From Northern Greece to the Peloponnese, weve gathered five enchanting destinations to visit by car and enjoy a wonderful time with the whole family.
If for this years holidays you want a destination you can reach by car,without having to get on a ferry, and a place ideal for the whole family, then the suggestions below are for you. Picturesque villages by the sea, towns with an island vibe, imposing castles that spark the imagination, golden sandy beaches with crystal-clear waters, and plenty of options for relaxation and fun for young and old, offer the ideal settingfor unforgettable family holidays.
Messinias Coast
Imposing castles that gaze over the Ionian, fabulous beaches for every taste and small seaside settlements with little tavernas right on the water. Messinia fully meets the expectation of unforgettable holidays. Starting from Kyparissia, the third-largest town in Messinia, you can take a wonderful coastal drive. One of your first stops should be the famed Voidokilia, the star beach of western Messinia. Pylos, built amphitheatrically on Navarino Bay, with tall houses with red-tiled roofs reflected in the water, will remind you of an island settlement. History lovers will add to their plans a visit to the famous Palace of Nestor, the best-preserved Mycenaean palace in Greece.
South of Pylos lies Methoni with its impressive castle. Next you will encounter Finikounta with many beaches nearby that make it an ideal destination for family holidays. Next stop is Koroni, the stately small town with a strong island character and the beautiful castle that is still inhabited even today. Southeast of Kalamata, Messenian Mani awaits, full of beautiful scenes. First stop Kardamyli, a historic seaside village and one of the most picturesque corners of the Peloponnese. Here you will dive into the beaches of Ritsa, Foneas and Delfinia. The road then leads to Stoupa, with three beautiful beaches: the main one right in front of the village, the famed Kalogria to the north (where Nikos Kazantzakis was inspired to write "Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas") and Chalikoura to the south.
Coastal Epirus
Epirus is not only its famous mountain destinations. Its seaside side is equally wonderful and enticing. Seaside towns, picturesque villages and exotic beaches with blue-green waters offer the ultimate summer setting. Preveza, at the southernmost tip of Epirus, at the entrance to the Ambracian Gulf, will hold you with its pedestrian seafront and its numerous ouzeri and meze eateries.The coastline of the prefecture of Preveza is over 50 km long, offering a great variety of beaches that satisfy even the most demanding. At a distance of 60 km from Preveza, Parga is a town that has nothing to envy from an island. Built amphitheatrically at the end of a picturesque bay, where the verdant islet of Panagia nests, protected under the shadow of its Venetian castle, the famed seafaring town will surely steal your heart. Dreamy beaches, such as Valtos, Lichnos and Sarakiniko, await you for refreshing dips.
Next stop, the exotic Sivota. With a signature seascape of lush islets like lacework, broad beaches with tropical waters, and hidden coves, they evoke something of the… Caribbean. Dont miss Pisina and Bella Vraka, the star beaches of the area. Between Sivota and Perdika two more wonderful beaches await you: Mikri and Mega Ammos.
Lefkada
It is an island, but you reach it by car (in about 4 hours from Athens). And that is one of Lefkadas big advantages. You dont need to get on a boat to enjoy the impressive beaches with turquoise waters, the unforgettable sunsets on the Ionian and the lush green hinterland that is full of treasures. Lefkada, one of the few islands that are accessible from the mainland, is connected with Aetolia-Acarnania by a floating bridge approximately 20 meters long.
Its eastern side, with tranquil landscapes and a calm, shallow sea, lends itself to family holidays with views of Lefkadas little islets. The western side, on the other hand, is full of unique, wild beaches, among the most beautiful in Greece and the Mediterranean, with the best known being Porto Katsiki and Egremni. For a break from the beaches, we suggest you take a road trip into the mountains to relax in the squares of the villages of Karya and Englouvi, as well as in Exanthia, Lefkadas lovely main village, which gazes over the Ionian from an altitude of 600 meters.
Pelion
Nowhere else in Greece does the sea harmonize so perfectly with the mountain as in Pelion. An ideal summer drive starts from Volos heading towards Kala Nera and from there continues east to Tsagarada (about 48 km). This lush green village with its four districts (Agioi Taxiarches, Agia Paraskevi, Agios Stefanos and Agia Kyriaki), its stone-built cobbled lanes and its picturesque squares is one of the mountains most beautiful. A short distance away, Kissos and Mouresi, villages spread across an area of exceptional natural beauty, draw nature lovers like a magnet.
You are on Pelions eastern side, above the Aegean. This place can lead you into the forest to discover the magic of Pelions nature while at the same time sending you to wonderful beaches for refreshing dips: the exotic and beautiful Mylopotamos, the tiny cove of Fakistra, Damouchari (known from the film Mamma Mia), Plaka, Agios Ioannis, Papa Nero, Agioi Saranta and Horefto are just some of the must stops that prove that Pelion is the ultimate summer paradise.
Halkidiki
Endless golden sandy beaches and tiny coves, distinctive nature, picturesque settlements, beat-driven beach bars but also quiet corners for seclusion. One of the most beloved destinations for summer holidays, Halkidiki is a small wonderland where experiences never end. On its legs, in Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos, there is room for everyones summer dream.
Its no coincidence the famous saying theres nothing like Halkidiki exists. Halkidiki is known to have gorgeous beaches (the most with a Blue Flag in Greece), but also heavenly little islands (Ammouliani, Drenia, Diaporos, etc.) a short distance from its shores, which are worth discovering by boat.But beyond the beaches that enchant everyone, Halkidiki also has beautiful mountain villages that many do not know. Arnaia as well as Parthenonas (yes, there is a village with that name) are just two of the mountain jewels that will reveal the other face of this place.
