Bus to Nestor's Palace

Gary, here's a website you should BOOKMARK for any trip, then you can use it first ... https://www.rome2rio.com Y ou get options, and then you can ask opinions of which option to choose. It's always good to do a little homework first, then people can go straight to advice, when u do a bit of research yourself.

Rome2rio shows that you CAN get there by bus, a lot more cheaply than taxi or car-hire. Click bus, & it tells u the frequency (2x a dayfrom Kalamata) and a link to the local KTEL website for timetable. NOTE: the KTEL (intercity) bus system is not national, run from a central office like Athens... each "Prefecture" (like a county or mini-state) controls its own... some have online timetables, others you have to call (and they may speak only Greek) or even stand in a bus station and copy timetables off a wall chart. I've done both. A good start always would be to ask your hotelier, who will know answers or can call on your behalf.

I had a wonderful experience going to Nestor's Palace. I stayed not in Pylos but just 10 km north of it in Gialova, a "hidden gem" of a shore village ... only 3-4 blocks long, about 3 hotels, a heavenly beach. Guided by wonderful Zoe of Hotel Zoe, I knew where to stand for bus.... it goes straight to a town but will stop at Nestor site if asked. At the time it was closed for renovation, but I "pulled rank" ... My U of P prof knew the archeologists in charge -- so I got in (now it's reopened, fortunately). A summer intern even took me into town to the little museum, very worthwhile. After that, I needed the bus stop for the noon return bus, but didn't know how to find it. Spotted a ya-ya (grandma) walking with a 5-year-old, neither English-speaking. Somehow I dredged from my memory the word for bus, "Leophorio" (??) and the boy became very animated, tugging at my hand. Off we went for 2 blocks, and he triumphantly pointed at a shop on a corner. ( I thanked him profusely in bad Greek). Learning I had 45 minutes to wait, I had coffee next door, along with 4 mustachio'd retirees who had nothing to do but try out their English on my, while I tried my Greek on them. Good time had by all.

Hi,

Thanks for your valuable information.

Was it worth visiting the Chora Museum ? What were the frescoes like ?

So what time did you get the bus from Gialova ? Was this heading for Kalamata ?

For your return bus from Chora, I guess it was going back towards Gialova ? Was this about noon ?

Regards

Gary

gary, I cannot know whether you would find the museum of interest. I have audited a number of archeology/classical studies courses at the U of PA, including one by the prof. i mentioned; she's an expert on Minoan/Mycenaen frescos, and has been project leader in reconstructing a number of murals at Pylos, Santorini and Crete. Thus I was pleased to see some of her work in the small museum. I am deeply interested in these civilizations and have studied them... you have not shared your background/interests or what prep you contemplate for your trip. While you were at the site, you might engage some of the staff in a discussion about the museum and who knows? someone might be driving into the village (otherwise it's a walk of a bout 1.5 miles).

About bus schedules, I cannot extrapolate from a visit several years ago... things change. I gave the link that enables you to find answers -- including the KTEL link to the Bus Timetable. Did you open it up at all?

Good news Gary! the finds from Nestor's Palace,which were in Chora... are now apparently moved to a New Museum of the area, in Pylos, housed in an historic castle there... and Pylos is far easier to access than Chora..
https://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/08/25/16th-century-greek-fortress-hosts-new-archaeological-museum/