A small fishing-and-cruise port 45 minutes from Olympia, with the long sandy beaches of Skafidia and Kourouta up the coast to the north. The soft coastal coda to the inland days.
Katakolo is a small port on the west coast — fishing harbour, cruise stop, and the launching pad for the coast strip that runs north and south.
The town itself is a short pedestrianised waterfront with a few cafés and the fish tavernas along the beach. The interesting things are the beaches: Skafidia, softer and shorter, 15 minutes north; Kourouta, long and sandy, half an hour up the coast. The beaches are quiet outside July and August. The Magna Grecia farm is 40 minutes inland, near Olympia.
A late-July day on the coast, when the water is warmest.
Before the heat, walk up from the port to the lighthouse on the hill, about 1 km away. It was built in 1865; footpaths with lamp posts were laid around it in the early 2000s.
Fifteen minutes north: fine sand with a Blue Flag, and a lifeguard from 10:30. The Aldemar resort runs the organised part.
By the sea at the mouth of the Iardanos: a convent with a fortified tower, its oldest parts from around the 12th–13th century and its narthex painted around 1710. Free entry.
Back in Katakolo, on the beach a short walk north of the port, with tables facing the sea: fish of the day, grilled octopus and sardines.
Forty minutes inland, near Olympia: the Karabelas family’s farm and olive mill. The olive-oil and wine tour takes about an hour and a quarter: a class on oil, the mill, a tasting of oils, then wine with meze. Book the 16:00 start online.
Forty-five minutes north-west to Kourouta: over 5 km of golden sand facing south-west, with Zakynthos across the water and a Blue Flag. Swim, then watch the sun go down, around 20:45 in late July.
The interesting things sit along the coast road north of the port, and inland towards Olympia.
A small port of 511 people (2021): a pedestrian waterfront, fish tavernas on the beach to the north, and the Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology (free; donations welcome). The 1865 lighthouse stands on the hill about 1 km from the port.
Thirty minutes up the coast: over 5 km of golden sand facing south-west towards Zakynthos, with lifeguards, cafés and restaurants, and a Blue Flag. The sunset beach.
Fifteen minutes north: fine sand with a Blue Flag and a lifeguard from May to October, the Aldemar resort behind it, and the medieval Skafidia convent by the river mouth.
Forty minutes inland at Flokas, near Olympia: the Karabelas family’s olive farm and mill, with olive-oil and wine tours starting at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30 and 16:00. Book online.
Twenty-five minutes inland: the capital of Elis, a town of 26,052 people (2021), with a market hall of about 1890, attributed to Ernst Ziller, that now houses the Archaeological Museum.
Forty-five minutes inland via Pyrgos: the sanctuary of Zeus, the ancient stadium and the museum. Detail on the Olympia page.
Tell us a little about the trip you want — pace, who's coming, how you'd like to spend your mornings. We'll build the days.
