Olympus Riviera holidays

Olympus Riviera holidays

Deals from £326 per person

The Olympus Riviera is a 70km stretch of coastline between the base of Mount Olympus and the sparkling Aegean Sea, in an area of mainland Greece. Its beautiful beaches and charming villages attract families and couples looking for a relaxed holiday and a taste of traditional Greek life. The main resort of Paralia has an endless stretch of golden beach, plus plenty of shops and restaurants. It also has the dramatic and stunning scenery of Mount Olympus as its backdrop, which helps provide a laid-back atmosphere for your holiday to the Olympus Riviera.

If you enjoy the great outdoors, you can spend time hiking through lush forests up to magnificent waterfalls, watching a wide range of birds and experiencing exciting water sports. Litochoro is a picturesque town, where you’ll be greeted with a warm Greek welcome and can enjoy authentic cuisine in one of the delightful tavernas. As it’s just a short flight from the UK, this area of Greece is perfect if you want to spend less time travelling and more time on the beach.

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Map of Olympus Riviera

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25 ℃

With average temperatures upwards of 25 (˚C) in the summer months, the Olympus Riviera is perfect for beach holidays.

3.5 hours

Fly to Thessaloniki Airport in just 3.5 hours from Birmingham or Manchester.

Olympus Riviera is best for...

Beach lovers: The area boasts a great choice of wide, golden sand beaches lapped by clear, shallow waters; perfect for families.

Go-getters: Explore the beautiful scenery of Mount Olympus, experience a variety of water sports or take a day trip to nearby Thessaloniki; Greece’s second largest city.

Food fanatics: Savour delicious, traditional Greek cuisine in one of the seafront tavernas. Restaurants use locally grown vegetables and freshly caught fish. 

Fast facts for Olympus Riviera

Language: The language spoken on the Olympus Riviera is Greek.

Currency: The currency used on the Olympus Riviera is the Euro (€).

Local time: Olympus Riviera is 2 hours ahead of GMT/UK time. 

Fly to: Thessaloniki Airport. The transfer time to resorts is around 1 hour 15 minutes.

Flight time from UK: The flight time to Olympus Riviera is 3.5 hours.

 

Getting around Olympus Riviera

By taxi: It’s easy to get a taxi in the Olympus Riviera, as there are plenty of companies to choose from. In all the tourist resorts, you’ll have a good choice of taxis and can even get one for your transfer to or from Thessaloniki Airport. Negotiate the fare with your driver before travelling.

By bus: The local bus network, Pieria KTEL, services all villages and towns in the area. Buses are an affordable way to get around and run regularly. Litochoro is connected by bus from Athens and Thessaloniki and by train, although the train station is 9km from the village. 

Events in Olympus Riviera

Olympus Festival: This annual festival of music and theatre takes place throughout July, August and September in the ancient theatre of Dion in Pieria and in Platamonas Castle. It’s been running for over 30 years and has seen many famous Greek singers and actors perform plays and concerts here. There are also talks from renowned archaeologists about the civilisation of Pieria.

Carnival or Clean Monday: Carnival season, or ‘Apokries’ in Greek, is a celebration of the last days of freedom before the Greek Orthodox 40-day Lent in the run up to Easter. In Platamonas and Pieria, join locals in the streets for colourful parades with music and dancing. Traditional rituals are performed and delicious foods are on offer.

Olympus Riviera safety and security

Visa and health: Before you travel, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece for recommendations and advice on visas and health for your holiday to the Olympus Riviera.

Olympus Riviera weather

Temperature: 23-30 (°C) 

The Olympus Riviera enjoys a Mediterranean climate with plenty of sunshine hours from June to September. If you prefer quieter beaches, visit in late spring and early autumn when you’ll find plenty of space to sunbathe. Summer sees the highest temperatures with some days reaching 30°C, with little or no rainfall. If you book your holiday in the summer take shade in the hottest parts of the day.

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