Must-see attractions in Northern Greece

  • Its Kale

    Ioannina

    A more heavily fortified section within the Kastro, the Its Kale (Inner Castle) today feels less like a citadel than a city park. Inside the ramparts, on…

  • Roman Forum

    Thessaloniki

    As immaculately laid out as you'd expect of the Romans, this rectangular site was the centre of public and commercial Thessaloniki from the 1st to the 4th…

  • Villa Bianca

    Thessaloniki

    One of Thessaloniki's most famous mansions, built in 1912 by Pierro Arrigoni for Sephardic entrepreneur Dino Fernandez Siaz, the White House features art…

  • Church of Agia Sofia

    Thessaloniki

    Candlelight on gold chandeliers pierces the gloom in this stunning 8th-century church, modelled on its İstanbul namesake. Among many striking 8th- and 9th…

  • Archaeological Museum of Pella

    Macedonia

    Overlooking the northern end of the ancient city, Pella has been provided with a modern, meticulously curated museum that befits the site's importance and…

  • Barbouta

    Macedonia

    Walk from Plateia Antoniou down Vasileos Konstantinou to find Veria's atmospheric former Jewish quarter. The synagogue (with the bright blue-and-yellow…

  • Archaeological Museum of Nikopolis

    Preveza

    This modern museum brims with the treasures of Nikopolis: Roman marble statuary, mosaics from Byzantine churches and more. Abundant English-language…

  • Archaeological Site of Pella

    Macedonia

    Pella rose to fame when dynastic King Archelaos (413–399 BC) made it Macedon's capital. While not much rises above carefully excavated footings and low…

  • Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki

    Thessaloniki

    This touching museum is housed in one of the few Jewish buildings to survive the great fire of 1917, the former office of Jewish newspaper L'Independent…

  • Old Bridge

    Epiros

    This stone bridge, likely built in the early 1600s, spans the Arahthos River in four elegant arches. (The windows in the pedestals are for water overflow…

  • Plateia Aristotelous

    Thessaloniki

    Built after the great fire of 1917, this is where Thessaloniki looked away from its Ottoman and Byzantine past towards modernity, aspiring to the planned…

  • Agios Germanos Watermill

    Macedonia

    Built in 1930 to take advantage of the Agios Germanos River, this handsome old stone mill has been restored to working order by the dedicated folk of the…

  • Arcturos Bear Sanctuary

    Macedonia

    Twenty minutes' drive up the eastern flank of the mountains separating Kastoria and Florina is this sanctuary for the brown bears native to the Pindos…

  • Perama Cave

    Ioannina

    Just around the edge of the lake from central Ioannina, this cave is among Greece’s largest and most impressive. Discovered by accident in 1940 by…

  • Archaeological Museum of Dion

    Macedonia

    This three-floor museum in Dion village is packed with votive statues from the sanctuaries at Ancient Dion, plus grave monuments and a large collection of…

  • Oxya Viewpoint

    Zagorohoria

    North of Monodendri, a narrow road leads to this cliffside lookout into the depths of the Vikos Gorge. En route, you pass through the Petrino Dasos (Stone…

  • Church of the Panagia Achiropiitos

    Thessaloniki

    This basilica-style 5th-century Byzantine church, built over Roman baths and one of the oldest in Greece, has notable mosaics and frescoes. The name,…

  • Lake Pamvotis Information Center

    Ioannina

    Learn about Ioannina Island's natural world – and how humans have worked with it for centuries – at this two-storey exhibit space. After a quick visit,…

  • Panagia Quarter

    Macedonia

    Named for the Panagia church, this historic peninsula's narrow, tangled streets are lined by pretty pastel houses. A calf-stiffening walk leads up to the…

  • Archaeological Museum

    Macedonia

    Browse an impressive haul of Neolithic artefacts from the settlement of Nea Nicomedia, treasures from the Vergina tombs and other Classical, Hellenistic…

  • Mohamed Ali House

    Macedonia

    Dating to around 1770, this superb example of late-Ottoman architecture was birthplace and home to Pasha Mohamed (or Mehmet) Ali, wali of Egypt and an…

  • Venetian Castle

    Parga

    Centuries of turbulent history have made Parga's castle a romantic ruin facing the sea. The site was used for defence since the 11th century; the existing…

  • Moni Agia Paraskevi

    Zagorohoria

    From near the lower plateia in Monodendri, by Hotel Arktouros, a stone path leads about 1km to this small, now-disused monastery perched on the edge of…

  • Averoff Gallery

    Epiros

    Founded by Evangelos Averoff to fulfil a long-held wish to crown his family's town with a quality gallery, this three-storey space exhibits works of Greek…

  • Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art

    Thessaloniki

    One of the most respected modern-art institutions in Greece, MOMus grew from an initial bequest of 30 modern masterpieces in 1979, and now exhibits over…

  • Moni Xenofondos

    Macedonia

    Venerable Moni Xenofondos was first mentioned in 998, but probably dates to the 6th century. Although loot-seeking pirates often plundered it, impressive…

  • Modiano Market

    Thessaloniki

    The city's largest indoor market sits on the ashes of former Jewish neighbourhood Kadi, which burned down in the 1917 fire. The architect Eli Modiano…

  • Konitsa Bridge

    Epiros

    Completed in 1871, the bridge on the Aoös River below Konitsa is an icon of the town and, at 40m across and 20m high, it's thought to be the largest…

  • Moni Panagia Spiliotissa

    Zagorohoria

    This now-unused monastery was erected against a massive rock in 1665. The building is usually closed (unless it's the Friday after Easter), but there is a…

  • Municipal Ethnographic Museum

    Ioannina

    Set inside the Aslan Pasha Mosque (1619), the museum exhibits local costumes and period photographs, along with tapestries and prayer shawls from Ioannina…

  • Moni Iviron

    Macedonia

    Founded by Georgian monks in the 10th century, this monastery enjoyed 16th-century prosperity, which accounts for its collection of more than 2000…

  • Rizarios Exhibition Centre

    Zagorohoria

    This cultural centre is housed in a renovated mansion. The exhibits focus on Zagorohoria history and culture, with excellent photography. Coffee-table…

  • Byzantine Museum

    Macedonia

    This museum in a restored mill will turn you from novice to nerd in all things Byzantine. Splendorous icons, huge 5th-century floor mosaics and ornate…

  • Waterfalls Park

    Macedonia

    Located at the eastern side of town, Waterfalls Park offers several viewing points allowing you to gaze at Edessa's star attraction, and even get quite…

  • Church of Nikolaos Orfanos

    Thessaloniki

    This early-14th-century church, one of the most beautiful in a city heavy with stunning examples, has superb (though age-darkened) frescoes, many dating…

  • Experimental Center for the Arts

    Thessaloniki

    The wonderful programming at this old harbour space features fine art, video, installations, photography and all other forms of expression. Exhibitions…

  • Byzantine Museum of Kastoria

    Macedonia

    Testament to Kastoria's importance as a Byzantine city, this museum holds some 400 Byzantine and post-Byzantine icons. Many are displayed, alongside…

  • Moni Megistis Lavras

    Macedonia

    Pre-eminent amongst Athos' monasteries, this magnificent 10th-century complex is the peninsula's largest; it houses founder St Athanasios' tomb, and a…

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