Northern Greece in Nine Days
Monastery of Varlaam, Meteora, Greece
While most travellers flock to Greece's famous islands, Northern Greece offers an equally captivating experience. With the awe-inspiring monasteries of Meteora, the trails of Mount Olympus, the dramatic beauty of the Vikos Gorge, and the unspoiled beaches and coastal charm of the Olympian Riviera, Northern Greece is well worth a visit.
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We landed in Athens in the later afternoon and headed by train to Syntagma Square, which was a 6-minutes walk to our lovely, spacious 2-bedroom apartment.
We stepped out for dinner around the corner to this cute little place with excellent Greek food before calling it a night.
Walking around the Plaka neighborhood in Athens
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The previous evening, we booked tickets to the Acropolis, which we highly recommend so that you’re not waiting in the very long ticket line.
We spent the morning touring the Acropolis. Be prepared for crowds. There’s no avoiding them even if you start early.
We headed to lunch after our walk around the Acropolism making our way to the Plaka neighborhood—a charming historic district nestled at the base of the Acropolis. The area is full of narrow cobblestone streets, colorful neoclassical houses, and vibrant tavernas.
After lunch, we walked to the National Archaeological Museum which houses a vast collection of artifacts from Greece's history. The walk, though long (about 40 minutes) and hot, was worth it, taking you through the many neighborhoods of Athens.
Dinner was at a lovely outdoor neighborhood spot with excellent food called Ella.
Thessaloniki’s long waterfront is where locals congregate in the evenings
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The next morning, we took the short, early morning flight to Thessaloniki. We picked up our rental car at the airport and heading to our hotel—The Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki. The hotel is about 20 minutes outside the city center with large lush grounds and a magnificient pool, which is where we spent our afternoon.
In the evening, we headed to the city center for dinner. Thessaloniki is Greece’s second-largest city and has a laid-back vibe. Locals gather along the bustling waterfront to stroll, bike, or just hang out.
We headed to Kronos for dinner for some really delicious typical homemade-style Greek food.
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Early the next morning, we headed to Litochoro, about an hour and a half from Thessaloniki. The town is perfetly located at the base of Mount Olympus and is the perfect starting point for exploring the national park, with easy access to hiking trails, great restaurants and a quick drive to the Olympian Riviera.
We stayed at the The Olympus Estate and after settling in, drove to Mount Olympus for a hike. The entrance to the Park is about a 30 minutes drive from Litochoro. The park offers several easy hikes and it’s easy to spend a whole day hiking the different trails. We capped off our day with a fantastic dinner at Olympus in Litochoro.
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The day started off a little overcast so we headed to the nearby picturesque village of Palaios Panteleimonas. Nestled on the slopes of Mount Olympus, the village, with buildings that date back to the 18th and 19th centuries offers stunning views of both the mountain and the Aegean Sea.
As the weather started to clear up, we headed down to the beach and parked ourselves at Gallaria, a beach club and restaurant, for lunch and some beach time. The setting is gorgeous with panoramic views of the Aegean on one side and Mount Olympus on the other and it made for a perfect spot to while away the day.
We picked a seafood spot, Aiolos Fish Taverna near the beach for an early dinner. It didn’t disappoint.
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About a two hours drive west from Litochoro is the town of Kastraki, a base from where to experience Meteora’s dramatic rock formations and ancient monasteries perched high on top of towering cliffs.
Located in central Greece, near the town of Kastraki, Meteora means "suspended in air," which perfectly captures this UNESCO World Heritage site.The landscape of Meteora is nothing short of breathtaking, with massive sandstone pillars rising steeply from the valley floor, with some reaching over 400 meters in height. The views here are stunning, whether you're gazing up at the monasteries or enjoying the panoramic vistas of the surrounding plains and mountains.
The first monasteries were built by monks in the 14th century and some are still active today and many are also open to visitors.
We stayed at the Dellas Boutique Hotel, conveniently located a short drive from the monasteries.
Be prepared for some serious steps but the climb is worth it!
View of the Vikos Gorge from the start of the hike.
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The next morning, we set out on a 2.5 hour long drive to Monodendri, a tiny village which makes for a convenient base from which to explore the Vikos Gorge.
Stretching over 20 kilometers in length and reaching depths of up to 1,000 meters, the Vikos Gorge is considered one of the deepest gorges in the world. The gorge is flanked by towering cliffs, lush vegetation and crystal-clear waters of the Voidomatis River, which runs through the gorge.
Accommodations in Monodendri are limited, and we opted for the simple yet comfortable Konstantinou & Elenis bed and breakfast. Our gracious host made us feel welcome, and the breakfast was delightful.In the afternoon, we ventured out to explore the area, that included a stop to hike to the Beloi viewpoint. Later in the afternoon, when the temperature started to cool, we went for an evening hike to the base of the Vikos Gorge. The descent was steep and brought us to a stunning, crystal-clear pool of turquoise water at the bottom, which was as beautiful as it was ice-cold. The effort was worth it, even if our legs were left trembling the following day. From Monodendri, the scenic drive to the trailhead takes about 40 minutes.
You should know that restaurant options in Monodendri are few and things close early, so plan accordingly.
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The next day we headed back to Thessaloniki with a few pit stops along the way to take in some more sights around Monodendri.
The 4-hour drive was felt longer especially as we hit rush hour in Thessaloniki (avoid that if you can; the traffic was horrific)!
We went back to the Hyatt to relax and enjoy some pool time. -