Winter Destinations in Greece

The Question:

i will be in Greece begining November 9. Besides Athens, were is the best place to visit this time of year? What are the must sees? Is Santorini or Crete good to visit this time of year?


The Answer:

Hello!
Greece has many beautiful destinations to offer during this period. Some suggestions are Kalampaka and Meteora, Ioannina, Zagorochoria and Xanthi. All these destinations are located in central and northern Greece and better reached by car, although you can also reach them by bus or train.
As far as Santorini and Crete are concerned, depending on the weather these two islands can be very picturesque. Santorini's only disadvantage is that in case there are strong winds, ferries won't be able to reach the island. Crete on the other hand, has far more options to offer and due to its southern location, the weather is also warmer and with less rainfalls.
Hope I have helped!

-Stavros

From Kalampaka to Olympia

The Question:

Hi,
Is it possible to leave Kalambaka by bus in the morning and stay in Olympia that night. If not, where is a good place to stay in between these two cities.
Thank you.
Suzanne


The Answer:

Hello Suzanne!
If you start from Kalampaka, then you will have to reach Ioannina first by bus and from there change to another bus, which will take you to Patras. From Patras you will need to change buses again and take the one to Olympia. Since the whole route is approximately 6 hours without the stops and the bus changes, you can simply imagine that it is a long and tiring trip. As a result I would propose to you to stay in Patras for one night and leave the next day. Patras is actually the gate of Greece to the West, since it is the biggest port of Greece that connects it with Italy. It is nice city, easy to walk through and with lots of options.
Hope I have helped you!

-Stavros

From Kalampaka to Agios Ioannis (Pelion) by Bus

The Question:

Hello Stavros,
We want to go from Kalambaka to Agios Ioannis (Pelion)on September the 22th .Which bus should we take? and at which moment of the day shall we leave Kalambaka?
Thank you Stavros!
Alexandre.


The Answer:

Hello Alexandre!
To reach Agios Ioannis in Pelion, you need to first take the KTEL bus from Kalampaka to Volos and from there change bus with direction to Agios Ioannis. Buses from Kalampaka to Volos depart at 07.42, 08.53, 11.53, 17.36 and 21.00 and the route lasts 1 hour and 10 minutes. As said before, bus timetables are subject to change at anytime, so it is better always to confirm schedules with the bus station. Bus timetables from Volos to Agios Ioannis are not announced yet, but are quite frequent. In case you wish to call them, the call center from the bus station KTEL in Volos is +30 24210 33254.
Hope I helped!

-Stavros

Best of and how to reach Meteora

The Question:

What is the best way to get to Meteora from Volos and see the best sights?We will be arriving by ferry from Skopelos around 10.00 and can return as late as 19.30.What are the best bits to see?

The Answer:

The best way to reach Meteora is to rent a car and drive to Kalampaka and then up to the area of Meteora, so that you can move around and explore as much as you can. On the other hand, you can also take the suburban bus KTEL from Volos to Kalampaka and then arrange either a guided visit with a travel agency of Kalampaka or a visit by yourself.
Meteora has 24 amazing monasteries, from which only the 6 are inhabited today. The most famous one, is the one called "Megalo Meteoro" where the Holy Church of "Metamorfosi tou Sotiros" is located. It is the highest monastery of all (613m high) and you need to walk 300 steps up in order to visit it. The monastery offers a very rich library in ecclesiastical texts, some of them dated in the Byzantine period and considered as treasures of the Orthodox religion. Moreover, you can admire may christian hand-made by the monks artefacts, such as Crosses made by carved wood and many more. The astonishing view from the monastery of Agios Stefanos, which is a female monastery, maked it worth-visiting as well as the fact that the sacred body of Saint Charalampos which is also considered as a source of wonders, is kept there. The best view ever though, can be admired from the monastery of Roussanou and more specifically from the position "Psaropetra", where the valley of Thessalia is presented in all of its splendour.
Meteora are considered as a part of the worlwide cultural inheritage of UNESCO since major orthodox treasures are kept there since the early centuries of Christianity.
Hope I have helped!

-Stavros