Killini holidays

Holidays to Killini let you explore the Peloponnese peninsula away from the tanned and tested. The little town marries up miles-long coastline with pine-cloaked hills and Medieval ruins.

Port of interest

Killini sits at the Peloponnesian peninsula’s western-most crook. It’s probably best known for its port, and it has a busy timetable of ferry arrivals and departures. But to view it as little more than a place of transit is missing a trick. For one, it’s got a great backdrop, with a Medieval castle standing guard over a thick pine forest that looks like something out of Red Riding Hood. For another, it marks the start of an 11-kilometre-long coastline of talc-white sand nudging up to the Ionian Sea.

Quiet coast

From the castle – which stands at the highest point – all roads beat a track to Killini’s town centre, where there’s a square lined with tavernas and shops. Terracotta-roofed houses and apartments then scatter in picturesque disarray down to a fuss-free beach that majors on peace and quiet.

History on the doorstep

The town is dotted with Roman and Greek ruins, but the Crusader fortress of Chlemoutsi is the king pin here when it comes to historical markers. Besides serving up sea and valley views fit for a king, this square hunk of granite has a colourful history – in turn, it’s been inhabited by Germanic tribes, the Turks, and the Venetians. All have shaped the way it looks, and the remains of shuttered gates, round towers, courtyards, cisterns, a chapel and a mosque are all part of its make-up.

Exploring the area

For all its small-country-town vibe, Killini is really well connected and so it makes a great base for getting around. Its port serves as a busy go-between for the islands of Zante and Kefalonia – both around an hour’s ferry crossing away. It’s just as easy a ride by bus to the cities of Pirgos and Amaliada further south and to Patras on the northern coastline if you’re keen to tick off more Peloponnese must-sees.