From Europe to Kalamata

Flights from UK to Kalamata (updated 12/4/2009)

The nearest airport to Methoni is just an hour away at Kalamata. The best place to buy 'flights only' is at travel supermarket.com

http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/cheap-flights/

They offer flights from the UK to Kalamata Saturdays on Viking Airlines and Sundays on Thomas Cook Airlines. Viking also fly from the Nordic countries.

If you travel via Athens you can often get a good deal with one of the the low cost airlines and then taking the express bus to Methoni via Kalamata.

From Europe to Athens by low cost airline

Easyjet fly from Berlin, London, Milan and Paris to Athens. www.easyjet.com

Aegean fly to Athens from Amsterdam, Brussels, big towns in Italy and Germany plus London and Manchester. www.aegeanair.com

Ryanair fly from London and Stockholm to Rimini where you can get a ferry to the Peloponnese, and from London and Frankfurt to Bari where there is also an overnight ferry service.

Flybaboo (based in Geneva) fly from Bordeaux, Toulouse and Nice via Geneva to Athens. www.flybaboo.com .

Swiss airlines can sometimes come up with viable offers. www.swiss.com

Alitalia also have some useful routes eg Toulouse - Athens.

In this section

Rental car from Athens airport to Methoni

Bus from Athens airport to Methoni

Taxi

Overview

The route from Athens to Methoni is very pretty and at times spectacular. The road out of Athens takes you over the Corinth ship canal past the fortifications of Acro Corinth ( habited 5000BC - 468BC ) over the Taigetos Mountains - which divide the territories of the ancient kings  Agamemnon (Mycenae), Menelaos (Sparta) and Nestor (Pylos) down the other side into the valley towards Kalamata and finally out to the furthest reaches and Methoni. Driving time is four and a half hours and there are several very scenic points where you can take a break. see map

By rental car from Athens airport to Methoni

Athens airport was newly built for the recent Olympics, and you can expect to be through customs with your luggage 40 mins after landing. Car rental desks are to your right just outside the customs hall and the airport isn't normally busy. The rental car park is a five minute walk from the desk. You can be leaving in your rental car 20 minutes after you get to the desk ( or quicker if the driver signs for the car while the luggage is being collected ).

Car Hire Athens Airport (check rental car rates here)

If you haven't driven in Greece before the airport is an easy way to start because the road is motorway for 250km from the airport exit to Tripoli.

Arriving late evening into Athens airport.

If you arrive late at Athens airport you can avoid the city and expensive hotels by driving part of the way, staying overnight then visiting Ancient Mycenae before continuing to Methoni.

You can stay at one of a number of hotels at the Ancient Mycenae site a few km off the motorway out in the countryside. They vary from 2 star to 3 star plus with swimming pool, 50 euros and up.

If you enjoy the bustle of a Greek town then we recommend you stay at Argos. It's an agricultural town with a pretty square and some smart shops with plenty of restaurants.

The journey time from airport to Argos is about 90 mins if you drive reasonably fast on the auto route. The tavernas on the square are open until 1AM if you fancy a drink or meal before you turn in for the night.

In Argos we recommend staying at the Hotel Morfeas 30-275-106-8317. Double rooms are about 55 euros per night inc. breakfast. They also do a family room with 4 beds for 80 euros, which some of our customers used recently and liked. Prices vary a bit seasonally. The staff are very friendly. The hotel is on the pretty main square dominated by the church, with Argos castle on the mountain top. Argos is the oldest continually inhabited town in Europe.

After breakfast in the square next morning and a look at the archaeological museum in Argos (across the square from the hotel), a short drive or taxi ride takes you to the famed Lions Gate , the oldest monumental structure in Europe, and the entrance to Ancient Mycenae .  It's easy to spend several hours looking around the site and the museum.

When you a ready to leave a short drive gets you back to the motorway and the continuation of the drive to Methoni via Kalamata.

see map

By Bus from Athens airport to Methoni

Buses leave from the Kifissos Intercity Bus Station west of the centre of Athens for Kalamata the last big town before Methoni.

As you exit the Athens airport terminal the Express bus stop is about to your right. Buy a ticket at the small ticket office for the X93 airport express bus direct to the Kifissos Intercity Bus Station. If the airport ticket office is closed ask the bus driver for a ticket. Put the ticket in the red machine on the bus to validate it before your journey starts. The bus takes one hour. At the bus station the bus to Kalamata is immediately opposite the drop off point for the X93.  In general Kalamata bus tickets aren't needed in advance because if the bus is full on your arrival you will be early for the next one. Please note that at present bus tickets can only be bought at the bus station (which can be annoying).

The Athens / Kalamata bus service runs hourly until 10:30PM each night see timetables . Express buses take 3 1/2 hours and don't stop. Standard buses take 4 hours with a stop after 3 hours. The buses are mostly new, very comfortable, clean and air conditioned and have slightly reclining seats and a toilet. The fare is 19 euros single (early 2009). Some of the views on the journey are amazing.

To get to Methoni you take a bus or taxi ( 50 euros ) from Kalamata. Journey time is one hour taxi one and a half hours by bus ( Kalamata is not an industrial city and it has a long pleasant beachfront where you can relax, swim and eat if you have time to spare ).

You can make the trip from the UK to Methoni the same day if you take an early flight to Athens. back to top

LOCAL CAR RENTAL

The bus is a also good option if you are going to rent a car locally for Methoni. The rental companies will deliver the car direct to you at the bus in Kalamata and you can then drive to Methoni ( about an hour ). back to top

By Taxi

For couples ( or three people with minimal luggage ) we may be able to arrange for a local car rental business we know well to meet you at Athens airport and drive you to Methoni for around 120 euros - very good value.

Outside Athens, taxis are priced at around 0.80 euro per kilometer ( Dec 2008 ).

Athens to Korinth by rail.

During the day and early evening there are trains from Athens airport to Korinth see timetables . At Korinth there are buses to Kalamata. The journey uses suburban rail from Athens joining to the Athens metro which in turn connects to the Athens/ Korinth line. Journey time is about one hour and forty minutes. Note that the rail station at Korinth is 10 minutes by cab from the Korinth bus station for Kalamata.

There are two train changes on this route. They are both on the same platform - so no problems with luggage - and they are coordinated, so you won't miss your connection !

back to top