Northern Greece Road Trip Itinerary – Complete Guide

If you’re like me, then you’re probably looking for something different than the typical Greek island-hopping trip through the Cyclades Islands. Don’t get me wrong, the Greek islands in the Cyclades are amazing, but the amount of tourists on these islands gets overwhelming. There’s got to be more to Greece than just the islands … right?

Absolutely. Northern Greece is a stunning place that many do not even know exists. You have the Meteora Monasteries about 3 hours North of Athens, and then you have the Mountainous Zagori Region (home to Vikos Gorge) about 2.5 hours West of that. Plus, you can drive to the island of Lefkada to get a taste of what the islands are like in the Ionian Sea. And if you have more time, you can take the ferry over to Zakynthos to visit another beautiful Greek island in the Ionian Sea.

Having done pretty much everything there is to do in Greece, I would say the road trip I took through the North and then visiting the Ionian islands in the West is probably the best thing you can do in Greece in the summer. The North of Greece has not been overtaken by tourists YET which makes it a wonderful place to explore.

In this post I will give you a sample Greece Road Trip Itinerary from Athens, and share with you everything that you need to know. I hope this helps! We also have a 2 Week Turkey and Greece Itinerary if you’re interested!

πŸ‡¬πŸ‡· Resources for Northern Greece πŸ‘‡

Table of Contents

Greece Road Trip (Northern Greece)

Greece is the perfect place to rent a car and get away from the crowds. The country is very safe and the roads and highways are all very good. Here is the itinerary that I did myself in June of 2024.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

This itinerary starts with you leaving from Athens. We have a 1 Day in Athens Itinerary if you’re interested in exploring the city in 1 day. I rented my car near the Athens airport through Discover Cars for 12 euros per day. More on this later.

athens
The Pantheon in Athens

Day 1 – Athens to Meteora

πŸͺ¨ Is Meteora Worth It?

Athens to Meteora is about 3.5 hours. There are plenty of rest stops and gas stations along the highways, as well as toll booths. (unfortunately) Expect to pay about $20-$25 in tolls to get to Meteora.

When you get to Meteora, head up to the famous viewpoint to catch a sunset. The sunset over Meteora is probably in my top 5 sunsets I’ve ever seen anywhere in the world.

meteora greece
Meteora
Where to Stay Near Meteora

There are two places near Meteora where most people stay. Kalabaka or Kastraki. Kalabaka is a bigger, louder town with more restaurants and cafes. 5 minutes away is Kastraki, a smaller, more peaceful town. Since you will have a car for your Greece Road Trip, I recommend you to stay in Kastraki – it’s more peaceful and you can get a nice hotel with a view here. You can easily drive into Kalabaka for dinner if you want to in less than 5 minutes. However, if you want to be near all the action, or you don’t have a car, then stay in Kalabaka. (more convenient) If you’re taking the train – definitely stay in Kalabaka!

🏨 Book Your Stay Near Meteora HERE

Day 2Meteora

Meteora is very hot in the summer, so you’re going to want to do your activities early or late in the day. For your only full day in Meteora, I recommend you start with a hike, then visit 1 or 2 of the monasteries, then end the day with a sunset e-bike tour. An e-bike tour of Meteora is the most popular thing to do here.

For the hike, there are many to choose from. I did the Meteora Short Loop which took about 2 hours, and gives you some great views of the monasteries. On the hike, you walk right past 2 of the monasteries so you will have the opportunity to go inside if you like. Entrance is only a few euros.

After the hike, head into town for some lunch and relaxation before your sunset e-bike tour. If you don’t want to do a tour, then head up to the viewpoint to catch the sunset again on your own!

πŸš΄β€β™‚οΈ Book Your E-Bike Tour of Meteora Here

meteora greece
Sunset at Meteora

Day 3 – Meteora to Vikos Gorge

Meteora to Monodendri is about a 2.5 hour drive through beautiful mountains. Monodendri is a small, stone village that serves as the starting point for many to hike Vikos Gorge.

Vikos Gorge is a stunning destination in the Zagori Region that most have never even heard of. According to Guiness, it is the world’s deepest canyon relative to its width.

hiking vikos gorge
My view from Hotel Ladias in Monodendri
Where to Stay Near Vikos Gorge

When visiting Vikos, most choose to stay in Monodendri, as you can complete the hike through Vikos directly from here. There are a ton of small, boutique guesthouses in Monodendri to stay in.

There are also plenty of other small mountain villages to stay in, but if you want to stay near the Gorge then I would recommend Monodendri – it’s the biggest of them all. Another option is to stay in Ioannina which is the biggest city in the region. Ioannina is about 45 minutes from Monodendri, and offers much more in terms of cafes and restaurants. Ioannina is a beautiful mid-size city situated on a beautiful lake. (A great look into a calm but decent-sized Greek city)

I stayed in Monodendri at Ladias Hotel, which is the famous budget hotel in this town. The hotel was fine, but I wouldn’t recommend it as it really wasn’t that nice. The location is perfect though – and it’s a decent price.

🏨 Book Your Stay in Monodendri Here πŸ‘ˆ

Day 4Vikos Gorge

This is your day to hike the Gorge. Most people walk from Monodendri, through the Gorge, to Vikos Village, then take a taxi back to Monodendri from here. The taxi should cost about 40 euros and the drive back will take 30-40 minutes.

See our detailed post on πŸ₯Ύ Hiking Vikos Gorge for more.

hiking vikos gorge
Vikos Gorge

Day 5 – Vikos Gorge to Lefkada

Drive from Vikos to Lefkada, it’s time to hit the beach. Lefkada is much less crowded than the Cyclades Islands, and it’s the only island in Greece that you can drive to!

If you have more time, I would recommend spending an extra night near Vikos and using the time to raft down the Voidomatis River, visit the Papingo Rock Pools, or hike along the river. The Zagori Region (Northern Greece) is easily one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen in my entire life!

Day 6 – Lefkada

Lefkada is known for it’s beautiful, sandy beaches with crystal-clear blue water. Spend your time on Lefkada swimming in the beautiful beaches that Lefkada has to offer. The drive from Vikos to Lefkada is about 2.5 hours.

🏨 Book Your Stay in Lefkada Here

Day 7 – Lefkada to Athens

Finally, head back to Athens to catch your flight back home. The drive to Athens should take about 4 hours. If you have to/want to spend a day in Athens before your flight, checkout out our 1 Day in Athens Itinerary to help you explore the city!

Map of Greece Road Trip

Possible Alterations

1 – After Lefkada, you could take a ferry to Zakynthos for a few days. Zakynthos is another Greek island in the Ionian Sea. Very famous for its beautiful beaches and amazing Greek food.

2 – You could add Mt. Olympus to your itinerary, which is about half-way between Meteora and Thessaloniki.

3 – You could start your trip in Thessaloniki, which is the second biggest city in Greece. From here you could rent a car, as it is a bit closer to the Meteora and Vikos. For me it didn’t make sense to fly to Thessaloniki because I was already flying into and out of Athens, so time-wise it makes more sense to get the car in Athens. If you’re already in Europe it could make more sense

πŸš— Check Rental Car Price with Discover Cars HERE

Costs for a Greece Road Trip

The costs of doing a road trip in Greece are MUCH higher than I anticipated beforehand. While the rental car itself was pretty cheap from Athens Airport (100 euros for 8 days through Discover Cars), gas and tolls are very expensive in Greece compared to the US. I never could have imagined how much extra I would pay for these.

πŸ‘‰ Renting a Car in Turkey as a Foreigner

Gas

Gas in Greece is EXPENSIVE. And I know what you may be thinking … β€œEhh, I’m from California, it can’t be that expensive!” Let me tell you, gas in Greece is WAY MORE EXPENSIVE than it is in Cali.

The average cost of gas in Greece in June of 2024 is 1.88 euros per liter, which converts to about 7.64 US Dollars per gallon.

I was shocked the first time I pulled up to the pump and saw that to fill up my Citroen Economy car it cost 100 EUROS. I’ve never paid that much to fill up a tank in my life!

➑️ Read: Top 7 Things to Do in Paros

Tolls

In America, you go through a toll booth when you get on a β€œtoll road”, then you go through a toll booth when you get off, for a total of 2 toll booths. In Greece it does not work like this. On my drive from Athens to Meteora, I went through about 7 or 8 toll booths. Each time the bill is about 2 – 5 euros. You can pay with cash or card. 

➑️ Read: Best 7 Beaches in Milos 🏝️

Road Conditions & Driving in Greece

The roads in Greece are fantastic, and for the most part the highway from Athens heading North is in great condition and very new. Driving in Greece is pretty similar to the US and Western Europe, with drivers in Greece being a bit more aggressive, and some intersections have bit more ambiguity than I was used to due to a lack of signage. Not to worry though, driving in Greece is definitely doable, and nothing like driving in Turkey!

Our Favorite Country to Visit -> Perfect 2 Week Turkey Itinerary πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡·

Summary – Greece Road Trip

If you are planning a trip to Greece, I would highly recommend you take a road trip up North, and also to the Ionian Islands on the West of Greece. Not only is the North of Greece much less touristy than the Cyclades Islands, but you’ll learn much more about authentic Greek culture when you come here.

For me, the highlight of the North was Vikos Gorge. If Vikos were in the US it would be mobbed by tourists, but since it’s in Northern Greece it’s still relatively unknown. Don’t miss you chance to come here before everyone else starts coming!

We’d be happy to answer any questions you have about a Greece Road Trip in the comments below. We hope you enjoyed this guide!

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