Making the most of Pylos
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The cruise dock occupies a central position in Pylos. Larger vessels may anchor instead and carry passengers into town by tender.
Pylos is the name of both a large bay and a town on the western coast of the Peloponnese Peninsula in southern Greece. Two distinct settlements stand several kilometres apart: Old Pylos on the north-west side of the bay and New Pylos to the south-east. Each town, interestingly, has its own castle.
One notable feature is the large town square, which meets the port and contains an enormous plantanos tree with space for approximately a hundred café tables beneath it. In the clear water, visitors can also see remains of ships 'accidentally' sunk by Britain during the Battle of Navarino. The Mycenean Palace of Nestor is another worthwhile stop, but make sure to visit the archaeological museum in nearby Chora for many of the frescoes and artefacts discovered here.
Nearby places
North of Pylos lies Voidokilia, a spectacular beach and wildlife district with considerable historical importance. Evidence shows settlement from the Neolithic period and almost every era since. Enjoy this beautiful bay, sheltered from the Ionian Sea by a line of high-cliffed islands, and the town that 'takes you back to the sixties'.
Food and shopping
Brightly coloured woven wall hangings and bags are a particularly popular regional speciality.
Kalamata is easy to reach by bus and provides good shopping. Plateia Aristomenous has several boutiques, and visitors seeking clothes can find some worthwhile bargains.
Money
Euro is used locally.
Staying connected
The language is Greek.
Opening Hours and
Public Services open Monday to Friday, 8.00am – 2.00pm. Retail Stores & Speciality Shops trade Monday to Friday, 9am – 1.30pm and again from 5pm – 9pm, plus Saturdays, 9am – 2pm. Supermarkets operate Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm, and Saturdays, 9am – 6pm. Most Tourist Shops and Convenience Stores have no formal hours and are generally open from dawn until well after midnight during summer.