1. Get Out In Nature

This spring, the Telegraph included Gialova Lagoon in its list of top ten destinations sure to impress visitors. One of the most important wetlands in Europe, the lagoon is a key stopping point for birds migrating to and from Africa; more than 250 bird species have been recorded in the area. It is also the only European habitat of the African chameleon.

Visit the observation stations of the Ornithological Society, and follow the nature walk they have created which passes through the 8 different ecosystems of the lagoon.

2. Visit Nestor’s Palace

One of the best preserved Mycenaean palaces lies 18km north of Pylos. Nestor’s Palace reached the peak of its powers between 1300 and 1200 BC and is located in a prime spot of Messinian land with a breathtaking view of Navarino Bay.

It first came to light during excavations that were carried out in the area during the 1930s and 1940s. The throne room with its large circular hearth, a well-preserved marble bath and the various pottery used to store products such as olive oil and essential oils, are truly impressive. The new roof installed in 2016 to protect the entire archaeological site adds to the grandeur.

5. Stroll Around the Castles

There are two impressive castles near Pylos: Palaiokastro, which was built in the 13th  century AD by the Franks, and Niokastro, which was built in the 16th  century by the Ottomans. The first is located between Voidokilia Beach and Golden Beach in a location with a magnificent view of Navarino Bay; however it is difficult to explore, as it has not been properly conserved and there are some dangerous spots. 

Niokastro is located on a hill west of Pylos and is one of the best-preserved castles in Greece, housing the Archaeological Museum of Pylos and exhibitions by the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities. 

7. Walk the Streets of Pylos

Built amphitheatrically on the slopes of two hills, the town of Pylos took its present form after the naval Battle of Navarino (1827). Almost every part of the town has a view of the bay and the small island of Sfaktiria to the west.

One of the town’s grandest buildings is the mansion where Kostas Tsiklitiras – an early 20th century Olympic champion – first lived. Today it houses a collection of paintings and other items amassed by the French philhellene, historian and journalist René Puaux (1878-1936). 

8. Go under the Sea

A whole world awaits beneath the waves in the Bay of Navarino and surrounding areas, and the only way to explore it is by scuba diving. Shipwrecks from the Roman and Byzantine eras, as well as the 20th century, will be revealed, like the tanker Irene’s Serenade, sunk in 1980. There are many diving schools in the area, such as the Ionian Dive Center in Marathopoli.

9. Taste the Terroir of Messinian Vineyards

When the Nestor Agricultural & Winemaking Cooperative of Messinia was founded in 1954, it represented around 800 vine growers. The area produced quite a large amount of wine, and during the 1980s, international varieties began to be cultivated as well. A few kilometers away from Nestor’s Palace lies the cooperative’s impressively large winery erected in 1993, and which entered a new era in 2015 when it joined forces with experienced winemaker Spiros Lafazanis.

Today, the wine country of Messinia has been revitalized and Nestor brand wines are produced with the collaboration of 200 vine growers. Old local varieties are being rediscovered, and the winery continues to produce exceptional wines at a location with an incredible view. Explore its well-designed spaces, where the history of the cooperative is on display.