Ioannina stands as one of the best offbeat escapes in Europe because of its view-a-licious lake.
Whether it’s strolling hand in hand on its banks, birdwatching, riding a bike in the lightly used rural roads or enjoying your wine and good spirits by the serene waters in the sunset, the turquoise lake (a National Park and Pamvotis by name - a riddle for the literature aficionados) will offer the perfect backdrop for romance, family holidays, congresses and city breaks.
It is only a 10-minute boat trip from Molos, Ioannina to the No Name Island in the middle of Pamvotida Lake but it is a lifetime experience.
You enter the boat and suddenly everything changes as the small trip begins. First you notice the ever-changing views of the surrounding mountains that come closer and closer as they are mirrored in the lake. The horizon grows, water and sky are a single, deep blue. The lake marks the passage into another magical time and fills us with nostalgia.
Welcome to a canyon that holds a World Guinness Record! The 24km length Vikos Gorge is one of the largest, deepest and most spectacular gorges in the world. You will be astonished of the great variety and alternation of different ecosystems, a feast of flora and fauna. The Gorge is one of the few remaining wildlife refuges in Europe in almost pristine condition, hosting 133 species of birds and 24 mammals. Yes, you may see a baby bear climbing the rocks next to you!
Almost a breath from the historic center, there is the lakeside. From the square Mavili until "12", the "Skala" the Katsari Park, the multi old municipal slaughterhouses, Akti Miaouli and lakeside bicycle - pedestrian. In some places along this route many restaurants and cafes are developed.
Near the Coast Miaoulis there is the Ioannina Centre of Traditional Crafts (KEPAVI) where you can find jewelry and any other creation of silverwork. A lakeside stroll or by bicycle, ii a must. Those of you who are fans of fishing or bird watching, do not forget your equipment.
Greece without the sea and the sun is not Greece. Ioannina combines sea and sun with other experiences that are not found in the rest of the country, that's why Ioannina is a unique destination.
Just one hour away from Ioannina, through the brand new Egnatia Odos Highway, there is one of the best coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, a coast that offers numerous leisure and relaxation options, the Ionian Coast.
In Zagorohoria you’ll find more than 60 traditional, picturesque bridges made of stone. More than anywhere else in Greece. Imagine than in the 19th century they were 150-200!
The capital of the mountains is Metsovo. It is a historic village with large villas and cobbled streets, built in a beautiful location.
Metsovo has a great history and splendid places to sightsee, such as museums, old churches and monasteries.
It is the ideal place for relaxation, delicious culinary experiences, a base for outdoor action excursions and a popular market of unique local products.
On the northwestern edge of Pamvotida Lake, just 5 km away from Ioannina, in the settlement of Perama (19, Spilaiou street), rises the limestone hill Goritsa (peak height 555 m). In its bowels about two million years ago, a labyrinthine cave was formed through complex natural processes. In its chambers and corridors, various stalagmite and stalactite cave themes develop. Bones and teeth from archaic cave bear species indicate that such large, extinct mammals found shelter there 200,000 years ago.
At the entrance of Perama, opposite the port, where the main parking (passenger cars, buses and taxis) the Center for Information and Promotion of Cave Perama Ioannina is located. The Promotion Center Reception & Guest "Anna Petrochilou" includes the projection room, the exhibition of geological and paleontological findings and coffee refreshment for guests' convenience.
It is housed in a traditional preserved stone building, which was granted to the Management Body by the Holy Diocese of Ioannina. It is a modern information pole concerning the environment of Pamvotida Lake and contributes to the protection and promotion of the Protected Area.
Not as crowded as Zagorochoria, the villages in Tzoumerka are jewels of tradition in the nature. Pramanta, Katsanohoria, Sirako, Kalarites. Villages perched on Athamanika Mountains, a part of amazing landscapes that you would love to keep in your memory and in your camera’s memory too. The nature is simply wonderful there. Dozens of rivers, deep gorges, rocks, bare top mountain peaks and wonderful stone bridges.
Wondering where to start?
