48 Best Hotels in The Peloponnese, Greece

A complex of restored buildings at the far edge of the Old Town (reached on a trek over sometimes steep and uneven pavement) provides atmospheric and comfortable lodgings tucked into nooks and crannies under cane-and-wood or vaulted brick ceiling. Each is decorated with good beds and handsome contemporary furnishings, along with a smattering of patchwork rugs, embroidered tapestries, and antiques. Many rooms have terraces and sea views, and some have fireplaces.

The sleek style here begins in the modern marble lobby and extends through fittingly spartan yet handsome guest rooms, with their contemporary, light-wood furnishings and soft, soothing colors. All rooms have balconies. The restaurant, Zeus, serves such specialties as arni araxobitiko (lamb with onions, cheese, red sauce, and walnuts), and a café serves lighter fare.

On the other side of the bay, above Selinitsa beach, lounges one of the more established stays of the area. White cabanas line the pebble beach out front, punctuating the pretty lawn that dribbles down to the coast. Beyond, cabins scatter grassy grounds speckled with olive trees. Plush residences come with their own private decking, Jacuzzis, and private mini pools; others just with sea views out over the bay. Interiors mix plain white and bold colors with painted wooden beams, never letting you forget you're by the coast, which is exactly why you come here. 

The pool sparkling in the leafy courtyard is a welcome sight after a hot day of exploring the ruins of nearby Mystras, and the well-equipped guest rooms have a degree of business chic about them. Public spaces, including a restaurant adorned with classical plaster reliefs, are especially grand.

Cloaked in the fir forests of the Mainalo, this stone-built boutique has more than an air of alpine magic about it. Rooms are likeably cozy, with statement walls, wood beams, and decorative furniture. It's a snug base for day treks in the gorge or skiing sessions up on the mountain, with an on-call massage service and Jacuzzi baths clearly aimed at unknotting aching muscles.

The conversion of this 500-year-old building is a thing of beauty. Owner Nektaria has created an elegant stay with just three suites branching off the main reception and bar. Their wood-beamed interiors are all different: some replete in elegant Venetian-style furnishings; others more design-led. Uniting them are views from the balconies, offering glimpses of the old fortifications creeping to the west and the seas beyond. Breakfasts are first-rate and held in Chrisovoulo café-restaurant (on the street below), which is some of the finest dining in town in the evening. The wine list there is especially good.

There is a strand of hotel that has embraced the "aren't we having fun" vibe, and Moxy fits squarely in that bracket. But beyond the relentless branding—Polaroid prints of young somethings indulging themselves decorate lifts and walls alike—this is easily one of the city's most accomplished stays. It's also really good value for what you get: great pool, small gym, views out over the twinkling waters of the marina, and all within easy walking distance of the bus or ferry terminals. It's the perfect stopover. 

If first impressions are everything, spare a moment for the glamorous Nafplia Palace, which is reached either by car or via a bizarrely dark, graffitied tunnel leading to a trio of battered elevators. The latter whisk you up from the Old Town to another world entirely, where extensive grounds, spacious villas, and luxurious suites sit perched high above Nafplion on the ruins of the Frankish fortification atop Acronafplia. Rooms in the old hotel wing, in what was a state-run stay in the 1970s, are yet to be reopened; the real lure are the bungalows and villas, equipped with sumptuous bathrooms, sliding glass walls, and chic modern furnishings; some even have private pools and huge pine-scented terraces.   Even if you're not staying here, it's worth the rickety elevator ride to visit the bar, which sits on a pine-scented terrace high above the town and is a prime spot for a sunset cocktail.

These bright, handsome stone cottages, owned by the couple behind Lela's Taverna, lie scattered across hillside gardens. Their insides are furnished in handmade, bleached-wood pieces and attractive muted fabrics. Each unit also has a large terrace overlooking the sea and kitchens are well equipped. The hospitality of Giorgos and Maria is as warm and embracing as everything else about this lovely spot. Stays are a three-day minimum.

Nestled amid one of the most likable streets in the old town, this estimable pension has charm to spare. High-ceilinged rooms make the most of its 19th-century neoclassical townhouse setting, with some accommodating up to four people—a rarity in the city's pensions. Owner Ute also has a choice of apartments elsewhere in town, so there's a good choice for larger families. Sun-speckled balconies overlook one of the city's better areas for a quiet night out, and in the morning some of the best breakfasts in town (homemade and imaginative) are served in the bistro downstairs. 

The 200-year-old property seems to be on top of the world, tucked away at the very summit of the Old Town, just below the Acronafplia. From here its breezy balconies and gardens gaze out to the sea. It's been in the Zoltas family for over 40 years, and one of the brothers is always on hand to extend familial hospitality that extends to fresh-squeezed juice from the family orchards and homemade cakes and jams. Aside from being convenient to the sights (and the beach is short walk away), this homey perch is full of shady nooks and crannies that are tailor-made for relaxation, while the terrace has fantastic views at breakfast. Grab a stay in one of the lower stone-floored rooms for something a bit special.

A handful of swankier boutique stays jostle infinity pools on the northern lip of Limeni Bay, where this elegant stone-built spa and hotel cuts a dignified air. Rooms have the look of a luxurious country cottage, with TVs and desks stashed away in alcoves and old fireplaces; wooden beams hang overhead; and mattresses perch on raised stone plinths. The decking and pool crests the hills above the bay, making for spectacular views. A fine-dining restaurant, spa, and gym (a rarity among Greece's boutique stays) round off an impressive array of facilities.

Kalamata isn't blessed with an abundance of reliable city hotels, especially within the town center—the resorts that span to the east tend to be more modern and up to date, yet the Pharae Palace comfortably bucks the trend, taking pride of place on the promenade, surrounded by eateries and evening strollers. Its Loft bar and restaurant has fantastic views come sunset and a fine reputation for its cooking. Rooms have been recently renovated, and what it lacks in a pool it more than makes up for in having the sea on its doorstep.

A stone mansion set in a fragrant garden at the edge of the modern town is the setting for this stylish country retreat, where luxurious rooms, all decorated with rich colors and fabrics, overlook orange groves and Mt. Taygettus. The stone-walled public rooms and shady terraces are a delight as well, as are the friendly welcome, attentive service, and excellent breakfast.

This 19th-century tower peers with an aloof air over the waters of the Messinan Gulf—its rooms have been whittled into the narrow confines and what were mostly ruins before being sensitively restored. While the tower has just three rooms, they have been cleverly renovated, even going so far as to use its stone buttresses as a bunk-style bed in the junior suite. The infinity pool and decking below let you bob in the water while watching the tides drift by, and chef George Samoilis has a fine reputation for his takes on classical Maniot cuisine and his diples (baked dough dipped in honey) are enough to weaken the knees. 

In this beautiful, traditionally styled house just off the Aeropolis main square, large, stone-floored, stone-walled, wood-ceilinged rooms combine distinctive, traditional ambience with modern comforts. They open off communal terraces and overlook a small garden—it's either there or in the lounge that the excellent buffet breakfast is served.

From the shady, well-manicured side garden to the attractive traditional furnishings in the spotless rooms, every part of this hotel is welcoming. Balconies have views over the town and sea, and each room has an individual heating and cooling unit (important when the mosquitoes are out in force). The breakfast spread is lavish, with fresh orange juice, local yogurt with honey, and freshly baked breads, all held in the vine-covered garden.