Discover Epirus

Epirus offers several clearly distinct highlights for a trip: the urban history of Ioannina, ancient sites, the villages of Zagori, and Metsovo’s cheese and wine traditions. To plan your trip, you can first decide whether you would prefer to focus on museums and buildings, archaeological sites, hikes, or regional produce. These themes can also help guide you when looking for a hotel for your stay in Epirus.

Ioannina: Capital and historic center

Ioannina is the capital of the Epirus region and lies in the center of the Ioannina basin, west of Lake Pamvotida, also known as Lake Ioannina. Today, the city is an important transport hub for Epirus. Its castle is considered the city’s most significant monument: its walls and buildings offer a multifaceted testament to its long history.

A museum in the city center is another cultural highlight of Ioannina. Located on Litharitsia Hill, it houses a large number of exhibits from all parts of Epirus. Anyone interested in the region’s history will find both an urban monument and an exhibition with regional connections in Ioannina. The castle and the museum offer different perspectives: the former features historic walls and buildings, while the latter displays exhibits from various parts of the region.

Archaeological sites: Dodona and Kastritsa

The archaeological site of Dodona includes the sanctuary of Zeus and the large theater, one of the best-known landmarks of Epirus. A large part of the restored ancient theater hosts performances and other events as part of the Dodona Festival; restoration work is ongoing. The program may vary. If a festival event is important to your travel plans, check the relevant dates.

The remains of one of the largest fortified ancient cities in Epirus have been preserved on Kastritsa Hill. They cover 34.5 hectares and are preserved to a considerable extent and height. Dodona draws attention to its sanctuary and theater, while Kastritsa highlights the size and preservation of a fortified city. These offer two distinct archaeological topics to choose from, without needing to combine them into a single itinerary.

Zagori: Villages, trails, and hiking

In the cultural landscape of Zagori, an impressive network of stone arch bridges, paved stone paths, and stone stairways connects the villages and their communities. The network lies largely within the basin of the Voidomatis River. The Zagori villages are well suited to hiking; the historic connections between them are an integral part of the landscape you can explore.

The information centers of North Pindos National Park provide visitors with free information materials and details about attractions, viewpoints, and hiking trails. This information can be helpful when planning if you would first like an overview of possible topics and routes. The centers provide information for visitors interested not only in the villages but also in the area’s attractions and viewpoints.

Metsovo and Anthohori: Architecture, cheese, and hydropower

Metsovo is a traditional settlement in Epirus, known for its distinctive architecture and typical stone houses built by famous Epirot stone masons. The local cheese-making tradition includes the Tossizza Cheese Factory, which produces various cheeses, including the famous Metsovone. The availability of individual products may vary.

Viticulture is also part of Metsovo’s cultural history: the area’s wine-growing and winemaking traditions are listed in Greece’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Katogi Averoff Winery was founded to revive the old winemaking tradition. Cheese-making and viticulture thus offer two distinct perspectives on regional produce and traditions.

Anthohori lies southwest of Metsovo. Its open-air Museum of Hydropower illustrates the importance of hydropower in pre-industrial societies. Its facilities include a fulling mill dating from the second half of the 18th century to the early 19th century, a watermill, and a mandani. The museum offers a glimpse into historic technology, while Metsovo is shaped by its architecture and cheese and wine traditions.

A cultural route through Epirus

The Cultural Via Egnatia follows the course of the ancient Via Egnatia and crosses Epirus. Today, it has been revived in the form of the modern Egnatia Motorway. It adds a regional perspective to the local highlights: rather than individual towns, villages, and archaeological sites, the focus here is on a cultural route.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Thesprotia, Ioannina, Arta, Preveza. Crete, Ionian Islands, South Aegean, East Macedonia and Thrace.

Back to the main travel overview: Greece.