Cycling: the sustainable way to enjoy your trip
Cycling is the best way for active travelers to enjoy green travel and discover new places, people, culture and nature simultaneously. Greece’s mild weather is a big plus when exploring the country. Choose among three EuroVelo Routes and enjoy touring Greece outdoors!
EuroVelo 8 – the Mediterranean Route
EV8 enters Greece in Epirus (Western Greece) and follows the Ionian Sea shoreline south from Igoumenitsa to Syvota, Drepano and Makrigiali beaches. Further on it comes to Astakos and Vonitsas and through Messolonghi-Aitoliko Lagoons National Park (a Natura 2000 Site, also protected under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance). Enjoy views of the Acheloos and Evinos River delta and Echinades Islands, and cross the impressive Rio-Antirrio Bridge to the Peloponnese region. Follow the route by the seaside through Aigio, Xylokastro and Kiato, towards Corinth and Loutraki, a town known for its hot springs. Cross the Isthmus of Corinth and ride your bike to Megara and then to Salamina Island. Back on the mainland, in Attica, head to Piraeus, the country’s biggest port city. The EV8 route ends in Athens, where you can visit numerous monuments and archeological sites; it’s worth noting that part of the city center is car-free.
EuroVelo 11 – the East Europe Route
The EV11 enters the country at Lake Doirani, on the Greek-North Macedonian border. The first city on the way south is cosmopolitan Thessaloniki, a city peppered with UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Further south, visit another UNESCO site, in Macedonia. The Palace and the Great Tumulus of Vergina are among the top archaeological excavations of the 20th century, when treasures such as the tomb of the Macedon King Phillip II (father of Alexander the Great) were unearthed. The route follows the east coast of the mainland and offers amazing views of Mt Olympus, the legendary residence of the 12 Greek gods, and Mt Pelion, the mountain of the mythical Centaurs. Continue south to the towns of Volos, Thebes and Chalkida. Your trip ends in Athens, Attica, where the iconic Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is definitely worth a visit.
EuroVelo 13 – the Iron Curtain Trail and a Cultural Route of Europe
EV13 runs through the former “Surveillance Area” — the ex-militarized zone on the Greek-Bulgarian border that separated Eastern Bloc from western countries during the Cold War. You’ll ride through pristine forests and traditional villages. EV13 enters Greece in Serres, Central Macedonia, and goes through the National Park of Lake Kerkini (protected under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance). Be sure to visit Fort Roupel, a World War II monument. Fort Lisse is the last landmark before leaving Greece. The route follows the Rhodope Mountain Range along the Greek-Bulgarian border and re-enters Greece in the Evros district. Head to Petrota and then along the northern border to Kastanies, at the Greek-Turkish frontier.
Your Greek biking adventure awaits!
