Costa Navarino is the #1 on the NCG Top 100 European Golf Resorts list for good reason. Located in Messinia in the southwest of mainland Greece, in one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the Mediterranean, it is one of the best golfing destinations on the planet.

Costa Navarino has three distinct areas, the Dunes, the Hills and the Bay, each with its own character, architecture and audience, and since our last list, two new world-class hotels have opened – the cool, laid-back W Costa Navarino and the staggeringly beautiful Mandarin Oriental, with 99 earth-sheltered villas providing epic views of the historic bay of Navarino. With the existing Romanos and Westin, this means four luxury hotels aimed at different crowds. 
Two new Jose-Maria Olazabel-designed golf courses now bring the total to four; The Bay, The Dunes, The Hills and the first International Olympic Academy Golf Course in the world. 
Each hotel has a vast range of restaurants, swimming pools and luxury spa, set against the backdrop of a breath-taking Mediterranean seascape. 

The most recent opening is Navarino Agora - the shopping hub of the resort and a vibrant, multicultural environment where tradition meets modernity. A curated marketplace of waterside cafes, restaurants and boutiques - plus an outdoor cinema. 
Navarino Blue is the next site currently under construction, with a 1km long south-facing beach the central focus of the resort.

The Dunes Course is one of four 18-hole golf courses across the Costa Navarino portfolio. It was the first signature-designed golf course in the country. The Bay Course offers panoramic sea and mountain views, with two holes playing along the historic Bay of Navarino while The International Olympic Academy Golf Course and The Hills Course offer players different challenges. Along with the golf and accommodation, there are three fabulous spa centres, more than 40 dining facilities, and a whole host of sports and activities, including the new Mouratoglou Tennis Center. 

There is also the opportunity for private ownership at Costa Navarino, with Navarino Residences. These properties are just a few metres from the beach, or situated among olive groves. 

There are some truly wonderful golf resorts across Europe, but this was an easy choice and a worthy No.1. 
Costa Navarino is a magical escape and a very special place. 

Book your trip to Costa Navarino with Golfbreaks now.

Visit Costa Navarino’s website here.

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Costa Navarino is the leading golfing destination in Greece, and indeed in Europe. It plays host to four incredible 18-hole golf courses. The Dunes Course was the first signature-designed golf course in Greece. The Dunes was designed by former Ryder Cup Captain Bernhard Langer, with the help of European Golf Design. 

The Dunes Course is the championship course at the resort, and it uses the natural landscape to its advantage. There are links-style elements to the course when it closes in on the coastline. Part of the course runs through olive and fruit groves while some holes run alongside the Sellas River which meanders through the site. Combined with large undulating greens, wide fairways and steep-faced pot bunkers, the links element of the course adds to its unique style and playability.

The Bay Course at Navarino Bay was one of several courses on the NCG Top 100 European Golf Resorts list designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. A touch shorter than the Dunes Course, it still offers up a challenging test for golfers of all levels. With the majority of tees offering sublime sea views and two holes playing along the Bay of Navarino, the course provides a dramatic and memorable golf round.

Navarino Hills then plays host to two more courses; the Hills Course and the International Olympic Academy Golf Course. These were both designed by Ryder Cup legend Jose Maria Olazabal and are the two newest courses in the Costa Navarino portfolio. Both are set above the coastline with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, the Bay of Navarino and the Ionian Sea..

Navarino Dunes is the home to two  5-star hotels. The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort and the Westin Costa Navarino. The Romanos has incredible suites and villas for romantic getaways, while the Westin is the best choice families.

The uber-cool W Costa Navarino is tone of two hotels at the Navarino Bay area - and the first W hotel in Greece. There are almost 250 villas, suites and rooms at the W, and it is set within a stone's throw of the beach. Expect laid-back vibes and a cool crowd, 

Newly opened for 2023 at Navarino Bay is the Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino - also the first Mandarin Oriental hotel to open in Greece. Guests can stay in one of 99 earth sheltered villas and suites, which have been designed to offer privacy and tranquillity. 
The unique architectural design is aligned with Costa Navarino’s sustainability principles, and feature planted roofs blending into the natural landscape and the use of local materials. Seamless indoor and outdoor transitions, combined with eye-catching décor and traditional materials, allow guests to connect with the surrounding nature. A stay here is a truly special experience.

It is not just hotels that are on offer at Costa Navarino, there is also the chance to permanently live in the resort. Villas and apartments are available to buy, with all property owners entitled to the use of facilities at the Navarino Dunes section of the resort.

The Anazoe Spa at Navarino Dunes is a 4,000m² wellness facility which offers a full range of spa treatments, based on the health and beauty practices of the Ancient Greeks. Anazoe derives from the Greek word for rejuvenation.

Innovative signature treatments feature an award-winning combination of ancient wisdom and modern science that sets Anazoe apart from other spa resorts. Therapeutic olive-oil treatments (oleotherapy®) are based on ancient local practices inscribed on clay tablets discovered at the nearby Palace of Nestor, and are unique in the world. 
There is a wide range of kinesiotherapy and thalassotherapy treatments, light therapies, heat experiences, including ice-grotto rooms, mist showers and herbal saunas, plus floating pools, indoor and outdoor treatment areas and some of the most innovative spa treatments in Greece.

Golf is not the only sport on offer at Costa Navarino. You can try your hand at tennis, basketball, climbing, mountain biking and much more. 

Both tennis and basketball are provided through actual specialist training centres. Costa Navarino is proud to be the home of the first European Mouratoglou Tennis Center, which has state-of-the-art courts. All three surfaces (clay, grass, hard) are available to play on. 

2023 saw the opening of the NBA Basketball School which provides children and teenagers with coaching and sessions to improve their skills, all in the resort. 

Navarino Bay is home to water-based activities, with kayaking, windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkelling and sailing all on offer. 

Where is the Costa Navarino located?
Costa Navarino is split into three locations - all a short transfer from each other - on the south west coast of Greece, on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. The towns of Gialova and Romanos are the nearest to the resort, on the western side of the mainland.

What is the nearest airport to Costa Navarino?
The nearest airport to Costa Navarino is Kalamata International Airport. Flights to Kalamata are mainly seasonal, with locations around Europe, including seven in the United Kingdom, flying to the airport. Kalamata is located approximately 30 miles from Costa Navarino.

For those travelling from further afield or out of season, Athens International Airport is the obvious choice, around 220 miles from Costa Navarino.

What golf facilities does Costa Navarino offer?
Costa Navarino has four golf courses, all of which are 18-holes. The Dunes Course is the championship level course, and was designed by Bernhard Langer. Navarino also features the Robert Trent-Jones Jr-designed Bay Course, plus the Hills and the International Olympic Academy Golf Courses as well, both Jose Maria Olazabal designs.

There is also a 350m driving range where golfers can enjoy unlimited balls if they are booked in to play a round on one of the four courses. The resort’s short game area is one of the largest in Europe, and built to USGA specifications, which includes a chipping area with 10 bunkers, all of different depths and distances from the green. There is also a putting green which has been constructed to play at the same standard and speeds as those on the championship course, the Dunes Course.

What are the green fees at Costa Navarino?
The green fees at Costa Navarino are the same for all four golf courses. For a round in high season, it will cost €204 if you are staying at the resort. That is increased to €245 for those who are not staying in any of the accommodation at Costa Navarino. The cost of a green fee includes the use of a buggy between two players.

As stated above, the driving range is available for all golfers who have paid to play at Costa Navarino. It is available 30 minutes before your tee time, and you can hit an unlimited number of golf balls to practise ahead of your round. You can pay €10 to use the driving range at any time.

Does Costa Navarino offer golf lessons?
The Navarino Golf Academy is available for all golfers who are looking to improve their games, with professional golf tuition for players of any age and ability.  There is also a program of Junior Sessions and Junior Camps. 

Golfers can choose to have private lessons, or be a part of a group lesson or clinic, depending on which atmosphere they feel most comfortable in. The team of professionals is on hand to help those just beginning with the sport and learning the fundamentals, or those who are looking to reduce their handicaps.

Costa Navarino is excellent for families. The Westin Costa Navarino has different rooms to suit all the family needs, while there are also villas and apartments in the different sections of the resorts.

Costa Navarino offers an array of day care options for children of all ages. There is plenty of entertainment and activities for kids, and activities that the whole family can get involved in.

Younger children will love the SandCastle - a youth hub that offers educational programmes as well as fun activities. There is also an Aqua Park, ten-pin bowling, escape rooms and a range of other fun activities to keep the children occupied.

What accommodation is on offer at Costa Navarino?
There are plenty of different types of accommodation for you to stay in at Costa Navarino. Four 5-star hotels including the familiy-friendly Westin and the adults-only W (over 12s), to villas and apartments, along with real estate to purchase, Costa Navarino caters to all needs.

Book your trip to Costa Navarino with Golfbreaks now.

Visit Costa Navarino’s website here.

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.