The Best Hikes in Greece and the Best Greek Islands for Hiking: The Ultimate Guide

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The stunning mountains of Greece deserve so much more recognition than they normally get. Some of the best hikes in Greece still blow me away, even after living here for years.

Don’t get me wrong, the beaches of the Greek islands and the archaeological sites of Athens really are fantastic. But when the summer heat cools off, I highly recommend that you factor in some time to explore the hiking trails of Greece.

As in our flexible itineraries for your Greek holiday, hiking can often be combined with the other highlights of this captivating country. There are also some lovely trails that can easily be combined with beach hopping.

On both the mainland and the islands, these are some places you can visit for the best hiking in Greece.

Best Hiking in the Peloponnese

Let’s start off close to Athens by heading to the Peloponnese. The mountains of this beautiful peninsula are accessible within only three hours from Athens by rental car.

1. Lousios Gorge

Dramatic mountains soar above the central region of the Peloponnese. Nestled among the deep forested ravines of this region are multiple hidden-away monasteries, which seemingly impossibly cling to steep cliff faces.

The location of these monasteries was chosen precisely because of its inaccessibility while Greece was under the Ottoman Empire.

The trail from Gortys takes you up through pristine woodland, beside the Lousios River and past the Monastery of Agios Ioannou Prodromos on its route. Its the combination of natural beauty and historical heritage that gives Lousios Gorge its reputation for having some of the best hiking in Greece.

The charming, cobbled-street villages of Dimitsana and Stemnitsa are ideally located near this hiking spot. Stay in either of these places to experience the cozy ambiance of a traditional Greek mountain village before you hit the trails.

2. Kalavryta

Primarily known as one of the best ski destinations in Greece, Kalavryta is also the starting point of another spectacular hike through unspoiled mountain landscape.

The Vouraikos Gorge descends dramatically from near Kalavryta (at an elevation of 750 metres) down to Diakopto on the north coast of the Peloponnese. Passing along the narrow-gauge railway line through dense, mysterious forest, this is one of the best hikes in Greece within easy access of Athens.  

The trail is especially beautiful in the fall season, when the forest is dressed in beautiful autumnal colors and the weather is perfect for hiking.

Best Hiking in Epirus (Northwestern Greece)

The northwest of Greece is where things start to get seriously dramatic. Known as Epirus, this region’s snow-capped mountains could absolutely fool you into thinking you were in the high mountains of the Alps or the Pyrenees.

Needless to say, you won’t find many package-holiday tourists here, and visitors to Epirus will get the full authentic Greek experience.

Since Epirus is far from Athens, you will need to catch a domestic flight from Athens up to the city of Ioannina. Alternatively, consider breaking up the eight-hour drive in your rental car with a one-night stop in Meteora.

1. Vikos Gorge

For those in the know, Vikos Gorge is a contender for one of the best hikes in Greece, and perhaps among the best in Europe.

Vikos Gorge is the world’s deepest rock gorge when measured relative to its width. Its cliffs tower an unbelievable 1,700 metres above the valley floor, and dense forest covers the 12.5 kilometers of the base of the gorge.

The nearby Zagori villages (also known as the “zagorohoria”) and their iconic stone bridges are popular destinations in their own right. Most of the hiking trails take you between the villages, with the route going from Monodendri to Vikos often considered one of the best hikes in Greece.

You can also take your pick of any other number of routes crisscrossing this incredible landscape, advisably with the help of a local guide.

Since it is relatively unheard of internationally, you may well enjoy this breathtaking corner of Europe without the company of any other foreign tourists.

2. Tzoumerka

Similar to nearby Ioannina, Tzoumerka is another hidden paradise for nature lovers.

Untouched forests, springs, rivers, waterfalls, cliffs and charming villages mean that Tzoumerka really does offer some of the best hiking in Greece. Above the tree-line, the bare mountains slopes show the absolute wildest side of northwestern Greece.

Tzoumerka is even home to bears, elks and wolves. Also, many of the region’s trails are covered in snow during the winter, so joining a specialist guided group hike can help you to navigate these challenges.

There are plenty of routes throughout Tzoumerka. One nice easy walk is around the twin Katarraktis Waterfalls (the word katarraktis itself means “waterfall” in Greek), just above Kriopigi village.

Best Greek Islands for Hiking

With many of the Greek Islands boasting craggy mountain peaks and dramatic scenery, it is almost impossible to whittle down a shortlist of the best hikes.

Santorini’s famous hike from Oia to Thira, Amorgos’s iconic clifftop route past the Holy Monastery of the Virgin Mary Chozoviotissa, and Naxos’s routes around Mount Zas are all great trails which deserve special mention beside those below.

Since Crete and Rhodes are larger islands, they naturally offer some of the best hikes in Greece. Here are some recommendations to explore these larger islands.

Best Hikes on Crete

Perhaps Crete is best understood as its own continent, rather than as a Greek island. The towering peaks of this huge landmass plunge dramatically down to the crystal-clear Mediterranean Sea, and offer some of the best hikes in Greece and Europe.

1. Samaria Gorge

The secret is out about Samaria Gorge. Within only one hour’s drive from Chania (or with a small group tour), the forested ravines of Samaria have justifiably attracted attention from foreign and Greek visitors alike. Having said that, such a majestic landscape still allows you to escape the crowds from the beach towns.

Few people know that this gorge is actually the longest in all of Europe. Over its 16 kilometers, it drops dramatically from an altitude of 1,200 meters right down to the beach at Agia Roumeli. At its narrowest point, the Samaria Gorge is just three meters wide.

Most hikers start from the top, at Xyloskalo, and take between 6 and 8 hours to complete the full descent. Access to the park shuts late in the afternoon, so it is advisable to start your journey from Chania quite early.

If you want a shorter walk, there is a steep-but-short trail leading from the car park up to Linoselo Spring. Climb up here for vistas of the spectacular peaks surrounding the trailhead.

2. Elounda, Kalydon and Spinalonga

If you find yourself in eastern Crete, there are some lovely trails just outside of the popular town of Agios Nikolaos.

Walking these gentle paths lets you take in beautiful coastline views. You can also take a refreshing dip at one of the quiet beach coves along the way.

From the town of Elounda, explore the underwater ruins at the Archaeological Site of Olous. Then cross over to Kalydon island, otherwise known by the name Spinalonga, on which a circular route will take you between isolated chapels and secluded beaches.

Once back on the mainland, be sure to head north and see the Spinalonga Fortress, formerly the site of a leper colony and made internationally famous by Victoria Hislop’s novel The Island.

Best Hikes on Rhodes

The popular island of Rhodes doesn’t reach the dizzying heights of Epirus or the Samaria Gorge on Crete. Having said that, it is well worth hiking on Rhodes to take in its beautiful beaches and sample the delights of its hidden villages and towns.

1. Charaki and Tsampika

Personally, Charaki is my favorite place to stay outside the Old Town of Rhodes.

After multiple days swimming in the pristine water of the pebble beach and dining at the seaside restaurants, you may want to raise your heart rate and explore some of the beautiful neighboring coves.

From the headland overlooking the town, a series of trails takes you up to the ruins of Feraklos Castle, and further along the coast to Stegna and Tsampika. After lunch in Stegna, explore some of the interesting caves and rockpools around the headland.

This trail is not too tough; you’ll want to get going early so that you can factor in plenty of time for swimming stops the way. To reach Charaki, either hire a car, or catch the bus to Malonas Junction and walk the rest of the way down to the town.

2. Monolithos Castle

On the other side of Rhodes, the west coast is significantly more rugged. All along the rocky mountain ridges, you can enjoy commanding views over the Aegean Sea and towards the island of Chalki.

One of the highlights of this area is Monolithos Castle, sitting on a prominent cliff and dating back to the fifteenth century. A good hiking route between the beautiful beach and Monolithos Castle is offered by this recommended small-group tour.

If undertaking this trip independently, you could start at the Castle and then head to Monolithos town and Siana. You may not have initially thought that Rhodes has the best hikes in Greece, but the western side of the island may show you that there is a whole lot more to Rhodes than just beach lounging.

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