Kardamili is the seat of the Municipality of West Mani. It is a seaside village, 38 kilometers NA of Kalamata city. It has been characterized by the Ministry of Culture as a special natural beauty landscape with dense and varied vegetation in which are typical examples of the evolution of Mani. Also it is characterized as a historical landscape due to its importance for the history of architecture and more generally for Greek history, because of its land that is inhabited since the prehistoric times until today. Of course it is rich in monuments of all past times and rich in historical events. Only a few meters away the old town is separated from the youngest.
Everyone agrees that Kardamili is a spectacularly beautiful seaside village, a stunning area in southern Peloponnisos. Set against a backdrop of crystalline blue waters, majestic trees, wild olive groves and fields, verdant hills and distant snowcapped mountains in winter, it is one of the prettiest of villages of Messinia, that overlooks the sea and splendid sunsets of the Messinian Gulf. Situated only 3 hours and 30 minutes drive from either Athens or Patras port, and just 35 kilometers from the nearby city of Kalamata, it remains one of the south Pelloponisos best-kept secrets!
The small, unspoilt resort that hosts stately villas, enchanting stone maisonettes, lush gardens, a picturesque and graphic harbour and fantastic beaches.
Kardamili is a place with a history that holds of over three thousand years. It has and keeps its name as its position since the Archaic years. A place free during the Ottoman domination that was a meeting point for the Revolutionaries and also the “Filiki Etairia” had designated it as a base. From there, Greek fighter Kolokotronis and the other chiefs began the Revolution.
It was built on a steep cliff and was considered one of the strongest villages in the area. The name “Kardamili” is mentioned for the first time in the years of Homer and is referred to the epic poem of Iliad as the first of the “seven favored and well-populated cities” of Greece. According to Pausanias referrals, it is one of the seven cities that Agamemnon promised to Achilles if he married one of his daughters. Kardamili is one of the oldest settlements in Peloponnisos as we know. Many of the inhabitants if the village can trace their lineage back to either famed clans of the area (like the Mourtzinos and Troupakis clans), or the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Palaiologos, one of whose descendants (Dimitris Palaiologos) settled in the region. The descendants of Dimitris Palaiologos typically have the last same “Dimitreas”, until nowadays that has the meaning “son of Dimitris’.
Its products are worldwide well-known, while several believe it’s worth visiting only for its local delicacies. Mani, besides providing pictures of authentic Greek character and beauty, is additionally renowned for its wealthy and fertile land. The traditional Mani diet indeed, according to experts, is ideal in order to keep up a good physical health. This alone proves that Mani’s products and dishes are among those you must undoubtedly try even once in your life. Buy olives, olive oil, honey, the traditional cheese referred to as “touloumisio”, tasty spoon sweets, jams, herbs, oregano, tea and sage. Don’t miss the renowned “sigklino” and “koutalides”. Also try Mani’s pancakes, similarly as the popular “lalagia” that are perfectly combined with honey or cheese sfela from goats.
Kardamili has some of the most traditional places to eat and try local dishes and delicacies!
Kardamili has lots of sights nearby such as: Tower of Troupakis Mourtzinos which was built in 1807 and it is a complex fortress consisting of several buildings. The Viros Gorge is located on the west side of mountain Taygetos and has a total length of 19 kilometers while it stands out for its wild natural beauty. The castle of Zarnata is one of the four biggest castles of Mani and was built in the middle of the seventeeth century. The buildings of Upper Kardamili are dated back to Venetian times, the church of Agios Spyridon, the tombs of the Dioskouroi, the ruins of the old soap factory and the old customs house in Agios Ioannis harbor.
Also do not miss the old mill on the pier, the ruins of the Homeric Acropolis, the beautiful island of Meropi, the residence of Patrick Le Fermer with the unique architecture and a stunning Mediterranean garden at Kalamitsi Bay, the village of Proastia and the village of Stavropigi witch haves stone-built traditional houses. Also in Petrovouni settlement, located north of Kardamili village, visit the Monasteries of Zoodochos Pigi and the “Karaveli” of the fourteenth century which are abandoned nowadays.
Lastly Kardamili offers a variety of beaches with natural beauty, some cosmopolitan but also some remote and quiet. Don’t forget as well to visit the beaches of Ritsa, Dolphinia, Kalamitsi and Podeas, swim in the clear, crystal clear waters, enjoy the sun and indulge in water sports and activities.
Spring Breaks
Visitors who head to Kardamili between late March and May should expect to find clear skies and temperatures that hover between fifteen and twenty five degrees, making sightseeing pleasant and creating perfect walking conditions. It’s not uncommon for water temperatures to be warm enough for swimming throughout the early Spring also. The important Easter preparations that take place this time of year, where you see locals flooding the streets for the biggest celebration of Christianity. Next day is followed by music, dancing, eating and drinking as a tradition. By avoiding the summer rush, tourists should be able to find smart deals on flights and accommodation, making Spring a good season for budget travellers to visit Kardamili.
Summer Sun
Sunscreen and shades are essential for a Summer visit to Kardamili, and the dry heat, which is possible to exceed 40 degrees, can feel stifling. If you intend to visit Kardamili at this time, don’t attempt to pack too much clothes into your trip. Arrange several of lazy beach days and make sure your hotel room or apartment is air conditioned. Greek holidaymakers flock here during the summer months, so you should expect crowded beaches so book your lodgings earlier as well.
Autumn and Winter in Kardamili
As the temperatures drop, also do the tourist numbers, and the early Autumn is a very pleasant time to visit Kardamili. During September the waters are still warm enough for swimming, and you’ll have plenty of space for splashing into. Sightseeing becomes more comfortable as the heat becomes less oppressive, so October, November and forward are good times of the year to explore the mountains. During the Winter, there are fewer international flights to Kalamata, but it is always possible to fly in to Athens and take the transport through the beautiful newly created highway and inside the graphic villages along the way.
Kardamili is situated at the foot of Taygetos mountain on the coast of the Messinian Gulf. A big part of the village sits on the remnants of a prehistoric lava flow, where you can see its remains from the lava rocks which separate many of the local beaches from one another. The local beaches are unique and differ from those in other areas of all over the world for the remarkably round stones of which they are made up. You can’t find anywhere else in the world smooth, often spherical stones on a beach, and the phenomenon has been subject to multiple studies to find the cause of such a unique occurrence that is not possible to happen in other places. The nearest places to Kardamili are Kampos to the North and Proastio to the southeast.
Picturesque and graphic with a wide variety of landscapes that attracts a number of travellers worldwide. Admire green slopes, endless olive groves, amazing beaches, well-preserved stone mansions and houses of traditional Mani architecture, cobbled streets, lush gardens and the exceptional harbor of the village. Kardamili with its impressive theatrical scenery full of contrasts, inexhaustible nature and the hospitable inhabitants is offered for quiet and family holidays. Nature lovers also really adore Kardamili, as it offers unique nature excursions for them. Visit it!
Driving: You’ll be able to drive from Athens to Kardamili in about three hours thirty minutes on the National Road. Its not a bad drive and you will pass some attention-grabbing countryside. After all it’s a lot more interesting for the passenger than it’s for the driver who should keep his eye on the road in order to be alert for all the crazy things Greek drivers do. However even that may be amusing and if you’re a good driver you will not have any issues. Rent a Car
By bus: Coach services are operated by KTEL between Athens, Kardamili.
The trip time depends on bus schedule. Ticket value depends on bus schedule also.
You don’t have to pre-book for a price ticket. You’ll pay at the terminal, before bus departure or on the bus. If you’re there half an hour before departure you must find a seat. Find a Bus
By taxi: You’ll be able to rent or hire a taxi transfer from Athens directly to Kardamili through the contact form and also you can arrange the price with the driver! This can be a simple solution if you don’t wish to drive all the way by yourself! Taxi Transfer
Kardamili is the seat of the Municipality of West Mani. It is a seaside village, 38 kilometers NA of Kalamata city. It has been characterized by the Ministry of Culture as a special natural beauty landscape with dense and varied vegetation in which are typical examples of the evolution of Mani. Also it is characterized as a historical landscape due to its importance for the history of architecture and more generally for Greek history, because of its land that is inhabited since the prehistoric times until today. Of course it is rich in monuments of all past times and rich in historical events. Only a few meters away the old town is separated from the youngest.
Everyone agrees that Kardamili is a spectacularly beautiful seaside village, a stunning area in southern Peloponnisos. Set against a backdrop of crystalline blue waters, majestic trees, wild olive groves and fields, verdant hills and distant snowcapped mountains in winter, it is one of the prettiest of villages of Messinia, that overlooks the sea and splendid sunsets of the Messinian Gulf. Situated only 3 hours and 30 minutes drive from either Athens or Patras port, and just 35 kilometers from the nearby city of Kalamata, it remains one of the south Pelloponisos best-kept secrets!
The small, unspoilt resort that hosts stately villas, enchanting stone maisonettes, lush gardens, a picturesque and graphic harbour and fantastic beaches.
Kardamili is a place with a history that holds of over three thousand years. It has and keeps its name as its position since the Archaic years. A place free during the Ottoman domination that was a meeting point for the Revolutionaries and also the “Filiki Etairia” had designated it as a base. From there, Greek fighter Kolokotronis and the other chiefs began the Revolution.
It was built on a steep cliff and was considered one of the strongest villages in the area. The name “Kardamili” is mentioned for the first time in the years of Homer and is referred to the epic poem of Iliad as the first of the “seven favored and well-populated cities” of Greece. According to Pausanias referrals, it is one of the seven cities that Agamemnon promised to Achilles if he married one of his daughters. Kardamili is one of the oldest settlements in Peloponnisos as we know. Many of the inhabitants if the village can trace their lineage back to either famed clans of the area (like the Mourtzinos and Troupakis clans), or the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Palaiologos, one of whose descendants (Dimitris Palaiologos) settled in the region. The descendants of Dimitris Palaiologos typically have the last same “Dimitreas”, until nowadays that has the meaning “son of Dimitris’.
Its products are worldwide well-known, while several believe it’s worth visiting only for its local delicacies. Mani, besides providing pictures of authentic Greek character and beauty, is additionally renowned for its wealthy and fertile land. The traditional Mani diet indeed, according to experts, is ideal in order to keep up a good physical health. This alone proves that Mani’s products and dishes are among those you must undoubtedly try even once in your life. Buy olives, olive oil, honey, the traditional cheese referred to as “touloumisio”, tasty spoon sweets, jams, herbs, oregano, tea and sage. Don’t miss the renowned “sigklino” and “koutalides”. Also try Mani’s pancakes, similarly as the popular “lalagia” that are perfectly combined with honey or cheese sfela from goats.
Kardamili has some of the most traditional places to eat and try local dishes and delicacies!
Kardamili has lots of sights nearby such as: Tower of Troupakis Mourtzinos which was built in 1807 and it is a complex fortress consisting of several buildings. The Viros Gorge is located on the west side of mountain Taygetos and has a total length of 19 kilometers while it stands out for its wild natural beauty. The castle of Zarnata is one of the four biggest castles of Mani and was built in the middle of the seventeeth century. The buildings of Upper Kardamili are dated back to Venetian times, the church of Agios Spyridon, the tombs of the Dioskouroi, the ruins of the old soap factory and the old customs house in Agios Ioannis harbor.
Also do not miss the old mill on the pier, the ruins of the Homeric Acropolis, the beautiful island of Meropi, the residence of Patrick Le Fermer with the unique architecture and a stunning Mediterranean garden at Kalamitsi Bay, the village of Proastia and the village of Stavropigi witch haves stone-built traditional houses. Also in Petrovouni settlement, located north of Kardamili village, visit the Monasteries of Zoodochos Pigi and the “Karaveli” of the fourteenth century which are abandoned nowadays.
Lastly Kardamili offers a variety of beaches with natural beauty, some cosmopolitan but also some remote and quiet. Don’t forget as well to visit the beaches of Ritsa, Dolphinia, Kalamitsi and Podeas, swim in the clear, crystal clear waters, enjoy the sun and indulge in water sports and activities.
Spring Breaks
Visitors who head to Kardamili between late March and May should expect to find clear skies and temperatures that hover between fifteen and twenty five degrees, making sightseeing pleasant and creating perfect walking conditions. It’s not uncommon for water temperatures to be warm enough for swimming throughout the early Spring also. The important Easter preparations that take place this time of year, where you see locals flooding the streets for the biggest celebration of Christianity. Next day is followed by music, dancing, eating and drinking as a tradition. By avoiding the summer rush, tourists should be able to find smart deals on flights and accommodation, making Spring a good season for budget travellers to visit Kardamili.
Summer Sun
Sunscreen and shades are essential for a Summer visit to Kardamili, and the dry heat, which is possible to exceed 40 degrees, can feel stifling. If you intend to visit Kardamili at this time, don’t attempt to pack too much clothes into your trip. Arrange several of lazy beach days and make sure your hotel room or apartment is air conditioned. Greek holidaymakers flock here during the summer months, so you should expect crowded beaches so book your lodgings earlier as well.
Autumn and Winter in Kardamili
As the temperatures drop, also do the tourist numbers, and the early Autumn is a very pleasant time to visit Kardamili. During September the waters are still warm enough for swimming, and you’ll have plenty of space for splashing into. Sightseeing becomes more comfortable as the heat becomes less oppressive, so October, November and forward are good times of the year to explore the mountains. During the Winter, there are fewer international flights to Kalamata, but it is always possible to fly in to Athens and take the transport through the beautiful newly created highway and inside the graphic villages along the way.
Kardamili is situated at the foot of Taygetos mountain on the coast of the Messinian Gulf. A big part of the village sits on the remnants of a prehistoric lava flow, where you can see its remains from the lava rocks which separate many of the local beaches from one another. The local beaches are unique and differ from those in other areas of all over the world for the remarkably round stones of which they are made up. You can’t find anywhere else in the world smooth, often spherical stones on a beach, and the phenomenon has been subject to multiple studies to find the cause of such a unique occurrence that is not possible to happen in other places. The nearest places to Kardamili are Kampos to the North and Proastio to the southeast.
Picturesque and graphic with a wide variety of landscapes that attracts a number of travellers worldwide. Admire green slopes, endless olive groves, amazing beaches, well-preserved stone mansions and houses of traditional Mani architecture, cobbled streets, lush gardens and the exceptional harbor of the village. Kardamili with its impressive theatrical scenery full of contrasts, inexhaustible nature and the hospitable inhabitants is offered for quiet and family holidays. Nature lovers also really adore Kardamili, as it offers unique nature excursions for them. Visit it!
Driving: You’ll be able to drive from Athens to Kardamili in about three hours thirty minutes on the National Road. Its not a bad drive and you will pass some attention-grabbing countryside. After all it’s a lot more interesting for the passenger than it’s for the driver who should keep his eye on the road in order to be alert for all the crazy things Greek drivers do. However even that may be amusing and if you’re a good driver you will not have any issues. Rent a Car
By bus: Coach services are operated by KTEL between Athens, Kardamili.
The trip time depends on bus schedule. Ticket value depends on bus schedule also.
You don’t have to pre-book for a price ticket. You’ll pay at the terminal, before bus departure or on the bus. If you’re there half an hour before departure you must find a seat. Find a Bus
By taxi: You’ll be able to rent or hire a taxi transfer from Athens directly to Kardamili through the contact form and also you can arrange the price with the driver! This can be a simple solution if you don’t wish to drive all the way by yourself! Taxi Transfer
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€1.650,00
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