Surrounded by plane trees and chestnuts, Tsagkarada offers many accommodation, food and activity options.
Spread in about 7 km, it consists of 4 different neighbourhoods, each built around a church that gives the neighbourhood its name: Agios Stefanos, Agia Kiriaki, Agia Paraskevi and Agii Taxiarches. Set between the mountain and the sea, this village is the ideal base for excursions in the surrounding area and the neighbouring villages, like Kissos, Hania, Zagora, Milies and in the summer, Damouhari, Agios Ioannis and Horefto.
Saturday
07:00
Tsagkarada is 375 km from Athens and it takes around 4 hours to drive there. From Thessaloniki the distance is 255 km and takes around 3 hours.
11:00
The village’s meeting point is the café “Agna di”. Here. You can have a coffee, a juice and breakfast. Try their pies with homemade filo dough or the local yogurt with honey and local walnuts.
12:00
The four neighbourhoods of Tsagkarada, before the construction of the road, were linked by trails through the woods. Follow the trail, walking on the scenic cobbled alleys and go round the village. Start at the square of Agii Taxiarches and follow the signs to the square of Agia Paraskevi. Then, going up higher inside the chestnut forest, you can return to the starting point. This will take you about 3-3.5 hours.
15:30
At the tavern “Itamos”, you can choose between traditional and unique dishes with modern international twists. One of the tastier dishes is the linguini with wild mushrooms and jamón, but also try the spaghetti with the minced squid, the traditional bumbari (a sausage made of ground beef, rice, liver and onions wrapped in intestines) and the imaginative salads.
18:00
Tsagkarada’s squares are known for their perennial plane trees. The impressive plane tree in Agia Paraskevi square is estimated to be over 1.000 years old, while the Agii Taxiarches and Agia Kiriaki squares have impressive perennial plane trees too. Zagora, Kissos and Horefto also have perennial plane trees at central locations within the villages.
21:00
At “Po-pizza”, in Agios Stefanos Square, you’ll have amazing pizza, peinirli (pizza boats), and calzone, all made with homemade dough. They also make desserts, the galaktompoureko (Greek custard pie) is a must.
23:00
Tsagkarada offers many accommodation options, from apartments to let, to cute guesthouses, to hotels and simple double rooms. Book a room at “Amanita” so that you can try one of the best breakfasts in Pelion, or at “12 Months Luxury Resort” if you’re after luxury and pampering.
Info: Agna di, tel. 0030 24260 49666, Itamos, tel. 0030 24260 49583, Amanita, tel. 0030 24260 49707, amanita.gr, 12 Months Luxury Resort, tel. 0030 24260 48894, 12hotel.gr
Sunday
09:00
East Pelion, with its running waters and the lush vegetation, is ideal for sports activities. Canyoning, that is the technical crossing of a gorge, is one of the most exciting and fun choices. You’ll learn to rappel, that is to go down a slope tied to a rope, you’ll walk inside the gorge and the waters, and you can swim, and all of this in dreamy locations. The “Canyoning Mountain Escapes” school based in Tsagkarada has very experienced instructors and offers good prices.
14:00
At the tavern “Paradisos” you’ll find country pies, mushrooms, wild greens, and vegetables from the mountain and local vegetable gardens, and well-prepared meats, like spetzofai (traditional Pelion dish prepared with sausage and peppers in tomato sauce), roast lamb, and tomato beef casserole. The ribs and the pork steak are also quite tasty.
17:00
Juicy chocolate pie with vanilla ice cream and chocolate ganache, fluffy millefeuille with crispy pastry dough and crème patisserie, cream and seasonal fruit tart: “Apalou” is the best choice for fresh desserts in Tsagkarada, while they also offer a wide selection of teas, beverages and wine.
Info: Canyoning Mountain Escapes, tel. 0030 6932 418001, mountainescapes.gr
Paradisos, tel. 0030 24260 49209, Apalou, tel. 0030 24260 49727
