AREOPOLI
BEACHES CLOSEST TO AREOPOLI
Located in different parts of the same cove, the beaches of Limeni, Neo Itilo (also written Neo Oitilo), and Karavostasi might all be within a stone’s throw of each other, but each has its own character.
LIMENI – A sea of stories
Now a popular swimming spot, in days gone by the seafront village of Limeni served as the traditional seaport of Areopoli. Its history is deeply intertwined with that of the prominent local Mavromichalis family: It is the birthplace of Petrobey Mavromichalis, a local chieftain who became a leader of the Greek Revolution of 1821, and the family’s four-storied tower house still takes pride of place among the traditional stonemasonry houses lined up along Limeni’s picturesque shoreline.
Good to know:
- Limeni is approximately 5km from Areopoli.
- The coastline here is rocky. The easiest way to get into the water is via the specially constructed platform at Dexameni, at the west end of the village. - Parking is available within a 2-5’ walk from here.
- With its rocky coast, sandy seabed, and clear blue waters, Limeni makes for fantastic snorkelling—don’t forget to pack a diving mask and snorkel!
- While not your typical sunbed-on-the-sand kind of beach, Limeni is the only place in the area that offers water sports rentals, including SUPs, sit-on-top - kayaks, pedal boats, and scuba gear.
- The village offers plenty of dining options, including opportunities to try local Maniot recipes and savour freshly caught fish.
KARAVOSTASI – Exhilarating dips
The hamlet of Karavostasi traditionally served as the seaport of nearby Itilo (or Oitilo), a village whose history spans millennia and which is even mentioned in Homer’s renowned 8th century BCE epic, the Iliad. In the early modern period, considerable pirate activity led to Karavostasi being sometimes referred to as “Little Algiers”. It was also here that a five-ship squadron of the Imperial Russian Navy landed in 1770, sparking the Orlov Revolt.
Good to know:
- Karavostasi is approximately 8 km from Areopoli.
- This is a shingle-and-pebble beach with shallow waters that deepen gradually.
- The beach offers no amenities but there are cafés and places to eat, as well as parking spaces, within a short distance.
TSIPA BEACH– Beach bar vibes
Significantly younger than its neighbours, the seaside village of Neo Itilo was established largely in the 20th century and offers a range of accommodation options and services. Its beach, also known as Tsipa Beach, is home to the area’s only beach bar, making it a great choice for anyone whose idea of a perfect day at the beach involves lying on a comfy sunbed and sipping on delicious cocktails.
Good to know:
- Neo Itilo is approximately 7 km from Areopoli.
- The pebble beach gives way to a sandy seabed with shallow waters that deepen gradually.
- There are some amenities at hand, as well as cafés, tavernas and places to park along the beach.
- Additional parking areas, cafés, and places to eat can be found within a short distance.
BEACHES IN DIROS
Located to the south of Areopoli, Diros Cove is known far and wide for its magnificent flooded caves. And with two options for accessing the cove’s fabulously blue waters, your visit to the famed caves can be easily combined with a refreshing dip in the sea.
PIRGOS DIROU BEACH – Before the mouth of the cave
One access point to the sea—on foot only—is located a stone’s throw from the entrance to Diros Caves: From the cave entrance and café area, head towards the water, following the path and going down the sets of steps to reach the little platform at the water’s edge, where there’s enough space to leave your towel and enjoy a quick swim.
DIROS BEACH – Salt cedars and cicadas
Diros Beach is easily accessible by car, with the road leading directly to the beach before giving way to a dirt track that runs parallel to the shore and offers plenty of space to park. Salt cedars that grow between the beach and the road provide some shade. This is a shingle beach with larger pebbles and cobbles that eventually give way to a sandy seabed a few metres from the shoreline. The water deepens gradually.
Good to know:
- Diros Cove is approximately 8 km from Areopoli.
- Pirgos Dirou Beach can only be reached on foot, after leaving the car at the parking area by Diros Caves. Diros Beach can be reached by car, and parking - spaces are just a stone’s throw from the surf.
BEACHES IN EASTERN MANI
Just a 25’ drive from Areopoli, the beaches of Skoutari and Skopa are the perfect excuse to start exploring the east coast of the Mani Peninsula.
SKOUTARI – Blessed sands
Established in the 15th century by refugees fleeing the Fall of Constantinople, the village of Skoutari was named after the home district its founders were forced to abandon. Its beach is known for the 12th century Byzantine church, the Church of Agia Varvara, that stands just a few metres from the surf.
Good to know:
- Skoutari is approximately 20 km from Areopoli.
- This is a mostly sandy beach with crystal clear waters that’s great for families.
- There’s plenty of space to park and natural shade in the afternoon.
- The beach doesn’t offer any amenities but there are two tavernas right on the beach, which are open every day.
SKOPA– Spoilt for choice
Skopa is commonly referred to as Dipli Paralia (Double Beach) thanks to the tombolo (the sand and shingle spit) that connects the islet of Skopa to the mainland, forming two tiny beaches. The islet itself adds more options to choose from, with a path leading past the little Chapel of Agios Nikolaos to diminutive Sykia Beach, perfect for those who enjoy swimming in peace and privacy.
Good to know:
- Skopa is approximately 15 km from Areopoli.
- These shingle and pebble beaches are wild beaches with no amenities, so make sure to bring along the essentials, including a sunshade and beach mat, snacks, and plenty of water.
- This is a great spot for SUPing.
- Parking spaces are available within a short distance from the beaches.
Beaches near Areopoli
When you behold Areopoli, with its stone-built tower houses and tall cypresses nestled amidst Mani’s sunswept, rugged landscape, it’s almost impossible not to compare it to a painting. It is a landscape of enduring beauty, where stark mountains reach down to the sea and azure waters, lapping at these shores for millennia, have shaped a stunning coastline dotted with little bays, fishing coves, sea caves, and tranquil beaches. For some, these beaches are just a pleasant respite between stops on itineraries that explore the region’s many historical attractions and places of interest. For others, these beaches are a destination unto themselves, reason enough to travel through the Deep Mani to savour their distinctively Maniot character.BEACHES CLOSEST TO AREOPOLI
Located in different parts of the same cove, the beaches of Limeni, Neo Itilo (also written Neo Oitilo), and Karavostasi might all be within a stone’s throw of each other, but each has its own character.
LIMENI – A sea of stories
Now a popular swimming spot, in days gone by the seafront village of Limeni served as the traditional seaport of Areopoli. Its history is deeply intertwined with that of the prominent local Mavromichalis family: It is the birthplace of Petrobey Mavromichalis, a local chieftain who became a leader of the Greek Revolution of 1821, and the family’s four-storied tower house still takes pride of place among the traditional stonemasonry houses lined up along Limeni’s picturesque shoreline.
Good to know:
- Limeni is approximately 5km from Areopoli.
- The coastline here is rocky. The easiest way to get into the water is via the specially constructed platform at Dexameni, at the west end of the village. - Parking is available within a 2-5’ walk from here.
- With its rocky coast, sandy seabed, and clear blue waters, Limeni makes for fantastic snorkelling—don’t forget to pack a diving mask and snorkel!
- While not your typical sunbed-on-the-sand kind of beach, Limeni is the only place in the area that offers water sports rentals, including SUPs, sit-on-top - kayaks, pedal boats, and scuba gear.
- The village offers plenty of dining options, including opportunities to try local Maniot recipes and savour freshly caught fish.
KARAVOSTASI – Exhilarating dips
The hamlet of Karavostasi traditionally served as the seaport of nearby Itilo (or Oitilo), a village whose history spans millennia and which is even mentioned in Homer’s renowned 8th century BCE epic, the Iliad. In the early modern period, considerable pirate activity led to Karavostasi being sometimes referred to as “Little Algiers”. It was also here that a five-ship squadron of the Imperial Russian Navy landed in 1770, sparking the Orlov Revolt.
Good to know:
- Karavostasi is approximately 8 km from Areopoli.
- This is a shingle-and-pebble beach with shallow waters that deepen gradually.
- The beach offers no amenities but there are cafés and places to eat, as well as parking spaces, within a short distance.
TSIPA BEACH– Beach bar vibes
Significantly younger than its neighbours, the seaside village of Neo Itilo was established largely in the 20th century and offers a range of accommodation options and services. Its beach, also known as Tsipa Beach, is home to the area’s only beach bar, making it a great choice for anyone whose idea of a perfect day at the beach involves lying on a comfy sunbed and sipping on delicious cocktails.
Good to know:
- Neo Itilo is approximately 7 km from Areopoli.
- The pebble beach gives way to a sandy seabed with shallow waters that deepen gradually.
- There are some amenities at hand, as well as cafés, tavernas and places to park along the beach.
- Additional parking areas, cafés, and places to eat can be found within a short distance.
BEACHES IN DIROS
Located to the south of Areopoli, Diros Cove is known far and wide for its magnificent flooded caves. And with two options for accessing the cove’s fabulously blue waters, your visit to the famed caves can be easily combined with a refreshing dip in the sea.
PIRGOS DIROU BEACH – Before the mouth of the cave
One access point to the sea—on foot only—is located a stone’s throw from the entrance to Diros Caves: From the cave entrance and café area, head towards the water, following the path and going down the sets of steps to reach the little platform at the water’s edge, where there’s enough space to leave your towel and enjoy a quick swim.
DIROS BEACH – Salt cedars and cicadas
Diros Beach is easily accessible by car, with the road leading directly to the beach before giving way to a dirt track that runs parallel to the shore and offers plenty of space to park. Salt cedars that grow between the beach and the road provide some shade. This is a shingle beach with larger pebbles and cobbles that eventually give way to a sandy seabed a few metres from the shoreline. The water deepens gradually.
Good to know:
- Diros Cove is approximately 8 km from Areopoli.
- Pirgos Dirou Beach can only be reached on foot, after leaving the car at the parking area by Diros Caves. Diros Beach can be reached by car, and parking - spaces are just a stone’s throw from the surf.
BEACHES IN EASTERN MANI
Just a 25’ drive from Areopoli, the beaches of Skoutari and Skopa are the perfect excuse to start exploring the east coast of the Mani Peninsula.
SKOUTARI – Blessed sands
Established in the 15th century by refugees fleeing the Fall of Constantinople, the village of Skoutari was named after the home district its founders were forced to abandon. Its beach is known for the 12th century Byzantine church, the Church of Agia Varvara, that stands just a few metres from the surf.
Good to know:
- Skoutari is approximately 20 km from Areopoli.
- This is a mostly sandy beach with crystal clear waters that’s great for families.
- There’s plenty of space to park and natural shade in the afternoon.
- The beach doesn’t offer any amenities but there are two tavernas right on the beach, which are open every day.
SKOPA– Spoilt for choice
Skopa is commonly referred to as Dipli Paralia (Double Beach) thanks to the tombolo (the sand and shingle spit) that connects the islet of Skopa to the mainland, forming two tiny beaches. The islet itself adds more options to choose from, with a path leading past the little Chapel of Agios Nikolaos to diminutive Sykia Beach, perfect for those who enjoy swimming in peace and privacy.
Good to know:
- Skopa is approximately 15 km from Areopoli.
- These shingle and pebble beaches are wild beaches with no amenities, so make sure to bring along the essentials, including a sunshade and beach mat, snacks, and plenty of water.
- This is a great spot for SUPing.
- Parking spaces are available within a short distance from the beaches.
