Kosher and Shabbat in Kalamata: kosher food, Chabad and Shabbat times

Is there kosher food in Kalamata?

As of October 2026 we found no kosher restaurant, Chabad house or active synagogue in Kalamata. Kalamata is a port city and the capital of Messinia in the southern Peloponnese, and a popular base for the Messinian beaches and the Costa Navarino resorts. If you keep kosher, plan ahead. General information on the city and region is on our Kalamata page.

Where is the nearest Chabad to Kalamata?

The nearest is Chabad of Athens, at Aisopou 10 in Psiri, which also houses the Gostijo kosher restaurant and a grocery. Kalamata to Athens is about 240 km by motorway, roughly three hours' drive. Details in our Chabad houses in Greece guide and kosher food in Athens guide.

How to manage kosher food in Kalamata

• Delivery from Athens: Chabad's e-kosher.gr ships products and meals across Greece. Order a few days ahead and arrange the address and refrigeration.
• Shop in Athens on the way: if you land in Athens and drive to the Peloponnese, stop in Psiri for kosher meat and groceries for the whole trip.
• Local supermarket: big supermarkets carry packaged products with recognised kosher symbols, but check every product. See kosher products in Greek supermarkets.
• Apartment with a kitchen: the easiest option for kosher travellers is to rent a flat and cook.

What about kosher hotels in the Peloponnese?

There is no permanent kosher hotel around Kalamata. Some years, kosher travel companies run holiday programmes in Peloponnese hotels. For example, for Passover 2024 a kosher Pesach programme (glatt, cholov Yisroel) ran at the Aldemar Olympian Village in Skafidia, Ilia, according to GoKosher. Such programmes change every year, so check with kosher tour operators before each holiday.

Costa Navarino: what kosher travellers should know

The Costa Navarino resorts are about 40 to 45 km from Kalamata airport, roughly 40 to 45 minutes' drive, according to Costa Navarino. From central Athens it is about 270 to 280 km. The hotels there are not kosher. Kosher families usually book a villa or suite with a kitchen, bring food from Athens and use packaged products. Before booking, ask the hotel about an in-room fridge, disposable tableware and a regular key for Shabbat.

A short checklist before you go

• Meat and chicken: buy in Athens or order from e-kosher.gr, with a cool box for the drive.
• Bread and challah: order in advance, or bake in your flat.
• Wine for kiddush: there is no kosher wine in local supermarkets. Bring it from Athens or Israel.
• Shabbat times: download the Kalamata times from Hebcal in advance.
• Hotel: write in your booking that you need a regular key and a low floor, since not every hotel will disable sensors.

Shabbat times in Kalamata

Kalamata lies west of Athens, so sunset there is a few minutes later than in Athens. Check exact candle-lighting and Havdalah times for Kalamata on Hebcal by city name. Times for Athens, Thessaloniki and more are on our Shabbat times and kosher in Greece page.

Tips for Shabbat in Kalamata and Messinia

• Keys and lights: many hotels use magnetic key cards and sensors. Ask for a regular key or a room without sensors, and write it in your booking.
• Eruv: there is no eruv in Kalamata. Plan what you need to carry.
• Getting there: Kalamata airport has domestic flights from Athens (Aegean, about 50 minutes) and seasonal flights from Europe. We found no direct flight from Tel Aviv. See current fares on our flights page.

FAQ

Is there a Chabad house in Kalamata? No. The nearest Chabad house is in Athens, about three hours' drive from Kalamata.

How can I get kosher food in Kalamata? Order delivery from e-kosher.gr, buy in Athens on the way, or choose packaged products with a recognised kosher symbol in the supermarket.

Is there a kosher hotel near Kalamata? Not permanently. Kosher holiday programmes sometimes run in Peloponnese hotels, so check with kosher tour operators.