greece winter destinations

Here the thermal 37 C Toplitsa river gushes out of springs and through a ravine where, surrounded by trees and waterfalls, a facility has being created fed by the river including 48 private baths, two indoor pools and two small hamam facilities, as well as a modern hydrotherapy center with eight 6-person pools. Kastoria. So, just in case there is any confusion, yes, Greece does have a winter. By Pavlos Zafiropoulos, Paulina Kapsali | Visiting Greece in Winter - Five top destinations. And with a range of well-run companies offering organized activities from trekking to ski touring to mountain biking, there has never been a better time to discover Greece in the wintertime. One of the top destinations for winter sports in Greece is the mountainside village of Arachova, a picturesque town with narrow streets and stone houses, full of warm coffee shops and restaurants to take the edge off the cold outside. In terms of the skiing, while no Greek resort comes close to the size of the major centers in the Alps and elsewhere, Parnassos does offer some great slopes of all difficulty levels, as well as access to back-country runs for the more adventurous. Good for: Hungry humans, people seeking to relax, last-minute planners. Luxury Boutique Hotel-Suites & Villas in mountainous Arcadia. Leave a Comment Today we’re on our way to an exciting Mediterranean destination for some summer sun (follow Jenna’s Twitter stream for details), but like all good travelers, we’re already thinking ahead for winter. The nearby mountain of Mainalos is a protected natural park, through which the Lousios river runs through the gorge of the same name, forming rapids and waterfalls in places. Everything you need is here, and the locals are always very friendly and ready to help you have the best time of your life. To make this project come to life he started a Kickstarter campaign to fund the completion of the movie, which includes costly effects, editing and other filmmaking magic that is needed to get to a first-rate finished product.. Papanicolaou built a loyal and passionate following of supporters in Greece, who also saw their country’s potential as a winter destination … Located only 2.5 – 3 hours from Athens, the mountain condenses a boggling diversity of landscapes in a relatively small area – from pine and fir forests and alpine lakes to extensive, visitable caves, to the fairytale plane tree forests in Planitero below where you can enjoy fresh trout next to bubbling crystal springs. While on sunny weekends it can get very crowded, during the week the resort can offer some very satisfying skiing with zero lift lines. The dry-baked Cycladic islands turn green as the rains arrive; their inhabitants bundle up against temperatures that can sink to the low single digits when biting northerlies whip through the Aegean. The town has well-developed tourism infrastructure with numerous hotels, spas and guesthouses. Privacy Policy Fantastic local products to take home, incredible monasteries and more complete the almost utopian scene. 15 Jun 2020 09:59 1394 . A return ticket costs around €30. A true bucket-list destination, the first sight of the monasteries perched … However, winter in Greece is just as magical. One can also fly to the airport of Ioannina – 1 hour’s drive from the first village. Beyond the slopes, the mountain offers plenty more – most notably the archaeological site of Delphi, the onetime seat of the famed oracle, which is only a short drive from Arachova. Tickets can be booked online via www.trainose.gr. and other faqs, the woman who walks crete’s white mountains, a sommelier’s guide to greece’s most exclusive grape varieties, “mediterraneo”: the film that took kastellorizo to the oscars, exploring halandri creek: a lush green oasis. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Metsovo’s grandeur might have subsequently faded were it not for a foundation established in the 1940s by Evangelos Averoff, a government minister who hailed from the town. Forming the lower part of the huge Pindos range in northwestern Greece, the Tzoumerka mountain chain is a series of peaks that effectively form a giant ridge running roughly north to south along the boundary between the regions of Ioannina and Arta. While many visit in the summer, the baking heat and large crowds can detract from the experience. The most famous of the villages is the grand dame of Dimitsana: attractive, stone-built, with great food views and cafes at every turn. Discover the best winter destinations in Greece and make the most of this season. Corfu is an island located off of the northwest coast of the country. We combine the two things that we love most. No one will care.Â. Then you should visit Kalavryta. Bad for: Seriously, who doesn’t like a hot bath? Nature-loving hikers will struggle to choose from the hundreds of kilometers of well-marked trails that run over old stone bridges, past monasteries inhabited and not, through protected forests teeming with life and across ridges with views that are heartbreaking. The villages are rustic, yet picturesque and tourist friendly, with cobblestoned streets and large paved central squares. The benchmark of holiday destinations, this idyllic country needs … Good for: Aches and pains, skiers, skiers with aches and pains, your general sense of wellbeing. Bad For: People who hate mountains, I guess. It is a tourist-friendly region with attractive greenery, mountains, and local taverns. The fall and winter, however, lend themselves to taking in the true majesty of the place. This place is ideal for winter activities and sports. If you decide that this winter is the right time for you to visit Greece, here are the destinations that most … Of course, that doesn’t mean one needs to rough it. Good For: Nature lovers, hikers, whitewater rafters, adventurers, anyone with a pulse. Winter in Greece: List of Greece’s top winter destinations Greece is a land of staggering contrasts & spectacular beauty. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The nearest village to Greece’s biggest ski resort on Mount Parnassos, and a mere 3 hours from Athens, Arachova becomes a fully-fledged cosmopolitan hangout in the cold months, complete with high-end shops, ski rental outlets, luxury hotels and spas, gourmet and traditional restaurants and plenty of bars and nightlife. See a gallery of images here. While thermal springs exist in many parts of the country, one of the best places to take to Greece’s healing waters is in the Pozar Spa in the region of Pella in Macedonia in the north of Greece, at the foot of Mount Voras (aka Kaimaktsalan). Greece is known worldwide as the best summer holiday destination. Whitewater rafting can be done on the River Arachthos all year round, while a number of companies also arrange a slew of other activities from mountain biking to horseback riding. This post was originally published on the blog... Editor’s note: The following has been taken from... can i travel to greece again?  A 2.5 – 3 hour drive from Athens. Each of the villages is prettier than the last – the legacy of master masons considered to be the greatest in the country – and the accommodation options are many and of exceptional quality. Driving through it, every now and again there’s a clearing where the sun breaks through, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by apple groves. If you stop to pick a juicy apple from a tree, you’ll likely get a flash of an image of a talking snake. The village of Arachova has long been dubbed the ‘Mykonos of the Winter‘, being the hotspot that attracts more visitors than probably any other single winter destination. Sponsors It is just one of a host of attractive mountain villages in an area packed with impressive historical sites to visit, both ancient and modern. The region is calm, exposing nature in its wildest form. No, no, there is not. Find the best tours & trips in Greece in Winter 2020 with TourRadar. It offers great outdoor activities like snowboarding and skiing. Across 1000 sq km of densely forested, mountainous landscape punctuated by deep gorges, pristine rivers, waterfalls, caves and more, 46 stone-and-slate built villages (the Zagorohoria) complete what can only be called a mountain paradise. Not to under-emphasize the country’s enchanting summers, Greece also offers some of the most impressive mountainous destinations well suited for the winter … You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Even in a land with as much natural beauty as Greece, the region of Arcadia has stood out since antiquity, with its name becoming a poet’s byword for paradise. Tzoumerka is a destination site with mountains, canyons, crystal springs and waterfalls, dense forests and an abundance of wildlife- this has made it home of the National Park of Tzoumerka. (See: For Your Eyes Only). Other getaway spots include the Virgin of the Rock Chapel, Saint George monastery and Lake Doxa providing amazing views. When I say 'winter' I mean it the way … Tzoumerka comes with all of the trappings of the best of mountainous Greece; crystal springs and waterfalls feeding wide rivers, canyons, dense forests and plenty of wildlife make up the heart of the National Park of Tzoumerka. Good For: Skiers, snowboarders, nature-lovers, archaeology buffs, people who want to show off their expensive new snow boots. But the area is probably best known for its ski resort which is a close rival to that of Parnassos, with ski runs for all abilities, although slightly less modern lifts. There are plenty of satisfying hikes through the mountain’s forests as well, including one that takes you to the archaeological site, with breathtaking views over the valley deep below. Accommodation options abound in the nearby village of Loutraki and the ski resort of Kaimaktsalan is only an hour away to get into the white stuff. Top winter destinations in Greece, particularly the towns of Arachova and Kalavryta, have noted a rise in bookings for the upcoming holiday season. Visiting them is to step into a world unto itself with wondrous examples of religious art on display in the churches and museums. Arachova. Many of the pretty, surrounding villages also offer great accommodation options. 47 villages dot the wild landscape which is reminiscent of Zagori (see above). The view from here will bring tears to your eyes.  About 140 km from Athens (a 1.5 hour drive). Read more about Kalavryta and Helmos here. Around two hours south of Zagori you’ll find Ioannina, the capital of Epirus and one of the … Then you should visit Kalavryta. White arcing beaches and sparkling aqua waters under … .© 2020 GREECE IS, KATHIMERINES EKDOSEIS SA, Powered by: Relevance | Developed by: Stonewave, Skiing in Greece: The Country’s Best Ski Resorts, Archontiko Kaltezioti: Mountainous Luxury, From Windsurfing to Walking: Activities on Kos. The beautiful villages of Zagorohoria and the town of Kastoria in Epirus, Pelion villages, Arachova and lake Plastira near Meteora in Thessalia. Meteora – Beyond Unique. To take your hit of the natural beauty of Epirus cut with a dose of well-mannered culture, the small and tidy stone-built town of Metsovo near the Tzoumerka mountain range may be more your speed. Whether you’re a traveler, visitor, worker or local in Greece, we hope you’ll find the information we provide about the country helpful and valuable all the same. A true bucket-list destination, the first sight of the monasteries perched improbably on top of pillars of rock in this UNESCO World Heritage site is a take-your-breath-away moment. It is one of Greece’s most popular ski … The largest of the Greek islands, Crete is a spacious land of pleasing … An important military and trading post in centuries past, Metsovo flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries, developing trade links to key cities throughout Europe. Hearty, slow-cooked stews replace light summertime salads, and a whole host of different seasonal products begin to appear: wild mushrooms, juicy oranges, fat chestnuts. Today visitors can enjoy wine and gastronomic tourism at the Katogi Averoff Hotel and Winery among other quality hotels, together with all of the many outdoor activities the wider area has to offer – including skiing and snowboarding at not one but three nearby small resorts. Although winter has already set in, temperatures stay relatively warm in the coastal cities. 300 km from Thessaloniki (3 hour drive). Bad For: Uncouth philistines, urban layabouts. Bad for: People who prefer inconvenient locations. Along with its rich cultural … The fact that these rustic little settlings of houses in the middle of nature exist so close to Athens might seem surprising, but they survive on tourism from the capital, and maintaining their traditional character is in everyone’s interest. And when you feel you need to dip back into civilization, the cultured city of Ioannina is a short drive away and a destination in its own right. One can drive to the monasteries or hike up to them along a beautiful trail that winds between the pillars of rock. But for a truly out-of-this-world experience you can opt for a tour from above via hot air balloon. Corfu. The mild winters of Athens and Thessaloniki make them ideal winter destinations for a quick getaway. Whitewater rafting trips are on offer throughout the colder months as are mountain biking trips, organized hikes and much more. This is a time to experience a different sort of Greece – one of rivers, mountains and glorious natural landscapes as yet undiscovered by mass tourism. If you're a fan of winter sports, visiting Greece in January is the height of ski season; however, after a brisk start … From Athens you can drive to Pramanta (418kms) which is the central village of Tzoumerka in about 6 hours via the Athens – Patras road and the Rio bridge (for a small car petrol and tolls will cost about 65 euros). Good For: Adventurers, nature lovers, people seeking refuge from the apocalypse. More experienced mountaineers can challenge themselves by tackling the alpine territory of the surrounding peaks, while a number of companies offer dozens of activities from backcountry skiing to whitewater rafting to organized hikes, making the natural wonders of the area accessible to all. Good For: Skiers, snowboarders, nature-lovers, history buffs, families, train enthusiasts. Opportunities for mountain biking, hiking and more abound, and the higher up the mountain you go, the smaller the villages get. Here you will enjoy the easing and soothing feeling of going under the warm to hot waters of a natural thermal spring. Metsovo is approximately a 4½ drive from Athens. Book now and save with TourRadar.com! 500 km from Athens (a 6 hour drive). While the beaches below are also dramatically beautiful, the many mountain villages are what calls for a visit during winter. Good for: Nature lovers, history buffs, weekenders, hikers, whitewater rafters, mountain bikers, fauns, satyrs and forest nymphs. Improve your experience while you navigate through the website Arachova village is popular for and!, hiking and more abound, and the roads are long and winding between villages wildest form is... 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My mind is Arachova suited for history enthusiasts, nature lovers,  people seeking refuge the... May affect your browsing experience Kastoria is not complete with visiting this spa temperatures. That doesn ’ t like a hot air balloon enthusiasts, aspiring hermits as it that draws attention! I mean it the way … Corfu while many visit in the winter?... Jump off the tourist bandwagon, there are plenty of high quality options... Region is calm, exposing nature in its wildest form hot springs here to quality luxury. A tourist destination more complete the almost utopian scene as magical a during! Seriously, who doesn ’ t like a hot air balloon enthusiasts, nature offers smorgasbord... Combine the two things that we love most with its rich cultural … visiting Greece in the winter… Nymfaio nature-lovers! Nature offers a greece winter destinations of atmospheric surroundings just as magical exposing nature in own... Is ideal for winter activities and sports one that is emptier, wilder but comforting. People who want to jump off the tourist bandwagon, there are plenty of places to do here... Pretty, surrounding villages also offer great accommodation options and tourism services offers...

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