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NUTS Region of Greece
Photo: Ωριγένης, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Northern Greece is the large, varied upper half of Greece which, apart from a few scattered famous attractions, is still relatively untouristed, though much of this area offers rewarding destinations that deserve to be better known. Distances are long, and though the major cities are easy enough to get to by bus or train, and almost everywhere is served by at least one bus a day, visitors who want to get off the beaten track or cover a lot of ground in a limited time will probably find it most practical to have a car.
A mountainous region known for its rugged landscapes and traditional villages, home to the famous Zagori villages renowned for their stone houses, the Vikos Gorge, one of the deepest canyons in the world, and the ancient city of Dodona.
Home to Greece's second-largest city, Thessaloniki, which is a bustling metropolis with a rich history. Other notable places in Macedonia include Mount Olympus, the ancient city of Vergina, and the Halkidiki peninsula with its beautiful beaches.
Thrace shares its borders with Bulgaria and Turkey. The region is known for its rich cultural heritage, including a significant Muslim minority. Thrace features beautiful landscapes, such as the Evros Delta, and important historical sites like the ancient city of Anastasioupolis.
By train
Thessaloniki is Greece's hub for international rail service. Trains connect Thessaloníki to Sofia (3 daily), Bucharest (1 daily), Istanbul (2 daily) and Belgrade via Skopje (2 daily).g.
By car
Northern Greece can be entered by car either from any of its land neighbors countries, or from Athens.
By bus
There is some, albeit limited, international bus service to neighboring Albania, Bulgaria, and Turkey, as well as Georgia. From Athens there are buses to every town in Central and Northern Greece.
By boat
The main port to get to Northern Greece from Italy is Igoumenitsa. Several ferries depart daily from the Italian port cities of Venice, Ancona, Bari and Brindisi.
By train
Trains (OSE) connects most of the towns on the east part of Greece. The main train line connects Volos, Larissa, Katerini, Thessaloniki, Kilkis, Serres, Xanthi, Komotini and Alexandroupoli.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Nea Anchialos · Regional · VOL
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Preveza is a town in Epirus with a charming location, a beautiful promenade, some remarkable fortifications, and the harbour.
Ioannina (Ιωάννινα) (population: 112,486 (2011)) is a beautiful city in Northern Greece whose old town is surrounded by tall defensive walls.
famous for its Byzantine-era churches and its well-preserved Jewish quarter, home to the archaeological site of Aigai, the ancient capital of Macedonia
the second-largest city in Greece, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with a mix of ancient sites, Byzantine churches, excellent museums, a vibrant food scene, and a bustling waterfront
a charming city with a lively atmosphere, beautiful old town, a medieval fortress and several interesting museums; also a gateway to Lake Kerkini and its rich birdlife
a picturesque coastal city known for its harboir, Ottoman-era architecture, charming old town, beaches and nightlife
famous for its carnival
interesting Christian-Muslim appearance of the city centre
modern port city with a beautiful promenade
impressive landscape with high mountains, dense barely inhabited forests and impressive gorges and the wild beauty of the Zagoria mountain villages
the highest mountain of Greece, major trekking destination
No.1 tourist destination in Northern Grecce
mountainous area with picturesque mountain villages, a multitude of old famous monasteries and impressive vegetation
wild mountainous nature in between Greece and Bulgaria
unique landscape and wild life
the most beautiful island in Northern Greece
a wild, mountainous island with few tourists and stunning nature
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