Northern Greece is made for road trips. Mountain roads, stone villages, crystal-clear rivers and the Ionian coast can all be experienced within just a few days.

We travelled this route by motorcycle, starting from Skopje and crossing into northern Greece before continuing through Kastoria, Zagori, Ioannina, Parga and Sivota. Along the way, we discovered quiet mountain roads, traditional villages, incredible landscapes and some memorable places to eat.

This is the route we actually travelled — including the stops that were worth making, the places where we stayed overnight, and some of our favourite moments along the way.

Our Northern Greece Road Trip Route

Our journey started in Skopje and took us through some of the most beautiful landscapes of northern and western Greece. We spent the first night in Kastoria, continued through the mountain roads toward Zagori and spent the second night in Ioannina. From there, we reached the Ionian coast, visiting Parga before spending our third night in Sivota.

The following day, we continued north toward Albania and spent one final night in Vlorë before beginning the journey back home.

Route: Skopje → Kastoria → Nea Kotyli → Aristi → Voidomatis → Papingo → Ioannina → Parga → Sivota → Vlorë

Northern Greece road trip link Kurviger

Day 1: Skopje to Kastoria

The first stage of our Northern Greece road trip took us from Skopje to Kastoria, a lakeside city in Western Macedonia surrounded by mountains.

Kastoria was a perfect choice for the first overnight stop. The city is built around Lake Orestiada, and instead of feeling like a typical tourist destination, it has a relaxed atmosphere that makes it especially pleasant after a day on the road.

We spent some time exploring the city and enjoying the lake before settling in for the night. For anyone following a similar route, Kastoria is worth more than simply passing through — even a short stay gives you a very different impression of Greece from the islands and coastal resorts most visitors know.

Day 2: From Kastoria into the Mountains

Leaving Kastoria behind, the road gradually took us into a very different side of northern Greece. The landscape became wilder, the roads quieter, and small mountain villages began to replace the larger towns.

One of our stops along the way was Nea Kotyli, a small mountain village surrounded by forests and dramatic scenery. This part of the journey was less about reaching a particular attraction and more about the road itself — winding through the mountains, stopping whenever something caught our attention, and experiencing a part of Greece that many visitors simply drive past.

From here, we continued toward Zagori, where the scenery became even more impressive.

Aristi and the Voidomatis River

As we entered the Zagori region, the route brought us to Aristi, one of the traditional stone villages surrounded by the mountains of Epirus.

From Aristi, the road descends through spectacular mountain scenery toward the Voidomatis River. The river is famous for its exceptionally clear, cold water, and the combination of forest, limestone mountains and turquoise pools makes this one of the most memorable stops along the route.

This is exactly the kind of place that makes a road trip through northern Greece special. You can stop by the river, take a short walk, enjoy the scenery and then continue through the winding mountain roads toward Papingo.

Papingo – A Mountain Highlight of Zagori

From Voidomatis, we continued uphill toward Papingo, one of the most beautiful traditional villages in Zagori. The road itself is part of the experience, climbing through a series of tight bends as the mountains rise dramatically above the valley.

Papingo’s stone houses, narrow streets and mountain setting make it an ideal stop on a Northern Greece road trip. We parked the motorcycles in the village, took some time to explore on foot and enjoyed the completely different atmosphere of Greece’s mountainous interior.

Before continuing toward Ioannina, we also stopped at the natural rock pools near Papingo — another reminder that this part of Greece is as much about the landscape between destinations as the destinations themselves.

Day 2: Ioannina – An Evening by the Lake

After a full day exploring the mountain roads, villages and rivers of Zagori, we continued toward Ioannina, where we spent our second night.

Ioannina feels very different from the Greece most visitors first imagine. Set beside Lake Pamvotida, the city combines a lively centre with an atmospheric old town, historic walls and narrow streets that are particularly enjoyable in the evening.

After parking the motorcycles, we explored the old town on foot before ending the day the best way possible — with a relaxed dinner at a local taverna.

Where We Ate in Ioannina

For dinner, we stopped at Balsamico, where we ended the day with good Greek food and a cold beer after hours on the road. The relaxed atmosphere made it a great place to slow down after a long day riding through Zagori.

It was one of those simple evenings that fit perfectly into a road trip — good food, a lively city around us and no need to rush anywhere.

Day 3: From Ioannina to the Ionian Coast

Leaving Ioannina behind, we headed west toward the Ionian coast. After two days of lakes, mountains, rivers and stone villages, seeing the blue sea ahead felt like entering a completely different part of Greece.

Our next stop was Parga, one of the most picturesque coastal towns in Epirus. Colourful houses climb the hillside above the waterfront, while small beaches and the Ionian Sea give the town an almost island-like atmosphere.

We stopped here to enjoy the coast and take a break before continuing north toward Sivota.

A Memorable Stop in Parga

One of the unexpected moments of the trip came in Parga, where we came across an impressive freshly caught swordfish by the waterfront. Small moments like this are part of what makes travelling slowly through Greece so enjoyable — you never quite know what you will find at the next stop.

Sivota – Our Third Night by the Ionian Sea

From Parga, we continued north along the Ionian coast toward Sivota, where we spent our third night in Greece.

After the mountain roads of Zagori and the lively stop in Parga, Sivota was the perfect place to slow down. The small harbour, boats and green hills surrounding the turquoise Ionian Sea create a relaxed atmosphere, especially later in the day when many of the daytime visitors have left.

We ended the day by the waterfront, enjoying the view and a cold Greek beer — a simple but perfect finish to another day on the road.

From Sivota to Albania – The End of Our Journey

After our third night in Sivota, we continued north, eventually leaving Greece and crossing into Albania. We followed the coast to Vlorë, where we spent the final night of the trip before beginning the journey back home.

Looking back, the most memorable part of our Northern Greece road trip was the incredible variety we experienced while travelling through northern and western Greece. In just a few days, the road took us from the peaceful lake in Kastoria to the mountain villages and crystal-clear rivers of Zagori, through Ioannina and finally down to the blue waters of the Ionian coast.

Travelling by motorcycle made the winding mountain roads particularly enjoyable, but the same route would make an excellent road trip by car. The best advice is simply not to rush it. Stop in the villages, take the smaller roads, enjoy a taverna along the way and leave some room for the unexpected. If you’re planning to explore Greece by road, our Driving in Greece guide covers the essential rules, documents and practical things to know before you travel.

For us, this was exactly what a road trip through Greece should be — not just moving between destinations, but enjoying everything that happens in between.