Greece- Methoni (En)
Methoni is known for its enormous 13th-century Venetian fortress, which you can see in the next blog post, as it deserves its own separate post. But Methoni is also famous for its pristine sandy beaches and its peaceful, authentic Greek village atmosphere. It’s a charming town where you can find everything you need.
Where to stay
We stayed at Camping Methoni (36.817402, 21.7152 lat, long) opposite the beach and a 5-minute walk from the castle and the town centre. We paid €19 per day with the ACSI card, electricity included. The campsite has free Wi-Fi and good 4G coverage. The facilities have been renovated and are clean. There’s a dishwashing area with hot water. Washing machine available for €2. The toilets have lids but no toilet paper. The showers are very good, with good pressure and hot water. The chemical toilet is next to the facilities. The pitches are very spacious and shaded. Ours had beautiful sea views. There’s drinking water between the pitches to fill your tank. The receptionist was very friendly and remembered us. She remembered our campervan and that we were a Spanish woman and an English man. We realised we had been there 3 years ago. The campsite has a restaurant that’s open all day and serves typical Greek food at very affordable prices. I highly recommend visiting this wonderful town.
What to see
There’s plenty to see in Methoni. We walked along the promenade to Methoni beach, with sun loungers and parasols strategically placed along the coast, offering perfect views of the iconic Methoni Castle and Sapienza Island.
Then we explored the town, where we saw the Naval Battle Monument square, surrounded by restaurants. We also saw the Venetian wells built in the 13th century as a water source for the castle inhabitants during the Venetian occupation. They consist of a cylindrical well dug deep into the ground and lined with stone walls to prevent collapse.
We wandered through the village’s narrow streets to see the church and the Monument to the Unknown Soldier next to the Town Hall. The monument pays tribute to the Greek soldiers who lost their lives in various wars and honours those whose remains were never identified. The monument features a central sculpture of a dead hoplite, a classical Greek soldier. The sculpture stands on a large pedestal and is made of materials reminiscent of classical Doric columns.
Another day we went to see the port next to the castle. The port doesn’t have yachts or imposing ships, but rather adorable fishing boats; we loved it.
What to do
Enjoying the beach in the hammocks. The first day we tried to swim, the water was cold, Ben didn’t go in, and I only went in up to my waist. But before leaving, we swam in front of the campsite. Swim successfully!
What to eat
We decided to have lunch at the campsite tavern because they made moussaka, just as we’d asked. So we started with moussaka, which Ben loved, and then had sardines. They offered us a traditional dessert for free, but I couldn’t eat it because it contained egg. It was all for Ben. We paid less than 20 euros for everything. The food was delicious, and ever since, Ben has been making his own moussaka.
In the following blog post, you can see Methoni Castle, one of the largest fortresses in Greece. I hope you enjoy it.
