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Timeless scenic villages, ancient monuments, mediaeval castles, rich history, natural beauty and spectacular beaches make the Peloponnese a year-round holiday destination

The Peloponnese is a destination for all seasons, with a rich history and a rich landscape. Destinations of authentic natural beauty, each with their  own distinctive characteristics, eager to welcome you all year long;  Messinia, Elafonisos, Monemvasia, Mani, Porto Heli, Kalavryta and  Nafplio. It’s the land of ancient Sparta, home of the holy olive grove and the birthplace of the Olympic Games. War, peace and culture saturate the cities and countryside of one of the most beautiful destinations of mainland Greece, the Peloponnese. Here, ancient monuments and impressive attractions are scattered throughout the landscape.


A gilded coastline: exotic beaches and picture-perfect bays 

A journey through history and ancient civilisations 
In the Peloponnese you’ll experience the grandeur of Ancient Greece. You’ll stand awestruck in Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, tour Homer’s ‘gold-rich Mycenae’. You’ll catch a sensational performance at the famous ancient theatre of Epidaurus and visit the Asclepius. You’ll discover the temple of Apollo Epikourios at Basses (Bassae), created by the same architect that built the Parthenon,  and marvel at Iktinos, another Unesco World Heritage Site. The Peloponnese is a living lesson in mediaeval and Byzantine architecture, particularly the well-preserved castle of Mystra in Sparta and the castles in Methoni and Pylos.

Peloponnese: paradise for activities in nature 
The Peloponnese is a paradise for thrill seekers and adventure lovers. There are numerous opportunities for off-roading, driving, hiking and rock climbing in the Taygetos Mountains. The European long-distance hiking trail, E4, passes through here, and there are dozens of other signposted paths in every area. The more courageous will want to head to Lagada that has a rock climbing park.

Home of the olive grove and so much more 
The Peloponnese is world-famous for its olive oil and Kalamata olives, but the sweet fragrance of the orange groves in Sparta and Argos  and their tasty, juicy fruit, will also stay with you forever. You’ll imbibe the wines of Nemea and Mantineia, as well as  Monemvasia’s famous Malvasia, the regional sweet wine, dubbed ‘the nectar of the nobles’. Pair it with the local homemade pasta called goges (like gnocchi, but flour-based), Mani’s eliotyropita (olivecheesepie)  or Neapolis’ tyropsomo (cheese-bread).

Arcadia is known for its handmade hilopites (a type of noodle) and trahana (rustic pasta), sold in shops along with other traditional products, like the region’s honey, chestnuts and  delicious, seedless Tsakonian eggplants. Don’t leave Mani without trying its cured meats and sausages, and the various recipes with artichokes, a vegetable produced here in large quantities, along with  beans and wild greens. You’ll finish off your meals with local Peloponnese sweets like diples (thin sheets of fried dough), pastelia(sesame with honey) and rafiolia (pastry filled with walnuts). In Corinth, try the syrupy sweet made with rose petals and the famous Corinthian raisins and currants.


4. Nature: Nature in all its glory: Don’t miss the fairy tale Foli forest, the Gialovas Wetland, the Dirou caves, hiking the Lousios Gorge and Lake Tsivlos.
5. The Rio-Antirrio Bridge: Finished in 2004, it is the world’s longest multi-span cable-stayed bridge. Lit up at night, it’s a magnificent sight.
6. Ancient Olympia: One of the most significant archaeological sites in Greece. Visit the stadium, temples and settlements of the original Olympic venue. Don’t forget  the Temple of Zeus, which once housed the legendary golden Statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World  destroyed in the 5th century AD.
7. Ancient Messene:Just 30km north of Kalamata, the city of Messene, founded in the 4th century BC, is noteworthy for its outstanding perimeter walls erected in the 3rd century BC, and its massive Arcadian gate and eight surviving towers.