Where we would love to be right now.
Imposing snowcapped mountains, tranquil lakes, spectacular waterfalls, stone arch bridges, baths in the heart of the forest, and settlements that look like fairytale mountain oases. One destination, a thousand landscapes.
Let’s take a photographic journey through some of the most beautiful places in Macedonia, hoping we can soon enjoy them up close again as we return to everyday life and to our travels.
Lake Orestiada, Kastoria
One of the most beautiful and atmospheric cities in Northern Greece, Kastoria mirrors itself in the waters of its lake, which draws visitors like a magnet. Lake Orestiada is intertwined with the character, history, and evolution of the city. Dense beech trees and towering plane trees line the route, creating an almost otherworldly scene. Here, strolls unfold as leisurely as they need to be for you to savor the beauty of the landscape. As you walk, you gaze at pelicans and ducks, as well as the impressive sight of fishermen rowing their "boats" standing up.
Prespes, Florina
On Greece’s northwestern border, Small and Great Prespa are filled with scenes that defy imagination: plaves that appear suddenly out of the mist, migratory birds, endless reed beds, fishing villages, ancient settlements and Byzantine hermitages. A whole world, an unimaginably captivating landscape, a remarkable ecosystem. Here you slow your pace, soak up the views and drift away. Perhaps the most iconic sight of Small Prespa is Agios Achilleios, the small inhabited island in the lake, home to several Byzantine churches.
Nymfaio, Florina
A fairytale mountain oasis, Nymfaio is one of the ten most beautiful villages in Europe, according to UNESCO.The preserved traditional settlement, 57 km from Florina, nestles in a gorgeous alpine landscape and is encircled by a beech forest. Stone-built houses, impressive mansions and cobbled alleys create a unique setting that is hard to forget. In winter, when a white veil of snow has covered everything, the scenery looks truly dreamlike.
Pozar Thermal Baths, Pella
One of the reasons to visit beautiful Pella is the Pozar Thermal Baths, 30 km northwest of Edessa and 13 km west of Aridaia. The healing hot waters, at a steady 37 degrees Celsius, have been bubbling up from the mountains for thousands of years, creating a striking landscape of mountain and forest. The springs emerge at an altitude of 360-390 meters and are formed by rainwater that seeps into the ground, reaches great depths, and, once heated, rises enriched with minerals and other beneficial elements.
Edessa Waterfalls, Pella
The capital of Pella is inextricably linked with its waterfalls, set within a unique geopark of cobbled paths, stone bridges and wonderful views, to the northeast of the city. Their natural creator is the Edessaios River, whose waters cross the town before plunging dramatically over the falls. The largest and most impressive waterfall, Karanos, drops from a height of 70 meters with force and momentum, creating a dense cloud of spray that cools the air.
Skra Waterfalls & Lake, Kilkis
Northern Greece has its own Blue Lake, too. It lies in the prefecture of Kilkis, on the slopes of Mount Paiko, at an altitude of about 500 meters and 4 kilometers from the historic village of Skra (known for one of the most important battles on the Macedonian Front during World War I). Deep in the dense forest, between the villages of Koupa and Skra, hides a small natural wonder: the famous Skra waterfalls and the so-called Blue Lake or Emerald Lake. The lake’s magnificent turquoise color is due to fossilized microorganisms on its bed.
Lake Kerkini, Serres
The wonderful Lake Kerkini was born of a dam created in 1932 and today is a highly protected wetland and a landscape of rare beauty with views to Mount Beles and the Serres valley. Nature makes the journey here unforgettable. The riparian vegetation with riverside forests of wild willows, the huge floating water lilies, the great variety of fish, the herds of water buffalo splashing along the shores and the superb horizon from the mountain ranges of Mount Beles and the Krousia lend the place a unique charm. Visitors can observe the rich birdlife (around 300 bird species have been recorded in the area around the lake) and take boat rides in the traditional plaves.
Polyfytos Lake & Bridge, Kozani
It’s a unique experience to watch the sunset over the waters of Lake Polyfytos. This artificial lake, formed in 1973 after the construction of the namesake dam, lies 20 km from the city of Kozani and 5 km from Servia. The landscape around it is beautiful, while the High Servia Bridge that spans it is among the longest (1.372 μ.) in Greece. At the northern end of the lake is the settlement of Neraida, with stunning views of the bridge and the lake.
Venetikos Bridges, Grevena
The Venetikos, one of the largest tributaries of the Aliakmon, is famed for its arched bridges. Its banks were once spanned by 19 bridges, most of which survive. The stone bridges of Grevena are the largest and most impressive in all Macedonia. Notable for the size of its arch (the largest in Macedonia) is the bridge of Aziz Aga, while equally striking is the Portitsa bridge, built at the foot of the namesake gorge outside the village of Spilaio.
Olympus
Mythic, imposing, mysterious. It is Greece’s highest mountain, the country’s first National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and the abode of the twelve gods. Olympus fires the imagination of visitors from every corner of the world and is a beloved destination for hikers, mountaineers and climbers who want to roam its slopes and conquer its peaks, as well as for lovers of mountain getaways in picturesque villages within glorious nature. If you’re among the lucky and skilled mountaineers who see the Throne of Zeus (Stefani peak) up close, the image will stay with you forever.
