In this article, with the help of @Surtuko, we will rate the Peloponnese for Dutch citizens who want to buy a home in Greece.
Who is @Surtuko?
Marianna is the face of @Surtuko. If you cook for 1 or 2 people, and want to learn more about Greek cruisine, @Surtuko has the recipes for you. Marianna’s vision is to help people who want to eat different food every day without feeling trapped in the kitchen.
The Greek word “surtuko” means “a person who generally avoids family life and its obligations and is used to go around, having fun and loitering.” For example: “You surtúko, where have you been all day and haven’t cooked?”
Marianna describes her first love for food: “The story my parents love to tell to anyone they first meet is about when I was a year old and was scolded for taking a loaf of bread in my hand and dipping into the sauces on the table. I wanted, and still want, to see and eat everything.”
About the Peloponnese
Of every region on the Greek mainland, the Peloponnese is the most popular to visit for tourists, apart from Attica (where Athens is located). This region of southern Greece is not far from Athens and features beautiful resorts, historic monuments, UNESCO Heritage Sites, Byzantine churches and monasteries, and temples to the ancient Greek gods.
Popular places to visit in the Peloponnese are the incredible cities of Olympia, Epidaurus, Mycenae and Tiryns. The Peloponnese connects to the rest of mainland Greece at two points: the Corinth Canal and the Bridge of Rio Antirio. The Peloponnese is also known for its delicious Greek food and wine, which is produced locally and differs by region in the Peloponnese.
Ranking Methodology
How did we decide what factors are most important for Dutch home buyers? To solve this challenge, we first asked our sales and legal team, who offer consultation and legal handling to dozens of Dutch clients (both those who do and don’t purchase a property). We then combined this data with a small survey of Dutch clients who ultimately purchased a home to find out their highest priorities.
How Does the Peloponnese Rank for Dutch Travelers?
Sea View
The Peloponnese has one of the longest coastlines of any area in Greece, at almost 1500 kilometers. Some parts of the Peloponnese are undeveloped and there are many opportunities for beachfront homes. Some popular areas to get a sea view in the Peloponnese are Monemvasia, Costa Navarino, Nafplion, Porto Heli, Methoni, and Koroni.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Direct Flights
From the Netherlands, you can fly directly to two airports with access to the Peloponnese: Kalamata and Athens. It is important to remember that in size, the Peloponnese is one of the largest regions in Greece. If you’ve traveled to Crete, going from the top of the Peloponnese to the very bottom is like traveling from one tip of Crete to the other.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Property Prices
Prices in the Peloponnese highly depend on the area where you buy a home. According to national averages from Spitogatos, prices range from about 1100 Euros per square meter to 1700 Euros per square meter.
Corinthia: 1500 Euro/sqm
Lakonia: 1150 Euro/sqm
Argolis: 1690 Euro/sqm
Arcadia: 1150 Euro/sqm
Achaia: 1170 Euro/sqm
Messinia: 1563 Euro/sqm
Compared to the “hot” areas of Greece, like Athens, the Cycladic islands, Mykonos, Santorini, and Corfu, you will have a traditional Greek experience without facing large crowds of tourists. In addition, prices are almost 50% less expensive.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Internet Speed
Internet Speeds are available in the Peloponnese via Speedtest by Ookla. Out of the towns listed in the Peloponnese, Corinth’s speed is the fastest, at 50 MBPS. Compared to other areas of Greece, this is slightly above average. You can expect slower speeds in the more remote areas of the Peloponnese.
Rating: 9 out of 10
English Speakers and Expatriate Community
If you choose one of the Peloponnese’s most touristed towns, like Costa Navarino, you will surely find English speakers or even Dutch speakers. This area of Greece is growing a lot in popularity, so you can expect to see many visitors. If you choose to buy a home in the more remote southern areas of the Peloponnese, the community of English speakers will definitely be smaller.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Overall Rating: 9.6/10
Where Should I Buy a Home in the Peloponnese?
In this section, with the help of @surtuko, we highlight some of the most popular areas for Dutch buyers in the Peloponnese.
Argolis
Epidaurus
The Sanctuary of Asklepius is found in Epidaurus in the eastern Peloponnese. A large theater with excellent acoustics is located nearby, which was used to honor the god and is today called the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus. Today, concerts and festivals are held here, and it holds 14,000 people.
Nafplio
We will cover Nafplio in more detail later in the article. Nafplio is one of the most pretty towns in southern Greece, and it was the first capital of modern Greece. It is known for its old town, narrow alleyways, delicious Greek food, and its seafront promenade.
One of the best sights in town is the Palamidi Castle on the hill overlooking the old town. It takes 999 stairs to reach the top of the Palamidi castle.
Messinia
Methoni
The town of Methoni is one of the most incredible sights in the Peloponnese, with a 13th century fortress and entire medieval town where you can spend hours wandering around. The small castle in Methoni is called the Bourtzi and it protected Methoni in the past. Methoni is also a family-friendly town with plenty of beaches with shallow waters and nice tavernas around several city squares.
Kalamata
You probably have heard of this Peloponnese city for its olives. And it’s true – the olives and olive oil from this area are world-renowned. However, the Messinia region around Kalamata has much more to offer than just great Greek food.
Kalamata is about 240 km from Athens – a comfortable drive of roughly 2.5 hours. Direct flights connect Kalamata International Airport with most European cities, with the number of links growing year by year.
Achaia
Kalavryta
The historic town of Kalavryta is especially significant for Greeks because it is where Archbishop Germanos signaled the beginning of the War of Independence in 1821. The Monastery of Ayia Lavra is nearby and also was a place of political rebellion during the Second World War. It was burnt down by the Nazis because they thought it held resistance fighters. The monastery now has an impressive historical museum.
Patra
Patra is the capital of the Peloponnese and it is the largest city in the Peloponnese – also the second busiest port in Greece, second only to Piraeus in Athens. Patra is a main hub for travelers in mainland Greece and connects not just to all of the Peloponnese, but also to other areas of mainland Greece and to Italy.
Patra has several interesting museums and sights in town, and also several parks and squares where you can relax. For a day trip, you can visit the Achaia Clauss Factory – a Bavarian-style castle that is the headquarters of the oldest winery in Greece.
Mani
Vathia
Vathia is a picturesque fortified town, and each home is built like a mini-castle. They are built close to one another in a defensive arrangement. Many of these towers were built in the 18th and 19th centuries to protect against Ottomans, pirates, and other attackers.
Kardamyli
Unlike the rest of the Mani peninsula, where some areas have grown with the influence of tourists, Kardamyli is a town with old-world charm. Patrick Lee Fermor, the famous author whose home is now a museum in the area, is quoted saying: “We saw a peninsula ending in crescent-shaped beaches … We walked down into a gently sloping world of the utmost magical beauty.”
Laconia
Monemvasia
The Castle Town of Monemvasia is one of the most incredible places in all of Greece, and few visitors to Greece make it this far south. Monemvasia is in the southwest of the Peloponnese on a sea rock. Back in those times, the city was built there because it was not visible to enemies on the mainland.
The only way to visit at the time was by boat. The name of Monemvasia for this reason translates to “single passage.”
