The hearths are lit early, the taverns send libations to the gods, while tsipouro (grape pomace distillate) and rakomelo (tsipouro with honey and spices) are overflowing.
The landscape is complemented by stone-built guest-houses, paths through fir trees, slopes and gorges, delicious taverns and convivial feasts in bars. If all of these make up the ideal winter getaway for you, then you have no reason to seek out the country’s glamorous mountain destinations. Greece boasts dozens of mountain villages waiting for you to experience unique getaways without having to pay a fortune. From the spruce-covered area of Parnassida to the mountainous Corinthia, from the proud Parnonas to the “bronze” Kissavos and the famous Elatohori on the other side, the mountainous landscape of Greece enthralls visitors with its beauty.
Parnassida
An alpine landscape nestled right where three of the country’s most beautiful mountains meet – Mount Giona, Mount Vardousia and Mount Oeta – offers off-piste skiing, mountain passes with stunning views and a quick getaway, just three hours from Athens. The route starts from the junction of the Athens – Thessaloniki highway towards the village of Bralos – a route of particular beauty that passes through the villages of Pavliani, Panourgia, Stroumi, Mousounitsa Sykia and Lefkaditi. Also here is the National Park of Mount Oeta with a rare and diverse Greek flora and fauna.
Mavrolithari
At an altitude of 1.140 metres, Mavrolithari is a large village and also the capital of the area featuring a large picturesque square and several tourist facilities.
Athanasios Diakos
One of the most famous villages of Mount Vardousia, set amidst fir trees, plane and chestnut trees, with taverns and grill houses on the village’s main square.
Panourgias
Perched on the fir-covered slopes of Mount Giona, the village of Panourgias is endowed with stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
Kastriotissa
Overlooking Mount Vardousia and Mount Giona, this picturesque stone-built village is perched on the slopes of Mount Oeta, at an altitude of 1,260 metres.
Kissavos – Metaxohori
Along the Athens – Thessaloniki highway, near Larissa, a detour to the east leads to one of the most extraordinary mountains in Greece, Kissavos. Lush green, full of chestnut trees – hence its bronze colour in winter- very often snow-covered, Kissavos has many beautiful villages that still retain their character and have been little affected by tourism. That, however, doesn’t mean they lack amenities.
Built on the slopes of Kissavos, Metaxohori is one of the five traditional settlements of the prefecture that have been classified as conservation areas. It is lush green, divided in two by a ravine with tall plane trees, and boasts amazing mansions, old churches and lovely cobbled streets, which make it quite charming.
Nearby lies the village of Sotiritsa and a little further away the historic settlement of Ambelakia. You can stay in the guest-house Arhontiko Soulioti, a renovated 19th century mansion, or in a traditional two-storey building in the forest offering rooms with views of the Aegean Sea, a fireplace, a kitchen and warm hospitality.
Mountainous Corinthia
A short distance from Athens, an incredible mountain landscape with fir trees, cypresses and beautiful stone-built villages, traditional taverns and breathtaking mountain ranges awaits you in Mountainous Corinthia. You can choose between two routes; the first one goes up from Kiato, towards Kastania, Feneos and Goura, and the second one from Xylokastro towards Trikala of Corinthia. If you choose the first one, you will enjoy one of the most beautiful mountain routes in the country. Choose which of the villages you stay in, but be sure to at least visit the picturesque village of Feneos with its stone-built houses and delicious taverns for a stroll.
In close proximity lies Goura, another stone-built village with a beautiful square and excellent food. Kastania, a picturesque village located in a mountain pass, offers stunning views of both plateaus. Very close is also Lake Doxa, whose lower part overflows and from where a passable dirt road begins. Should you follow it, you will enjoy an excellent route through beech and chestnut woods. From the lake starts another route to the mountain village of Zarouchla and the back of the Kalavryta ski resort, which is often described as a route of outstanding beauty, and – believe me- it is.
Highlights of the area:
Below the village of Kastania lies Lake Stymphalia, while on the upper side of the village, at the pass that connects the lake with the plain of Feneos, there is the so-called “Hercules’ footprint”, from where, according to legend, the latter shot his arrows against the Stymphalian birds.
Follow the routes from the bend after Souli through Manna to Trikala.
Take the dirt road that starts from Kefalari and passes through the plateau of Ziria towards Trikala (in winter you can only get there by four-wheel drive).
Follow the route from Goura via Karya to Trikala – asphalt road in an alpine landscape. In Karya you will find two taverns with nice food and a fireplace. Another route connects Goura to Trikala of Corinthia via a dirt road that passes through a bald, eerie plateau of rare beauty.
The domed bridge that connects Feneos and Goura offers a magnificent sight in spring, when the river is full of water.
You can visit the shop of Tzevelekos in Kalliani to buy local meat, as well as roosters, sausages, hylopites (small, square shaped traditional pasta), cheese and honey.
Visit the Legas dairy in Kalliani to buy fresh feta cheese and excellent dairy products.
Pay a visit to the very interesting Environment Museum of the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation, featuring exhibits on the environment and the region’s culture and folk traditions.
Elatohori, Pieria
A village that will amaze you with its rare natural beauties. Perched at an altitude of 1,000 meters, in the Pieria Mountains, it offers the best view of Mount Olympus. Hiking in nature, lush beech forests, impressive gorges, picturesque villages and running waters galore make up a magical landscape, easily accessible, but also within your budget.
Just 8 km away from the village, the Elatohori Ski Centre certainly adds to the already festive atmosphere of the frozen village, as snow here is an easy and frequent affair.
The village is divided into two settlements, namely Palio (Old) and Neo (New) Elatohori. The first one is experiencing great tourist development, with taverns, cafés and modern bars, beautiful stone guest-houses, luxurious mountain resorts and rooms to let popping up everywhere.
One of the best mountain resorts in the area is Semeli, from where you can visit Vergina, the archaeological site and the museum. Finds of indescribable beauty, one of the few unplundered royal tombs and a great excavation. Take a morning walk on the mountain paths, in the gorge of Enipeas (a lifetime experience) and then visit the archaeological site of Dion. On the way back from Dion, follow the riverside route through the Aliakmonas Gorge.
On the slopes of Mount Parnonas
Kastanitsa, Agios Petros, Karyes, Polydroso or Tzitzina, Agriani, Kallithea; just three hours from Athens, the villages of Parnonas are waiting for you. Perched on the slopes of the mountain, they constitute an idyllic and often snowy destination for amazing – yet reasonably priced- winter excursions.
Fir forests, amphitheatrically built villages, traditional stone houses, springs and streams, beautiful squares and guest-houses make up an impressive landscape.
Although the largest village in the area is considered to be Agios Petros, Tzitzina seems to have the first say in terms of tourism and attracts more sophisticated travellers. The area is ideal for hiking on marked trails, mountaineering, mountain biking, motorcycling even and pleasant car rides, since the mountain is passable. Tzitzina or Polydroso, crossed by two small rivers and endowed with three stone bridges connecting the village’s neighbourhoods, is a quiet retreat with charming stone alleys, old houses and green courtyards. The walks in the surrounding villages are truly unique.
