Greece · Peloponnese
Yacht Charter Pylos
One of the largest natural harbours in the Mediterranean, with a battle on its floor and a Mycenaean palace above it.
Navarino Bay is closed on its seaward side by the long island of Sfaktiria, which leaves two narrow entrances and a sheet of protected water five kilometres across — one of the great natural harbours of the Mediterranean, and the reason everything that happened here happened. On 20 October 1827 the allied fleets destroyed the Ottoman and Egyptian fleet inside it, which effectively secured Greek independence. The wrecks are still on the bottom.
The bay
Sfaktiria was already famous before that: in 425 BC an Athenian force trapped and took a Spartan garrison on it, and Sparta surrendering rather than dying was news that changed how Greece saw Sparta.
Niokastro stands above the town, an Ottoman fortress of 1573 with a hexagonal citadel, and it has been restored to hold the underwater antiquities collection. The town below it is arcaded and built round one square with plane trees.
Nestor and Voidokilia
The Palace of Nestor, sixteen kilometres north, is the best-preserved Mycenaean palace anywhere — walls waist-high through the whole ground plan, a throne room with a hearth, and a bathroom with the tub still in it. The Linear B tablets found here in 1939 were what allowed the script to be deciphered.
Voidokilia below it is a bay shaped like a near-perfect omega, sand the whole way round, with the Gialova lagoon behind it — the most important bird wetland in the southern Balkans, and a stop on the African migration.
Practical notes
- Navarino Bay is five kilometres across, closed by Sfaktiria, with two narrow entrances
- The allied fleets destroyed the Ottoman and Egyptian fleet here on 20 October 1827; the wrecks remain on the bottom
- Niokastro, an Ottoman fortress of 1573, holds the underwater antiquities collection
- The Palace of Nestor is sixteen kilometres north and is the best-preserved Mycenaean palace anywhere
Reached from: Kalamata and the western Peloponnese
Where to dine
A table by the water
Kanali
PylosOn the water below the square, doing fish from the bay and nothing it has to explain.
Gialova
GialovaRound the bay by the lagoon, with the tables out on the quay from the afternoon.
Elia
PylosUnder the plane trees on the main square, and open long after the rest has shut.
What to do
Anchorages & excursions
Navarino Bay
Five kilometres of protected water closed by Sfaktiria, and the fleets sunk in 1827 still on its floor.
Niokastro
An Ottoman fortress of 1573 above the town, holding the underwater antiquities collection.
The Palace of Nestor
The best-preserved Mycenaean palace anywhere, where the Linear B tablets were found in 1939.
Voidokilia
A bay shaped like a near-perfect omega, with the Gialova bird lagoon behind it.
The fleet
Yachts available for Pylos
Vessels that operate here, from flagship motor yachts to smaller crewed boats. Every rate is quoted on enquiry.
Good to know
Questions we are asked about Pylos
- What happened at Navarino?
- On 20 October 1827 the British, French and Russian fleets destroyed the Ottoman and Egyptian fleet inside the bay, which effectively secured Greek independence. The wrecks are still on the bottom.
- Why is the Palace of Nestor important?
- It is the best-preserved Mycenaean palace anywhere, with the ground plan complete to waist height, and the Linear B tablets found there in 1939 allowed the script to be deciphered.
- What does a yacht charter in Pylos cost?
- It depends on the yacht, the season and the crew, so we quote on enquiry rather than publish a figure that would be wrong for most weeks.
Destinations
Nearby destinations
Charter here
Enquire about a charter in Pylos
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are, and we will come back with the right yacht and a full quotation.