Nature & Outdoor
Northern Greece is the country's outdoor paradise — and that says a lot in a country full of mountains, gorges, and coasts. Here stands Greece's highest mountain, here lies the world's deepest gorge (according to Guinness), and here you find hiking trails, national parks, and wilderness that have long disappeared in Central Europe. The best part: While Crete and the Peloponnese are known as hiking destinations, the north has only a fraction of the visitors.
Olympus — Seat of the Gods★★
The highest mountain in Greece (2,917 m, Mytikas peak) was in antiquity the seat of the twelve Olympian gods — and when you see it for the first time, you'll understand why. Olympus is not a single peak, but a massive mountain massif with 52 peaks over 2,000 m, deep gorges, glacial lakes, and unique flora (1,700 plant species, 23 found only here).
The standard ascent to the Mytikas peak (2,917 m) is a demanding but technically feasible two-day tour:
- Day 1: Prionia (1,100 m) → Spilios Agapitos mountain hut (2,100 m). 3–4 hours ascent through pine and beech forest. The hut has 80 beds, food, and drinks. Reservation in summer is mandatory (bed from 15€, half-board 30€).
- Day 2: Hut → Skala (2,866 m) → Mytikas (2,917 m) → Descent. The last section to Mytikas is a light climbing passage (I–II UIAA) over rock — be surefooted and free from vertigo! Alternatively: only up to Skala (easier peak, panorama almost as good). Total time Day 2: 6–8 hours.
If you don't want to climb the peak: There are numerous easier hikes in the lower areas. The Enipeas Gorge (from Litochoro, 4 hours round trip) is spectacular and requires no mountaineering equipment.
Litochoro (300 m), the base town at the foot of Olympus, is a pleasant mountain town with hotels, restaurants, and the national park information center.
Getting there: Litochoro is on the E75 between Thessaloniki (92 km) and Larissa (65 km). Bus from Thessaloniki 1.5 hours (12€). Taxi to the trailhead Prionia about 25€.
Achtung
Olympus is a real mountain — don't underestimate it! Weather can change in minutes, thunderstorms are common in summer. Sturdy mountain boots, rain gear, enough water (2–3 liters), and an offline-capable map app are mandatory. Best season: June to October.
Vikos Gorge & Zagori★★★
The Vikos Gorge in Epirus, in northwestern Greece, holds a surprising Guinness World Record: deepest gorge in the world in relation to its width (900 m deep at only 1,100 m wide). The Grand Canyon is absolutely deeper, but the Vikos Gorge has the more extreme profile. Whether world record or not — the gorge is breathtaking.
12 km long, up to 900 m deep, with vertical limestone walls, turquoise river at the bottom, and vultures circling over the cliffs. The classic traverse from Monodendri to Vikos village takes 6–7 hours and is one of the best day hikes in Europe — challenging but without technical difficulties. The descent and later ascent (total about 1,000 meters of elevation) require stamina.
The gorge is located in the Zagori — a region that seems to have fallen out of time. 46 stone villages (Zagorochoria), connected by centuries-old stone arch bridges over wild rivers, nestled in dense forests and mountain meadows. No mass tourism, no hotel fortresses — just guesthouses in restored mansions, taverns with local cuisine, and a silence that has become rare in Greece.
The Most Beautiful Zagori Villages
Monodendri — Starting point for the Vikos Gorge. From the Agia Paraskevi Monastery (right on the gorge edge), you have the most spectacular view into the abyss. Few but good guesthouses.
Papigo (Megalo & Mikro) — Two picture-perfect stone villages at the foot of the Astraka Towers. Natural pools (Ovires) with ice-cold turquoise water. Best guesthouse: Saxonis Houses (double room from 70€, ★★★).
Kipi — Famous for its three Ottoman stone bridges in a valley. Photogenic and quiet.
Dilofo — Perhaps the most beautiful Zagori village. Cobblestone streets, a plane tree in the village square, absolute silence. Guesthouse: Hotel Archontiko Dilofo (double room from 60€).
Practical Information
Getting there: Ioannina (capital of Epirus) is the starting point. Bus Thessaloniki → Ioannina (3.5 hours, 25€), Athens → Ioannina (5.5 hours, 35€). From Ioannina, a rental car is needed — there is no public transport to the Zagori villages. Drive Ioannina → Monodendri: 40 min.
Best time: May–June (wildflowers, snowmelt fills the pools) and September–October (warm days, clear air). July/August hot, but doable. Winter: snow, many guesthouses closed.
💡 Tipp
The Zagori region is worth at least 3 days: Day 1 Vikos Gorge hike, Day 2 Papigo + natural pools, Day 3 Stone bridge tour + villages. If you have a week, you can climb up to the Drakolimni Glacier Lake (2,050 m) — a full-day but rewarding mountain tour.
Prespa Lakes★
In the far northwest of Greece, on the border with Albania and North Macedonia, lie the Prespa Lakes — two lakes (Megali Prespa and Mikri Prespa) that are among the oldest and ecologically most significant bodies of water in Europe. Since 2000 a transboundary national park, awarded as a European Diploma area in 2022.
The Prespa Lakes are above all a paradise for birdwatchers: The largest colony of Dalmatian pelicans in the world breeds here (up to 1,500 pairs), along with cormorants, herons, ospreys, and over 260 other bird species. In spring (April–May), the spectacle is greatest.
Besides nature, on the small island of Agios Achillios (in Mikri Prespa, accessible via a floating bridge), there are the ruins of a Byzantine basilica from the 10th century — built by Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria. The atmosphere on the tiny island is magical: silence, water, ruins, pelicans.
Prespa is slow travel at its purest. No clubs, no souvenir shops, hardly any hotels. Instead: nature, tranquility, and the feeling of being at the end of the world.
Getting there: From Ioannina or Kastoria (each about 2 hours by car). No public transport. Accommodation: few guesthouses in Agios Germanos (double room from 40€). Restaurant Sintrivani (€, local cuisine, trout from the lake).