Halkidiki

Smart travelers are beginning to figure out that destinations in Northern Greece are the new in places to visit. They flock to the three-finger peninsulas of Halkidiki, just south and east of Thessaloniki, to contemplate life in the lap of luxury on the Aegean Sea. They find it at the blue-flag beaches of the Ammon Zeus Hotel near Kallithea, or at the Eagles Palace Hotel and Resort near Ouranoupolis — not far from the centuries-old monastic retreats at Mount Athos.

The beaches here carry the coveted Blue Flag certification — a designation reserved for exceptional water quality, safety, and environmental management. Come in late spring or early autumn to avoid the summer peak and have the Aegean almost entirely to yourself.

Halkidiki, Greece

The Blue Flag Beach at the Ammon Zeus Hotel, Kallithea, Greece

A view of the pool and the Aegean at the Eagles Palace Hotel, Skala, Greece

Kavala

Travelers who visit the ancient UNESCO World Heritage site at Philippi walk down Hellenistic-era roads paved with gargantuan granite blocks. As they explore the past with an eye toward the east, they'll find that ancient empires and modern history collide to their delight at Kavala.

Here, you can see the old aqueduct Kamares, explore a Roman fort, visit an Ottoman-era Imaret, and eat at To Araliki (The Peanut) — the best tavern in the city, serving authentic Greek dishes with Rebetika playing in the background, exactly as it sounded here 50 years ago. You can do all of this in a single day. Stay at the Airotel Galaxy Hotel at the port in downtown Kavala and walk to every one of these sights.

Partial view of the harbor at Kavala, Greece, as shot from the rooftop restaurant at the Airotel Galaxy Hotel

Drama

Visitors also seek and savor some of the best wines in the world near Drama, thanks to the innovations of a new generation of provincial winegrowers who craft their wines not far from the ancestral palace of King Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. The Chateau Nico Lazaridis Winery near Drama is a must-visit for the connoisseur — a best-in-class production operation in a setting that earns every bit of the attention it's receiving. Greece is now home to roughly 700 winegrowers, all producing fine wines with the distinctive character one would expect from such diverse soils across this mainland-and-island culture.

If you visit, make sure you stay at the Hydrama Grand Hotel in Drama — an old tobacco warehouse transformed into what may be the most upscale, contemporary hotel in all of Greece.

Federico Lazaridis, The Niko Lazaridis Winery, Doxato, Greece

Serres

Travel anywhere in Greece and you'll encounter Greek Orthodox churches and religious retreats with references to the Apostle Paul and Saint John. Northern Greece is no different. At Serres, signs point to ιερον ησυχαστηριον τιμιου προδρομου ακριτοχωριου — the sanctuary of the honorary precursor — a name shared by several religious retreats in the region. It's confusing. But sometimes a quest to resolve confusion leads to something far better.

On the way to Lake Kerkini, we stopped at a glorious monastery to sort things out. This led to a delightful, wide-ranging conversation with Sister Jacovi lasting more than an hour — covering history, culture, languages, and education. She even offered to take us to a nearby village to see the water buffalo native only to this area. We had to decline to keep our travel schedule. We miss Sister Jacovi and hope to return to finish that visit.

The monastery Kritoxori in Sidirocastro, near Lake Kerkini, Greece

Sister Jacovi and the author

Thessaloniki

Not all who visit Northern Greece come to relax, sightsee, or savor culinary delights. Many come from countries that were allied against the Axis powers during the World Wars — searching for the last known places where family members and townsmen stood alongside the Greeks in defiance of tyranny. Those soldiers are buried here by the tens of thousands, in Thessaloniki, Doirani, and dozens of small villages like Skra that dot the countryside along Greece's northern border, stretching from Turkey in the east to Corfu in the west.

There is so much culture and history to absorb in Thessaloniki that one could spend a lifetime doing so. Everywhere you walk, you're likely to step on or over artifacts from the Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empire periods. A tour of this city can be exhausting even for a visit of a week or two — give yourself time and grace.

When you do need a break, consider a stay at the five-star Hotel Nikopolis, about 8.2 km from the city center. It's close enough to reach town in minutes, yet far enough to decompress from the city's intensity — with world-class restaurants, a 1,700-meter swimming pool, and top-tier service. Ask for Galatea Kotidou Kaliakatsou: she's the proprietor, a former Atlanta, Georgia resident, and a gracious host for business travelers and vacationers alike.

The Military Cemetery, Thessaloniki, Greece

Karla, Galatea Kaliakatsou, and the author — in field dress, about to set out for the day

Kilkis

One of the best staging points for exploring the WWI battleground sites and cemeteries is the town of Kilkis, about an hour's drive north of Thessaloniki. It's the ideal base for visiting the battleground sites at Doirani and Skra. Stay at the Evridiki Hotel — an upscale, contemporary property well-suited to groups exploring the battlegrounds. Ask for the owner, Fivos Hatzivasiliou: a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, former Hellenic Air Force officer, and one-time Canadian Space Agency veteran who speaks fluent English and serves as a near-ideal guide to the region's history.

While in Kilkis, make sure you visit an ancient cave dating from 29,000 BC — once home to the spotted hyena in Europe. It is one of the few caves in Greece where photography is permitted inside.

The author with Fivos Hatzivasiliou, Owner, Evridiki Hotel, Kilkis, Greece

The 29,000-year-old cave of the spotted hyena in Kilkis, Greece

Veria City

Those on pilgrimages or tracing their religious heritage will find Veria City at the crossroads of multicultural history. It is an 8,000-year-old Neolithic settlement — among the oldest in Europe — situated just 8.2 km from present-day Vergina, ancient Aiges, and the Royal Tombs of King Philip II and Alexander the Great.

Known throughout the region as “little Jerusalem,” Veria presents 48 churches, elegant homes in the Jewish quarter, a centuries-old synagogue, a new archaeological museum, and a Byzantine museum. Jews, Muslims, and Christians have co-existed here since the 16th century. Ask a resident if it's a great place to live, and they will likely spend an hour telling you why.

Stay at the Hotel Olganos VL, a boutique hotel in the center of the old city, just paces from the oldest Jewish synagogue — and five minutes from the best restaurant in town, 12 Grada. For a deeper look at Veria's history and culture, see our full story: Macedonia, Greece: All Our Yesterdays Are In Veria City.

The author speaking with Evi Meska at the old Jewish community and Synagogue in Veria City

Left to right: The Author, Yanni — Owner-Chef at 12 Grada — and John Valachis from the Veria City Tourism Bureau

Mount Olympus

For travelers who want historical sites, mountain hikes, fine dining, and upscale accommodation all in one place, the Cavo Olympo Hotel and Resort near Litochoro — about an hour south of Thessaloniki — is the perfect spot. Climb Mount Olympus at daybreak and return to the Cavo at nightfall to watch the sunset over the Aegean. Dine at the hotel's five-star restaurant or at a taverna like Aiolos in a nearby village. A 15-minute drive from the Cavo brings you to the ruins at the Temple of Dion; 25 minutes south, Platamon Castle near Pieria.

A view of the Aegean coastline from Platamon Castle, Pieria, Greece

Kipi and the Northern Pindos National Park

For the true outdoors traveler, the western edge of the Northern Pindos National Park — not far from Ioannina — is essential. Stay in Kipi, a small village of about 30 full-time residents roughly 50 km from Ioannina, and set out to explore treacherous gorges, steep peaks, and the stone arch bridges that define this landscape.

The KIPI Suites offer the rare combination of rustic charm and genuine luxury. From there, you can raft whitewater, kayak, rappel, run an ATV, or take a 4×4 Jeep through the terrain at Riverland near Konitsa, close to the Albanian border.

The KIPI Suites in the Pindos Mountains

The author with Stavros Gotsis, Manager of the rustic, classic, and elegant KIPI Suites