As winter is coming and the temperature is dropping I decided to visit the popular town of Kalavrita. This picturesque town is located in north Peloponnese on the slope of mountain Helmos. It is only 191 km away from Athens and 77 km away from Patra. It is accessible either by car, train, or public bus (ktel).
Kalavrita is widely known for its ski resort and its rack railway. As I was doing the research before my trip to see what one can do I discovered that the area offers a wide range of activities both for children and grown-ups. Here are the best things to do in Kalavrita.
- A Guide to the Best Things to Do in Kalavrita, Greece
- Kalavrita ski resort
- The Rack Railway or Odontotos
- Cave of Lakes
- The monastery of Mega Spilaio
- The monastery of Agia Lavra
- Municipal Museum of the Holocaust of Kalavryta and the Site of Execution
- The village and springs of Planitero
- The village of Zachlorou
- Sports activities around Kalavrita
- Explore Kalavrita town and taste the local food
- Kalavrita City Pass
- Where to stay in Kalavrita
A Guide to the Best Things to Do in Kalavrita, Greece
Kalavrita ski resort
As I mentioned before Kalavrita is very popular during the winter times due to its ski resort. It is situated 15 km away from the town of Kalavrita at mountain Helmos and at an altitude of 1700 meters to 2340 meters. The ski resort offers 8 lifts and 13 slaloms of all categories and is ideal for both professional and novice skiers. On-site one can find parking space, restaurants, cafes, shops selling and hiring ski equipment, and a first aid station. Also, ski lessons are available.
The Rack Railway or Odontotos
Odontotos was built in 1895 and it connects the seaside town of Diakofto with Kalavryta. It is one of the few track trains in the world and it took its name from the mechanism it uses to climb when the degree of slopes exceeds 10%. Another thing that makes it unique is the fact that it is the narrowest railway in the world with a width of 75 centimeters.
The journey between Diakofto and Kalavryta lasts 1 hour and it is 22 km. The train makes one of Greece’s most scenic routes as it passes the Vouraikos Gorge. On the way, the visitor can admire the river, a few waterfalls, and incredible rock formations. It is a great attraction both for adults and children and it operates all year round. On national holidays and weekends, it is recommended to book tickets in advance.
Cave of Lakes
The Cave of Lakes is located in Kastria village 17km away from Kalavryta. What makes this cave unique are the cascading lakes that can be found on three different levels inside the cave. Around the galleries, one can admire the stalagmite and stalactite formations. In winter when the snow melts the cave is being transformed into a subterranean river with many waterfalls. In the summer months, most of the water dries up revealing nice formations on the ground.
The cave has 13 lakes that retain water throughout the year. Only a small part of it is open to the public. The part that can be visited is easily accessible for both adults and children. One of the downsides is that photography is not allowed inside the cave. The cave is very impressive and it totally deserves a visit.
The monastery of Mega Spilaio
This beautiful monastery lies on a 12-meter rock just 10 km away from Kalavrita. It was built in 362 A.D. by two brothers on the exact spot (cave) where the icon of the Virgin Mary was discovered by a shepherd girl. The icon of the Virgin Mary was created by Apostle Lucas from mastic and wax.
The monastery has been burnt 5 times the last time being in 1943 when the Germans during the war burned the monastery and killed the monks. The view from the monastery is very impressive.
The monastery of Agia Lavra
The monastery was built in 961 AD and it is one of the oldest monasteries in the Peloponnese region. It has been destroyed a couple of times over the years. It played an important role in the Greek War of Independence as from this spot began the revolution against the Ottoman Empire.
The revolutionary flag that bishop Germanos of Patras raised under the plane tree at the gates of the monastery can still be seen in the monastery’s small museum.
Municipal Museum of the Holocaust of Kalavryta and the Site of Execution
The museum is located in the center of the city inside the old school of Kalavrita. During the Second World War and when the area was occupied by the German troops all the inhabitants were gathered in this building. The woman and children were left inside the school and all the men 16 years and older were led to the nearby hill of Kapi where they were executed.
The school was burnt but the woman and children managed to escape. The museum tells the story of the town of Kalavrita and how the town was destroyed during the war. It was a very emotional visit but it totally worth it. The site of execution is only 500 away from the center and is open to the public.
The village and springs of Planitero
Planitero is a beautiful village located 25km away from Kalavryta after the Cave of Lakes. The picturesque village is surrounded by a dense plane tree forest and a small river. The area is famous for its trout fishery. There are a lot of taverns in the area where one can taste traditional local dishes and trout. The area is also perfect for hiking.
The village of Zachlorou
Zachlorou village is located 12 km away from Kalavryta in Vouraikos Gorge. Vouraikos River passes through the village so does the rack railway. There are a lot of hiking paths around it. There is a path that leads to the nearby Mega Spilaio monastery and another one that leads to the town of Kalavrita among others. There is a beautiful restaurant by the rack railway station called Romantzo where we had lunch. The food was great with many local dishes to try.
Sports activities around Kalavrita
The area around Kalavrita has an incredible nature full of pine forests and rivers offering visitors a lot of opportunities for sports activities. Apart from the popular ski resort, other activities include hiking in one of the many paths around the mountain or passing the Vouraikos gorge while admiring one of the most beautiful natural environments.
For water enthusiasts, there is the nearby Ladonas River which is perfect for kayak and rafting. Paragliding is another activity available in the area. During your flight, you will be amazed by the beauty of the area.
Explore Kalavrita town and taste the local food
Kalavrita is a small town with stone-paved streets, a beautiful square with cafes, and nice shops selling souvenirs and traditional products like honey, hand-made pasta (chilopites in Greek), and herbs.
The town is also famous for its tasty cuisine. Some of the dishes you should try are the local sausages, traditional pies, gioulbasi lamb, and rooster with pasta. Wherever you eat in Kalavrita you will eat well. One of my favorite places was Romantzo in nearby Zachlorou village.
Kalavrita City Pass
On my recent visit, I was happy to discover that there was a city pass available for the town that gave you access to the major attractions of the area with great discounts. The city pass costs 24,80 € and entitles you to:
- free entry to the Kalavrita ski center and a free ride with the aerial lift when the ski center is open or a visit to the Tetramythos winery
- a free return journey between Kalavrita and Diakofto with the Rack Railway (a reservation is required)
- free entry to the Cave of Lakes
- free entry to the Museum of Kalavrita Holocaust
The city pass is valid for a month and if you decide to go to all 4 attractions your discount reaches 50%.
The city pass is being sold at:
- Kalavrita railway station
- Diakofto railway station
- Patra railway station
- Travel and Tourism Office in Athens TRAINOSE (Sina Street 6)
Where to stay in Kalavrita
On my visit to Kalavrita, I stayed at the Filoxenia Hotel & Spa you can read more about it here. What I loved about the hotel was the central location, just opposite the main square with all the shops, bars and restaurants at your feet.
Many of the attractions like the Holocaust museum and the Rack railway are just a few meters away. I liked the fact that I didn’t need to get in the car every time I wanted to eat or buy something. Another advantage was the very polite and friendly staff, the clean and warm rooms and most importantly the fantastic spa, perfect after a day exploring the town and skiing.
Kalavrita is a very nice town with many activities all year round. It was my second visit and it is definitely a place I will visit again in the future.
What about you? Have you been to Kalavrita?