Best Agrotourism Destinations In Mainland Greece

Thessaly

Thessaly is the northern part of Central Greece. The Thessalian fields are the largest flat plain of Greece and are surrounded by mountainous volumes. The main characteristic of the Thessalian fields is that they are located in (or very close to) beautiful natural landscapes and tourist destinations, making Thessaly region particularly attractive. South of the Meteora - Kalampaka area there are plenty of things to see. The cave of Theopetra is a must-see spot. The rocks of Meteora are a geological monument of global importance and their 6 monasteries are a religious centre for the whole of Greece. Therefore, it is a particularly popular destination for Greek and foreign travellers. You will find plenty of tourist facilities in Kalambaka, making it a focal point of tourism in Thessaly. In addition, the proximity to southern Pindos to the west and the areas of Aspropotamos and Koziakas make the area even more charming. Important monuments such as the Monastery of Timios Stavros and the church of Porta Panagia are a must-visit. Further south, after the cities of Trikala, and Karditsa, you will find Lake Plastira, one of the oldest artificial lakes in Greece. This lake is integrated into the natural environment making the landscape really beautiful and unique. This place attracts many visitors, especially during winter and spring. A high-quality tourism infrastructure has been developed over the years here. On the eastern side of the lake, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Mesenikola fields. Around the lake, one can find the monasteries of Korona, Petra and Spilia, which, along with those of Meteora, will delight any travel enthusiast who might also like religious tourist destinations. You will also have the chance to visit the nearby castles of Kallithera and Fanari. East of Meteora and north of the city of Larissa, with the ancient theatre and the archaeological museum, is Tyrnavos, located on the southern foothills of the highest mountain of Mount Olympus. The stunning beauty of Pelion, located on the eastern side of the Pagasitic Gulf, in the region of Magnesia (southeast of Thessaly), is one of the most enchanting Greek destinations for every season with highly developed tourist infrastructure. The Pelion train and the ski centre add to the magic of the mountain as do the beaches of the area. On the opposite side of Pagasitikos, at the west, extends the region of Anchialos, The area has important archaeological sites within short distances, such as Dimini, Sesklo, Alos, Feres and Demetriada. Of particular interest is the archaeological museum of Volos and the museum of Almyros.

Epirus

You can start your travel adventures in Northern Greece, by heading to Epirus, which essentially evolves into the regional unit of Ioannina where you will find Zitsa and Metsovo. In the beautiful city of Ioannina, next to Lake Pamvotis, visitors will see, among other things, the archaeological museum, the Byzantine museum in Kastro and the island of Ioannina, while in close proximity they can visit the cave of Perama, the Dodoni archaeological site, Zitsa and the museum of Greek history Pavlos Vrellis. The fascinating Metsovo has plenty to offer as well, among many others, it is worth visiting the Averoff Gallery, the Tositsa Museum and the lake of Aoos Springs if you like short excursions. In the wider area of Ioannina, you have more to explore for example you can head to Zagorohoria, check out the Vikos Gorge, which runs through Voidomatis. You will love gazing at the many stone bridges, Konitsa and Pogoni are lovely, you will enjoy the Aoos River, as well as Tzoumerka, with the bridge of Plaka and the cave Anemotrypa.

Central Greece

A large area with a great diversity in its landscape, including mountainous volumes, lowland areas and an extensive coastline. Tourism in Central Greece focuses on the eastern part of Fthiotida, Viotia, Evia and Attica. The imposing Parnassus mountain dominates the area. This is the most popular mountainous destination in Greece, especially in winter, when the Parnassus Ski Center operates. In the south-west of the foothills, the archaeological site of Delphi is world-renowned, while the Vagonetto Mining Museum is another special destination. In Fthiotida, you can brilliantly combine your travel with cultural tourism. The area has plenty of archaeological sites and monuments scattered around, which bear witness to its history. Thermopylae, ancient Elatia, the ancient cities of Alon, Ehinos and Kynos, the castles of Lamia and Mendenitsa, the archaeological museum of Lamia, the archaeological museum of Atalanti and the Byzantine Museum of Fthiotida in Ypati, are just some of what a visitor can see. As we continue to the south, the large area of Viotia is of particular interest. In the archaeological site of the southeastern part of Viotia (Ancient Thiva, Acropolis of Gla, Orchomenos, Thespies, and more). The visitors will also have the chance to see the medieval castle of Livadia, the monastery of Osios Loukas, the archaeological museum of Thebes, the archaeological museum of Schimatari and the archaeological museum of Chaeronea. The most popular destination here is Arachova, set on a mountain with a well-developed tourist infrastructure, right next to Delphi.

Peloponesse

In the northeastern part of the Peloponnese, in Korinthia, the region of Nemea is one of the most beautiful in Greece. This area is surrounded by the site of ancient Nemea and there is also a very interesting museum. There are many monuments and interesting places nearby as well. Though Nemea does not have the best tourist infrastructure, travellers can find accommodation in the popular resort of Loutraki, in the mountainous Korinthia, and of course in Nafplio. From there you can extend your exploration to the area of Argolida. A popular tourist destination that has many important archaeological sites such as the Archaeological Site of Mycenae and its museum, the archaeological site of Tiryns, the Asklepieion of Epidavros with the famous theater in which performances take place the Athens & Epidaurus Festival and the museum, the archaeological site of Midea, the Heraion and the ancient theatre of Argos, where performances are also held. In beautiful Nafplion, guests will see, among others, Palamidi, Bourtzi and the archaeological museum of Nafplion. As we continue we will meet the Achaia region. Undoubtedly, the most charming part of this region is the east, in the area of Aegialia and Kalavrita. Vouraikos Gorge and the Cog railway, the Monastery of Agia Lavra and the Megalo Spileo Monastery, the cave of the lakes and the Kalavryta museum are of great interest. The centre of attraction during winter is, of course, the popular resort of Kalavrita. The beautiful city of Patra is one of the biggest harbours in Greece. The new archaeological museum in Patra and the castle of Rio are among the things that visitors must see, while a walk on the bridge will be a unique experience, as is the participation in the famous carnival of the area. Monemvasia and its castle city is also an amazing destination for medieval culture lovers, in Lakonia region. In the area of Sparta, visitors will see the Menelaio, the Sparta Archaeological Museum, the Sparta Olive & Oil Museum, Mystras and its museum and the archaeological site of Amykles. In the western part of Laconia, you will be amazed at the region of Mani. There are many castles and towers, you will also discover the famous cave of Diros. From Lakonia visitors can also go to the beautiful Kithira island where among many other sites they will see the castle of Kythira Chora and the archaeological museum of Kythira.