Most visitors to Greece think first about the Mediterranean, but Greece has more than just the water. Greece is full of a variety of mountains, caves, and beautiful landscapes. Many of Greece’s mountains are associated with mythology, so myths tell us that some ancient Greek gods used to live there. A select few special places in Greece give you access to both the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains at the same time, in some of the best locations in Greece. Let’s take a look at some of these unique areas in detail.
Pilion, Central Greece
Pilion is an ideal place in Greece to see both the mountains and the beauty of the Mediterannean waters. This is supposedly the place where the Greek gods and the centaurs used to live from mythology. You can spend your days swimming at child-friendly beaches and relaxing on the sand, and then take the tree-lined roads into the hills. There are a large number of paths and stone villages where you can visit or simply walk through. The mountain remains green year-round, but in the coldest months snow covers the top of Pilion and you can ski at the Agriolefkes ski resort.
Olympos, Northern Greece
Mount Olympos is the tallest peak in Greece, and the ancient Greeks said it was the home of the Olympian gods. Thousands of hikers walk up Mount Olympus every year to try to reach the peak at 2900 meters. The area is a named UNESCO reserve since 1981. There are many monasteries to visit on the mountain, and the most famous is St. Dionysios of Olympos, which was originally built in 1542. At the base of Mount Olympos are a series of charming beach towns. The most popular is Litochoro, which is built into the mountainside and is built in typical Macedonian architecture. From Litochoro, there are plenty of relaxing beaches in the summer, which have both a seat by the beach and a view of Mount Olympos.
Thassos, Nothern Greece
Thassos is an island that allows you to access both the mountains and the sea. Thassos is located in northern Greece and is accessible by Greece’s northern ports. The sea breeze literally meets the smell of pine trees, because the pine forest extends all the way down to the sea. The highest point on Thassos is Mount Ypsarion, which is at least 1000 meters above sea level. It is an ideal area for beekeepers, and local honeys include flavors of walnut, courgettes, and prunes.
The most popular starting point for exploring the island is Limenas (which means “Port”), where you get a taste of the beauty of Thassos. Some of the most popular beaches on Thassos include Alyki and Paradise. If you want more seclusion, Thassos also has bays and coves where fewer tourists visit. Getting to Thassos requires a ferry, usually from Kavala or Skala Prinos. The journey by boat lasts 45 minutes.
Crete
The mountains are not usually the first thing you think of with Crete. Usually, the beaches are the first stop for tourists. However, even in May, when the temperature gets close to 30 degrees Celcius, it is possible to see snow and ice on Crete’s tallest mountains. Crete has the tallest mountains of any Greek island. The tallest one is Psiloritis, which is found in the middle of the island. Near Chania in the west of Crete are the White Mountains. In the east, Mount Dikti rises higher than the clouds. Some of these mountains are ideal for guided hikes, panoramic views, and even ski-touring.
Taygetos, Peloponnese
While the beach isn’t exactly right next to the mountains in the Peloponnese, we had to mention it because the Peloponnese has mountains of its own that are often overlooked by most travelers. This southern area of Greece is not just about the beaches. Kardamyli is the location of the famous home of famous author Patrick Lee Fermor. He describes Kardamyli in this way: “a peninsula ending in crescent-shaped beaches … We walked down into a gently sloping world of the utmost magical beauty.”
The Mani peninsula is unique because it is separated from the rest of Greece by the Taygetos mountains. The Taygetos mountains have the tallest peak in the Peloponnese, at 2,400 meters. There are no ski centers on Taygetos, but you will find kilometers of marked trails. Elsewhere in the Peloponnese, you can ski at Ziria near Corinth, and Mainalo in Arcadia.
