In this article, we explore the route from Igoumenitsa to Alexandroupoli, which takes you through mainland Greece and across to the eastern port city of Alexandroupoli. Igoumenitsa on the west coast of Greece is easy to get to as it is well connected with many ports along the east coast of Italy, specifically Ancona, Bari, Brindisi and Venice. 

We begin the trip here in Igoumenitsa, which at first sight appears to be merely a busy tourist port, it is recommended to continue on, into the mainland, unless you have time to make a quick 50 km diversion south to the beautiful town of Parga. The town is described as picture-postcard perfect; it has a beautiful castle perching above the bay, little islands just off the coast, a maze of little white houses in the centre and of course, beautiful beaches. There are a bunch of things to do in the town aside from swimming in the beautiful turquoise water, from visiting the Olive Oil Museum to visiting the castle, which is free of charge. The only problem with this gorgeous place is that in the summer it becomes overrun with tourists if you happen to be travelling in August we recommend that you skip Parga this out and head north-east to the region of Zagorohoria.

The mountain region of Zagorohoria is traditional and tranquil, it's home to around 46 traditional little villages and towns nestled into the rocky mountainside. There are plenty of nice villages to stay in, with cute B&Bs where you can eat good food and relax, as well as do some hiking and climbing. The region hosts the Vikos Gorge, which is quite a spectacle and also the worlds deepest canyon in proportion to its width. One of the nicest restaurants in the region is in the village of Monodendri, it is called O Dionysos and sells everything from spit-roasted lamb to Epirot pies, which are with handmade pastries filled with seasonal vegetables, milk, cheese or spinach. They can be served with a wedge of cheese or a dollop of yoghurt.

After relaxing in the rural mountain region head for the bright lights of Thessaloniki, a port city in northern Greece with a population of around 325,000. This city is full of life and culture, despite the impact of the economic crisis. The economy has certainly suffered and the port, which was once served by many ferries, today has a reduced service. However, this city is still a great place to visit for tourists in search of authentic modern Greek experience and some of the best food in the country. It is worth stopping here to have a lovely meal at least, as the cuisine has rich influence from the Ottoman east and young dynamic chefs have made the best of a difficult economic situation in the city. For example, Extravaganza is a restaurant opened by three friends in an abandoned space near the Roman Agora.

Next time we continue the journey away from the city and toward the Halkidiki peninsula, to enjoy the beaches.

Ferries to Greece

Netferry allows you to buy your ferry ticket to Greece with just a few clicks. On the Netferry website, you can find the best ferries to the Ionian islands. Just visit the Netferry website to find out more about timetables, travel companies, costs and special offers.

Why not spend your holidays on one of the Greek islands? Just find a ferry on the Netferry site along with all of the information you need to buy your ferry ticket quickly and easily.

Netferry: a sea of ferries!