Greek lakeside and river towns off the beaten path.
Less-touristed lakeside and river towns in Greece, for travelers seeking fewer crowds but all the beauty.
Elassona
This tiny Greek town at the foot of Mount Olympus, Elassona sits alongside a river with a compact centre of cafés and restaurants.
Kalavryta
This small mountain town in the Achaea region of Greece, Kalavryta sits on the bank of the Vouraikos river at the foot of the Aroania (Chelmos) range and ser…
Florina
A walkable town in the wooded highlands of Western Macedonia, Florina sits alongside the Sakoulevas River, whose banks are lined with listed buildings and ca…
Lamia
A walkable central Greek city with a lively café and restaurant scene, Lamia sits on the slopes of Mount Othrys near the Spercheios river, with vineyards in…
Naoussa
Wine production, a traditional carnival, and a ski resort on the Vermio Mountains make Naoussa one of Central Macedonia's more varied tiny cities.
Dispilio
Village on the shore of Lake Orestiada in Western Macedonia, Greece, Dispilio is the site of a Neolithic lakeshore settlement built on an artificial island —…
Paravola
A village on the northern shore of Lake Trichonida in the Aetolia-Acarnania region of western Greece, Paravola sits directly at the water's edge with mountai…
Trikala
This walkable city in northwestern Thessaly built along the Lithaios River, Trikala has a lively café and restaurant scene and old neighbourhoods of traditio…
Neo Kostarazi
This lakeside village in the Kastoria regional unit of Macedonia carries a layered history: the older settlement of Palaio Kostarazi was destroyed by German…
Platanorrevma
Village in the Kozani regional unit of Greek Macedonia sitting alongside the Polyfytos artificial lake and the foothills of the Pierian Mountains, Platanorre…
Granitsa
This mountain village in Evrytania, Greece, Granitsa sits on a forested slope of Mount Liakoura above the river Granitsiotis, and retains nine historic churc…
Arta
Arta's medieval stone bridge over the Arachthos River — the subject of a well-known Greek folk poem — is the most recognisable landmark of this northwestern…
Lampeia
A mountain hamlet in Elis, south of Mount Erymanthos, Lampeia sits at elevation in the valley of a tributary of the Erymanthos river and offers a surprisingl…
Sidirokastro
A pocket-sized Greek town on the Krousovitis River with a café and restaurant scene that punches above its size, Sidirokastro also holds a medieval stone cas…
Lidoriki
A compact Greek village on the slopes above the broad Mornos reservoir, ringed by bare limestone ridges and cypress-dotted green meadows, making it a rewardi…
Papadates
This compact village on the shores of Lake Trichonida — Greece's largest natural lake — with a handful of cafés and restaurants for its size, and the slopes…
Servia
A tiny town in West Macedonia, Greece, Servia sits beside the Aliakmon River with the Kamvounia mountains rising above it, and carries an unusually dense Byz…
Vovousa
Tiny riverside hamlet in the Zagori region of Epirus, Vovousa sits directly on the water with several historic churches for a settlement of its size.
Pythio
This little village on the right bank of the Evros river, where the water forms the border between Greece and Turkey, Pythio sits in the Evros regional unit…
Rizari
This tiny Greek village in the Pella region, set among orchards and wooded hills with a river or reservoir at its edge, and within easy reach of Thessaloniki…
Velventos
A small town in Western Macedonia, Greece, where the Aliakmonas river runs along its western edge and the Pierian Mountains rise to the east, Velventos sits…
Edessa
Edessa, a town in Greek Macedonia's Pella region, is known as the "City of Waters" for the Edessaios River, which flows through the urban centre and drops in…
Vogatsiko
A small village in the Kastoria region of northern Greece, Vogatsiko sits surrounded by mountains on three sides and looks out over a valley through which th…
Nestorio
A village in the Kastoria regional unit of Western Macedonia, Greece, Nestorio sits on the banks of the Aliakmon river and holds several historic churches fo…
Laimos
Tiny Greek hamlet on the Prespes lakeshore, where a substantial stone church with a red-tile roof and arched windows sits against forested upland hills, clos…
Mavrochori
This pocket-sized village on the eastern shore of Lake Orestiada in Macedonia, Mavrochori sits directly on the water across from the town of Kastoria.
Ano Komi
This village in the Aliakmon valley south of Kozani with a striking number of churches for its size and vineyards in the surrounding countryside.
Aiani
This tiny Greek village in the Kozani regional unit of Macedonia sits near the Haliacmon river with mountains visible from the settlement, and holds a striki…
Anthochori
This tiny Greek hamlet on the water in the Ioannina region, Anthochori offers a quiet lakeside setting, several historic churches for its size, and easy acce…
Louros
Small Greek village sitting directly at the water's edge, with upland country close by, making it a quiet base for those drawn to both riverside scenery and…
Livadero
A pocket-sized Greek village in the upland Macedonian interior, Livadero sits close to river water and rolling highland terrain, making it a quiet base for e…
Paralimni
A small lakeside village in Macedonia's Pella region, Paralimni sits directly at the water's edge with rolling hills behind and several UNESCO World Heritage…