From Thessaloniki: Private Day Trip to Nymfaio and Amyntaio

Nymfaio, is an interesting and very differently looking town. In fact, when we will arrive, you wouldn’t have thought to find such a place in Greece. It will gave you the feeling of being in a whole different part of the world. Most likely the grey stones and bare hills surrounding the town will gave you the feeling of being somewhere in Northern Europe.

The village is quite old. It was founded in 1358 by Vlachs (Eastern Romance-speaking people), fleeing into the mountains after fights with the Ottomans. Eventually, the town grew to be a center for silversmiths. They practiced their craft in these pretty houses. Nowadays, it’s mostly a tourist town yet in a very positive way. There’s also a bear reserve, the Arkturos Bear Sanctuary. It’s just a few minutes walking from the town. They help bears that suffered immensely by the human hand. There’s also a Wolf Sanctuary.

​Make sure that when you visit Nymfaio outside summer, you have warm clothing with you. The bear sanctuary, for example, is at 1.350 meters altitude and it gets cold!

Local delicacies

During your stay at Nymfaio taste all the delicious local dishes in the various tavernas. Savour the neveska dish which is made with layers of potatoes, finely chopped pork and melted cheese. Don’t miss the locals’ favorite fish called “grivadi”, from the nearby lakes, cooked in a number of ways. The Macedonian wine and tsipouro will excellently accompany any recipe of the area you will choose to taste.

In the area, there’s lots to see. We will visit the towns of Kastoria and Siatista. The whole of Northern Greece is packed with sights.

WORTH TO SEE IN SIATISTA

• Siatista Paleontological Museum

The Paleontological Museum houses finds of the area: fossilized tusks, parts of mammoths, rhinos, various rocks and minerals.

• Siatista Botanical Museum

The Botanical Museum has been operating for 20 years, is unique in Greece and includes over 700 paintings of flowers and plants and over 500 rare butterflies and reptiles from the area of Bourinos (where the nature lover finds his paradise).

• Traditional Cellars (Katogia)

Guided tour of the traditional cellars (katogia) that are spread throughout the city. Here we will learn the secrets of Siatista wine and you will get to know the famous “Liasto” (sunny) wine that is produced in a traditional and organic way. The producers themselves will undertake to introduce you to all stages of production, a process that remains unchanged over the centuries.

What else?

If you are looking for some adventure, then Nymfaio is the place for you! You can discover the hiking trails in the woods, enjoy mountain biking and horseback riding. Explore Northern Greece with its unparalleled natural scenery. Come across two remarkable wetlands that belong to the Natura 2000 network, the Zarari and Cheimaditida Lakes. Bask in the amazing view of Zarari Lake, indulge your passion for bird watching, take a walk, bike or horse ride along the shore, entertain yourself with a jeep tour or try your skills in archery or canoeing. Cheimaditida Lake is considered as the most important breeding site of the ferruginous duck (a species threatened by extinction).