Why You Need to Visit the Beautiful Town of Kardamyli Greece

Kardamyli Greece is a small town on the Mani Peninsula.

And the Mani Peninsula is part of the Peloponnese Peninsula.

It’s a charming little town worthy of some time.

Kardamyli makes a wonderful spot to either base yourself to explore this piece of the Mani or it makes a great day trip from other spots of the Mani.

Let’s start by firmly placing this little enchanting town on the map.

Where is Kardamyli Greece?

Kardamyli is 35km south of Kalamata (yes, like the olive).

Kalamata is one of the main towns with a small airport in the Mani Peninsula. 

Although, truth be told, I’m not 100% sure it’s technically part of Mani.

But it’s close enough!

Anyway, Kardamyli Greece is quite small with a population of just 417 folks at last count.

However, it does have a good array of accommodation and restaurants.

And it’s right along the water making it a lovely spot for taking in sea views or frolicking in the water.

Plus there are mountains behind it so you can spend some time out on trails too.

Let’s dive into the reasons why you should put Kardamyli on your list.

Kardamyli Greece is a delight to wander about

This little village has some very picturesque streets to wander about.

There are little shops, restaurants, cafes and bars as well as a couple of little parks.

While the main road goes right through town, take a wander down a street and you’ll probably find yourself by the water.

Which leads me to the next thing to do in Kardamyli Greece…

You’ll eat some delicious food

So I need to be honest.

I actually did not eat or drink here.

But in doing some research from trusted sources, I’ll recommend a few spots.

Because from what I read, there are some fabulous spots to eat and drink.

So you’ll have quite a few places to choose from, especially given that this is a small town.

Tikla Cuzina and Wine Bar is one of the favorites. 

Good wine, great food and it sits by the water.

Aquarella Cafe/Cocktail Bar is also along the waterfront.

This is a hip, happening place so it will be busy in summer.

As the name says, it is a bar with just light bites.

Androuvista Cafe is in the heart of town so no views but great for people watching.

It’s open all day and I hear the food is delicious.

Psaltiras Wine Bar is the place to go for the best Greek wine.

Not only that, but you can do wine and olive oil tastings at Psaltiras.

I’m definitely hitting this place up on my next trip to Kardamyli Greece!

 They do have light bites to go along with your wine — and olive oil!

Lastly, I want to mention 1866 Beer Bar.

I walked by here and it looks like a fun spot. 

They serve Greek beers as well as beers from all over the world.

And they have burgers.

So if you are craving a brew and a burger, this is the spot.

It also has that cozy, pub feel and they do music on some nights. 

Now I want to move onto what was my favorite thing to do in Kardamyli Greece.

Explore Old Town Kardamyli

On the east side of the main street, you can follow a path (it’s well posted) to Old Town Kardamyli.

To me, this is one of the best things to do in Kardamyli Greece.

It’s a relatively short walk up to the collection of buildings to what is sometimes referred to as Upper Kardamyli.

For €3 you can tour the buildings which also include a museum and the church of St Spyridon.

I hear the church is amazing, but it wasn’t open when I went, unfortunately.

However, I found the site still very interesting and worth the €3 donation.

Do go up into the tower as the views are awesome.

I highly recommend spending a bit of time in the museum as it will help put things in perspective.

This area of Greece has a lot of intriguing history!!

There are many more things to do in Kardamyli

And around it.

There are some good mountain trails in the area, a couple that do actually go up Mount Taygetus, the big peak you see looming behind the town.

 Vyros Gorge (or Viros Gorge) is not far away either.

So there are some outdoor pursuits for those of you who want to enjoy nature away from the water.

And this area is known for churches.

So many little churches scattered about!

Some are still intact and some are ruins.

But you will find many many churches up in the hills and mountains, some of which are in precarious places!

I was trying to figure out what kind of vibe Kardamyli has.

There are definitely places that feel more upmarket.

Then you come across the local men sitting at tables, drinking, talking and playing games and Kardamyli feels very work a day.

I visited in late October so there weren’t a lot of tourists, although there were some.

So I found the town to be very laid back.

However, I would imagine summer might be a bit crazy with more people and a more energetic vibe.

So — depending on what kind of atmosphere you want — you may want to visit in the high summer season or visit in May or late September or October. 

Up to you!

Do I recommend staying in Kardamyli?

Maybe. 

I do like Stoupa for Kalogria Beach, the trail to Agios Nikolaos and its other amenities such as a good grocery store.

The location of Kardamyli is good for sure.

And it seems to have an excellent array of accommodation — from hotels, to simple guest houses to holiday apartments and homes.

I would definitely love to go back to Kardamyli Greece and spend more time — have a bite to eat and explore more.

I’m not sure I would stay there but I do think it could be a good option for anyone going to this part of the Peloponnese in Greece.

And if you don’t stay, be sure you spend a good half day there.

You really don’t want to miss Kardamyli Greece!

Please note that Wander Your Way is only recommending international travel to those who are vaccinated and feel comfortable doing so. While travel to Europe is getting easier, we are still not out of the woods with COVID.

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.

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

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