| location | |
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| flag | |
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| Short dates | |
| Capital | Thessaloniki |
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| surface | 34,178 km² |
| population | 2.49 million |
Macedonia (Greek Μακεδονία, Makedonia), the largest region in Greece with the Olympus and Nestos natural beauties worth seeing, fantastic beaches Chaldiki, with the ancient Philippi, the place of activity of the apostle Paul, one of the most important ancient sites and with Kavala one of the most beautiful cities in Greece.
towns and places
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Western Macedonia:
- 1 Kastoria
(Καστοριά). 
the beautifully situated town on Lake Kastoria or Lake Orestidase is located on a plateau surrounded by the Pindos Mountains and is known for its fur processing. The winters in Kastoria can get considerably cold and so it is also a popular destination for winter tourism by the fireplace. - 2 Florina (Φλώρινα).
the beautifully situated mountain village near the Prespa lakes on a plateau offers little tourist interest, apart from the secluded mountain world.
Central Macedonia:
- 4 Edessa (Έδεσσα). the city, beautifully situated on a mountain, is known for its waterfall, which is well worth seeing. A "must see" when you are in the area, as well as the nearby thermal baths Loutra Aridea with a cold and a warm waterfall next to each other, under which you can alternately cool or warm.
- 5 Veria (Βέροια).hardly any tourist, agricultural community. Worth seeing are the monasteries of Dovras and especially Agios Loukas a few km northeast of the city and the nearby Vergina, the ancient capital of Macedonia.
- 6 Katerini (Κατερίνη). Small town with no real sights. The inner city is a local shopping center of the surrounding villages.
- 7 Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη). hectic, busy capital with many sights from the Roman and Ottoman times, a shopping paradise and known for its diverse nightlife. Ferry port with connections to many of the Aegean islands.
- 8 Nea Moudania (Νέα Μουδανιά). popular seaside resort among the residents of Thessaloniki Chalkidiki. Completely overcrowded on summer weekends, but also with a corresponding tourist offer.
- 9 Asprovalta (Ασπροβάλτα Θεσσαλονίκης).well-known seaside resort between Thessaloniki and Kavala, which is heavily visited by guests from Thessaloniki on the summer weekends. Flat, beautiful wide sandy beaches, good tourist offer in all areas.
- 10 Serres (Σέρρες). Small town near the Bulgarian border with many sights from Byzantine-Ottoman times and monasteries in the area that are well worth seeing. The underground fortress from World War II is also worth a visit, as is the one known for its abundance of birds Kerkini lake.
East Macedonia:
- 11 drama (Δράμα). Small town and starting point for excursions in the Rhodope Mountains. Stalactite caves worth seeing and a ski area that is also worth a visit in summer because of the wonderful mountainous location.
- 12 Kavala (Καβάλα). the most picturesque city in Macedonia with wonderful beaches, good nightlife, many excursion destinations, marina and ferry port for the islands Thasos, Lemnos, Agios Efstratios, Lesbos, i.a. "Must see" place.
Other goals
Highlights
- Olympus: The highest mountain region in Greece, seat of the 12 gods and popular hiking area with huts for overnight stays.
- Nestos: A river landscape of great beauty, with ancient sites and wonderful beaches.
- Chalkidiki: a major tourist destination in Greece because of its beaches and beautiful mountain landscapes.
- Vergina: ancient site well worth seeing, old capital of Macedonia.
- Philippi: most important ancient site of northern Greece, area of activity of the apostle Paul, world cultural heritage.
- Kavala: a city worth seeing with wonderful beaches, good night life, many excursion destinations and a popular destination for sailing boats.
nature
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Some areas are worth a visit because of their special natural beauty. These natural beauties of the region that are worth seeing are Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece and seat of the 12 ancient gods, as well as Nestos, a nature reserve with a rich bird life.
- 1 Olympus (Όλυμπος).Highest mountain in Greece and seat of the 12 ancient gods, very scenic. In Greek mythology, Olympus was the abode of the gods. Zeus and his most important gods are said to have lived here. The mountain range and not a single peak is referred to as Olympus. Here are the highest peaks in Greece, the Mytikas with a height of 2918 meters. But there are still numerous peaks that are over 2000 meters high, for example the Skolio (2911 meters high) or the Stefani (2909 meters high), all of which are popular hiking destinations.
- 2 Nestos (Νέστος).Nature reserve of particular natural beauty and rich bird life. The river basin of the Nestos is divided into the Nestos Gorge and the Nestos Delta. Both are areas with high bird populations and unique natural beauty. A number of special ecosystems can be found here. The Nestos river delta is a hydrobiotope with alluvial land, freshwater lakes and lagoons. The national park, which also includes the lakes Vistonida and Ismarida to the east, was created due in particular to its rich bird fauna. The area is a resting place for many species of birds on their winter migrations. In addition to the natural beauties, the area also offers a number of archaeological sites and wonderful beaches for a relaxing beach holiday.
- 3 Chalkidiki (Χαλκιδική).the peninsula with the three "fingers" is one of the main tourist destinations in Greece because of its wonderful beaches and landscape. Kassandra which is referred to as the first, western finger, is the most famous part because this is where most of the tourism takes place. Here are the big hotels and the towns that offer tourists everything they need for a great vacation. Sithonia is the second, middle finger. This peninsula is also fully developed for tourism and is probably the most scenic part of Chalkidiki. There are a very large number of beautiful beaches and bays that are only overcrowded in the high season. Athos, the third, eastern finger is the peninsula with the holy Mount Athos of the same name, a World Heritage Site. Entry is only allowed for pilgrims who want to go to the holy places. Women are not allowed to enter the area. Everywhere on the peninsula there are monasteries and hermitages that are well worth seeing. Ammouliani is a small very touristic island near Athos.
- 4 Pangeo (Παγγαίο όρος).The special natural beauty of the mountain range with many important monasteries and archaeological sites, romantic mountain villages and the close proximity to wonderful beaches make it a touristically varied area.
- 5 Rhodope Mountains (Ροδόπη).The mountain national park on the Bulgarian border with waterfalls, many interesting caves, endless forests and interesting old Thracian places of worship is of particular scenic beauty. Little known and a real alternative for holidays "off the beaten track".
- 6 Prespa lakes (Λίμνες Πρέσπες).It is located in the border triangle of North Macedonia, Albania and Greece and is very rich in fish and habitat for many rare animal and plant species. It is one of the most important refuges and ecologically most valuable areas in the entire Balkans.
- 7 Kerkini lake (Κερκίνη).Lake on the flight path of migratory birds with many bird species. Extensive floodplain forests, large areas of water lilies, a large variety of fish, the herds of buffalo swimming in the calm waters of the lake and the large mountain areas of Belles and Krousia give this area a unique charm.
beaches
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The best beaches are in:
- 1 Olympic Riviera..well-frequented seaside resorts along endless beaches stretching over 70 km. Many beach areas are mainly managed near the seaside resorts. The most famous seaside resorts are Paralia and Leptokaria, and international hotels have also settled here.
- 3 Asprovalta. many km of wonderful sandy beaches stretching from Starvros, Asprovalta, Orfani to Kavala.
- 4 Thasos (Θάσος).one of the most beautiful Greek islands with many picturesque bays and the best sandy beaches, high forested mountains and interesting antiquities. It also offers enough "beach night life". The landscape is similar to Halkidiki. You can also visit them as a day trip from Kavala.
Archaeological sites
As already mentioned, there are numerous excavations that can be visited. Not all of them are from ancient Greek times and Alexander the great, but also many from Roman-Byzantine times and also from the Ottoman era. Archaeologists are called in for every construction project in Macedonia, so that there are always finds. Many localities have been rebuilt on the rubble of destroyed localities. Vergina, the ancient capital of Macedonia and Philippi are the most important archaeological sites.
- 1 Pella (Πέλλα). Pella had its heyday in ancient times when it was the capital of Macedonia. At that time the most important kings of the country ruled, Philip II and after him his son Alexander the Great. 168 BC Pella was conquered by the Romans, a few years later an earthquake destroyed the city.
- 2 Vergina (Βεργίνα).old capital of Macedonia. known for its "must see" royal tombs. You can't see much of the tumulus of the royal tombs from the outside. It has a diameter of over 100 m and was once 12 m high, but its sights are hidden inside. One grave is assigned to King Philip II (the father of Alexander the Great), another is said to be the grave of Alexander IV, son of Alexander the Great. You can see the remains of the original graves, and in addition, reconstructions give an impression of the former complex. The mosaics and wall paintings inside the burial chambers are worth seeing. The grave goods are displayed in showcases. The bones of Philip II were in a golden larnax, on which a sun is depicted, which today adorns the flag of the Greek province of Macedonia as well as (albeit in a modified form) that of the neighboring Republic of North Macedonia. In this larnax there was also a wreath with golden oak leaves. One of Philip's wives was also buried in this grave; a golden diadem and a richly decorated purple cloth were added as grave goods.
- 3 Pydna.in classical times the most important port city of the Macedonian kingdom existed here. The small archaeological site is quite photogenic near the sea.
- 4 Dion (excavation) (Δίον Πιερίας).The large-scale excavations of the ancient city are well worth seeing and lie at the foot of Mount Olympus and in ancient times they were a place of worship for Zeus, the father of the gods.
- 7 Philippi (Φίλιπποι).most important excavation site in northern Greece, especially because of the apostle Paul, who founded the first church here and carried out the first baptism on European soil. The extensive facility is in a beautiful landscape. Plays are performed every summer in the ancient theater.
- Via Egnatia (Αρχαία Εγνατία Οδός).The old Roman road to Byzantium ran through Macedonia. It is still preserved in some places.
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background
Macedonia is the largest and second most populous Greek region with around 2.4 million inhabitants, of which almost a million live in the capital, Thessaloniki. Much of the region is mountainous and only sparsely populated. Although it is very scenic and offers many interesting cultural sights, it is visited by relatively few tourists, except for Chalkidiki and the Olympic Riviera.
history
The ancient kingdom of Macedonia was probably founded in the 7th century BC. Founded by the Argead dynasty. Whether the ancient Macedonians were a Greek tribe or a separate people that only became culturally Hellenized is still a matter of dispute today. Only the royal family of the Argeadians were allowed to take part in the Olympic Games, but not the rest of the Macedonians, because they were not considered real Hellenes. The evidence of the ancient Macedonian language is too sparse to judge its relationship to Greek.
However, during the reign of Philip II, Macedonia was established in the middle of the 4th century BC. Admitted into the Amphictyonic League and thus into the community of the Greeks. Philip defeated Athens and Thebes in the Macedonian Wars and made Macedonia the dominant power (hegemony) throughout Greece. His son Alexander the Great then extended his domain to Egypt, Persia, to today Tajikistan and the northwest India out. With this he created one of the first world empires, but after his death in 323 BC it was established. Chr. Quickly disintegrated again.
From 146 BC. Belonged to Macedonia as a province to the Roman Empire, after its division in 395 AD to Byzantium. From the 14th century until 1912 the region was under Ottoman rule. As a result of the Balkan wars in 1912/13, it was divided among several states, and ethnic groups were resettled and ethnic cleansing took place. The southern half of historical Macedonia with the Aegean coast has belonged to Greece ever since; the north-west came first to Serbia (later Yugoslavia) and today forms the republic North Macedonia; the northeastern part is in what is today Bulgaria.
Ethnic groups and name dispute
In addition to the Macedonian Greeks, there are also Slavic ethnic groups who Makedonci call. According to various estimates, there are between 10,000 and 120,000 speakers of the Slavic Aegean-Macedonian language in Greece, but they are not officially recognized as an ethnic minority. The estimated 30,000 to 120,000 Aromanians (also Macedorumans or Vlachi on the other hand, speak a Romance language that is related to Romanian. There are also Roma and Armenian minorities. The once significant group of Jews from Thessaloniki was largely destroyed in the Holocaust.
If you talk to Greeks about Macedonia / Macedonia and want to avoid arguments, you'd better agree that the name Macedonia is purely Greek. Patriotic Greeks do not want historical teachings on this sensitive issue from foreigners. Although the naming problem with the neighboring state of North Macedonia is now politically resolved, it is still seen by some Greeks as a betrayal of their history. This was reinforced by the creation of statues of Alexander the Great in Skopje and the use of the “Sun of Vergina” as a symbol by the neighboring state. Many Greeks wonder why the majority of the Slavic population of the neighboring state use symbols and national heroes for their nationality awareness that they consider to be purely Greek.
language
In Macedonia, the predominant language spoken is Greek. Since English is taught as the most important foreign language in schools in Greece, you can get along well with English everywhere. Many people have also lived abroad, often in Germany. German is the second most important foreign language here, but many Macedonians can also speak a little French.
getting there
By plane
Macedonia has the international Thessaloniki Airport
(IATA: SKG) and the much smaller Kavala airport(IATA: KVA). Most of the flight operations, however, are tourist traffic.
railroad
One of the most important railway connections in Greece runs through Macedonia. It's the route from Athens above Thessaloniki to Alexandroupolis in the East..
In the street
The A1 motorway also comes from Athens. Much of it is subject to tolls. The European route E75 leads from Budapest via Belgrade and Skopje to Thessaloniki and Katerini. The A2 motorway (Igouminiza-Alexandroupolis) also runs through Macedonia.
By bus
Macedonia has a well-developed bus system. Almost every locality is with intercity buses KTEL reachable.
mobility
At the tourist centers, the well-known sights can almost always be reached by public transport. Intercity buses (KTEL) run between the cities. In the mountainous landscapes of the Rhodope Mountains your own vehicle is essential.
activities
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- Swimming: Of course, a beach holiday is also a good option in Macedonia. The country has many beaches and seaside resorts. The most beautiful beaches can be found on the island Thasos and the peninsula Chalkidiki. Here you can also go diving in the Thessalian Gulf and practice other water sports. These destinations offer everything tourists expect in terms of entertainment. Also the Olympic Riviera is very popular for beach holidays.
- hike: If you want to hike, you should go to Pieria drive. There are very beautiful hiking trails here. There are also some huts where you can stay overnight. A well-known hiking trail is the one over the Olympus. This path is quite demanding. As an inexperienced hiker, you shouldn't go there. Furthermore, the Rhodope Mountains-Mountain lonely hiking trails with spectacular nature and ancient Thracian sites. Also around the Pangeo there are very nice hiking trails.
- Historical tourism: Anyone interested in history can do a lot here. You can visit many museums and archaeological sites. Among other things, the grave goods of King Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great, whose grave was found unlooted. But there are also many exhibitions and excavations from the later period. Byzantine art is on offer here, finds from the time of the Turkish rule and much more. The Via Egnatia, the Roman road that connected Rome with Byzantium ran through Macedonia and Thrace and you can still visit many of the old stations and walk along part of the original road.
- Religious tourism: Especially the monastic republic Athos, Philippi and Pangeo are the main goals. But you can actually make beautiful excursions into the world of the Greek Orthodox Church and see the customs and traditions. There is a church in every place, many are also very large and all very nicely decorated. Since there is no church tax in Greece, these churches are all financed only from donations. Interesting monasteries can also be found in almost every region.
kitchen
see also: Eating and drinking in Greece.
The cuisine in Macedonia is of course very Mediterranean. It is typically Greek. Recipes can be found under this link:Koch Wiki. A lot of vegetables are grown in Macedonia. Water melons and honeydew melons, peppers, aubergines, zucchini. Then there are the olives that are always present. A lot of pork is used, but poultry and goats are also on the menu.
nightlife
One has to distinguish between different types of nightlife. In the villages you can spend really nice Greek evenings that you will never forget. The proverbial hospitality of the Greeks can be experienced up close here. You are immediately included in the circle and part of the celebration. You want to know where you're from, what you're doing and why you're here. The communication always works somehow. These celebrations take place in the taverns of the villages. You sit outside and wine and ouzo are served.
In the capital Thessaloniki you can discover the modern nightlife of Greece. In terms of culture, Thessaloniki can be compared to other major European cities. Here you will find taverns and discos, but also nice restaurants where you can have a good time.
In the seaside resorts, the nightlife is designed for tourists. Here you can find everything that you can find in Germany. From the tavern to Greek restaurants there are also the usual fast food chains, although this is not really pronounced here. But there are also discos that are open until the next morning. The nightlife in, for example, is known nationwide Kallithea (Halkidiki).
security
In Greece, crime plays a very minor role. Violent crime is almost non-existent, but thefts and the like are also quite rare. Nevertheless, one should follow the usual rules on a trip. In addition, the police here do not yet work the way we know it from Germany. You're a bit behind. There is also a tourist police in the holiday areas, which is better trained than the normal police, for example everyone must be able to speak at least one foreign language. But it doesn't have to be German.
climate
The best travel time is from the end of May to the end of September, for the mountain regions from June to August.
Web links
- Museums in Macedonia Page in English
- General tourist information
- Free travel guide about the Olymp region. Title: Olympus - Ancient sites, museums, monasteries and churches.
