There are places in the world that we love, which make us pause, take a deep breath, and consider a dramatic life reset – preferably one involving linen shirts, long lunches, and a suspiciously perfect suntan. Costa Navarino, in Greece’s sun-drenched region of Messinia, is exactly that sort of place. It doesn’t just sit pretty on the southwest Peloponnese coast; it reclines with effortless style, surrounded by some of the most unspoiled landscapes in the Mediterranean. Its creation is rooted in a long-term vision: sustainable development, respect for heritage and preserving the raw, unvarnished beauty of Messinia.
Messinia has always been a region of stories, from Homer’s verses to tales told at a local taverna over meze and ouzo. Costa Navarino breathes new life into this cultural fabric: tales spun by raconteur travellers, traditions passed down through generations and even the simplest narratives – of poetic sunsets.
Where you choose to rest your head is a matter of personality. Couples craving a distinctive escape might opt for The Romanos, part of the Luxury Collection – think understated glamour and a heavy dose of romance. OutThere families, meanwhile, sprawl happily at The Westin Resort, with activities designed to tire out even the most indefatigable of children. Holiday hedonists and solo-travellers alike gravitate to W Costa Navarino, a lively playground where the young and the young-at-heart chase both cocktails and sunrise. For those who seek their luxury at its most refined, the Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino offers privacy, escapism and world-class pampering.
The newest jewel in its crown is Navarino Agora, a lively seaside marketplace where Greek craftsmanship meets cosmopolitan flair. Here, shopping is a discovery – artisan goods, lively performances, local delicacies. It’s the kind of place where an evening can easily stretch into midnight, carried along by good wine and better conversation, all with the sound of the sea as your soundtrack.
In Costa Navarino, there are 40 restaurants and bars tempting with flavours ranging from rustic Messinian fare to haute cuisine. If retail therapy is more your pace, there are more than 45 shops to browse, where the souvenirs lean decidedly towards chic rather than kitsch. In short: pack extra luggage allowance.
For the wellness-inclined, three world-class spas await, offering treatments that may well render you horizontal for the remainder of your stay.
It wouldn’t be Greece without a touch of competitive sporting spirit, and at Costa Navarino, that spirit is evident in golf. Four signature 18-hole courses beckon, each one with views so distracting you may find yourself three-putting more than you’d like. Then there are other sports – plural, because one wouldn’t do. Tennis enthusiasts find their match at the Mouratoglou Tennis Centre, with 17 pristine courts including the now very fashionable pickleball. Basketball lovers can shoot hoops at the NBA Basketball School, while water babies can take to the sea diving, sailing, or yachting.
Active or languid, competitive or contemplative – Costa Navarino caters to whichever version of yourself you decide to bring with you on holiday.
Yet perhaps the most charming element of Costa Navarino isn’t in its luxe trappings but in its commitment to authenticity and with that sustainability in the most raw of senses. Experiences here are stitched together with Messinia’s cultural DNA: olive oil tastings from groves that have outlived empires, cookery classes where yiayia’s recipes reign supreme, and explorations of archaeological sites where history is told in the most genuine encounters with the land and its people.
Despite the sense of escape, Costa Navarino is remarkably accessible: a breezy 40-minute drive from Kalamata International Airport. And yet, once you arrive, Messinia works its quiet magic.
For OutThere travellers, we know that Costa Navarino will be less a destination and more a philosophy: a reminder that luxury can be lived gently, in harmony with nature and culture, without sacrificing indulgence. Moreover, it offers more than just a holiday; it extends an invitation to belong – to step into the story of Messinia, and perhaps even to write your own chapter along its golden shores. That, surely, is the greatest souvenir of all.
Where world-class luxury meets Greek soul
Four world-class resorts, endless sea and spa indulgence, championship golf and authentic Messinian heritage – this is the Med’s most sustainable escape, with sunsets worth travelling for.
Photography courtesy of Costa Navarino
