Nature, sea, tradition and good food in six destinations near Athens, which are ideal for Clean Monday.
The three-day Clean Monday weekend is the perfect excuse for short getaways and many will choose to leave the city to be among mountains and sea. If you want to slip away somewhere close to Athens, either for the long weekend or for aday tripat the last minute, here are a few destinations for escapes into mountain nature or by the waves.
Galaxidi
Stately and romantic,Galaxidiis a favorite destination for short escapes all year round, harmoniously blending sea and mountain. The traditional settlement, with its stone-paved alleys and historic captains mansions that bear witness to the region’s glorious maritime past, is gorgeous. Visit the Maritime and Historical Museum, enjoy an afternoon stroll to the quiet little harbor of Chirolakas, and walk over to Pera Panta, the pine forest opposite. If you’re in the mood for nearby excursions, you can visit Delphi, Itea and Amfissa, where on the last Saturday night of Carnival the legend of the «spirit» is revived.
Clean Monday in Galaxidi means flour smudging. A unique and great fun custom, whose beginnings date back to 1801. Locals and visitors head to the market, where faces are “smudged” and “floured” with soot and flour respectively. Tons of flour and soot are flung in every direction and everyone is painted in the colors of play.
Chalkida
Just a breath away from Athens, Chalkida is always a fine idea for a quick break that includes leisurely seaside strolls and wonderful food. At the entrance to the city stands the new suspension bridge, while the old movable bridge is used by visitors as a vantage point to observe the alternating tidal movement of the Euripus waters. The city’s seafront, which starts at the Old Bridge and reaches the striking Red House, is full of life. Restaurants serving fresh fish and exquisite meze, as well as great little bars for the evening, await you here. Don’t miss climbing up to Karababa Castle, on the hill above the city, to savor the splendid view over the Euripus Gulf. The city gets into Carnival rhythm with its unique Sea Carnival. Floats, floating and suspended figures, and spectacular fireworks compose a one-of-a-kind scene at the Euripus Strait, where North meets South and the sea currents mingle beneath Chalkida’s sliding bridge.
Aegina
So close to Athens, yet it feels so far away... Aegina is one of the most classic and beloved choices for express getaways. With a romantic atmosphere that transports you to another era, picturesque fishing villages, important landmarks, archaeological sites and a pine-forested hinterland ideal for hiking and leisurely drives, the second-largest island of the Argosaronic offers delightful variety. Stroll the harbor promenade with stops for ouzo with meze and pistachio ice cream, head into the pine-forested interior toward Agia Marina, wander through Palaiochora, the island’s medieval capital, visit the Temple of Aphaia (the view from here is mesmerizing), and unwind over coffee and food in the traditional fishing village of Perdika — all will fill your itinerary.
Trikala Corinthia
Dense forests with wild cypresses and black pines, serene lakes and plateaus, villages with stone squares and tavernas serving good food set the scene for an escape in Mountainous Corinthia. And all this less than 2 hours from Athens. Trikala Corinthia consists of three quarters - Lower, Middle and Upper - and is the largest village on the eastern side of Ziria. Strolls begin at Kato Trikala, with its stone-built square shaded by centuries-old plane trees and the impressive Church of Agios Dimitrios. In Ano Trikala you’ll see several preserved old mansions, such as the Notaras Mansion, and it’s worth continuing your walk to the 15th-century Monastery of Agios Vlasios — the view from here will reward you.
Trikala Corinthia is a great base for routes around Ziria. On the plateau of Mount Ziria, at an elevation of 1,500 meters, just 10 km from Trikala Corinthia, lies the Ziria Ski Center, one of the country’s newest ski resorts.If you’re in the mood for relaxing nature outings, be sure to put on your itinerary a visit to the man-made Lake Doxa, where the scenery is magical in every season, and a stroll by the mythical Lake Stymphalia.
Nafplio
One of the most beautiful and romantic towns in Greece, Nafplio wins you over from the first minute and keeps you coming back. Its atmospheric old town leaves no one unmoved. Beautiful neoclassical mansions, Venetian architecture, cobbled lanes and flower-bedecked balconies create a setting that captivates with its beauty and history. Your day will fill with strolls along the main pedestrian street of Vasileos Konstantinou, on Staikopoulou Street with its many tavernas, on the seafront promenade of Bouboulina, and through Psaromahalas, the oldest quarter, inhabited since the early 13th century. To admire the town from above, climb the steps up to Palamidi, which rises atop a huge grey rock. From the Old Town you can cross over to Bourtzi, while the more romantic will be thrilled with the walk along the Acronafplia path.
Mountainous Arcadia
Close, enchanting and mythical, Arcadia is full of surprises. Landscapes of unique beauty, villages that are true museums of traditional architecture, atmospheric guesthouses, excellent food and a deep connection with nature. And all this at a very short distance from Athens. Follow the Athens-Tripoli national road and after about 2 hours of driving you’ll find yourself in the heart of fir-clad Mainalo.
Vytina, Dimitsana,Stemnitsa,Karytaina and Lagkadia are ideal destinations for an escape over the Clean Monday long weekend, but there are also lesser-known yet beautiful villages worth discovering, such as Elliniko, Magouliana (the highest inhabited village in the Peloponnese), Valtesiniko, Zygovisti and Chrysovitsi. If you like action, you can ski at the Mainalo Ski Center,do extreme sports on the Lousios River, and tackle many hiking routes.
