The best hiking routes in Greece

Greece offers distinct walking landscapes depending on whether you choose the mountainous mainland or the islands. In Macedonië - Thracië, the northern mainland presents deep beech forests, granite peaks, and dirt tracks that require navigation skills. The ground here is often covered in leaf litter or loose stones, demanding sturdy boots. This region is suited for those seeking long, continuous mountain ascents without the coastal views found elsewhere in the country.

In contrast, the Peloponnesos, West-Griekenland en Ionische Eilanden offer a mix of rugged limestone gorges and ancient stone-paved paths, known as kalderimia. Walking here means navigating terraced olive groves and dry riverbeds underfoot. In May, these valleys are filled with flowering scrub before the summer heat dries the vegetation. This area provides a classic Mediterranean landscape where medieval ruins and small villages dictate the route network, rather than high alpine ridges.

For an island experience, Kreta and the Egeïsche Eilanden present a starker, wind-swept terrain dominated by thorny scrub, sharp marble, and coastal cliffs. Paths on these islands are often narrow goat tracks or loose gravel trails that lead down to sea level. While Kreta features deep, rocky gorges that require scrambling over boulders, the smaller Aegean islands offer shorter, exposed walks between whitewashed villages. These island routes lack shade and freshwater springs, making them very different from the forested north.