Unlock the Treasures of Greece’s Costa Navarino
Why visit Costa Navarino, the beachfront resorts in Messinia, on the West coast of Greece’s Peloponnese? Along with gentle birdsong, fragrant ocean breezes zhuzhed with jasmine, rosemary, and lavender, and endless olive groves, you’ll find castles, local wine, and deep-rooted hospitality. You can visit King Nestor’s Cave, at gorgeous Voidokilia Beach, a sheltered crescent just a short bike ride from Navarino Dunes, where Telemachus was made welcome in Homer’s Odyssey.
All of this beauty and history lives just a 3.5-hour scenic drive from Athens, and only 45 minutes from Kalamata, a vibrant shore town with a busy international airport.
Costa Navarino History
Messinia’s coastal location offers endless natural beauty along with centuries of mythology and military history. Visit the Palace of Nestor, an incredibly well-preserved Mycenaean palace complex from the 13th century BC, in the hills near Pylos, and the New Castle of Pylos, which offers sweeping views of the Navarino Bay it was built to protect in 1573. Don’t miss exploring the early 13th century Methoni Castle built by the Venetians and the Bourtzi islet, a prison from the Turkish occupation.
Greek literature experts claim that Messinia was a stop on Telemachus’s journey in Homer’s Odyssey. Filmmaker Christopher Nolan agrees, and filmed scenes for his upcoming epic version of the story at Methoni Castle and Voidokilia Beach in March 2025. Myth or truth, a swim at stunning Voidokilia, also known as Oxbelly or Omega Beach for its crescent shape, should not be missed.
Costa Navarino Hotels
Costa Navarino is made up of four 5-star resort hotels on Messinia’s Ionian coast, plus 4 signature golf courses, a tennis center, an NBA basketball center, and a shopping center, the Navarino Agora. I was hosted at the Romanos Resort, a serene and lush adult hotel directly on the sea, and adjacent to the family-friendly Westin Resort.
My room looked out onto a very green golf course and the sea beyond towards the setting sun. Many rooms have private pools, but I was delighted with my large, comfortable terrace.
At the Romanos Anazoe Spa, I indulged in a relaxing Messinian Salt & Honey Scrub, which incorporated aromatic local herbs and made me feel as powerful as Athena after battle. Their extensive list of treatments and facilities includes hydrotherapy and Peleponnese olive oil treatments.
The distances across these resorts can be vast, but the property feels like a Greek village, and a golf cart is always just a quick call away to whisk you to your next relaxing activity faster than you can say “Captain Vassilis Constantakopoulos” (the self-made Messinian shipping magnate and environmentalist who founded Costa Navarino).
The W Hotel at Navarino Bay would make a great option for young and solo travelers with its beach club vibe, luxe, design-forward accommodations, and packed roster of events like live music, wellness programming, DJ sets, cocktail festivals, and chef barbecues on the beach all summer long. There’s even a boutique on site that rents vacation fashion for stylish stays.
Eating and Drinking in Costa Navarino
Breakfast each day at Pero featured dappled sunlight, freshly squeezed Peleponnese orange juice and a magnificent buffet of local delicacies including Greek cheeses (like Sfela, the region’s feta) and sheep yogurt, Messinian pastries (try the honey drizzled fried dough called diples) and breads (the sesame bagel-like koulouri and the crunchy loops called lalangia are particularly delicious), and, of course, eggs and coffees to order.
I also dined onsite at Flame, the steakhouse that resides in the Dunes Golf Club, and Paráfrasi by CTC, a charming and intimate spot that offers Michelin-starred Chef Alexandros Tsiotinis takes on Messinian classics. My favorite meal at the Romanos was lunch at Barbouni, right on the beach, including a bright assortment of five meze spreads, crispy fried calamari, and an amazing seabass filet with local greens braised in olive oil and an artichoke and orange salad.
On my final night in this Ionian paradise, I had dinner at Parelia at the W Hotel, just a 15 minute shuttle ride away. I ate charred skewers of octopus “souvlaki”, a massive heirloom tomato salad, and a gorgeous bowl of linguine with local shellfish while the waves lapped in the foreground.
For more traditional local fare, head to the nearby town of Gialova where you can dine right on the bay, or to the central square of Pylos to eat meze, drink ouzo or tsipouro and people watch.
I adored the approachable Messinian wines from Navarino Vineyards, an organic winery run by the Costa Navarino destination. Their 1827 Rosé of syrah kept me happy poolside and as an aperitivo, and the individual restaurants offered many other Greek wines to try–look for malagouzia (a fragrant white) and agiorgitiko (an elegant fruity red). I learned a ton about the region’s grape varieties at a tasting at Cellier, the wine shop at the Agora. You can also visit wineries, like Panagiotopoulos, for tours and tasting nearby.
Other Fun Things to Do in Costa Navarino
- Take a day trip to the archaeological site at Ancient Olympia, a Unesco World Heritage Site, about 90 minutes north of Costa Navarino, to see the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
- Drive into the mountains to explore Ancient Messene, another important archaeological park that tells the story of daily life in the ancient city.
- Experience the olive harvest during October and November, or learn about olive oil by tasting Messina’s finest, made with local koroneiki olives, with the pros.
- Book an authentic village cooking class where Messinian women teach their family recipes.
- Spend a day in Kalamata. Choose a Wednesday or Saturday so you can shop at the farmer’s market, then wander the streets to find museums, cafes and the historic center.
- Enjoy a Greek summer tradition–see a movie under the stars in the Danaos Open Air Cinema at Navarino Agora.
- Pick a sport or five. Play tennis, basketball, soccer, and golf. Bike, climb, and hike. Kayak, kitesurf, wakeboard, and waterski.
I wished I had a month discovering the Peloponnese with Costa Navarino as my super comfortable Greek home base. I can’t wait to go back.
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