KatPen

We are meeting friends in Greece for 10 days from 31 Dec. I know - not the best time - but no choice. Our friends will have already spent 2 weeks in the Peloponissos, and we are meeting them in Ioanina. Plan is Zagoria, Metsovo, Meteora, maybe Pillio, maybe Karpenissi as we make our way to Athens for the last 2 days. We like to do a few hours hiking each day, but will be flexible due to the weather. If it is terrible, we will make our way south or to the coast.
So my questions are: How terrible can it get? Any suggestions of what is doable and what is not at this time of year? Is it too much driving for 8 days at that time of year? Are we completely crazy?
Many thanks for any insights...

mariha2912

Terrible? On the contrary!!!
I find that many visitors in Greece make a mistake by always trying to get a glimpse of summer even inside winter, while they can just enjoy the winter aspect which is natural. Your destinations (Zagoria, Metsovo, Pelio) are great winter destinations, at their pick around Christmas/New Years period. There would be tons of Greek visitors around and a festive ambiance. More activities include long coffee breaks, eating, drinking and more eating lol and just socialize with friends and family, occasionaly some walks and shopping and side trips driving among villages. Some snow ski thrown in depending on snow conditions and location. I do not find this terrible at all. I know there is plenty of hiking on those areas too, if weather allows, why not? It has been a long time since I've been on those locations to provide specific advice, but go with the flow and you'll be fine. Near Meteora, on Trikala town, every year they have tons of festivities and activities, from chocolate making to ice skating, google/youtube Mylos Ton Xotikon, Trikala. As far as driving, I am not an expert but I would pick only one or two locations rather than trying to see it all. Day light hours are more limited and road conditions harder with frost etc. Why to drive all over and not to take it easy on a slower pace, explore specific areas more in depth?
You'll have a blast and see a face of Greece not many foreign visitors are lucky to see! Go for it!

Heimdall

As an avid skier in my younger days, and more recently a summer visitor to Greece, I was fascinated to learn of the many winter sports centres in the country. One of my bookmarked webcam sites is http://www.snowcam.gr. At the moment the slopes are bare, but will soon be receiving their snow cover. Drop in on this website every now and then (during Greek daylight hours) and when the snow comes you will see a different aspect of Greece.

KatPen

Thank you both. Although we are not skiers, I now look forward to seeing a different Greece than most tourists do. We will definitely soak up the festive atmosphere and enjoy the villages (and hopefully hikes) in central Greece. I hope the weather cooperates.

PetrosB3

Epirus is a beautiful place, especially during Winter. As the Greek islands die during Winter, the Mountains come alive, and Epirus is one of the top winter destinations in Greece. Epirus combines Nature Architecture and History. Here are some musts in Epirus:

-Papingo village
-Ioannina (The Capital of Epirus)
-Zagorochoria Region
-Metsovo village
-Ancient Dodona
-The Kolympithres
-Voidomatis River
-Kalogeriko Bridge
-Dragonlake

Google them, and you will see you were wrong (Epirus has the best pies in Greece if you are a foodie)

P_M

I've been twice to Greece in the winter. On my first trip I was there for New Year's Eve and I greeted the year 2000 in Rhodes. Later in 2000 I was in Greece around Thanksgiving. Both times the weather was cool but not very cold and really quite pleasant. A few restaurants and stores will be closed but it was not a problem. The best thing was the ability to see the sites with virtually no crowds. I would go again in the winter.

KatPen

Trip is getting closer now. We leave in 2 weeks. Heimdall I tried the webcam but it is all in Greek. I couldn't find an option for English. Am I missing something? PetroB3, thanks for your tips. Noted. So far the 15 day forecast sounds OK. Hope it stays that way.

clausar

The places you mentioned in your first post, will all be cold and most probably covered with snow.....

Athens has a more mild climate, temperatures between 7 and 15 C are very possible, even though we had 2-5 C in Athens North where i am the last days.

Rhodos and Crete and generally the very South of Greece is a different case.

Heimdall

KatPen, just click on the individual thumbnail photos and it will bring you to the webcams. Some are operating and some are not. Indeed, as I wrote in the earlier post, snow has arrived on the mountains, but the ski centres don't appear to have opened yet. Soon you will see skiers on the slopes.

Heimdall

You don't need to read Greek to look at the webcams, but when there isn't an English version you can usually get a rough translation by copying the URL into Google or Bing Translate. This is what you get with Google: http://translate.google.com/translat...ct=url&act=url

mariha2912

Hello KatPen! In case you still read this, I'd love to "hear" how your trip went!
We rarely get feedback on winter visits in the Greek forum!

Thanks : )

KatPen

Mariha hi,
I am planning a trip report but lots of things going on now...so until then...
The trip was fabulous. Weather was luckily on our side and all 4 pairs of thermal underwear stayed in my suitcase. Started in Ioannina, then Papigo, Metsovo, Meteora, and drove to Pelion peninsula and stayed in Zagora before driving down to Athens. We did some lovely walks including a 7 hour hike around Papigo (not right down the Vikos though. Pelion was beautiful as were the mountains of Zagoria. Great food, friendly people, and spectacular scenery. We loved it!

clausar

KatPen

That sounds great !!!
Hope you will find some time for a trip report.
You have seen a wonderful part of Greece that is unknown to most Fodorites

mariha2912

Thanks for coming back KatPen, sounds like a fabulous trip indeed!

Waiting your full report with anticipation...