The nearest villages to Stoupa, staying on the coast, are Kardamyli (7km to the north) and Agios Nikoloas (2km to the south). They are very different in character, offering the visitor a choice of experience.
Kardamyli is charming, with handsome houses and several tavernas. It has always had a reputation as being on the bohemian side, giving it a different atmosphere to Stoupa and Agios Nikolaos. Shops, cafes and tavernas flank the high street and there are other places to eat and drink off the main street towards the sea. At the southern end of the town is a rough road that takes you down into the harbour. It is extremely picturesque and the harbour jetty has what used to be a fortified customs house and a small church built on it. The chimney that dominates the skyline was once a factory producing olive soap. No visit to Kardamyli is complete without a visit to the Troupakis fortified complex and museum located in the old town, just a few minutes walk from the high street. The village was home to the travel writer, Sir Patrick Leigh Fermor- click here to download a BBC Radio 4 programme on him from June 2015. There are two beaches- Ritsa to the north and Kalamitsi to the south. Both are a mix of pebbles and coarse sand.
Agios Nikolaos (still often called by its older Slavic name, Selinitsa), has three exits off the main road heading south. Alternatively, there is a gentle coastal cycle path from Stoupa which takes less than an hour on foot. Life is centred around the harbour- a great place to sit, eat and drink while watching the boats coming and going. In the summer the road is closed to vehicles. as tavernas make use of the space to put tables and chairs right on the water’s edge. The main beach (Pantazi) is roughly a kilometre further south, about a 10-15 minute walk. Other swimming opportunities are at the smaller cove of Voulimeneas or at the natural swimming platform, known as Gnospi, which is great for snorkeling.
Away from the coast there are a number of villages above Stoupa, Kardamyli and Agios Nikolaos. A number of them have a kafenion or taverna and all are worth exploring by car or motorbike. For more specific information, click here or order the renowned guide book, Inside the Mani, in digital format from here.