Itinerary
- Day 1
Thessaloniki
You'll arrive in Thessaloniki and pick up your rental car at the airport. If your flight gets in early enough, there's time to walk through some of the city's main sights before heading inland. The White Tower is right on the waterfront and gives you a good sense of the city's layout. From there, you can wander up into Ano Poli, the old quarter with narrow streets and older houses, then check out the Basilica of Agios Demetrios if you're interested in Byzantine architecture. The Ladadika district has shops and cafes if you want to grab lunch or just get a feel for local life. Stop by one of the markets before driving to Veroia in the late afternoon, which is about 70km away and takes roughly 90 minutes. You'll stay near Veroia for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit the White Tower
- Explore the Old City (Ano Poli)
- Visit Basilica of Agios Demetrios
- Explore Ladadika district
- Discover local markets and neighborhoods
Landmarks White Tower Basilica of Agios Demetrios Old City (Ano Poli) 
- Day 2
Veroia
Start by exploring Veroia itself, then drive the short 12km to Aigai, which you know as Vergina today. This was the first capital of the ancient Macedonian Kingdom, and the Royal Tombs Museum is the main reason to come here. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you'll see why once you get there. The museum lets you see portable artifacts and wall paintings in the underground structures, which are really well preserved. The highlight for most people is Philip II's tomb and the golden urn they found inside it. Plan to spend 3 to 4 hours at the site and museum, then head back to Veroia or stay in the area for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Royal Tombs Museum of Ancient Macedonian Kings
- Explore Aigai (Vergina) archaeological site
- View Philip II's tomb
- See the golden urn
Landmarks Royal Tombs Museum Aigai (Vergina) - Day 3
Veroia to Kalambaka
The drive to Kalambaka takes about 2.5 hours heading south and west. This small town sits right at the base of Meteora, which is basically massive rock formations rising straight up from the plain, and the whole area is protected by UNESCO. What makes it unique is that Byzantine monks built monasteries right on top of these rocks centuries ago, carving buildings into the stone itself. You'll understand why it's so special the moment you see the formations. Check into your accommodation in Kalambaka and get settled before evening, maybe grab dinner and walk around town to get oriented before tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Meteora - Day 4
Kalambaka
This is a full day for exploring Meteora on foot. There are organized trails that take you through the rock formations and the forest around them, so you'll be hiking for several hours. Along the way, you'll see medieval ruins scattered throughout the area, which tell you something about how people actually lived in these isolated spots back then. You'll also visit some of the working monasteries that are still active today. The hike itself is moderate and takes you up and around the rocks, giving you different perspectives of how enormous these formations actually are. Wear good shoes and bring water. By evening you'll be tired but it's a really worthwhile day outdoors.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Hike organized trails around Meteora rocks
- Walk through forest surrounding the rocks
- Visit medieval ruins
- Visit famous monasteries
- Hiking to explore natural beauty
Landmarks Meteora - Day 5
Kalambaka to Ioannina
You'll drive north toward Ioannina, the main city in the Epirus region, which takes about 2 hours from Kalambaka. The town sits around Lake Pamvotida, and the lake really is what defines this place. The water is calm, and there's a small island in the middle that you'll notice right away. The whole area has this peaceful quality because of the lake and the mountains around it. When you arrive, check into your hotel and get a sense of how the town is organized around the water. Later on, take a walk along the waterfront to see how the buildings and streets relate to the lake, then find dinner somewhere near the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Lake Pamvotida - Day 6
Ioannina
Start your morning at the Castle of Ioannina, the oldest Byzantine fortress in the country and pretty important to the town's history. Walk through it and you'll get views out over the lake and the surrounding area. From there, you can drive around Lake Pamvotida to see different angles of the scenery, which changes as you circle it. If the timing works out, you can take a boat out to the island in the middle of the lake, or if you prefer something different, head to Perama Cave, which is a geological site with stalactites and stalagmites. The cave tour takes about an hour. You'll be back in town by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Castle of Ioannina
- Drive around Lake Pamvotida
- Boat ride to the lake's island
- Visit Perama Cave
Landmarks Castle of Ioannina Lake Pamvotida Perama Cave - Day 7
Ioannina
Today you're heading into the mountains to explore Pindos National Park and the traditional villages of Zagorohoria. This area is known for its stone houses that blend into the landscape, and you'll see why when you're driving through. The villages look like they've been here for centuries, and in many ways they have. One stop you should make is Metsovo, which has a winery if you're interested in local wine, and it's also known for wood crafts and traditional textiles. The drive through the park is scenic, and you'll be at a different elevation than you were before, so the temperature and vegetation will feel noticeably different. Plan to spend most of the day exploring at a relaxed pace, stopping in villages that catch your eye.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Pindos National Park
- Explore traditional mountain villages of Zagorohoria
- Stop at Metsovo village
- Visit Metsovo winery
- See wood art in Metsovo
Landmarks Pindos National Park Zagorohoria Metsovo - Day 8
Ioannina to Edessa
Drive to Edessa, which is the capital of Pella province and known for its waterfall. The Edessaios River creates this drop that's one of the more impressive natural features in northern Greece. What's cool about Edessa is that the whole town has little bridges crossing the waterfall and small streams, so you hear water running constantly as you walk around. The sound and the mist from the waterfall give the place a distinctive feel. Spend the afternoon walking through town, checking out the waterfall from different angles, and exploring the bridges and paths. If you want to walk along the river gorge, there are trails that do that too. The area around the falls is nice for an evening stroll.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Edessa waterfall
Landmarks Edessa Waterfall - Day 9
Edessa
Head 35km south to Pozar Thermal Springs at the base of Mount Kaimaktsalan. This is a day for relaxing rather than sightseeing. The springs are warm, about 37°C/99°F, and there are lots of pools and facilities to choose from. There are 48 individual baths, 6 indoor pools, an outdoor pool, hamams, a jacuzzi, and various spa treatments. The setting is nice too, with steep rocks around you and natural waterfalls, plus vegetation in the gorge. You can spend the morning and afternoon here soaking and relaxing, which is a good break after several days of driving and hiking. Grab lunch at the facility's restaurant. Late afternoon, head back toward Edessa or continue on toward Thessaloniki depending on your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Bathe in Pozar Thermal Springs
- Use hamams at Pozar
- Use jacuzzi facilities at Pozar
- Use spa facilities at Pozar
Landmarks Pozar Thermal Springs Mount Kaimaktsalan - Day 10
Edessa to Thessaloniki
Check out and drive to Thessaloniki Airport Makedonia for your flight home. The drive takes about 90 minutes from most locations in the area. If you have extra time before your flight, you could stop at the archaeological site of ancient Pella, which is on the way and has the New Archaeological Museum. The museum has outstanding mosaic floors from grand Macedonian houses, including famous scenes like the Abduction of Helen, Amazonomachy, and a Deer Hunt. If you're interested in archaeology and have a couple extra hours, it's worth seeing. Otherwise, head straight to the airport and work through check-in and security. Let the rental car return happen smoothly before you head to your gate.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit ancient Pella archaeological site
- View mosaic floors at New Archaeological Museum of Pella
- See Abduction of Helen mosaic
- See Amazonomachy mosaic
- See Deer Hunt mosaic
Landmarks Ancient Pella New Archaeological Museum of Pella 
