The 8 Wonderful Things You Need to Do in Beautiful Stoupa Greece

Stoupa Greece used to be a small, sleepy town on the Mani Peninsula of Greece.

But over the past few years, it’s been discovered by Brits and Germans, as well as some other Europeans and has become a hot holiday spot.

That being said, if you avoid the high summer season of July and August, it can be a wonderful spot to enjoy a seaside beach holiday without the hassles of getting to an island — or the cost of some of the Greek Isles. 

I’m looking at you Santorini!

So, you know the drill.

We’ll start with where this charming town is and then move into all the wonderful things about it.

Where is Stoupa Greece?

Stoupa Greece is located in the historic area known as Mani.

Mani is one of the peninsulas within the greater Peloponnese Peninsula of southern Greece.

Mani is gorgeous!

It’s wild, rugged and remote.

It has a mountainous interior that reminds me of the Western Slope of Colorado.

Those mountains slope their way down to the sea.

The coastline is a mix of sheared cliffs, gentle slopes and beautiful bays and inlets.

Occasionally, you’ll find a sandy beach.

Mani is sparsely populated and it takes some time and effort to get here as the roads are narrow and winding once you get past the major towns of Kalamata on the west coast and Sparti in the center.

But it’s worth the effort to get to Mani and to Stoupa as it’s a stunning landscape.

And there is a lot of history — unique history — in Mani as well.

Let’s focus on Stoupa for now.

We’ll come back to Mani in a future post.

I promise.

8 Fabulous Things To Do in Stoupa Greece

Spend some time on Stoupa Beach

Stoupa Greece actually has 2 beaches although the second one (see below) may not technically be within the town limits.

The main beach, Stoupa Beach is really the heart of the town and the action.

Now by some standards, this beach is a bit so-so.

It’s actually fairly long and is sandy unlike some so-called Mediterranean beaches which are pebbly or even man-made (read: concrete).

The waters are calm enough (most days) for swimming.

And the beach is backed by a plethora of places to eat so you won’t go hungry.

It’s a fun, holiday atmosphere for sure.

The beach really is pretty darn nice.

The views out to the sea are fabulous from here as are the sunsets

If nothing else, at least take a stroll along it.

Relax — or play — on Kalogria Beach

On the north side of Stoupa Greece is Kalogria Beach.

This beach is not as long/wide as Stoupa Beach.

However, it’s a gem.

Seriously, it’s beautiful.

The sand is better than Stoupa.

There are a few restaurants backing it so no worries about where you’ll get your lunch or have your beach cocktail.

Here’s an interesting thing about the waters just off the coast of Kalogria — If you look about 100 meters out you’ll see a round ripple in the water. 

This is best seen from above of course.

Well this “ripple” is actually an upwelling of an underground freshwater spring that is fed from the mountains.

So the waters off the coast of Kalogria tend to be a little colder than over at Stoupa Beach.

This beach though is simply gorgeous.

And you can relax or play on the beach or in the waters.

One of my top picks for what to do in Stoupa Greece for sure.

Wander the town

As with any small town or village, I believe wandering about is a fantastic way to truly experience a destination.

Wander the streets.

Get lost.

See where the other travelers are.

And see where the locals live and hang out.

I find that you always come across something interesting — something telling about a place.

It’s a good way to learn and educate yourself on a destination. 

Always be curious.

Always be an explorer.

Stay at Lighthouse Apartments

I am going to be partial about where to stay in Stoupa Greece and highly highly recommend Lighthouse Apartments.

While there are cheaper places to stay in Stoupa, Lighthouse Apartments are definitely a notch above.

There are 10 apartments — 5 ground floor and 5 second floor (or first floor as they say in Europe because there is ground, then there is 1 then there is 2). 

The upper level apartments are brand new — as in they were finished in early 2021.

The ground floor apartments are still very nice, the ones above are just a bit nicer.

So you will pay more for the superior apartments.

But all come with a fully equipped kitchen that includes 2 burners for cooking, microwave, refrigerator, pots and pans, coffee maker, Krupps, electric kettle, toaster and more.

The bathrooms are a good size with hot water and good water pressure.

You’ll have a balcony/terrace on either side of the apartment with a private one out your sliding glass doors and one at the entrance of your lovely apartment. 

One faces the sea (north) and one faces south to a garden area.

Beds are comfy for sure.

Being able to listen to the sound of the sea at night will lull you right to sleep.

And you’ll have towels for showering and the beach plus soap, a hair dryer and iron (should you need it).

The welcome includes a local bottle of wine along with the handmade local — and tasty — sesame pastry.

Giota is the host and she is wonderful.

She will give you all the information you need for your stay in the Stoupa area.

And she is available if you need any help at all.

There is a lovely garden area to sit outside if you want to mingle with your fellow travelers. 

The water feature is soothing and a lovely added touch.

Lighthouse Apartments is definitely one of the best places to stay in Stoupa Greece.

Eat at Stoupa Restaurant

There are lots of places to eat in Stoupa Greece.

You’ll find loads of places backing Stoupa Beach and a few spots backing Kalogria Beach.

Then there are little places nestled in the middle of the village.

But I think one of the best places to eat — and the locals agree — is Stoupa Restaurant.

First of all, the location is perfect right along the north end of Stoupa Beach.

This means you’ll get some fabulous views of the beach, the town, the sea and, yes, be treated to some beautiful sunsets.

There is a nice big terrace for outdoor dining as well as a lovely indoor area if the weather is not cooperating. 

The service at Stoupa Restaurant is excellent with many of the servers speaking some English.

But, of course, you’ve come here for food.

And it is delicious!

The menu is just large enough with a good array of starters, salads, seafood/fish, pasta and mains (think meat like lamb, chicken, beef and even goat for you adventurous eaters). 

I found a really good vegetarian option in wood fired aubergine (eggplant) stuffed with a tomato and onion sauce.

It’s tasty!!

All of this comes at a very reasonable price as well.

This is truly the best restaurant in Stoupa Greece.

Have a drink at Enigma and watch the sun go down

Another spot that the locals love is Enigma.

It’s near Stoupa Restaurant but you’ll have to walk down another side road to get to it.

It does have a restaurant adjacent to it called Liastres that serves traditional Greek food.

But if you just want to go for a coffee or an adult beverage at sundown, I highly recommend this.

Walk, run or cycle the the trail to Agios Nikolaos

When I found out there was a trail to this charming fishing village, I knew I would walk it.

We’ll get to Agios Nikolaos below.

But let’s start with the trail.

It’s not well-marked, but it is marked.

I know.

I’m contradicting myself a bit here.

Bear with me.

The beginning of the trail in Stoupa starts on the south side of town.

There are some signs and there are white arrows painted (faintly) on the road.

So while it’s not easy to find, it’s also not difficult to find.

Use Google Maps if need be as I believe it will help you out.

The trail is paved so you can cycle it.

Or you can walk or run it.

Locals are out walking their dogs and running on it.

I see other travelers out walking it, cycling it and running on it.

The views from this trail are spectacular.

On the Stoupa end it starts through some olive trees.

Then it comes out by the sea.

And it stays there — all the way to Agios Nikolaos.

I went in search of it a few days after I arrived in Stoupa.

After I found it, I walked part way out on it to see what it was like, camera in hand.

And then I thought, “This would be great to run.”

So I ran part of it.

The trail is a little over 2 miles in one direction. 

From where I was staying at Lighthouse Apartments which is the north side of Stoupa, it’s about 2.5 miles.

It’s an easy walk although it would be very hot in the middle of the day in summer.

There’s no shade.

So take some water, put on your sunscreen and enjoy the amazing views.

And don’t forget your camera!

Spend some time in Agios Nikolaos

While technically Agios Nikolaos is outside of Stoupa, it’s close enough (see above) to count, right?

This fishing village is so charming.

There isn’t a beach like in Stoupa.

But there is a lovely harbor area with places to eat and traditional stone buildings lining the waterfront.

It’s a wonderful village to wander about a bit, then sit and relax with a meal and an adult beverage while taking in the sea views.

Make a day of it by walking from Stoupa and then spending a few hours in Agios Nikolaos then walking back to Stoupa.

My advice is to eat at Taverna Vezuvious.

It’s around the corner a bit from the main marina area.

The views from Vezuvious are awesome AND there is a small sun terrace where you can sit in a sun lounger then jump into the water to cool off.

I had a delicious Greek Salad along with some local wine.

And just sat and … well, relaxed.

Locals and travelers alike come to this spot. 

It’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Are these the only things to do in Stoupa Greece?

Of course not!

You can partake in all kinds of water sports such as SUP, swimming and kayaking.

There are many more places to eat and drink.

And there are other places nearby to visit — towns and historic sites.

But I wanted to concentrate mainly on the town and its immediate area.

Hopefully, I’ve raised your curiosity about Stoupa Greece — and perhaps the Mani area in general. 

It really is a beautiful destination and so worthy of the extra effort to get here.

Please note that Wander Your Way is only recommending international travel to those who are vaccinated and feel comfortable doing so. This is because travel to Europe is complicated.

If you do decide to travel internationally, please do your research or use a travel planning service such as Wander Your Way. Please stay up to date using official sources like the WHO and CDC.

I am continuing to write about incredible destinations and to offer tips on travel to Europe, so that you will find some solace in these posts — so you dream about travel and learn about places. And hopefully make that bucket list! This way when we can all fully travel again, you’ll be ready to go. 

And if you are ready to go soon, please contact Lynne for any assistance you may need.

 

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