What's the best way to travel to Monemvasia and Mani from Corfu? I know I can fly to Athens or Kalamata and rent a car to drive to Monemvasia. Is there a better approach?
Also, is there a ferry from Corfu to Patras or anywhere else in Peloponnese? I searched greekferries.gr and ferryhopper.com and couldn't find anything.
Thanks.
Regarding a ferry from Corfu to Patras, I did a quick search and on certain days there is a ferry from Corfu to Kefalonia, or from Corfu to Ithaki, where you can take a separate ferry to Patras.
What's the best way to travel to Monemvasia and Mani from Corfu?
From Corfu, take a ferry to Kefalonia, and then another ferry to Patras.
Once you're in Patras, you'll need to find a rental agency that allows a one-way rental so you can drop the car off somewhere else (like Athens or Kalamata). You will likely have to pay a hefty drop-off fee for this option.
While the Mani Peninsula is definitely worth a few days of exploring with a rental car, you’d better be really interested to justify driving all the way to Monemvasia. It’s located on the exact opposite side of the Peloponnese from Patras, and the medieval town is basically just a completely uninhabited, open-air museum that you can easily see in 2 or 3 hours. (for a one-way trip of nearly 6 hours from Patras).
FYI, many cruises include a stop at Monemvasia. It does sound like your interest in Greece is well beyond what you can see from a cruise. It is a very nice visit, especially if you have read the Patrick O'Brien novel that focuses on it. Isn't it much closer to Athens than Patras?
