Greece in Winter: the Country’s Best Ski Resorts

Greece is traditionally seen as a summer holiday destination, but the country also has 18 ski resorts open from December to April, which have been gaining in popularity in recent years because of their affordability. Prices for winter holidays are two to three times lower in Greece than in Austria, Switzerland or France, and certain Greek resorts offer annual membership cards at a price comparable to a weekly ticket in the Alps.

This is creating demand for tourist services and accommodation all year long, and makes inland property in Greece an equally attractive investment to real estate along the coast, especially considering the country’s Golden Visa programme, which gives buyers of property above 250,000 euros a Greek residence permit. The following resorts are a small selection of what the country has to offer visitors in winter.

Parnassus

Parnassus is 180 km from Athens. It is Greece's largest and the most modern ski resort and was opened in 1976. It is located aslope the eponymous mountain at an elevation between 1,640 m and 2,260 m.

Parnassus has 23 pistes of varying difficulties – from easy runs for children to black runs for experienced skiers. The total length is 34 km. The resort has everything holiday-goers may need: 17 ski lifts, ski equipment sales and service outlets as well as rental stores.

During the high season (between 23 December and 7 January and on weekends), multiple-day tickets are twice more expensive (adults pay 95 euros for 4 days and so on). Children under the age of 5 years, veterans and the disabled can get a daily lift pass at just 5 euros or for free. There are also annual pass tickets available at a price of 400–900 euros.

Kalavryta

Kalavryta, Greece's second-largest ski resort, is located 191 km from Athens in the northern Peloponnese, on Mount Chelmos, at an elevation ranging between 1,730 m and 2,460 m. The resort has welcomed guests since 1988.

Visitors have 12 downhill pistes to choose from, including routes suitable for children and beginners to extremely difficult ones. The total length of ski runs is 25 km. Kalavryta is also home to Snow park, an area designed for freestyle skiing and equipped with obstacles and jumps that makes it the perfect snowboarding venue.

Children under the age of 5, seniors over 70 years old and the disabled can visit Kalavryta just for 1 euro

Kajmakčalan

The Kajmakčalan resort is 128 km from Thessaloniki on Mount Voras, Greece’s third-highest mountain, while the ski centre itself is located at an elevation ranging between 2,050 m and 2,480 m. The summit of Mount Voras offers wonderful views of the Thermaic Gulf and the top of Mount Olympus.

The resort has been operating since 1994. It is currently equipped with 5 ski lifts and 10 ski runs, the total length of which is 15 km.

Like at Parnassus, multiple-day tickets are twice more expensive during the high season.  

Vasilitsa

The Vasilitsa ski resort, 42 km from the town of Grevena and 220 km from Thessaloniki, is located on the northeastern side of Mount Vasilitsa between 1,646 m and 2,115 m.

Vasilitsa has seven ski lifts and 16 downhill routes of varying difficulty, with a total length of almost 16 km. The resort has been operating since 1975.

3–5 Pigadia

3–5 Pigadia is the only Greek ski resort with a completely automatic snow-making system. It is 17 km from the city of Naoussa and 103 km from Thessaloniki. 10 runs are located on the western side of Mount Vermion between the elevation of 1,430 m and 2,005 m. The resort has 6 ski lifts.

Along with the opportunities for downhill skiing and snowboarding, Pigadia offers chances for mountaineering, hang gliding and paragliding.

Lift passes are offered at a discount during high-season afternoons.

Originally published on Hip Greece