It is the city center however that offers a plethora of attractions, such as the medieval castle of Isabeau, built in the 13th century by William of Villehardouin, Frankish ruler of Greece at the time. The Palia Poli or Old City at the foot of the castle should also be visited for its architecture, narrow alleys, Byzantine church, traditional color and much more.

The city is also home to the Benakeion Archeological Museum and the Modern Art Gallery, providing two completely different angles and timeframes on art and culture in the region. Kids will love the Railways Park that displays old railway wagons and motorcycles, while the Folklore and History Museum will appeal to those who want to admire Greece's recent history.

Not far from the city is the archeological site of Ancient Messini, an exceptional and underrated site with an ancient theatre, colonnades and parts of once-formidable buildings and temples that have many stories to tell from the days of Theban generals and Spartan warriors. If you keep on driving to the coast and western-most peninsula of the Peloponnese, you'll come across fascinatingly idyllic towns of Pylos, Methoni and Koroni, full of medieval castles, archeological sites and majestic beaches. Kalamata can be a base to discover this amazing part of the Peloponnese which has so much to offer yet is still not very popular in terms of mass tourism from abroad, even if it's a favorite of Greek visitors who flock to it in summer. Simply put, rent yourself a car and get ready for a surreal adventure in this part of the Peloponnese!