Located on the southwest coast of the Peloponnese, Costa Navarino is a quiet and undiscovered part of Greece. Tourism here is low-key but is becoming increasingly well-known as a luxury hotspot.
Costa Navarino means Navarino Coast and is famous for the Battle of Navarino in 1827 which took place in its namesake bay close to Pylos. These days Costa Navarino, as well as the wider Messinia region, is quiet and rural with miles of olive groves, sleepy harbour towns, and an unspoiled coastline.
Costa Navarino is on the opposite side of the country to Greece’s well-trodden tourist trail and the only big-name attraction in the area is Voidokilia, frequently named one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. It’s not the kind of place that attracts bucket-list tourists who just want to check destinations off a list, but those who want to feel in tune with a destination and its nature and history.
The nearest city is Kalamata (around a 1-hour drive) which has a population of just 75,000, so it’s an ideal part of the country to visit if you don’t want to be fighting for space on the beach. That said, Voidokilia does get unsurprisingly busy in the summer, but most of the time the vibe is undeniably tranquil.
I must admit that Messinia wasn’t really on my radar before, due to its lack of big-name sights, but now I’m convinced it’s only of the best secret destinations in Greece. I’m constantly on the lookout for quiet and classy beach resorts to recommend to UK friends that have a direct flight + short transfer. Add in sandy beaches and you have the holy grail! It’s only a matter of time before word is out.
How to get to Costa Navarino
Costa Navarino is a short drive (less than one hour) from Kalamata airport which may be small but receives international flights throughout the summer (including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Vienna, and Israel). An expansion is in the works but is still a few years off.
Athens is a three-hour drive along good roads which can bypass the capital and take you directly to the airport, so there is no need to get entangled with city traffic when renting a car.
Small cruise ships dock at Kalamata Port, and there’s a yacht marina at Pylos.
The Costa Navarino Resort Complex
Costa Navarino refers to the coastline and also specifically to a complex of luxury resort hotels. It gets a bit confusing what’s what and where so I’ll try my best to explain here.
Full disclosure – I was invited to stay at Westin Resort Costa Navarino on a press trip.
Costa Navarino is the name for the overall complex with 4 5-star resorts and facilities spread out across 5 different sites which are a short drive from each other:
Navarino Dunes
Navarino Dunes was the first and original Costa Navarino site and it’s located a 15-minute drive north of Voidoikilia Beach and Gialova Lagoon. It’s home to:
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- The Westin Resort Costa Navarino – a luxury family resort with a focus on sports and wellness
- The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort – aimed at couples and honeymooners
- The Dunes golf course
- 20 bars/cafes/restaurants
- Anazoe spa and thalassotherapy centre
- fitness centre including a Mouratoglou Tennis Centre, indoor climbing, bowling, and basketball
- 1km sandy beach
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Navarino Waterfront
Navarino Waterfront is located right within Navarino Bay, a short drive south along the coast from Gialova. It faces the uninhabited Sphacteria island which makes for stunning sunsets.
- home to the W Costa Navarino Hotel – a contemporary lifestyle resort (12+)
- Parelia beach club
- 250m sandy beach
- watersports centre
- Navarino Agora (opening 2023) – a modern marketplace with restaurants, street food, shops, and an open-air cinema, joining Navarino Waterfront and Navarino Bay
Navarino Bay
Navarino Bay is located just south of Navarino Waterfront, in fact, the two areas are separated by a small stream which is home to the Agora.
- ultra-luxury, home to the earth-sheltered Mandarin Oriental (opening August 2023)
- The Bay Golf Course
- 2km beach
Navarino Hills
Navarino Hills is a golf resort with 2 golf courses (designed by José Marίa Olazábal) – The Hills Course and the International Olympic Academy Golf Course.
Sustainability champion
The Costa Navarino project was founded by Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos who wanted to put his home on the tourist map but also protect the region’s natural environment and heritage. It’s an ambitious development aiming to be the premier destination in Greece for luxury, golf, and also for sustainability.
Sustainability is woven into Costa Navarino as a guiding principle. It has an extensive recycling and composting programme. Wastewater is also recycled and used for irrigation. Bioclimatic principles and local materials are deployed in the buildings.
At Navarino Dunes, only 10% of the land is built on so there’s plenty of lush landscaping and native plants, birdsong and dragonflies.
It’s also home to the Navarino Environmental Observatory, an on-site climate and environment research station in collaboration with the private and academic sectors. Amongst many other things, it monitors changes at the nearby Gialova Lagoon which is an important (and fragile) wetlands ecosystem.
The beach at Navarino Dunes is a nesting ground for Caretta caretta turtles and Costa Navarino works with Archelon, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, to map and protect the nests. The hotels here are built back from the beach (which is also off-limits at night) so that the hatchlings aren’t disturbed by the light. There are some sea-view rooms but if that’s your preference then look at the W or the Mandarin Oriental instead.
There’s even a Pet Community shelter that looks after stray cats and dogs as well as running a sterilisation programme. Visitors can pop in during the week to pet the animals, and you can even adopt if you fall in love (you have been warned!).
When is the best time to visit?
With its emphasis on sporting activities and wellness facilities, Costa Navarino aims to be a year-round destination – particularly Navarino Hills. Private pools are heated.
Not all facilities are open year-round though so it’s best to get in touch with your chosen hotel to check if there is something specific you’d like to use.
What else is in the area?
The Messinia region might not have lots of well-known attractions but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see or do! In fact, I think it has an ideal combination of lush rural landscapes, scenic fishing towns and villages (with great food), and historic sites.
If you’re looking for nightlife it’s not the best place for you. Messinia is sleepy. It’s all about the good life here – a spot of sightseeing, long lazy seafood lunches, and glorious swims in the Ionian Sea.
Here’s what to see in the wider area:
Voidokilia Beach – a perfect horseshoe-shaped beach of fine golden sand. It’s unorganised (no sunbeds, cafes or loos) so bring your own water and snacks and don’t forget to take all your litter with you. You can hike to Nestor’s Cave and Castle on one side, and the Mycenaen Tomb of Thasymedes on the other side (plus a short hike to a secret beach called Glossa). I visited on a guided e-bike tour from the Westin Resort – great fun!
Gialova Lagoon – a unique wetlands lagoon which is an important staging post for migratory birds in spring and autumn (including flamingos). It’s at the far end of Navarino Bay, with Voidokilia on its other flank, so you can explore both in one go. Renting a bike or e-bike is ideal. At Gialova village there’s a small beach with a pleasant cluster of seafront eateries and amenities.
Islands – there are a number of uninhabited islands off the Messinian coast, perfect for a boat trip. Sphacteria is the closest, it’s on the other side of Navarino Bay and is easy to boat out to (there’s a watersports centre at Navarino Bay). For a longer trip, there’s also Sapientza, Schiza, and Venetiko.
Methoni Castle is a must-see – it’s one of the best-preserved castles in Greece and you might even have it all to yourself (unless your timing coincides with a school group of course). There’s also a village here with a few tavernas and a small beach.
Pylos – Pylos is the Greek name for Navarino and understandably you’ll find an impressive Castle and Archaeological Museum here given its history. But it’s also the best place for a slice of local life – Pylos is a picturesque harbour town with seafront restaurants, a marina, and an atmospheric town square shaded by enormous plane trees.
Waterfalls – the most famous falls in the area are at Polylimnio but there are also nearer ones at Stenosia and Kamalaris.
Ancient Messene – for some reason the ruins of Ancient Messene are not that well-known compared to other sites in the Peloponnese, perhaps because they were only recently excavated. But the site is surprisingly large and well-preserved. It’s northwest of Kalamata but well worth a detour if you have a car.
Sailing – the southwest Peloponnese is a quiet sailing ground where you won’t be jostling for an anchorage, in contrast with its crowded neighbours further up the Ionian Coast. I spent a great day at sea on the lovely Alegria, a boutique crewed catamaran (hosted), and can highly recommend it as a way to see the area. Alegria is based at Kalamata and you can sail west to Messinia or southeast to Mani depending on the conditions and your preferences (or further afield if you have time!). The crew are lovely. Say hello from The Mediterranean Traveller if you see them.
If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to Costa Navarino’s 5-star hotels, have a look for accommodation around Gialova or Pylos. Prices in the area are still very reasonable.
Read more:
Where to Stay in Greece: Ultimate Beach Resort Guide
50 Best Beach Destinations in Greece
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