Survey: Kalamata, Kefalonia, Mykonos in Top 20 Best Cities in the World for Scenic Drives

The Greek city of Kalamata and the islands of Kefalonia and Mykonos are among the top 20 “Best Destinations for Scenic Driving around the World in 2022”, according to DiscoverCars.com, an online platform connecting customers and car rental companies around the globe.

To compile its Top 20 list, the company asked over 140,000 tourists and visitors to rate driving in different cities around the world to create a list of the best locations around the world to visit for driving.

Kalamata ranks sixth on the list, Kefalonia is in the eighth place and Mykonos comes in 20th.

Kalamata

Photo source: Kalamata Municipality

At number six, Kalamata is the capital and central port of Messinia in the Peloponnese region, Greece’s sunny southern peninsula.

DiscoverCars.com suggests visitors to drive to the delightful old town, a maze of quaint cobbled streets, or visit the emblematic Metropolitan Cathedral of Kalamata in the historic center of the city. The coast showcases monasteries and fortresses clinging precariously to the edge of the cliff, magnificent Blue Flag beaches and hidden coves.

A few hours north of Kalamata is Ancient Olympia, a ruined ancient sanctuary, home of the ancient Olympic Games, and the former site of the massive statue of Zeus, which had been ranked as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Kefalonia

Assos village, Kefalonia. Photo source: @Visit Greece

Kefalonia is eighth on DiscoverCars.com’s list of destinations – a large island to explore during a scenic road trip.

“Kefalonia is an exotic beautiful island, the largest of the Ionian islands on the west of mainland Greece. If you love nature, then this paradise island will enchant you,” DiscoverCars.com says.

The Greek island is also the most mountainous of the Ionian islands with sparkling azure waters and picture-perfect beaches. Its size and diversity have allowed it to retain most of its original charm.

For those who crave action-packed activities, Kefalonia offers all sorts of thrill-seeking water sports, including sea kayaking and scuba diving.

Mykonos

Mykonos, South Aegean. Photo source: @Aegean Islands

The “island of the winds”, as it is  known, is much more than a venue for star DJs, gourmet food and high-end boutiques. Though still not ideal for reclusive holidays, vsitors can enjoy its stunning beaches along its southern coast – for instance, Psarou, Super Paradise, and Agrari – or meander along the narrow alleays of the stunningly white main town or Chora.

Far from the jet-set sophisticates or the bumping nightlife, one can also enjoy cultural events held on Ano Mera, this rocky island’s second largest town, or the famed nearbu island of Delos.

The full list of DiscoverCars.com is as follows:

1. Ivalo (Finland)
2. Inverness (United Kingdom)
3. Victoria (Seychelles)
4. Rovaniemi (Finland)
5. Bridgetown (Barbados)
6. Kalamata (Greece)
7. Kittila (Finland)
8. Kefalonia (Greece)
9. Minneapolis (Minnesota, USA)
10. Bratislava (Slovakia)
11. Billund (Denmark)
12. Adelaide (Australia)
13. Charleroi (Belgium)
14. Messina – Sicily (Italy)
15. Helsinki (Finland)
16. Dusseldorf (Germany)
17. Oulu (Finland)
18. Aqaba (Jordan)
19. Nelson (New Zealand)
20. Mykonos (Greece)