This Beautiful Area in Greece Is The place the Greeks Go on Trip — With Magical Blue Water, Pleasant Villages, and Native Meals

In case you really feel outpriced for a trip within the Greek Islands, you are not completely out of luck — there’s a lesser-known different to experiencing the identical magical blue waters, pleasant village vibe, and contemporary Greek meals.

Greek-Macedonia, the nation’s northern area, provides a broader number of experiences for historical past buffs, seashore lovers, and road-trippers, and nonetheless has an historical historical past that compares to Athens, dramatic coastlines much like the Greek Isles, among the most in depth spans of inexperienced olive groves on this planet, and the nation’s most religious websites — all inside a number of miles from one another.

Northern Greece can also be simpler and extra reasonably priced to navigate independently than elsewhere within the nation. Hire a automobile or hop on a public bus; keep at a beachfront bungalow, a village guesthouse, or camp at a seashore or inside a forested nationwide park.

With milder climates, fewer crowds, and nice costs (together with many free points of interest), it’s no shock that that is the place the Greeks themselves choose to go for his or her summer season breaks and lengthy weekends.

Thessaloniki

Begin your journey in Thessaloniki — Greece’s second largest metropolis and commerce junction, with a significant airport and seaport alongside the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea. Named a UNESCO Metropolis of Gastronomy, Thessaloniki is the place a few of Greece’s greatest cooks experiment with conventional flavors and trendy cooking methods. Locals, referred to as Hellenes, will inform you that is the place the Greek espresso tradition originated. A standard sight is associates and households lingering for hours at al fresco espresso retailers, discussing every thing from world affairs to workplace gossip over cigarettes and bitter espresso.

Guests typically overlook the fashionable European financial hub, however it provides many historic websites, high quality eating places, bustling nightlife, and loads of buying at a fraction of the costs in comparison with different well-known elements of Greece. The town’s in depth make-up of working professionals and college college students offers a nonstop avenue occasion ambiance. It’s common to search out in any other case quiet neighborhood streets and deserted buildings reworked into non permanent stay music venues (with out the high-priced cowl expenses) thumping beats till after midnight. Steer clear of the crowds on the artfully-decorated Elisabeth Boutique Resort, positioned in a historic constructing.

It is simple to discover the two,300-year-old metropolis on foot, uncovering layers of Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman historical past, particularly round Ano Poli, the higher city. Amongst 15 Byzantine UNESCO monuments within the space, you possibly can go to the catacombs on the Baptistery of St. John the Baptist close to the sixth-century Hagia Sophia, the seventh-century Church of Hagios Demetrios, Aristotelous Sq., the Archaeological Museum, Byzantine Museum, and White Tower Museum. Within the night, stroll alongside Aristotelous Sq. and the bustling waterfront, the place it feels as if the complete metropolis is out working, strolling, watching avenue performances, and having fun with completely satisfied hours across the energetic areas.

For dinner, there are lots of of conventional Greek, worldwide, and even vegan eating places alongside the slim alleys of Outdated City and Ladadika districts. Strive Frutti de Mare for seafood, Roots for vegan Mediterranean, and Oval Bistronomy for contemporary Greek with a view of the tower. 

Vergina

Drive about 45 miles west from Thessaloniki to Vergina to see one of many best-preserved moments in archeological historical past. From the surface, the grassy mound could not seem like a lot, however when you go underground, your eyes will modify to the intense gold objects saved in a darkish and funky museum.

Right here, you possibly can see a wonderful, shiny tomb of King Philip II, father of Alexander the Nice, who died in 336 BC. The Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai, constructed by the Kingdom of Macedon at Aigai, was solely recognized in 1977, and the museum was accomplished in 1997. Inside, you possibly can see silver and bronze vessels, carved ivory, gold armor, delicate jewellery, weapons, shields, and the king’s bones within the Golden Larnax. Entry tickets are half-price between November and March.

To proceed on the path of Alexander the Nice, it’s also possible to go to close by Polycentric Museum of Aigai within the restored a part of Macedon’s Royal Palace, which, in its day, was 3 times greater than the Parthenon.

Litochoro

Head additional south to the area of Pieria, a quaint weekend mountain escape outdoors the large metropolis of Thessaloniki. Many Greeks, Bulgarians, Serbians, and Albanians drive to the realm for energetic adventures, contemporary air, and quiet retreats. Litochoro is an enthralling 14th-century conventional village on the foothills of the legendary Mount Olympus, providing beautiful views of the ocean and the mountains.

Stroll across the cobblestone streets, and you will discover lovely Macedonian-style homes embellished with rose, olive, and fig bushes, rustic stone chapels, and a dozen vacationer retailers promoting native wine, honey, herbs, and conventional sweets. A romantic dinner for 2, together with a bottle of Greek wine at one of many nicer eating places — Hairi Inexperienced and Μεζέ Μεζέ — prices lower than $30. Be part of native residents at one of many many taverna and ouzo bars to look at a recreation and spark a dialog.

Take the scenic 30-minute route from Litochoro village to Olympus Nationwide Park, the primary nationwide park in Greece established in 1938. Windy roads will carry you thru 11,000 acres of alpine vegetation, together with oak, black pine, beech, and white pine, to a monastery in Mount Olympus’s coronary heart. Go to the open-air Monastery of St. Dionysios, destroyed throughout World Struggle II, and take a brief hike alongside the icy Enippeas River to the holy caves.

Mount Olympus is a sacred place for Greeks and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for its range of wildlife. You’ll be able to guide a day-long guided mountaineering, mountaineering, or canyoning tour, or for a extra leisurely tempo, take the path from the village to see the spanning gorge and Enipeas waterfalls.

Within the afternoon, drive a couple of minutes south of Litochoro to the seashore city of Plaka, the place you possibly can take a calming swim within the glistening blue waters, have drinks and snacks at an previous practice tunnel reworked into Galleria Café, or absorb panoramic views from the Fort of Platamon.

Sithonia Peninsula

Head east of Thessaloniki towards three legs of the Halkidi peninsula. Every has a special vibe, specializing in mountaineering, seashores, and faith. The center — and the biggest peninsula in northern Greece — is Sithonia, which resembles the Greek Isles with out the whitewash. As a substitute, you will discover crimson terracotta rooftops, quiet hamlets, and expansive hills crammed with Cyprus and olive bushes. Greek vacationers choose to sprawl round laidback villages dotted with 100 or so Blue Flag-recognized Aegean seashores boasting milder climates and pristine seashores. In Vourvourou, youngsters and households hire small self-piloted boats and transfer the day-long occasion to the crystal clear water.

As you circumvent the 26-mile-long panoramic drive alongside the shoreline, cease at historical settlements, olive-tasting rooms, and beachside cafes. Find time for the previous village of Nikiti, Neos Marmaras, the traditional ruins of Toroni citadel, and the village and seashore of Agios Nikolaos. Climb to the highest of Mount Itamos for a espresso and panoramic peninsula views. Sithonia is dotted with reasonably priced Greek eating places the place you possibly can drink tsipouro and eat fresh-caught seafood together with your toes nonetheless within the sand.

Catering to all sorts of vacationers, the Sithonia Peninsula provides lodging for as little as $50 per evening, starting from campgrounds and flats to beachfront villas and luxurious resorts. To expertise a part of the Byzantine period, keep on the family-owned and operated Athena Pallas Resort, the place the meals and structure are impressed by Mt. Athos monasteries. Style completely different features of Greek culinary historical past at one of many onsite eating places and get entry to the well-known Elia seashore.

Mount Athos

Mount Athos is the third peninsula of Halkidiki, also referred to as the Vatican of Greece. There are 12 totally autonomous 1,000-year-old Byzantine monasteries at the moment operational on the peninsula. Whereas the holy mountain is seen from many spots in Greek Macedonia, it’s not simply accessible. Male pilgrims should apply for restricted permits to enter the sacred Mount Athos area, whereas girls are usually not allowed to enter.

From the water, anybody can benefit from the pristine pure magnificence and grandeur of the monasteries’ structure. Drive to the village of Ouranoupolis and embark on a three-hour cruise with Athos Sea Cruises to sail alongside the peninsula. Out of your boat, you possibly can see most of the Monasteries of Mount Athos, with their giant campus and distant areas nestled amidst the plush mountains.