Saintfridays holiday villas
Private holiday villas in Messinia, Greece
Peaceful stays near Koroni, steps from the sea
Family run for 20 years
The view of the Mediterranean sea and the mani from the villas
Nestled in an olive grove overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, our self-catering holiday villas in Messinia, Greece, offer an authentic escape near Koroni in the unspoilt Peloponnese. Just a short walk from the beach and the village of Charakopio, the villas combine privacy and simplicity, perfect for a peaceful, away from it all holiday in real Greece, far from the crowds and built for rest, not luxury.
Who we are
Saint Friday Villas takes its name from the tiny hilltop church of Ayia Paraskevi, tucked into the olive groves of Messinia in the southern Peloponnese, Greece. What started twenty years ago as a family project hasn't really changed.
Paul and Hilary moved their young daughters from the clouds of a Scottish farm to the blossom and sunshine of a Greek olive grove — and built something lasting from there. Together the family ran every corner of it: cleaning the villas, planting trees, and learning from the village the traditions and rhythms of rural Greek life. How to harvest olives for oil, how to pickle them to eat, how to press wine from the vines and pick ripe lemons in May.
Our small collection of holiday villas in Messinia sits within a living community — neighbours who know each other's children and grandparents, who can count on one another. That unhurried, rooted way of life is what keeps this corner of the Peloponnese locked in time, and it's what our guests come back for year after year.
We offer five holiday self catering villas in Messinia, Greece, near Koroni in the Peloponnese. Each property has its own character, but all share the essentials for a comfortable stay, including sea views over the Mediterranean, shaded verandas for long evenings, air conditioning, solar heated hot water, and simple, well equipped kitchens. Our villas are ideal for couples and families looking for a peaceful holiday in southern, mainland Greece, close to the beach yet quiet and private. Located just minutes from the coast and within walking distance of Charakopio village, they provide an authentic base for exploring Messinia and the wider Peloponnese. Towels and fans are provided for your comfort, and we are always happy to help with anything extra, whether that is a crib, adapter, or beach umbrella, so you can settle in and enjoy a relaxed and easy stay.
Saintfridays Villas
Villa Nestors
Sleeps 2-4
Villa Methoni
Sleeps 2-4
Villa Mystras
Sleeps 2-4
Finikounda apartment
Sleeps 4
Koroni apartment
Sleeps 5
Sleeps 2
Villa Pylos
Book your stay with us
Please complete the booking request form
To request a booking at Saint Friday Villas, complete the form below with your travel dates, number of guests, your preferred villa (if you have one in mind), and any special requests.
Multi-property bookings and exclusive use of all villas are available for larger groups or private retreats — just let us know and we'll arrange it.
Bicycles and electric bikes can be added to your stay to see even more of the Peloponnese close up, subject to availability, for a small additional charge — perfect for exploring the local olive groves, coastline, and nearby villages.
Rates from €80 per night. Minimum stay 3 nights. Short stays are subject to an €80 cleaning fee.
Any questions about availability, the villas, or the area? Send them through the form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Things to do from Saintfridays
Explore the Peloponnese by bike: Rent a bike or E-bike
Paul has cycled from London to Greece more times than anyone wants to count. The hills of Messinia will humble the strongest among us but we have three Cowboy electric bikes available to hire, with a 50-mile radius, luggage capacity, safety features and GPS. We also have a small number of road bikes for the more adventurous. Ask Paul for route recommendations, there really is no better way to soak in the olive groves, coastline and villages of the southern Peloponnese. Please mention when booking if you'd like to hire a bike during your stay.
Fresh Greek breakfast: dropped to your villa
We can arrange a fresh breakfast basket delivered straight to your villa, locally baked bread, pastries, eggs, coffee and fresh orange juice. Add it to your booking on your chosen mornings (Sundays excluded, as the local bakeries are closed). Let us know at the time of booking which mornings you'd like it and any dietary requirements, and we'll arrange it for a small additional fee.
From our olive grove: extra virgin olive oil
Every year we harvest the olives from the trees we planted as a family when we first arrived in Messinia. The oil is organic, extra virgin, and cold pressed — unlike anything you'll find in a shop. They call it green gold. Our organic extra virgin olive oil will always be at the villa for you to use during your stay. If you'd like to take a bottle of authentic cold-pressed Peloponnese olive oil home with you, just ask.
Local activities: Horse riding, sailing, surfing and more in Messinia
We have plenty of contacts for horse riding, sailing, surfing, motorcycle hire and car hire across the Messinia region. If any of these interest you, we can make recommendations and reach out to contacts on your behalf ahead of your trip, just let us know what interests you.
Book at Saintfridays and explore the Peloponnese
Book a Saintfridays holiday
Tell us your preferred travel dates, number of guests (including infants), and any special requests. Whether you're planning a romantic getaway, family holiday, or extended stay, we’ll make sure everything is tailored to you.
Got a question before you book?
Drop us a message. Paul or Hilary will get back to you.
Where to find us: southern Peloponnese
Charikopio sits in Messinia, in the southern Peloponnese, one of the untouched corners of mainland Greece. The Greek islands are of course beautiful, but they have traded something for the tourism. Here, for better or worse, that trade was never made. What remains is peaceful, unhurried, and layered with history, culture and tradition that still feels genuinely rich with community who aer from here.
Methoni, Pylos, Koroni and Kalamata are all within easy reach; the medieval castles, ancient ruins, waterfalls and breathtaking bays here in Greece make for wonderful day trips. The local village, with its tavernas, bakeries, café and shops, is a twenty minute walk.
In summer, Kalamata Airport (KLX) has direct flights from across Europe and is a straightforward forty minute drive to Saintfridays Villas. Car hire is easy and affordable on arrival - and well worth it. Having a car opens up the Messinian coastline properly, though it isn't essential as regular buses serve the area, and of coast bikes, hikes and boats.
Travelling outside the summer season, or want to see the Acropolis on the way? Athens is a four hour drive through some spectacular Peloponnese landscape.