Northern Greece: A Road Trip Through Nature and History

Rent a car in Thessaloniki and get ready for a Northern Greece road trip involving waterfalls, lakes, bears, birds and a time travel to ancient Macedonia of Alexander the Great. There are a lot of opportunities for bird watching, hiking in the forest and discovering mountainous Northern Greece. However, the critical element of this road trip is water:

• Waterfalls
• Lakes joining the borders of Northern Greece with neighbouring countries
• Rivers running through towns and traditional villages

Itinerary: Thessaloniki-Edessa-Florina-Prespa-Kastoria-Nymfaio-Naoussa-Vergina-Nea Agathoupoli and return to Thessaloniki

Duration: 5 – 6 days

Distance: 518 km

Northern Greece Road Trip Day 1: Thessaloniki

Dedicate the first day to exploring the city of Thessaloniki. First, walk in the city centre around the central squares of Aristotelous and Eleftherias, the Arch of Galerius on Egnatia. Then, go for a stroll at the busy waterfront where locals meet and to the 15th-century White Tower, the landmark of Thessaloniki.

The neighbourhood of Kalamaria to the east of the city centre is known for its tavernas and restaurants. Here, you can enjoy ouzo and local dishes by the sea. On the other hand, the area of Ladadika, closer to the centre, is a better option for restaurants and bars at nighttime. Finally, make sure you visit Ano Poli, the old town of Thessaloniki, with the cobbled streets and the Byzantine walls for panoramic views of Thermaikos Gulf. The Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Byzantine Culture will take you through the history of the wider area.

View of Thessaloniki and Pagasitikos Gulf from Ano Poli. Image by Ian Kehoe, licenced

Northern Greece Road Trip Day 2: Edessa waterfalls and Florina

From Thessaloniki and head off to Edessa, famous for its impressive waterfalls. Explore the town on foot and visit the open–air Water Museum northeast of Edessa to admire the natural sculptures created by waterfalls over 70 meters high.

Edesseos river continues through the city centre in smaller streams. Walk up the cobble street from Varosi, the old part of the town, to the Open Air Water Museum and to the Longos archaeological site of Ancient Edessa.

For birds and nature lovers: Do not miss visiting the wetland of Agra-Vryta-Nisi, 8 km west of Edessa. It is an artificial water reservoir built during the 50s. More than 140 bird species, such as swans, coots, little grebes and bitterns, and the ferruginous duck, have been recorded.

Enjoy your lunch in town, along the streams of Edesseos, before you continue your road trip towards Florina. At 700 meters altitude, surrounded by Mount Varnountas and Vitsi, Florina is a beautiful town with traditional mansions and old neighbourhoods built around the banks of the Sakoulevas River. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Florina, and finish your day at Pavlou Mela pedestrian street, where the locals usually meet. 

Thessaloniki – Edessa 106 km, Edessa – Florina 77 km

Waterfalls of the Open Air Water Museum, Edessa, Greece. Image by Fingalo @wikimedia

Northern Greece Road Trip Day 3.: Small and Great Prespa Lake

Our Northern Greece road trip continues towards the magical area of Prespa on the border between Greece, North Macedonia and Albania. The site consists of two lakes, the Small and the Great Prespa, separated by a narrow strip of land. Due to its great ecological importance, a wide area around Small Prespa and the ancient cedar forest near Mount Devas is listed as an International Protected Wetland by the Ramsar Convention. Water, mountains, fishermen, pelicans, cormorants, reeds and aquatic plants covered by morning mist create the majestic and peaceful scenery.

Next, drive to the main villages of the area, Laimos and Agios Germanos, located on the east coast of the lakes. Laimos (Greek for "neck") is the administrative centre of the area, located at the narrowest point of a valley at the foot of Varnoundas Mountain. Finally, visit the information centre of the Prespa National Park Management Body on the square of Agios Germanos to learn about the area's ecological importance and history.

Cross to the west side and drive to the small traditional settlement of Psarades (Greek for "fishermen"). Once you get there, ask for a boat trip to the Great Prespa Lake to visit the hermitages along the coast. If you prefer to walk, it is only a short way to the headland of Roti, where you can have a better view of Albania and the Great lake.

For a panoramic view of Prespa, visit Agios Achilios village, on the inhabited island in the small lake. Leave your car on the mainland coast and cross the 850 m pedestrian bridge to the town. Once there, make sure you also visit the ruins of the 10th-century basilica.

For nature lovers: We strongly recommend you spend the night in one of the guesthouses in Prespa. Hence, you have time for bird watching or hiking in the peaceful forest.

Kastoria

The next destination of our Northern Greece road trip is Kastoria, located on a peninsula on the western shore of Lake Orestiada, surrounded by the mountains of Grammos and Vitsi. Drive or walk around the 7 km lake promenade to see the different corners of Kastoria. Visit the Dragon's Cave with impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Here, geologists found the bones of a 10,000-year-old bear! On the eastern side of the peninsula stands the 12th-century monastery of Panagia Mavriotissa, one of the 76 Byzantine churches of Kastoria with impressive frescoes.

Next, walk in the traditional quarters of Apozari and Doultso, with the narrow streets and the two-storey mansions dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. One of the mansions houses the Folklore Museum of Kastoria, where there is a display of the rooms and cellars with the original equipment, furniture and decoration representing the daily life and work of the locals.

Florina – Prespes 39 km, Prespes-Kastoria 46 km

The Great Prespa lake is a natural border between Greece and neighbouring countries. Image licenced by Wikimedia

Northern Greece Road Trip Day 4: Nymfaio and Naoussa

First, visit the traditional village of Nymfaio at an altitude of 1350m on Moutain Verno, surrounded by a dense forest. Stone houses, cobbled streets, unspoilt nature and the local efforts to protect its unique character have won the UNESCO Melina Mercouri International Prize for the Safeguarding and Management of Cultural Landscapes.

Nymfaio prospered in earlier times as one of the most essential silversmith centres of the Balkans. Visit the Museum of Gold and Silver-smithery, Folklore, and History, housed in an old three-storey mansion. You can admire the local architecture and discover the area's mining history through the tool and jewellery display.

Despite its rich cultural history, Nymfaio is mainly known for its natural wealth and the Arcturos Environmental Centre. Arcturos is an NPO aiming to protect local biodiversity while running a sanctuary for endangered bears.

For the birdwatchers among you, the artificial lake of Zazari and Cheimaditida lake (near Nymfaio) are important wetlands, hosting more than 140 species.

 View of Naoussa from St Theologos hill. Image by Frangiscoder @wikipedia

The next stop is Naoussa. Beautiful Naoussa is built amphitheatrically at the foot of Mount Vermion and offers excellent views of Imathia. Arapitsa river runs through the town giving life to old trees and dense vegetation in the parks. The most impressive one is the Municipal park of Naoussa, built in the 1950s. There, you can go for a stroll along the lake.

The School of Aristotle, where the great ancient philosopher schooled Alexander the Great, is located nearby in the area of Isvoria.

3-5 Pigadia and Seli ski resorts on Mount Vermio (20 km from Naoussa) are two of Macedonia's most popular ski resorts. Seli is among the highest, and 3-5 Pigadia is the first to use artificial snow.

Naoussa is also known for its annual International Film Festival and the production of dry red wines, especially Ksinomavro (Greek for "acid black"), a wine of high acidity, firm tannins and complex aromatic character varying from bright pale to deep red colour.

Kastoria-Nymfaio 36 km, Nymfaio-Naoussa 97 km

 The archaeological site of Vergina, 11 km southeast of Veria. Image by Wikimedia, licenced

Northern Greece Road Trip Day 5: Vergina, Nea Agathoupoli, and return to Thessaloniki.

Now you will travel back to Alexander the Great's era, when he was proclaimed king of the Kingdom of Macedonia. In Vergina (11 km southeast of Veria) lies the archaeological site of Aigai. Evidence shows that the area has been continuously inhabited as early as the Early Bronze Age. During the Early Iron Age, it became an important cultural centre. But it peaked during the Classical period (5th-4th centuries) under the Macedonian kings.

The site consists of an acropolis, shrines, and the royal palace. The palace was probably visible from the whole Macedonian basin during the reign of Alexander's father, Philip II. In addition, of great historical and archaeological value is the ancient burial ground discovered in the area with many rich tombs, including the tumulus of Philip II. Findings from the excavations are exhibited in a protective shelter at the archaeological site and the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki. The local museum currently houses Philip's tomb. In contrast, a new museum is being constructed for the palace and other essential exhibits.

Nea Agathoupoli

On your way to Thessaloniki, drive to the wetland of Nea Agathoupoli, located to the south of the Aliakmonas delta. The area provides an ideal home for migratory and resident bird populations and a place where you can enjoy the calmness of nature. Ducks, teals, northern shovelers, herons, glossy ibises, Kentish plovers, and the rare ferruginous ducks are only a few of the species you will find there.

Walk around the wetland's circular coastal route and visit the birdwatching tower of the Axios-Loudias-Aliakmonas Management Authority. Enjoy the view of the Aliakmonas Delta and the Thermaikos gulf from above!

For more information on the local ecosystem, drive to the Axios Delta information centre in the area of Chalastra, around 25 km from the city of Thessaloniki. Bird watchers and nature lovers, do not miss this!

Naoussa -Vergina 34 km, Vergina -Nea Agathoupoli 32 km, Nea Agathoupoli-Thessaloniki:46 km

Axios Delta is an ideal destination for bird watchers. Image by Despina Michailidou, licenced

Do you want to discover more of Northern Greece? Check out our Eastern Macedonia and Thrace itinerary.

Rent a vehicle with Simplybook for your next vacation in Greece and support the local communities.

Featured image by Eleni Alexiou @wikimedia