The Peloponnese is the southernmost geographic section of the mainland Greece and one of the most historical regions. The mythical land is a mix of ancient and archaeological sites – most notably is the Olympia, medieval castles, countryside, mountains and a coastline full of wonderful golden sand beaches.

The Peloponnese is composed of images and music, many peaceful seaside villages and excellent food and wines. Your holiday in the Peloponnese will bring you a lot of memories.

The landscape of Peloponnese

The Peloponnese is a rugged land with sandy beaches, deep, lush gorges and densely forested mountains. Some of the villages seem to grow out of the grey rock, the wild stones next to the hostile furze. Other villages lie by the vast open sea and enjoy the view of the crystal water. All over you will meet the scent of grapes, olives and citrus mixed with the Sea.

Large cities in Peloponnese: Patras and Kalámata

Patras is the biggest town in the Peloponnese with almost 200.000 inhabitants. The city is located in the north, 215 kilometers west of Athens and built at the foothills of Mount Panachaikon, overlooking the Gulf of Patras. The town is divided into the old and picturesque upper section and the lower sections with the many squares.

The most significant monument in Patras is the Roman Odeon, which is used as an open-air theatre used for performances and concerts during the summer months. Every spring, the city hosts one of Europe's largest and most colorful carnivals, Patras Carnival.

Kalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese and known for the Kalamatianos dance, the silk kerchief, the dark olives, the honey-eyed figs and the long beaches. There are numerous historical and cultural sights to see in Kalamata, such as the Villehardouin castle, the Ipapandis Byzantine church, the Kalograion monastery with its famous silk-weaving workshop and the municipal railway park. It’s also worth seeing the art collections housed at the Municipal Gallery, the Benaki Archaeological Museum and the Folk Art Museum.

Tourist attractions in Peloponnese

The Peloponnese has many exciting sights to visit and see during your holiday; ancients towns such as Mycenae and Pylos, the ancient theater of Epidaurus, beautiful stone villages scared in the rocks, medieval remains, old Venetian castles like Nafplio, Methoni and Corinth, the Towers of Mani and the Byzantine places of Monemvasia and Mystra and not to forget the stunning sandy beaches with crystal water. The site of Ancient Olympia is also one of the places you should visit during your holiday in Peloponnese. It was here that the original Olympic Games took place in ancient times, and visitors can gain a fascinating insight into the origins of the Games.

Gastronomic characteristics of Peloponnese

The traditional taverna is where you can eat anything from freshly caught fish and grilled meats to home cooked casseroles often accompanied with excellent locally produced wines, and the world famous Peloponnese export, the succulent Kalamata olive.

The climate of Peloponnese

The Peloponnese enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate along the coast and a continental climate in the center. Early summer and autumn months are comfortably warm during the day and cooler at night. July and August are hot with temperatures approaching 40 degrees but often with a refreshing mountain breeze.