This coastal city at the foot of Mount Taygetos has a 13th-century castle, silk-weaving nuns, and a 4km Blue Flag beach. Local markets sell the region's famous black olives and sfela cheese.
Kalamata stretches between Mount Taygetos and the Messinian Gulf in the Peloponnese. You can walk from the 13th-century hilltop castle to the Old Town's silk workshops, stop at the Metropolitan Ypapanti Cathedral, and end your day at the 4km Blue Flag beach. Local farmers sell olives, cheese, and honey at the twice-weekly market, while in July, dancers perform at the castle's amphitheater during the International Dance Festival.
Exploring the Old Town
The streets below the castle lead to Kalamata's Old Town, where you'll find the Kalograion Monastery. Here, 17 nuns work on traditional looms, creating silk scarves you can buy directly from their workshop. The 13th-century Agioi Apostoloi church, with its interior walls covered in medieval paintings and icons, marks where the Greek War of Independence started in 1821. At the Metropolitan Ypapanti Cathedral, built in 1873, you can attend Orthodox ceremonies and see local weddings and baptisms.
Food Markets and Local Specialties
Every Wednesday and Saturday, 450 vendors set up their stalls in the central market. Look for black Kalamata olives, local sfela (a salty sheep's milk cheese), mountain honey, and pasteli (sesame and honey bars). The market runs from 7am to 2pm, with separate areas for fresh produce, meat, fish, and local crafts.
Beaches and Waterfront
A 4-kilometer beach runs along the Messinian Gulf, with calm waters that meet Blue Flag standards for cleanliness. Palm trees line the promenade from the marina to the old port. On the western waterfront, former warehouses now house cafes and restaurants near the yacht club, where you can have dinner while watching boats return at sunset.
Day Trips from Kalamata
Ancient Messini lies 30 minutes north by car, with a stadium, theater, and temple ruins spread across the archaeological site. You'll often have the ruins to yourself, especially in early morning. The limestone formations of Diros Caves and the seaside walls of Methoni castle are both within an hour's drive. Local buses run to Methoni four times daily (€4.50 one-way).
Cultural Events and Festivals
In July, international dance companies perform nightly at the castle amphitheater (tickets from €15). During Easter, locals participate in the saitopolemos tradition on the western beach, using harmless firework-like tubes in a mock battle. The Documentary Festival runs for 10 days each February, screening films in the old cinema on Aristomenous Street.
Getting Around
Summer flights connect Kalamata International Airport with London, Paris, and Munich. You can walk between most Old Town sites within 20 minutes. Local buses (€1.20 per ride) run every 30 minutes to nearby beaches and villages. Car rental offices cluster near the train station, with daily rates starting at €30 in low season.
