by Vicky Hioureas
While most people hear Greece and immediately think of vacationing on the islands in the hot summer, this is a four-day getaway that might make you reconsider when and where you should take your vacation to Greece. The northwestern mainland is a region entirely different from the rest of the country: it is home to picturesque mountains, turquoise lakes and rivers, bright green pastures, historic stone bridges, stunning villages, and some of the best cheeses Greece has to offer. Like most parts of Greece, Epirus is a region you’ll want to visit again and again, with each time of the year offering a new look and feel. This is your go-to guide for a four-day getaway to the iconic region of Epirus and the villages of Zagori (Zagorohoria):
But first a very brief history:
Day 1. Metsovo
You can fly into Epirus via the Ioannina airport (or if you prefer to extend your road trip and take in the geographic transition of northern Greece, you can fly into Thessaloniki airport and drive about 2.5 hours to get to your first stop: Metsovo).
Metsovo lies in the Pindos mountains and is a very popular winter destination for Greeks. The village name translates to “bear-village” in the regional dialect, and you’ll quickly understand why when you’re driving through the Pindos mountains and you suddenly see the tiled rooves of the village appear between the pine trees and the peaks. There are a number of boutique hotels in Metsovo that offer the perfect cozy, winter ambiance, with stone walls, plush rugs, wood ornamentation and a fireplace.
After settling in, you’ll want to head over to the main square and grab a table at Ta 5 Fi. This is a no-frills restaurant that serves everything exclusively on butcher paper. They have a range of local cheeses, sausages, and other grilled meats that are so delicious, they’ll barely be on the table for longer than a few minutes.
After you’ve finished this incredibly-memorable meal, you can take a walk in the village, buy some local cheese, meat, or wine, visit the antique shops, and just take in the beautiful scenery. Enjoy the rest of your evening by warming up by a fireplace in your hotel or one of the cafes.
Day 2. Driving through the Zagorohoria
You’ll want to get an early start because part of the charm of visiting the villages of Zagori is driving through the zig-zag roads and making frequent stops along the road to take in the incredible scenery. On your way to the villages, you’ll pass Ioannina and its lake on your left—there are a number of places to stop on the side of the road to get a great panoramic view.
Day 3
Day 4
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