Epirus occupies north-western Greece, between the Pindus range and the Ionian Sea, bordering Albania. It is the country's wettest and one of its greenest regions, with forests, rivers and mountains over 2,500 metres. It joined Greece only in 1913 and keeps strong traditions. For travellers arriving by ferry from Italy at Igoumenitsa it is the first Greece they see.
What to see
| Place | Why |
|---|---|
| Ioannina | Lakeside town on Lake Pamvotida, with its castle and Aslan Pasha mosque, the lake island and memories of Ali Pasha |
| Zagori | 46 stone villages with slate roofs, arched bridges and mule paths, UNESCO since 2023 |
| Vikos Gorge | One of the world's deepest gorges relative to its width, seen from the Oxia and Beloi viewpoints or walked on foot |
| Voidomatis river | Icy, crystal-clear water, rafting and walks |
| Metsovo | Mountain village famous for cheese, wine and Vlach traditions |
| Dodona | The oldest Greek oracle, of Zeus, with a large theatre |
| Acheron and Necromanteion | The river of the underworld, with the Glyki springs and the oracle of the dead |
| Parga | Colourful little town on a bay, with a Venetian castle and beaches |
| Syvota | Islets and turquoise coves, called the "Caribbean of Greece" |
Food
Epirus is the home of pites, pies of paper-thin filo filled with greens, cheese, meat or rice. Mountain cheeses, Voidomatis trout, lamb and walnut sweets are also excellent. Ioannina is known for silver filigree and craft workshops.
Getting there
Igoumenitsa has ferries from Venice, Ancona, Bari and Brindisi. The modern Egnatia motorway crosses Epirus, linking Igoumenitsa with Ioannina in under an hour and with Thessaloniki in about four. Ioannina has an airport with flights from Athens; the small Preveza-Aktion airport serves the south coast.
See also nature in Greece and itineraries.