XpatAthens

Monday, 28 April 2025 12:48

Exploring Greece: 3 Unique Road Trips Along The Country’s Most Beautiful Rivers

Greece is renowned for its stunning landscapes, from sun-kissed islands to ancient ruins, but its rivers also offer some of the country’s most breathtaking natural beauty. Embarking on a road trip along Greece's rivers provides a unique opportunity to explore serene waters, lush green valleys, and charming villages.

Of course, no epic road trip is complete without the right set of wheels. Discover Cars makes renting a car in Greece easy and hassle-free, offering everything from rugged SUVs for mountain adventures to compact cars perfect for charming village streets. With competitive rates, flexible booking options, a network of top-rated local providers, and no hidden fees Discover Cars gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace and with total confidence. Their platform also lets you easily compare prices and vehicle types, helping you find exactly what suits your trip. Having your own car means you can follow winding river roads, uncover hidden gems, and make spontaneous stops whenever a breathtaking view catches your eye. If you’re ready to turn your dream Greek road trip into reality, book your car today and hit the road the right way!

In the meantime, here are 3 unique Greek road trip ideas that take you through some of the country’s most picturesque river landscapes.

1. The Aoos River Route: From Metsovo to Konitsa

📍The stone bridge in Konitsa. 📷 @greece_islands

The Aoos River, flowing through the rugged Pindus mountain range, offers a captivating road trip through northwestern Greece. Start your journey in Metsovo, a charming mountain town known for its traditional architecture and local cheeses. From Metsovo, head towards the Zagori region, renowned for its picturesque villages and stunning stone bridges.

Metsovo: Explore this vibrant town with its rich history, local museums, and cozy tavernas. Don’t miss out on the traditional Metsovone cheese and local wines.

Zagori Villages: Drive through the scenic Vikos-Aoos National Park, where you'll encounter the historic villages of the Zagori region. Each village is unique, with traditional stone houses and breathtaking views of the Aoos River Gorge. The most famous village, Vitsa, is known for its stone-paved streets and beautiful old mansions.

Konitsa: Your journey ends in Konitsa, a town with an impressive stone bridge spanning the Aoos River. Enjoy the natural beauty and explore the nearby Voidomatis River, one of Greece’s cleanest rivers.

2. The Nestos River Adventure: From Kallithea to Komotini

📍Stena Nestou. 📷 @jenny_kann

The Nestos River, flowing through northeastern Greece, provides a scenic route through diverse landscapes, from lush forests to ancient ruins. Start in Kallithea, a small town with easy access to the river.

Kallithea: Begin your trip by exploring the tranquil waters of the Nestos River. Enjoy activities like kayaking or take a relaxing walk along the riverbanks.

Stena Nestou: A highlight of this route is Stena Nestou, the impressive gorge where the Nestos River carves its way through the landscape. The dramatic cliffs and rugged terrain create a stunning backdrop for hiking and exploring the area's natural beauty.

Xanthi: Drive through the picturesque town of Xanthi, famous for its vibrant market and Ottoman-era architecture. The town’s old bazaar is a great place to sample local delicacies and shop for traditional crafts.

Komotini: Continue to Komotini, known for its rich history and multicultural influences. Visit the local museum and explore the charming old town. The area around Komotini is also home to beautiful nature reserves and the river’s scenic landscapes.

3. The Acheron River Journey: From Glyki to Parga

📍Acheron River. 📷 @dafnou_

The Acheron River, steeped in mythology as the river of the dead in ancient Greek lore, offers a mystical road trip through northwestern Greece. Start in Glyki, a small village near the river.

Glyki: Begin your adventure in Glyki, where the river’s crystal-clear waters are a highlight. Enjoy a relaxing stroll along the river or take a boat ride to fully appreciate the natural beauty.

Necromanteion of Acheron: Visit the ancient Necromanteion, an archaeological site dedicated to the ancient practice of necromancy. The site is located near the river and offers insights into ancient Greek rituals and beliefs.

Parga: End your trip in the picturesque coastal town of Parga. With its beautiful beaches and charming harbor, Parga provides a perfect contrast to the river’s mystical and serene landscape. Enjoy the town’s vibrant nightlife and stunning views of the Ionian Sea.

These three road trips offer a unique way to experience Greece’s diverse landscapes, from the rugged mountains and lush valleys to the serene rivers and charming towns. Each route provides a blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and outdoor activities, making them ideal for those looking to explore the lesser-known sides of Greece. Whether you're seeking adventure or relaxation, these river routes offer something for every traveler.

Published in Travel Greece

Tagged under

Thursday, 05 February 2015 14:10

My Week in Athens… Mar 14

I’m sitting here thinking about my week, trying to remember what I did over the past seven days. And nothing really comes to mind. Absolutely nothing. Well, except one thing: work.

This has been one of those weeks where work has piled up, hour by hour, to the point where I can’t recall having left the house at all. Not even to the supermarket. I am sure that my local delivery guys think I’m as lazy as they come...

I can tell you the temperature in Brussels, Berlin and Boston – with as much accuracy as I can guess at the weather in Athens, since looking out the window and my phone’s weather feed are the closest things to an outdoor experience I’ve had in days… Judging from the view out there, I’m missing a beautiful week.

I’m at the point where I wonder what it’s all for… Don’t get me wrong, I have a typically North American attitude towards working and towards my career. But from time to time (to time) I find myself assessing what exactly I’d be giving up if I were to completely change directions, reinvent my working life, and escape the daily grind of typing into a computer and talking on the phone in return for a paycheck.

Then I realize that most of us probably fall in a similar boat – over-worked, over-stressed. And let’s not even talk about under-paid. And I also realize that I am one of the lucky ones who actually has a job and the luxury of complaining about being over-worked. Perspective is everything.

Until next week,

Jack

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…

Published in My Week In Athens

Tagged under

Monday, 16 February 2015 11:46

Melilotos Restaurant

Melilotos used to be on Xenofontos Str, where they made daily deliveries of homemade meals. Recently they moved to Kalamiotou very close to Kapnikarea Square in downtown Athens with their very own restaurant. Mama's kitchen is still the main focus, with fresh ingredients and tasty selections which change every day.

Salmon in the oven, moussakas with spinach and besciamel with yoghurt, cockerel with homemade pasta, and traditional sweet cherry preserve for dessert. Must tries are the macrobiotic salad, and the healthy soups with nettle, pumpkin, ginger and coconut milk, or in the summer months tomato soup with cool cucumber, mint and yoghurt.

Address: Kalamiotou 19, Monastiraki, Athens 10560

Phone: 210 322 2458

www.melilotos.gr

By Nelly Paraskevopoulou

10best.com

Do you have a recommendation or recipe to share? Send it to us at ideas@xpatathens.com!

Published in Restaurants In Athens

Tagged under

Thursday, 19 February 2015 11:26

Hoteliers Warn Against VAT Hike

Tourism professionals vehemently oppose the government’s intention to raise the value-added tax on accommodation from the current 6.5 percent to 13 percent. According to the calculations of the Association of Hellenic Tourism Enterprises (SETE), the hike would lead to moderate VAT revenue growth of 283 million euros, but would also slash gross domestic product by up to 3.8 billion euros.

At a press conference regarding the possible VAT hike, SETE head Andreas Andreadis on Monday described such a move as fiscal suicide. Citing the analysis of economic scenarios for 2015 by SETE Intelligence, he stressed that the implementation of the measure would generate a negative domino effect in the economy, reducing GDP by over 2 percentage points, and that it would also have a dramatic impact on the labor market, as for every million tourists missed out on, some 30,000 jobs would be lost. Andreadis added that the impact on the flow of tourists would amount to 2.5 million fewer next year and even greater losses in 2016.

Andreadis warned that if the VAT rate on accommodation doubles, hotel enterprises will be forced to renegotiate with tour operators, rendering Greek tourism less competitive and pushing millions of tourists toward the country’s competitors. He reminded reporters that Turkey has an 8 percent VAT rate for tourism accommodation and catering, while Portugal’s amounts to 7 percent, and Italy’s and France’s stand at 10 percent.

To read more, please visit ekathimerini.com

Published in Local News

Tagged under

Friday, 20 February 2015 21:52

Mushroom And Sausage Risotto

A quick and very easy risotto recipe, ideal for mid-week meals!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin Greek olive oil
450 gr sausages, outer skin removed, cut into large chunks
1 tsp chopped basil
½ cup Mavrodafni or other sweet red wine
6 cups chicken broth
1 butter stick (1/2 cup)
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 cup Carnaroli rice mix with mushrooms
1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

1 Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the sausages and sauté for about 5 minutes, until they begin to brown.
2 Add ½ cup of Mavrodafni. As soon as it evaporates, remove the skillet from the heat and keep aside.
3 Keep simmering the broth. Melt butter and add a little oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sauté the onion and garlic for about 5 minutes. Season with salt. Add the rice and stir for 2 minutes.
4 Add 1 cup of the broth. When it is absorbed, add another cup, repeating the same process until most of the broth is absorbed by the rice. Return the sausages and basil to the rice. If necessary, add a little bit more broth. Add half of the cheese and stir.
5 Serve the risotto with the remaining cheese on the side.

Serves 6

greek food - greek cooking - greek recipes by diane kochilas http://www.dianekochilas.com/

Published in Greek Food & Diet

Tagged under

Thursday, 27 August 2015 07:00

Despite Crisis, Greeks See Opportunity In Olive Oil Production

October is the ever-important olive harvest in Greece and many of the country’s entrepreneurs see a tremendous opportunity for growth and a rare opportunity to take a chunk out of Number 1 Spain and Number 2 Italy— the word’s top two olive oil producing nations.

Italy’s crop has been decimated by a fruit fly that eats olives and a rare tree disease. Nearly a million trees in the Puglia region alone have been infected with a disease dubbed by locals as “olive ebola” which slowly kills trees. And this is coming from a 1/3 decrease in production from the 2014-15 season, according to data from the Madrid-based International Olive Council (IOC).

Things are so bad that the Italian government has declared a “state of calamity” in the provinces of Lecce and Brindisi on the heel of the country.

The same organization points to a 50% decrease in production in Spain due to a drought that has effected much of the Iberian peninsula.

But resilient Greece has seen its olive oil output double since last season to just over 300,000 tons and the problems Italy and Spain are facing are making Greece’s wholesale prices competitive. According to a June report from the council, wholesale prices for extra-virgin categories from Italy and Spain have surged 114 percent and 84 percent this year, respectively, to €5.66 ($6.25) per kilo and €3.59 per kilo. In contrast, prices for Greek oil have climbed just 24 percent, to €3.09 per kilo.

The IOC reports Greek exports from the most recent harvest to the U.S., now the world’s top olive oil consumer, rose 28 percent from October 2014 through June of this year, while exports from Spain and Italy both dropped more than 50 percent.

Costco Wholesale is one company that recently got on the Greek olive oil bandwagon in a major way.

To read more, please visit: Pappas Post

Published in Local News

Tagged under

Thursday, 29 October 2015 07:00

Prehistoric Funerary Items Found On Mainland

Archaeologists in southern Greece have discovered gold signet rings and a chain, gold and silver goblets, a sword and over 1,000 fragments of semi-precious stones in a tomb believed to date back to 1,500 B.C., the Greek Culture Ministry said.

“It is the most impressive display of prehistoric funerary wealth in mainland Greece which has come to light in the past 65 years,” the Ministry stated.

The discovery was made by American archaeologists working in the Pylos region in the southwest Peloponnese this summer.

The jewellery and weapons are thought to have been used to surround the shroud, placed in a wooden casket, of a warrior aged 30 to 35, likely a prominent figure of his time in the early Mycenaean period, the ministry said.

To read more, please visit: Euronews

Published in Greece In The News

Tagged under

Monday, 07 March 2016 12:09

3 Greek Cities Bidding For European Capital Of Culture 2021

The preselection meeting, during which the Greek cities bidding for the title of European Capital of Culture in Greece for the year 2021 presented their candidacy, concluded at the end of February 2016.

The following Greek cities presented their bid-books in front of a twelve-member panel of experts (10 members nominated by E.U. institutions, and 2 national experts): Corfu, Delphi, Eleusis, Ioannina, Kalamata, Larissa, Lesvos, Messolonghi, Piraeus, Rhodes, Salamis, Samos, Tripolis and Volos.

The cities that were shortlisted are:

• Eleusis (Elefsina)
 • Kalamata 
• Rhodes

Having received the relevant recommendations and feedback from the experts, these cities must now submit their amended bid-books in order to participate in the final selection meeting for the designation of a Greek city as a European Capital of Culture in 2021, which will be held in November 2016.

Originally posted on: Protothema

Published in Greece In The News

Tagged under

Tuesday, 03 May 2016 07:00

Greece Among Top 6 Places To Visit In May

Just in time for spring and the national holiday of Protomagia, Greece is on the list of top destinations to travel to in May!

The esteemed Conde Nast Traveler has listed only 6 six destinations for the best May travel and Greece has made it to the number 1 spot.

Conde Nast urges its readers “not to limit their trip to popular destinations like Mykonos and Santorini, but wander the lesser-frequented harbors of Hydra or hike through the verdant forests of Zagorohoria.”

Other destinations included on this list were the South of France, Portugal, and South Africa.

Source: Conde Nast Traveler

Published in Greece In The News

Tagged under

Saturday, 08 October 2016 17:43

October 4 - Good News & A Great Contest

Learn more about XpatAthens’ GB Roof Garden contest, how we are among recommended blogs for expats in Greece, what award the Athens International Airport won, and what will be developed at the Hellenikon land!

Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!

Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter!

Published in Newsletters

Tagged under