This Greek Castle Ranks in the New York Times' Top 10-ish must-go list — Underscoring the Futility of Lists
Christopher Nolan's Odyssey was partly filmed in Methoni
Question: if The New York Times comes up with a list, should you pay attention? Not necessarily. The paper listed the top ten reader favorites from their 52 places to go in 2026 list — wait, it’s 2026, are we still doing lists?🙄
Anyway, one of them is the castle of Methoni in the Greek region of Messinia.
In the spirit of crass mid travel coverage, here’s an AI take on Methoni Castle, with its “Main Character Energy on the Messinian Coast”…
If castles could post on Instagram, Methoni Castle would be that effortlessly cool account with zero filters and insane views. Sitting right on the edge of the sea in Messinia, this medieval giant is giving history, drama, and ocean breeze all at once — no wonder scenes from Christopher Nolan’s upcoming Odyssey flick were just filmed here.
Built by the Venetians in the 13th century, Methoni Castle wasn’t just for vibes—it was a strategic power move. It guarded sea routes, protected traders, and basically said, “Yeah, we run the Mediterranean.” Over the centuries, everyone wanted a turn: Venetians, Ottomans, and even the French during Napoleon’s era. The place has seen things.
Walking through the castle today feels like stepping into a real-life open-world game. Massive stone walls, arched gates, old prisons, and that iconic Bourtzi tower sitting on a tiny island like it’s in exile for being too cool. Fun fact: General Morosini, who later became Doge of Venice, literally lost an arm here. History, but make it intense.
But honestly? The biggest flex is the location. Waves crashing against the walls, sunsets going absolutely feral, and views that make you stop doom-scrolling for a second. Methoni Castle isn’t just a historical site—it’s a whole mood. Ancient, powerful, a little mysterious, and still serving centuries later.
The problem we have with the Times’ choice here is that, of course, Methoni castle is just so obvious. Are there bigger, more impressive, castles in the Peloponnese? Of course. But the New York Times knows everything, right?🙄