The Peloponnese is a region on the mainland of Southern Greece. Due to its low volume of tourists, beautiful beaches, incredible food, and laidback atmosphere – it’s an idyllic place for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of work and relax on the beautiful beaches of Greece. For nurses, this might sound particularly enticing if you’re looking to escape the bedside, prevent nurse burnout, and checkout from your demanding work schedule back home.
A town that I found particularly enchanting, visiting Koroni was a nice respite from the crazy demands of my work as a NICU nurse. In Koroni, I could enjoy the Greek sunshine with a lower volume of tourists, at an affordable price, while still soaking in the spirit of the Greek people. Below you’ll find my complete guide to visiting Koroni, Greece.
For more things to see and do in the Peloponnese region, don’t miss…
- The Ultimate Guide to Road Tripping the Peloponnese in Greece
- 10 Things to See and Do in Greece’s Peloponnese Region
How to Get to Koroni
Located on the southern tip of the Peloponnese, there are many ways to get to the vibrant town of Koroni. Below you’ll find the two easiest ways – arriving from Athens or Kalamata, but there are also ferry ports in the Peloponnese where you can arrive by ferry.
From Athens
The most popular way to arrive to Greece, and thus the gateway to Greece, is to arrive to Athens and transport from there.
- By car – If you want to explore the Peloponnese (beyond Koroni), I highly suggest renting a car. You can do so at the Athens airport (I prefer to use Discover Cars to compare car rentals across multiple different companies). Once you pick up your car, it’s about a 3.5 hour drive to Koroni.
- By plane – Depending on the time of year that you visit, you can take a direct flight from Athens to Kalamata and go from there. Flights are under an hour and you can check prices across multiple airlines here.
If you’re visiting the Peloponnese region from Athens, don’t miss:
From Kalamata
The most convenient way to arrive to the Peloponnese and transfer to Koroni is to arrive in Kalamata where they have an international airport. Depending on the time of year, you can find direct flights from major hubs across Europe including Paris and London. (Search here for options).
If you’re visiting this region, again, I highly suggest renting a car. You can do so at the Kalamata airport (I prefer to use Discover Cars to compare car rentals across multiple different companies). Once you pick up your car, it’s about an hour drive to Koroni.
Things to See and Do in Koroni
FOUMARISTIS TAVERNA
When you visit Koroni, you can’t miss grabbing lunch at this amazing taverna. The food is absolutely delicious and very Greek. Highly recommend!
KORONI’S CASTLE
Built in the 7th century AD, make sure to visit what remains of this ancient castle in Koroni. Entrance is free to visit.
PARALIA ZAGKA BEACH
If you want to relax and soak under the Greek sun, head to Paralia Zagka Beach to do so! Not only is the beach great, but the views are even better.
ST. ELEISTRIA CHURCH
This Christian church was inaugurated in 1900 and not only is impressive in itself, but offers incredible views of Messenian bay, mount Taygetos, and more. The church is free to enter.
TEMPLE OF APOLLO ANCIENT ASINAION
Another worthwhile place to stop by when you’re visiting Koroni is the Temple of Apollo Ancient Asinaion. Like the other sites listed, it’s also free to enter.
How Much Time Should You Spend in Koroni?
Koroni is quite small, you don’t need much time to explore the town. I highly suggest stopping here on a larger road trip through the Peloponnese, and if you do this, you really only need one day. However, if you like to travel at a slower pace – you can always choose to spend the night. It’s truly an incredible area and easy to access.
If you decide to spend the night in Koroni, these are the hotels I’d recommend…
What Else Do You Need to Know About Visiting Koroni & Greece?
- Currency – Euro (€); most places take credit cards, but I suggest having cash on hand just in case
- Language – Greek; you can get by with English
- When to Visit – I suggest visiting between June-September
Greece Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Greece
TRAVELING THROUGH GREECE
- To book a flight to Greece, I recommend using Skyscanner or a big search engine to compare options (if you’re from the US sign up for Going to get cheap flight alerts)
- For car rentals in Greece, I recommend Discover Cars; you will need an international drivers license to drive in Greece
- For ferry/bus tickets, I recommend Bookaway
- If you want an English speaking driver waiting to pick you up at the airport in Athens, use Welcome Pickups
- I highly recommend travel insurance when traveling through Greece – I use and recommend SafetyWing(read why here and here)
- If you need a SIM card, aloSIM for an easy and affordable e-SIM – use code “KYLEE5” for a 5% discount
ACCOMODATION IN GREECE
- To easiest way to book hotels in Greece is through this booking platform
TOURS IN GREECE
- For tours and activities in Greece, I recommend using Get Your Guide or Viator
- For food tours in Greece, I recommend Devour Tours
- For walking tours in Greece, I recommend Take Walks
WHAT TO BRING TO GREECE
- Don’t forget a Greece guide book to help plan your travels
- You’ll need a travel plug adapter (Greece uses type C)
- My favorite luggage is Calpak
- My favorite travel backpack is Nordace
- I recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to cut down on plastic waste
- I recommend an eye mask for long flights and to help with jet lag
I hope that this guide to Koroni helps plan your travels. If you have any questions about visiting Koroni, let me know in a comment below!
For more ideas on things to see and do in Tinos (and Greece in general), make sure to head to my Instagram page/highlight reel and search “#ppingreece” or for the highlight reel “Greece”
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Founded by Kylee, a NICU nurse with nine years of experience, including seven years as a travel nurse; Passports and Preemies was created in 2017 and is now the go-to travel and lifestyle channel for nurses who crave adventure beyond the bedside. Whether you’re a staff nurse looking for your next getaway or a travel nurse navigating life on the road, this space is designed to help you maximize your time off, explore the world, and prevent nurse burnout.
On Passports and Preemies, you’ll find everything from travel nursing insights – how to get started, land the best assignments, and thrive on the road – to expert travel tips, destination guides, and real-talk about balancing nursing with a life well-traveled. Passports and Preemies also includes Beyond the Bedside – group trips for nurses around the world; as well as the podcast, Passports and Preemies Talks.
