when in Kalamata! This will definitely be my pick to try out on my next visit!)

Regardless which side of town you choose, it’s easy to get around from other areas by walking, taking a taxi or just catching the public bus which costs only 1.5 euros and runs all along Navarinou street and up to the old town every 15 minutes!

More details from some of my previous stays:

Pharae Palace (Hotel – Central Navarinou / Near the Marina) 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9.2 Rating

Pharae Palace is located right on the waterfront in Navarinou Street. Ocean view rooms overlook the street itself and you can sit on your balcony to gaze out at the horizon of the Messinian Gulf – especially calm and serene at sunrise. 

The hotel has a gorgeous rooftop bar and restaurant where you’ll have your breakfast. I’m not normally one to fill up on a hotel breakfast but I couldn’t resist the items in the breakfast buffet since I spotted all the local specialties – including lalagia, sfela cheese, dried Messinian figs, synglino (cured sausage) and of course olives!! 

The Loft Lounge and Restaurant is also perfect for coffee, sunset cocktails or dinner with a view! The staff was always friendly and knowledgeable – I recommend asking about the local producers of beer, wine and spirits. 

>> Check availability at Pharae Palace

Eastern End of Navarinou waterfront – Michael’s Airbnb / Filoxenia 

For my first trip to Kalamata, a friend and I were attending a conference at the Grecotel Filoxenia resort. During conferences, I often like to check if there are places to stay nearby that will give us a bit of a breather in between sessions. In my research, I came up with a lovely Kalamata Airbnb that truly made our experience!

The host, Michael, is listed as an AirBNB superhost – and for good reason! Not only did he offer to pick us up at the bus station when we arrived from Athens, he had local specialties like lalagia, diples, figs and items to make sandwiches stocked in the fridge in case we were hungry after the bus ride. (We were!)

Over the days that we stayed at Michael’s, we also joined him for his weekly shopping at Kalamata’s lovely open market (Wednesdays & Saturdays) which is what prompted me to plan a return trip! We loved going around through all the stalls with him, talking with the sellers, farmers and shopkeepers, and collecting items that we could enjoy back in our kitchen.

The wraparound balcony is perfect for sitting with coffee in the morning, listening to the birds in the olive groves and looking out at the Messinian Bay. (Or with a glass of tsipouro in the evening!) We could actually see the conference hotel from the balcony so it was a short walk for us each day to and from the sessions.

Because we were visiting in May, the summer season hadn’t kicked into high gear yet – some of the beachside eateries, beach clubs, and cafes were open, but not all. Michael’s place is stocked with towels and beach chairs if you are there in the summer and you can cut through the olive groves to get straight to the beach! 

We still took advantage of this to take some of our farmers market finds and wine from our day trip to Arcadia (the “land of moschofilero”) to the beach to have a sunset picnic. 

For next time… Old Town

I really fell in love with the old town and will need a separate post just to highlight the things to do, see and eat there. I really loved the local feel (you are really a part of the neighborhood) and the variety of restaurants, cafes, and street foods to try, which keeps it lively in the evening. On Wednesdays & Saturdays you can’t miss the open market of course, and I think staying here would be my choice for my next visit to Kalamata.

Getting to Kalamata 

• Flights to Kalamta – Flights operate to Kalamata from within Greece and internationally
• Rent a car – Many people opt to rent a car in Athens in order to make stops along the way
• Take the bus from Athens to Kalamata – My preferred way to get to Kalamata is by KTEL bus from Athens! Only 24 euro and a little under 3 hrs if you choose the express bus, I always instantly relax after passing the famous Corinth Canal, once I start seeing the grape vineyards in Nemea and the mountains of Arcadia out the window.

Getting around within Kalamata

• Walking – Many people find it convenient to walk when in Kalamata, as it takes about 30 minutes to walk from the old town center to the seaside. 
• Rent a bicycle – A popular option with locals and visitors alike
• Public bus – The public bus #1 comes regularly and runs between the old town (near the intercity bus station and open market), down to the seaside and all along Navarinou street. You can tap to pay by credit card and it only costs 1.5 euros per trip. 
• Taxi – Taxis are an inexpensive and easy way to get around if you’re tired after a nice meal in the Old Town. There are designated taxi stands around town, or ask your hotel to call one for you.

Day trips from Kalamata 

Tours or day trips from Kalamata are another popular option to help you make the most of your time in the Peloponnese. If you’re interested in food and learning about the flavors of the Peloponnese, I can highly recommend Mama’s Flavours. Guide and owner Maria Monastirioti crafts thoughtful and delicious itineraries to introduce you to the small producers and passionate chefs of the region. 

If you’re looking to explore more of the Peloponnese while you’re based in Kalamata, you can use the city as a base and rent a car to get to beaches, archaeological sites and other points of interest at your leisure.

Other popular tours or day trip destinations in the region could include: 

• History buffs will want to visit the ruins at Ancient Messene  
• Wine lovers might be interested in visiting Peloponnese regions like Nemea or Arcadia and tasting native grapes like Agiorgitiko, Moschofilero, Roditis and Fokiano
• I loved my day tour to the mountains in Arcadia, where we visited the Kalogris Family Winery, stopped for lunch in the village of Vytina (where you can buy the rare Vanilla Fir honey, one of only two Greek PDO honeys) and toured the caves of Kapsia.