Koroni

Koroni is a small town in the Messenia region of Peloponnese, Greece.

Understand

Koroni is a picturesque village, built on a hill right above the Messinian gulf. It has an imposing Venetian castle (partly ruined of course), a harbor well sheltered from all but Northerlies which is home to a number of fishing boats.

Waterfront restaurants/tavernas provide a wide-ranging selection of mouth-watering dishes. The area is renowned for its olive oil, fresh fish, sandy beaches (one of which is a turtle nesting site).

This is a mainland town with many characteristics of an 'island' village / town. Summer (late July and early August) is VERY busy, hot and dry. It would be wise to pre-book accommodation, Spring can be very warm but with some showers - flowers are wonderful in late March through April and into early May.

After 15th August Assumption of Mary Feast, Koroni begins to calm down. September is a wonderful month (though it might rain), the sea is still very warm.

Get in

By bus

Bus connection (KTEL) to Kalamata, about 1 hour.

By plane

By plane from Athens Int'l Eleftherios Venizelos with Aegean Airlines [2]. There are also seasonal flights from Irakleio, Crete (Sky Express) Nuremberg (Oslo (Scandinavian Airlines [4], LON-Gatwick and Manchester (Fly Hellas), Amsterdam (Transavia), Prague (SmartWings), Moscow-Domodedovo (Aegean Airlines).

Summer/Autumn 2013, Easyjet, Gatwick-Kalamata

Get around

Why not try by foot? Particularly in the cooler seasons the flora and fauna are amazing, Spring is a splash of riotous colour, orchids abound, bird life is everywhere.

Rent Moto (motorbike)

Car rental

Taxi

See

Locally

Venetian Castle, turtle nests/hatching in summer, sandy beaches aplenty...Zaga, Memi, Agios Triada, Peroulia.

Nearby

Ancient Messini

Do

Rent sailboards / catamarans / canoes - windsurfing lessons - Memi beach

Zagga beach. A great, long sandy beach with good shallow water. Largely undeveloped apart from one beachside cafe, which offers loungers and umbrella for €6, and a cluster of cheaper umbrellas for €5 (cheaper but no access to the toilets). On the other side of the headland to the harbor and waterfront restaurants etc. Follow the signs off the main road entering town. There's a bit of parking for cars / mopeds, but not lots, and it's a long walk down, but it's worth it.

Buy

Sunday - street market, local products (fruit, vegetable, honey, cheese, olive oil, olives (Kalamata type))

The usual tourist shops, jeweler Alexandros who hand crafts - can produce pieces to your request (as well as changing your watch battery).

2 banks - National Bank of Greece and Agricultural Bank. Working hours Monday-Thursday 0800-1430, Friday 0800-1400. Both have ATM's.

Sipsas supermarket, on the main road into town is a good plac to stock up on most things you'll need. There's a bigger selection here than in town.
Kiari wine and deli. A well informed wine shop offering a lot of choices on Greek bottled wine. Also selling own production koroneiki extra virgin olive oil produced by them and officially bottled, together with many Greek delicacies.

Eat

A very wide range of restaurants along the waterfront serving local dishes, also pizza style food available, but don't miss the back street options where prices can be a bit 'keener'.

Bogris. offers good wholesome food at reasonable rates.

Drink

Sleep

A huge choice of apartments, either in town or a little out of the mad rush, many within easy walking distance of beaches like Zaga, Memi and Agios Triadas.

Budget

Tsapi Camping, Tsapi Beach, 36.755175°, 21.854937°, +30 27250 51521, +30 27250 51503. C class campsite 2016-03-07
Koroni Camping, 36.7994°, 21.9504°, +30 27250 22119, +30 6984 631118 (Mobile), info@koronicamping.com. C class campsite. Operating period: All year 2016-03-07
Akritas Residences, +30 27230 51438, +30 6973-490953 (Mobile). Furnished apartments. Operating period: Apr - Oct 2016-03-07
Xenios Zeus, +30 27250 22509, +30 6974 047580 (Mobile). Rooms to let 2016-03-07
De La Plage Hotel, +30 27250 22401, info@delaplage.gr. 2-star hotel. Operating period: Apr - Oct 2016-03-07
Diana Hotel, 36.79715°, 21.95672°, +30 27250 22312, +30 6974 903678 (Mobile), info@dianahotel-koroni.gr. 1-star hotel 2016-03-07
Sipsas Villas, 36.79604°, 21.95849°, +30 27250 22312, +30 27250 22134, +30 6974 903678 (Mobile), info@sipsas-villas.gr. Furnished apartments Operating period: All year 2016-03-07
Zagamilos Hotel, 36.79421°, 21.95210°, +30 27250 29027, +30 27250 22448, +30 27250 22385, info@zagamiloshotel.gr. 2-star hotel. 500 Meters from the beach. 32 A/C double rooms. Internet access, TV, sea view with balcony. Parking, restaurant, bar. Operating period: Apr - Sept. 2016-03-07
Kombi Beach Apartments, 36.8260°, 21.9283°, +30 27250 25765, +30 6977-331686 (Mobile), info@kombi-beach.gr. 2016-03-07
Peroulia Beach Villas, 36.826589°, 21.930539°, +30 27250 41777, +30 27250 41498, +30 6946 287878 (Mobile), info@peroulia-beach.gr. 2016-03-07

Mid-range

Colonides Beach Hotel, 36.835533°, 21.930582°, +30 27250 41200, +30 6946-287878 (Mobile), info@colonides.gr. 3-star hotel 2016-03-07
Sofotel, 36.79677°, 21.95465°, +30 698 292 8443. Some pretty great gulf views here, some rooms with balconies. Breakfast available (surcharge). $81 2021-06-20

Splurge

Camvillia Resort, 36.838636°, 21.927150°, +30 2725 042131. 5-star hotel 2016-03-07
Colonides Beach Hotel, Main Street, Vounaria. Have a swim in the pool overlooking the Messenian Gulf, then enjoy a snack bar and breakfast in the morning. +30 2725 041200.

Connect

Post Office (ELTA)

Buy a telephone card - Ya card for cheap telephone calls to abroad and long distance in Greece.

Wifi available - Hotspot at (dead link: December 2020) (Also others)

Koroni - town in Greece