Discovering Metsovo’s Timeless Spirit
At any time of year –...
A mini guide with all the basic facts you need for deciding where to go on your next skiing trip in Greece.
MAINLAND GREECE
PARNASSOS | Boeotia
Location: Mt Parnassos, 25 km from Arachova, 180 km from Athens and 370 km from Thessaloniki.
Pistes and lifts: 23 slopes for all levels (including four competition-certified and four novice slopes); 17 ski lifts (seven aerial, six surface and four baby lifts).
Facilities: Two chalets (one in Fterolakka and one in Kelaria), with two snow bars and food and drink available, at an elevation of 1750 m and 2280 m respectively. Ski and snowboard lessons, equipment rental stores and equipment maintenance services.
Cost: Day pass €35 on weekends and holidays, €30 Mondays and Fridays, €20 Tuesday to Thursday. Visitor pass €15 on weekends and holidays, €10 on weekdays. Discounts for students and others.
Highlight: With a huge variety of slopes, it’s the largest and most popular ski center in Greece, and has the most modern ski lifts.
Info: parnassos-ski.gr, Tel. (+30) 22340.227.00
A favorite hangout for snowboarders, the Velouchi-Karpenisi Ski Center welcomes families, too, as it offers slopes and activities for all levels and tastes.
VELOUCHI-KARPENISI | EVRYTANIA
Location: Mt Velouchi, 12 km from Karpenissi, 290 km from Athens and 370 km from Thessaloniki.
Pistes and lifts: 17 slopes for all difficulty levels (this year, 10 are currently in operation), two off-piste free-ride runs and snowboard snowparks. The “Thisseas” and “Takis Fleggas” slopes are illuminated and often host night-skiing events. There are five lifts (four aerial and one 80-meter surface lift).
Facilities: Chalet, ice bar, ski and snowboard lessons, equipment rental.
Cost: Day pass €18 on weekends and holidays, €12 Monday to Friday, visitor pass €5. Discounts for students and others.
Highlight: Very good quality snow, popular with families.
Info: velouchi4mount.com, Tel. (+30) 694.870.9301
THESSALIA
PELION | MAGNISIA
Location: Agriolefkes, 30 km from Volos, 240 km from Thessaloniki and 350 km from Athens.
Pistes and lifts: Seven slopes and one five-kilometer cross-country route; five lifts (three aerial, one surface and one baby lift).
Facilities: Two chalets, ski and snowboard lessons, equipment rental stores.
Cost: Day pass €12, visitor pass €3. Discounts for students and others.
Highlight: The only ski center where skiers can enjoy views of the sea from nearly all the slopes. On clear days, you can see Halkidiki, Mt Athos and the island of Limnos from the summit.
Info: Tel. (+30) 24280.890.21
PERTOULI | TRIKALA
Location: Mt Koziakas, 40 km from Trikala, 260 km from Thessaloniki and 370 km from Athens.
Pistes and lifts: Three easy/medium slopes, one also available for night skiing; three lifts (one aerial, one surface and one baby lift).
Facilities: Two chalets, ski and snowboard lessons, equipment rental stores.
Cost: Day pass €12, visitor pass €5. Discounts for students.
Highlight: Quick and easy access, as it’s located just off the Trikala-Arta National Road.
Info: Tel. (+30) 24340.915.45
The smooth terrain of the Ziria Plateau is ideal for skiing and for playing or walking in the snow. The Ski Center at Trikala Korinthias is one of the most user-friendly ski resorts, and it's located less than three hours' drive from Athens.
THE PELOPONNESE
ZIRIA | KORINTHIA
Location: On the Ziria Plateau, 12 km from Trikala Korinthias, 155 km from Athens and 460 km from Thessaloniki.
Pistes and lifts: Two slopes (one very easy, one medium), two lifts (one surface and one baby lift).
Facilities: Chalet, canteen, ski and snowboard school, equipment rental store.
Cost: Regular €10, beginners €5.
Highlight: It is the closest ski center to Athens and is ideal for beginners.
Info: Tel. (+30) 694.461.7255, ziriaski.gr
HELMOS | ACHAIA
Location: Mt Helmos, 15 km from Kalavrita, 200 km from Athens, 715 km from Thessaloniki.
Pistes and slopes: 13 slopes (including two black, two for children, one certified for completitions, one suitable for night skiing and one that’s among the biggest in Greece), as well as many free-ride routes, for all levels, in the forest. There are eight lifts (two aerial, three surface and three baby lifts).
Facilities: One chalet, one outdoor canteen, ski and snowboard lessons, equipment rental stores.
Cost: Day pass €28 on weekends and holidays, €18 Monday to Friday, €8 learner’s piste, visitor pass €10. Discounts for families, students and others.
Highlight: The 1415-meter ride on “Stiga”, a two-seater chair lift that takes you to the more challenging slopes.
Info: kalavrita-ski.gr, Tel. (+30) 26920.244.51/52
The Mainalo Ski Center in the Peloponnese, 165 km from Athens on a relatively straight road, is popular among beginners.
© Vasilis Konstantopoulos/INTIME NEWS
MAINALO | ARKADIA
Location: Mt Mainalon, 12 km from Vytina, 165 km from Athens and 650 km from Thessaloniki.
Pistes and lifts: Six slopes (including one black and one black-red), as well as cross-country routes; three lifts (two surface and one baby lift).
Facilities: Chalet, canteen, ski and snowboard lessons, equipment rental store.
Cost: Day pass €16 on weekends and holidays, €11 on weekdays. Discounts for children, students and others.
Highlight: Economical and easily accessible, it’s popular with beginners.
Info: mainaloski.gr, Tel. (+30) 698.506.3909
EPIRUS
ANILIO | METSOVO
Location: Mt Anilio, 10 km from Metsovo, 200 km from Thessaloniki and 400 km from Athens.
Pistes and lifts: Seven slopes (from easy to medium difficulty); five ski lifts (one aerial, two surface and two baby lifts).
Cost: Day pass €13 on weekends and holidays, €10 on weekdays, visitor pass €5.
Highlight: Although it’s small, it’s very well run. Ski races take place on the weekends.
Info: Tel. (+30) 698.470.1756
Tip: Two additional ski centers are in operation nearby – Teleferique at Karakoli, 1.5 km from Metsovo, with two medium slopes and one aerial lift, and Profitis Ilias, or Politsies, (four kilometers from Metsovo) with six slopes, three lifts, a chalet, ski schools and equipment rental stores.
The smallest ski center in Western Macedonia, Vitsi wins people over with its impressive views of the Lake Kastoria and its minimal waiting times for lifts, just six to seven minutes.
© Vasilis Konstantopoulos/INTIME NEWS
MACEDONIA
VITSI | KASTORIA
Location: Mt Vitsi, 22 km from Kastoria, 225 km from Thessaloniki and 535 km from Athens.
Pistes and lifts: Five slopes (two medium, one easy, one for children and a snowboarding snowpark); two lifts (one surface and one baby lift).
Facilities: Chalet, ski and snowboard lessons, equipment rental store.
Cost: Day pass €14, children €7, baby lift €7.
Highlight: The unique view over the Lake Kastoria from the summit. Waiting times are also usually short; within an hour, you could make up to four runs.
Info: Tel. (+30) 694.429.8482, 694.476.3036
VORAS-KAIMAKTSALAN | PELLA
Location: Mt Voras, or Kaimaktsalan, 46 km from Edessa, 590 km from Athens, 140 km from Thessaloniki.
Pistes and lifts: 11 skiing slopes (blue, red and one certified for competitions), one snowmobile route; six lifts (three surface, one aerial, two baby lifts).
Facilities: Two chalets, ski and snowboard lessons, equipment rental stores.
Cost: Day pass €20 on weekends and holidays, €15 on weekdays. Visitor pass, €10. Discounts for students.
Highlight: You’ll reach an elevation of 2480 meters with the “Kremasi” lift, the highest point accessible via ski lift from a ski center in Greece.
Info: kaimaktsalan.gr, Tel. (+30) 23810.320.00, 694.303.1001
With exceptional snow quality and many natural runs, the Vasilitsa Ski Center in Grevena is one of the most popular snowboarding destinations in the country.
© Dimitris Tosidis/INTIME NEWS
VASILITSA-GREVENA
Location: Mt Vasilitsa, 45 km from Grevena, 230 km from Thessaloniki and 420 km from Athens.
Pistes and lifts: 24 slopes for all difficulty levels (including two of Olympic standard); seven lifts (two aerials, four surface, one baby lift).
Facilities: Two chalets, ski and snowboard lessons, equipment rental stores.
Cost: Day pass €15; visitor pass €5. Discounts for students.
Highlight: The quality snow offers an alpine ski experience. Snowboarders particularly love the virgin snow on off-piste routes, ideal for jumps and runs.
Info: vasilitsa.com, Tel. (+30) 24620.848.50, 24623.535.30
ELATOHORI | PIERIA
Location: Papa Horafi in the Pierian Mountains, 8 km from Elatohori, 100 km from Thessaloniki and 470 km from Athens.
Pistes and lifts: 10 slopes for all difficulty levels (one for snowboarding and one for sleds), several off-piste routes; five lifts (one aerial, two surface, two baby lifts).
Facilities: One snow bar at the top of the aerial lift, two chalets, ski and snowboard lessons, equipment rental stores.
Cost: Day pass €14 on weekends and holidays, €10 on weekdays, visitor pass €5. Discounts for students and others.
Highlight: The view of Mt Olympus from the aerial lift.
Info: elatohori-ski.gr, Tel. (+30) 23510.829.94, 23510.722.00
In the northwestern corner of Greece, just 18 km from Florina, the Vigla - Pisoderi Ski Center features snow well into late spring.
© Shutterstock
PISODERI | FLORINA
Location: Vigla, 18 km from Florina, 200 km from Thessaloniki and 570 km from Athens.
Pistes and lifts: 12 slopes for all difficulty levels (one Olympic standard, one for night skiing 1.4 km in length, two of the longest slopes in Greece, 5,5 km and 6 km); five lifts (two aerial and three surface, two of which are baby lifts).
Facilities: Two chalets (one with rooms for overnight stay), ski and snowboard lessons, equipment rental stores.
Cost: Day pass €15, visitor pass €5. Discounts for students.
Highlight: The two long slopes that begin at an elevation of 2000 meters and terminate at the village of Pisoderi (ski-in/ski-out), a rare phenomenon in Greece. The quality of snow is very good as well.
Info: vigla-ski.com, Tel. (+30) 23850.458.00
SELI | IMATHIA
Location: Mt Vermio, 24 km from Veria, 100 km from Thessaloniki and 520 km from Athens.
Pistes and lifts: 18 slopes for all difficulty levels (four slopes for children), off-piste routes for snowboarding and two cross-country skiing routes, 1km and 1.5km, with forest sections; 11 lifts (one aerial, six surface, four baby lifts).
Facilities: Chalet, two café-bars, ski and snowboard lessons, equipment rental stores.
Cost: Day pass, €15 on weekends and holidays, visitor pass €5. Discounts for students, athletes and others.
Highlight: The easy access and the two cross-country routes, ideal for athlete training.
Info: seli-ski.gr, Tel. (+30) 23310.492.26/490.21
N.B.: Prices for visitor passes applies to those who want to ride the aerial lifts. Where no visitor pass price is listed, there is no aerial lift available.
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