©Lonely¨Planet¨Publications¨Pty¨Ltd Northern Greece Why Go? Macedonia ................ 237 Vast northern Greece (βόρεια Ελλάδα) has the country’s wildest terrain, and widest variety of cultures, cuisines and Thessaloniki .............239 legacies. Its major city, Thessaloniki, is a hip metropolis with Halkidiki ....................256 arguably the best nightlife in southeast Europe. Kastoria .................... 272 The region stretches from the sandy Ionian coast over Thrace ....................... 274 Epiros’ stark mountains, through Macedonia’s lakes and vineyards, and across Thrace’s mountains and plains all the Xanthi ....................... 276 way to Turkey. It has been for centuries a stomping ground Evros Delta ................281 for major civilisations such as the Macedonians, Thracians, Epiros ........................284 Romans, Byzantines, Slavs and Turks. This mixed heritage Ioannina ....................285 has graced the region with spectacular churches, monaster- ies, castles, towers and museums. The Zagorohoria .......290 For urban action, start with Thessaloniki or Ioannina. Parga ......................... 297 Beach-lovers will love the Halkidiki Peninsula’s clear waters, the golden ‘Epirot Riviera’ and beaches east of Mt Olympus. Outdoor activities abound from the Vikos Gorge to the Pre- spa Lakes, protected Evros Delta and Dadia Forest Reserve. Best Places to Eat And, something is always happening, whatever the season. ¨¨Paparouna (p248) ¨¨Castello Restaurant (p298) When to Go ¨¨Kivotos (p258) Thessaloniki ¨¨Sta Riza (p294) °C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm ¨¨Sapore Cucine Italiana 40/104 8/200 (p283) 30/86 6/150 20/68 4/100 Best Places to 10/50 2/50 Stay 0/32 0 ¨¨Colors Central Ladadika J F M A M J J A S O N D (p247) ¨¨Arhontiko Dilofo (p293) Jun-Aug Hit Sep-Nov Dig Dec-Mar Culti- the beaches Thessaloniki’s vate a ski-lodge ¨¨Salvator Villas & Spa Hotel at Halkidiki or culture scene, glow in Zagoroho- (p298) around Parga in at film fests art ria or celebrate a ¨¨Cavo Olympo Luxury Epirus. exhibits and alter- Mt Athos monas- Resort & Spa (p265) native bars. tic Christmas. 236 Greece Greece Greece Greece N N N Norther Norther Norther s ight l igh H eece Gr Northern Greece Highlights 1 Enjoy fine dining, live at Venetian-flavouredParga 4 Chill out on sithonia’s 6 see circling vultures and 8 Hike one of Europe’s music, Byzantine churches, (p297) beaches or decamp with Athos’ hawks at Thrace’s Dadia grandest canyons, the Vikos ruins and museums in 3 Contemplate snow-capped monks on the wildly varied Forest Reserve (p281) Gorge (p293) exuberant Thessaloniki Mt Olympus and the sandy Halkidiki Peninsula (p256) 7 Buy handcrafted local 9 Cycle, kayak, or simply sit (p239) Aegean coast from atop the 5 Partake in Xanthi’s riotous silver and explore the castle back and breathe in Kastoria’s 2 Dive clear Ionian waters Castle of Platamonas (p266) winter carnival (p276) quarter of Ioannina (p285) (p272) enigmatic lake Skopje (45km) Edirne Smolyan BULGARIA Orestiada TIRANA FORMER YUGOSLAV Prilep Mt Falakro Dadia REPUBLIC OF s Ohrid (2111m) Forest MACEDONIA Xanthi Reserve Evro Komotini TURKEY Serres Drama Bitola Kilkis THRACE MACEDONIA Kavala Mikri Florina Alexandroupoli Prespa Edessa Berat Kotas Thessaloniki Stavros Korça Lake Thasos THRACIAN ALBANIA Strymonic SEA Vlora Kastoria Veria Gulf Mt Grammos Alia Halkidiki Gallipoli Peninsula Samothraki (2520m) k Karyes m Lake Gulf of Gerakini o Vourvourou Çanakkale na Kozani Aliakmonas Imvros Mt Smolikas Thessaloniki Gulf of Mt Athos (2637m) s Litohoro (2033m) (Gökçeada) Konitsa Mt Olympus Kassandra Sarti (2918m) Castle of Kassandra 0 50 km Vikos Gorge Myrina 0 30 miles Platamonas Peninsula Sithonian Limnos Mt Ossa Peninsula Metsovo Ioannina Meteora (1978m) Corfu NORTHEASTERN Town Kalambaka Igoumenitsa TRIA Larisa AEGEAN ISLANDS POTAMIA TURKEY Corfu SPORADES EPIROS Trikala Gioura THESSALY Volos Agios Parga Karditsa Piperi Efstratios Ayvalîk Pelion Paxi Farsala Alonnisos Kyra Panagia Arahthos Peninsula Antipaxi Arta Mytilini IONIAN Lake Skiathos Lesvos Town ISLANDS Kremasta Skopelos Preveza Karpenisi Evia Skyros.