Excellence Luxury Villas · Messenia
Luxury Villa Rentals in Messenia
Sea-view villas and apartments with pools, from Navarino Bay and the Venetian castles to the Mani villages beneath the Taygetos
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Olive groves, Venetian castles and the quieter side of Greece
Messenia is the south-western corner of the Peloponnese. It is a green, fertile province and has been growing olives for a very long time: clay tablets from the Mycenaean palace near Pylos record olive oil, and the groves have hardly stopped since. The Kalamata olive takes its name from the regional capital, and the coast that runs around the province is long, varied and still pleasantly unhurried.
Our Messenia collection runs to 44 properties. Most are apartments and villas with sea-view pools, many of them infinity pools, set on the hillsides above Kalamata and Kardamyli and around Pylos, Methoni, Koroni, Petalidi and Stoupa. The largest has 12 bedrooms.
Here is how the coast divides up, and when to come.
Messenia at a glance
- Properties
- 44 villas and apartments, with up to 12 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £3,200 to £8,300 a week, from around £2,800
- Best areas
- Pylos and Methoni in the west, Koroni and Petalidi on the gulf, Kardamyli and Stoupa in the Mani
- Best time
- June to September for swimming; May and October for walking, sightseeing and quieter beaches
- Airport
- Kalamata, with direct summer flights from several UK airports
Browse all 44 villas in Messenia
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Meltemi Messenia: 6-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Messenia6 bedrooms
Villa Methoni Messenia: Luxury 6-Bedroom Beachfront Apartment with Pool – Messenia6 bedrooms
Villa Kyanos Palaiokastro Pylos: Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Sea Views – Messenia5 bedrooms
Villa Zephyros Kolokytha Gialova: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Sea Views – Messenia4 bedroomsWhere to stay in Messenia
Pylos and Costa Navarino for sandy bays and golf, Methoni and Koroni for Venetian castles and quieter beaches, Kalamata for city life, and Kardamyli and Stoupa for the Mani coast beneath the Taygetos.
Navarino Bay, Voidokilia and the palace of Nestor
Pylos is a small arcaded harbour town on Navarino Bay. In 1827, British, French and Russian fleets destroyed the Ottoman and Egyptian fleet here, a decisive moment in the Greek War of Independence. These days the bay is calmer, and good for swimming and boat trips.
A little to the north, Voidokilia is an almost perfect semicircle of sand below the ruins of Old Navarino castle. Inland stands the Palace of Nestor, the Mycenaean site linked to Homer's wise old king of Pylos. Costa Navarino, nearby, has the province's championship golf courses.
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Two castles at the tip of the peninsula
The Venetians called Methoni and Koroni the eyes of the Republic, because together they watched over the shipping lanes to the east. Methoni's fortress runs right out into the sea and ends at the Bourtzi, an octagonal tower on its own islet. It is one of the most atmospheric castles in Greece, and it is rarely crowded.
Koroni is on the other side of the peninsula. Its pastel houses climb up towards the castle walls, looking across the Messinian Gulf to the Mani, with long beaches just below. Further up the gulf coast, Petalidi is a quiet village among the olive groves.
Stone towers beneath the Taygetos
South-east of Kalamata the Taygetos mountains drop almost straight into the sea. This is the Outer Mani, a country of stone tower houses, small coves and old mule paths. Kardamyli is where Patrick Leigh Fermor, who had already written about the Mani, built his house and spent much of the rest of his life. It is easy to see why he stayed.
Walks lead up from the village into the Viros Gorge and on to the hill hamlets above. Stoupa, a short drive south, has sandy bays that suit families with young children.
Olives, figs and a July of dance
Messenian cooking is simple and good: Kalamata olives and their oil, dried figs, and pasto, a smoked pork that is a local speciality. Each July the Kalamata International Dance Festival brings contemporary companies to the city, and in recent years it has also staged performances at Ancient Messene, one of the best-preserved classical cities in Greece.
The sea is warmest from June to September. May and October are quieter and better for the ruins and the walking, and the olive harvest begins in late autumn. Our concierge can arrange transfers, tee times, boat trips and tables at the best tavernas.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Messenia
Villa Taygetos Stoupa: Luxury 6-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Messenia6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £8,253 a week
Villa Taygetos Pyla: Luxury 4-Bedroom Apartment with Infinity Pool & Sea View – Messenia4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £7,798 a week
Villa Meltemi Messinia: Luxury 12-Bedroom Villa with Sea Views & Private Pool – Messenia12 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £7,602 a week
Villa Eleonas Messenia: Spacious 6-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Seaviews & Pool – Messenia6 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £7,476 a week
Villa Lysias Pylos The Peloponnese: Spacious 5-Bedroom Apartment with Sea View Pool – Messenia5 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £7,007 a week
Villa Agios Pylos: Spacious 5-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Pool – Messenia5 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £6,895 a week
Villa Helios Messenia: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Messenia3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £6,783 a week
Villa Kalamata Messenia: Luxury 4-Bedroom Villa with Seaview & Pool – Messenia4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £6,664 a weekWhy book your Messenia villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Messenia's coast is long and its roads wind slowly through the olive groves, and we know which properties are a short drive from a sandy beach, a good taverna or the golf at Costa Navarino. With 44 properties in Messenia, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Transfers from Kalamata airport, tee times at Costa Navarino, boat trips on Navarino Bay, guides for Ancient Messene and the Palace of Nestor, private chefs and taverna reservations. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best area in Messenia for a villa holiday?
Pylos and the Costa Navarino area are best for sandy beaches and golf. Methoni and Koroni are quieter and have Venetian castles. Kardamyli and Stoupa suit walkers and families who want the Mani coast with the Taygetos mountains behind.
When is the best time to visit Messenia?
June to September is best for swimming. May and October are warm and much quieter, and better for walking, sightseeing at Ancient Messene and the Palace of Nestor, and long lunches outdoors.
What is Ancient Messene?
It is the ruined city founded in 369 BC, after the Theban general Epaminondas freed the Messenians from Spartan rule. Its theatre, stadium and long city walls are unusually well preserved, and it is a straightforward day out from most of our properties.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Messenia?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Messenia cost?
Across our 44 villas in Messenia, weekly rates typically range from £3,200 to £8,300, with the most affordable from around £2,800 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Messenia from the UK?
Kalamata airport has direct summer flights from several UK airports, including London Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh. Kalamata and Kardamyli are an easy drive from the airport, and Pylos is around an hour away. Athens is around three hours by road.
Are there villas in Messenia for large groups?
Yes. Our Messenia collection includes properties with up to 12 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in Messenia
44 homes across Messenia, from Navarino Bay to the Mani, with our concierge to arrange the rest