Greece has some incredible ski resorts—some so unique that they offer you unobstructed views to the sea while speeding down the mountains.
The first thoughts coming to mind when you hear the word Greece are whitewashed villages, blue skies, and endless pristine beaches. However, winter is also part of the calendar in Greece, and snow is not uncommon.
For those interested in winter sports, it will be great to learn that Greece is among the most mountainous countries in Europe with peaks ranging from 1,500 to 2,918 meters.
The winter season stretches from December to March, so take a look at this list of the biggest ski resorts in the country if a skiing escape is in your plans this winter.
Top 10 ski resorts in Greece
Parnassos
Many consider Parnassos Ski Resort the best in the country. It’s on the slopes of Parnassos Mountain, and its two sites, Kelaria (1,750 meters) and Fterolakka (1,600 meters), offer amazing skiing experiences for adrenaline addicts. Parnassos can be reached easily from Athens by car in less than two hours.
Kalavryta
This resort is in the Peloponnese on Mount Helmos. Here, it’s also possible to choose between skiing, snowboarding, paragliding, and snowmobiling. Thirteen ski runs offer different levels of difficulty while skiing lessons are also available. The skiing center is 250 kilometers southwest of Athens.
Olympus
The Elatochori Ski Center is located on the mountains of Pieria on the northern slopes of Mount Olympus. The center, which sits at 1,450 meters above sea level, has six ski trails, and it’s also possible to go snowboarding in the Snowboard Fun Park. It’s located 300 kilometers Nnrth of Athens and 150 kilometers south of Thessaloniki.
Pisoderi
Pisoderi is a resort on Mount Verno (1,939 meters) in western Macedonia with one of the most challenging ski runs in Greece, Oxia (2,500 meters long). The resort is also equipped with a medical center on the premises.
Vasilitsa
Vasilitsa is one of the best snowboard resorts in southern Europe and sits at 2,113 meters in the middle of the Pindos Mountains. Spectacular views of Mount Olympus are part of the package when you choose this destination. The resort is 45 kilometers from Grevena in Macedonia.
Pelion
This center is near the city of Volos. It’s 1,471 meters high with one-of-a-kind views of the nearby Aegean. It has seven skiing sites and caters both to beginners as well as experienced skiers. During the weekends, they also organize night skiing. The trip from Athens to Pelion takes about five hours.
Kaimaktsalan
Kaimaktsalan is in the Voras Mountains (2,018 meters) in central Macedonia and has fourteen skiing trails with a total length of fifteen kilometers. The chalet is a beautiful building made of rock, glass, and wood, and it houses a restaurant and a cafeteria as well as seven luxurious mini-suites. Kaimaktsalan is home to the first Speed Trap of the country (1,200 meters). This resort is 140 kilometers from Thessaloniki.
Tria Pente Pigadia
In the area of Naoussa on the slopes of Vermion Mountain, this ski center is nestled in a wonderful alpine landscape. It opens from October to April, and it’s about 560 kilometers from Athens. Naoussa is only seventeen kilometers away.
Seli
Seli is a winter sports resort on Vermion Mountain (1890 meters) with trails for all difficulty levels. In the area, it’s possible to visit Seli, a traditional Greek village with coffee shops, hotels, and stores. Seli is 520 kilometers north of Athens and less than 100 kilometers away from Thessaloniki.
Metsovo
This skiing center is in the mountains of Pindos. In Metsovo, it’s possible to try alpine and cross-country skiing. The Profitis Ilias Ski Center is four kilometers away from Mestovo and ranges from 1360 to 1620 meters. Easy and short ski runs make it ideal for inexperienced skiers. The center is equipped with an artificial snow system.