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Car hire in Kalamata – Exploring Southern Greece
Famed for its olives and long sandy beaches, Kalamata is Messinia’s capital and the second-largest city in the sun-blessed Peloponnese region. Here you’ll find ancient and Byzantine relics and houses with a rich mix of architectural styles (such as part Renaissance and part neoclassical). It's a city of old stone churches, little narrow alleyways and a proud waterfront district nestling in the shadow of Mount Taygetus.
Kalamata is also popular for its excellent restaurants (many of them traditionally Greek), great shopping (handicrafts are a local speciality), interesting museums and a vibrant night-life scene that extends well into the small hours, especially during the hot summer months. The best starting point for sight-seeing around Kalamata is the city's historic centre (or Old Town) which is very much the beating heart of the inner city.
Kalamata has numerous cultural attractions to offer, such as its ancient castle, the nearby Ypapanti Byzantine church, Kalograion Monastery (with its silk-weaving workshop) and unique railway park that's home to several restored locomotives from years gone by. And art lovers won't want to miss the wonderful collections housed at the Municipal Gallery, the Archaeological Museum of Messenia and the Folk Art Museum.
Connected to the mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth, the Peloponnese Peninsula is well worth exploring with a car hire in Kalamata at any time of the year. Still one of southern Greece’s less-visited regions, it features the site of the very first Olympic Games, and this part of the Greek coastline offers an abundance of unspoilt beaches for visitors to discover by car, along with plenty of secluded coves and crystal-clear turquoise waters in which to bathe.
Auto Europe can help you plan a wonderful trip to Kalamata and its environs. As one of the world's top car rental companies, we now operate in over 28,000 top locations in more than 190 different destinations. We can offer you the cheapest prices on the market and widest choice of vehicles, whether you need a small, economical car for city sightseeing or a sumptuous SUV for a fun-filled road-trip around the Peloponnese Peninsula.
If you need help planning your trip to Kalamata or personal assistance in making a booking, please feel free to contact our rental specialists for assistance and they will be more than happy to find you the very best deal. For added peace of mind, you might like to spend a few minutes checking out the user ratings and comments posted by some of Auto Europe's previous customers in the city on our Kalamata car hire reviews page.
For more information on renting a vehicle in Kalamata, click on the car hire related topics listed below:
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Where to pick up a car hire in Kalamata
By working with all the world's top car rental suppliers, including National, Sixt, Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Dollar, Budget and Alamo, we can help you make the right choice for your next car hire in Kalamata. We have pick-up points all over the city, including Kalamata Airport and the Port of Kalamata, and to make a booking you just need to make a quick search in our state-of-the-art booking engine to find the best deals on the interactive map that will appear in a few seconds.
Kalamata Airport
Located a short drive from Kalamata city centre, Kalamata Airport caters mostly for low-cost holiday traffic from key European cities. Due to the increased interest in southern Greece as a holiday destination, the list of airlines operating at KLX is growing steadily and urrently includes Aegean Airlines, Austrian Airlines, British Airways (London Heathrow), Condor, easyJet (London Gatwick), Edelweiss Air, Eurowings, Jet2.com (Birmingham, London Stansted and Manchester), LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Olympic Air, Ryanair (London Stansted), Smartwings, Swiss International Air Lines, Trade Air, Transavia, TUI fly Belgium, Tus Airways and Volotea. Most of the car hire desks are situated in the Arrivals Hall just after baggage-reclaim, so please make sure you have your assport, driving licence, coverage info and car hire voucher ready when you arrive to collect your vehicle.
Kalamata Airport (KLX)
Website: Kalamata Airport
Address: Aeroporto di Kalamata, 24200 Messini, Greece
Telephone: +30 27210 63805
Book with the best car hire suppliers in Kalamata
Auto Europe is a leading international car hire company currently offering a vast selection of convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in 190 different destinations around the world. Thanks to our many years of experience dealing with all the global and local car rental companies, we can offer you the best standard of service and cheapest prices on the market.
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Should you require additional information about the car hire companies we work with or their policies, for example out of office pick up or questions regarding age restrictions, our car rental specialists are just a phone call or e-mail away and happy to assist you.
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Kalamata
This section features the most frequent questions asked by people booking a car hire in Kalamata. Scroll down for important tips relating to a wide range of essential car hire topics, such as credit cards, coverage, tolls, traffic and much more. If you need any more information, please contact our reservations team for assistance and they will be happy to help you with your reservation and assist you with your travel itinerary.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Kalamata?
Yes. You will always be asked to present a valid credit card in your name (if you are the main driver) when you rent a car in Kalamata or anywhere else in Greece. Major credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Diners and American Express are used by the local car hire supplier to hold a deposit on the value of the vehicle for the duration of your rental period, the amount of which is promptly returned to the card once the car has been returned undamaged. Before leaving the drop-off point, it is absolutely essential that you make sure that staff from the supplier fully check your vehicle and sign it off as ok before you depart the premises. Please note that for a standard hire, only one credit card is required but for a luxury-category vehicle, two credit cards may be requested. Card types and the amount of deposit required can easily be confirmed on the Auto Europe website after making a quick search in our booking engine. All you need to do is click on the blue and white info icon (i) in the car details for full credit card details regarding your low-cost car rental in Kalamata. For more information, please consult our guide on credit cards and our page explaining the six most important things to know about credit cards and deposits prior to your arrival in Greece.
What insurance do I need for my car rental in Kalamata?
When you book a cheap car rental in Kalamata through the Auto Europe booking engine, you'll find that all the rates quoted include the minimum amount of legally-required Liability Insurance, Theft Protection (TP) and Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) – all of which may or may not require an excess. It's important to note that CDW does not cover every part of the vehicle, in which case it is always best to pay a little bit more for our popular Full Damage & Theft Protection policy which includes the car's glass, mirrors, chassis, etc, the cost of which is determined by the car category, location and rental duration. Please note that the local car rental suppliers in Kalamata might try to offer you additional coverage during the pick-up process, which is entirely optional and almost always unnecessary, especially if you have already taken out Auto Europe's Full Damage & Theft Protection cover. However, you should bear in mind that should you do decide to sign up locally for additional car insurance (such as Personal Accident Insurance, Personal Effects Coverage, Super CDW, Seguro Relax, Roadside Assistance, etc.) with the local supplier, Auto Europe will not be able to give you a refund, regardless of the situation. For more info, please consult our dedicated pages for an overview of car hire coverage .
How is the traffic in Kalamata?
Getting around the local area (including the Peloponnese Peninsula) is easy with a car hire in Kalamata. Generally, the roads in this part of Greece are well maintained with good sign-posting, although some of the streets around Vasileos Georgiou Square have become pedestrian-only zones in recent years which might make reaching the centre a little more difficult by car. The city is well positioned for visitors looking to travel further afield to places like Patras and the Greek capital, Athens, both of which take about three hours by car. With most suppliers it is possible to request a GPS for an additional fee which makes finding your way even easier. Please visit our Greece Driving Guide for lots of useful information relating to getting around the country by car.
Where can I park my car hire in Kalamata?
In Kalamata, parking is not a big issue and free parking spots can be found in most of the side streets around the city centre. As some streets are for pedestrians only, it's best to keep an eye on the local signposts to make sure that parking is allowed in the street you're in. Kalamata Castle is a particularly popular attraction at sunset which can make finding parking during those hours a bit more difficult. Also, in the harbour district (where many fashionable bars and restaurants are located) it gets a lot busier in the evenings around dinner time.
Kalamata Travel Guide
Kalamata is one of southern Greece's upcoming tourist destinations with a growing number of attractions to enjoy. Many people choose Kalamata and the Peloponnese Peninsula region for its fine dining and places of historic interest, such as Olympia, the true home of Olympic Games.
Best day trips with my car rental in Kalamata
Despite its wonderful beaches, Kalamata is also gaining popularity as a year-round destination due to the many days of warm sunshine it offers even during the low season. Visitors have many day-trip options available, including an exhilarating drive around the Peloponnese Peninsula where many secluded beaches and sandy coves can be found. For drivers planning to travel further, Auto Europe has one-way car hire possibilities available, along with regular Free Additional Driver offers throughout the year.
Ancient Olympia
Ancient Olympia: Birthplace of the Olympic Games, the ancient and almost mythical city of lies two hours away from Kalamata by car. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was once a place of worship for devotees of the Greek god Zeus. Today's travellers can visit the Archaeological Museum to admire the amazing sculptures of the temple of Zeus. Olympia hosted the world’s most famous sporting event every four years from 776 BC to AD 393 and the famous Olympic Flame is still lit here ahead of the Games.
Ancient Messini
Just 30 kilometres north of Kalamata, the fascinating archeological site of Messini is one of best-preserved places of its kind in Greece. Originally founded as Ithome in the Bronze Age, the site features an ancient stadium, fountain house and a theatre with capacity for up to 10,000 spectators. Of equal interest is Messini's setting in a serene valley surrounded by the deep blue Mediterranean Sea on one side and the Arcadian Mountains on the other to offer panoramic views for visitors.
Archeological Site of Mystras
Built as an amphitheatre around the fortress erected in 1249 by the Prince of Achaia, the impressive archeological site of Mystras at the top of a 620-metre high hill overlooking Sparta, about an hour's drive east of Kalamata. Mystras is a late-Byzantine complex with many well-preserved features such as advanced street planning and exquisite ecclesiastical architecture. Besides the Mitropolis (Cathedral of Agios Dimitrios), Church Odiyitria-Aphentiko, Convent of Pantanassa and Monastery of Perivleptos, visitors can explore an extensive on-site museum to gain an insight into the day-to-day life of its inhabitants during Mystras' heyday.
Voidokilia Beach
One of the most stunning beaches in the whole of the Peloponnese Peninsula region is Voidokilia, a horseshoe-shaped beach protected by the Gialova Lagoon located an hour's drive from Kalamata. Its shallow, turquoise-coloured waters are a delight for children who can play there all day long without any safety issues. With ample parking available, Voidokilia is also perfct for snorkelling and other popular water sports.
What to do in Kalamata
As one of southern Greece's most popular tourist destinations, Kalamata is packed with tourist interest in addition to its wide choice of nearby beaches and day-trip options. There are several things you mustn't miss, such as the city's ancient castle and the historic church of the Holy Apostles where the Greek War of Independence was initiated in 1821.
- Old Town: With its maze of neoclassical mansions lining medieval cobblestone streets, Kalamata's enchanting historic centre holds many attractions for visitors exploring this ancient city. Located just to the north of the main shopping district, it's the perfect place to drop in on a family-run, hole-in-the-wall restaurant, buy handicrafts, visit old churches, explore museums and feast on local products produced in the Kalamata countryisde.
- Archaeological Museum of Messenia: Housed in a beautiful building of the Venetian-type built in 1742, the magnificent Archaeological Museum of Messenia displays many interesting finds, including an extremely rare a mosaic from Koroni depicting scenes from the worship of Bacchus. Built on the site of the city's old market hall, the museum's collection also includes antiquities from Messenia dating from prehistoric and Mycenaean times to the Byzantine and Latin eras, featuring a gold 16 BC signet ring found in a nearby grave and various coins, pottery items and other ancient artefacts from the Peloponnese region.
- Kalamata Castle: Located high over the city on a lovely pine-covered hill overlooking the Mediterranean, Kalamata Castle was built in 1208 by William of Villehardouin, the fourth prince of Achaea in Frankish Greece. The castle walls have carved inscriptions dating from the Venetian occupation of Kalamata (1685-1715) and excavations have revealed the site of the 6th-century city of Fares. Look out for the small church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, named after the icon of the Virgin (from which the city took its name) featuring beautiful black eyes. The Kalamata International Dance Festival (one of the city's most popular annual events) takes place here every year in July.
- Historical & Folklore Museum of Kalamata: Housed in a small but beautifully restored building, the Historical & Folklore Museum of Kalamata has exhibits dating back to the Revolution of 1821. Visitors can also read detailed information about the agricultural and productive life of Messinian inhabitants over the last 100 years with displays pertaining to Kalamata's rural life and traditions (from weaving, farming and art to pottery-making, bookbinding and presswork.
- Church of the Holy Apostles: The ancient church of the Holy Apostles in Kalamata is of major historical important because it was here that the Mavromichalis declared the revolt against Ottoman rule in 1821 to spark the Greek War of Independence. Constructed in two stages (as indicated by its two domes), this small Byzantine church Originally built in the 11th-12th century in free cross style, the church had an additional cross single-room dome built in the 17th-18th century during the city's Venetian occupation.
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