No, I don’t mean water-ski. Didn’t you know that Greece is not in fact all about the sun and sea? It’s also about snowy mountains, forestlands, ski resorts and cosy chalets. So you don’t believe me? I know that the image of “the land of the white houses and the blue sea” cannot easily be beat by its hinvernal alternative, but it is true that Greece can be a tourist’s Heaven even in the heart of winter.
I remember the first time my friend Sophie from Mylhouse, France, visited me at my family’s country retreat on Iti mountain, Central Greece, some years ago. Having spent several vacations in alpic resorts on the franco-swiss border close to her hometown, Sophie was stunned by the similarity of greek forests to their alpic counterparts.
A view of a snowy Greece from Pavliani village, Greece.
Beautiful and unique, with picturesque villages and welcoming taverns to host the freezing skiers and forest wanderers, Greece’s mountains offer a bargain alternative to the famous ski resorts of Central Europe (France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria). With a ski season extending from December to March or even mid-April and 19 ski areas with more than 120 miles of ski slopes, there’s plenty of choice even for the most demanding skiers out there. Just take a quick look at the most popular ski resorts in Greece.
Moving up the slopes of Parnassos ski resort, Greece.
Central Greece
Parnassos; located 112 miles from Athens and very close to the important archaelogical site of Delphi as well as the cosmopolitan, star-studded Arachova with the exciting nightlife, it is the most popular winter resort in Greece. Just forget St Moritz! Slopes 16, Lifts 13.
Pelion; 17 miles from Volos, Pelion mountain is home to a handful of picturesque little villages with an exquisite view to the Thessalic Plain. Slopes 3, Lifts 4.
Northern
Kaimaktsalan is located only 87 miles from the second biggest city of Greece, Thessaloniki (direct flights from most European airports) and is linked to it with a free bus service. Cool! Slopes 13, Lifts 7.
Seli, 59 miles from Thessaloniki. Slopes 16, lifts 9.
Falakro, 124 miles from Thessaloniki, 26 miles from Drama. Slopes 20, Lifts 9.
South
Kalavrita, 126 miles from Athens, is one of the best organized ski resorts in Greece.
For more information, go to http://www.visitgreece.gr/portal/site/eot/?lang_choosen=en
WELL, REALLY COMPLIMENTS FOR YOUR ARTICLES! I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LET ME REFRESH WHAT EXACTLY SORHIE FROM MULHOUSE SAID -THE YEAR AFTER VISITING PAVLIANI IN GREECE- WHEN HER CAR ENTERED CHAMONIX (MONT BLANC), HAVING CROSSED THE FOREST AFTER THE SWISS-FRENCH BORDERS AT COL DE LA FORCLAZ: “OH LA LA!! C’EST COMME PAVLIANI A GRECE!” (“OH! IT IS LIKE PAVLIANI IN GREECE!”)
AND ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER, WHEN MERVI AND MARIA FROM FINLAND (LAUHALA) ALSO VISITED PAVLIANI, THEY SAID LOUDLY: “WE DIDN’T REALLY KNOW THAT IN GREECE THERE ARE SO BEAUTIFUL FORESTS!” “OH YES, WE BELIEVED IT WAS ONLY IN FINLAND!”
PAULA, THANKS!!!
OF COURSE, IT ISN’T THE FIRST TIME I LIKED YOUR ARTICLES! ALL OF THEM HAVE SMTH. TOUCHING ME….
Hi all,
Wow what are beautiful and unique with picturesque villages . Really so intersting. Thanks a lot…….