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Thessaloniki might be the best known city in northern Greece, but west of it Katerini has emerged as another tourist hub, with its undeniable natural beauty, well-organised resorts, traditional and modern housing and infrastructure development.

68 km away from Thessaloniki and 435 from Athens, Katerini has 55,000 inhabitants and is located between the mountains of Pieria and the Thermaic Gulf, at an altitude of 14-15 metres, combining sea, mountains and other beauties of nature.

A walk around town and the nearby area

Growth is visible in Katerini, with its new hospital, renovated railway station and a coast lined with luxury hotels. This has led to swelling numbers of tourists in recent years.

The city boasts one of the most beautiful parks in Greece, with impressive fountains and trees: it is Katerini’s green oasis in summer when the heat falls heavily on the city. The pedestrian zone of Megalou Alexandrou St. is the town’s commercial centre; it is where you can relax, shop, have your coffee or dine in one of the little restaurants.

The Folklore Museum of Katerini showing objects from the Greek settlements along the Pontos (the southeast coast of the Black Sea) opened in 1990. More than 20 churches are scattered throughout the city.

In summer Katerini blossoms into an Olympic Riviera, with its wonderful beaches, coves, hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs. Pine groves, wide beaches and isolated bays line the coast allowing visitors to rest according to their preferences.

Yet Katerini is not only a summer destination. The area has many archaeological sites. The antique town of Dion dating back to the fifth century BC, is only 15 km away. The foundations of shops, public baths, the restored Roman theatre, tiled streets and sculptures are on show there. Every year thousands of tourists visit the place and the museum, and in summer the ancient theatre comes alive with performances during the Festival of Olympus.

Platamon, a sea-side resort so named because of its plentiful plane trees, is 38 km from the centre of Katerini. There you can see the Venetian fortress and the heritage railway.

Another place worth visiting is Skotina, a traditional mountain village on the slopes of the Pieria mountains. In Ano Skotina will see traditional architecture houses, which had been abandoned, but in recent years have been restored by Greeks and foreigners. In the central square you can mix with residents of Katerini and Larissa, who frequently visit the place.

You can complete your journey with a climb on Olympus, Greece's most famous mountain, which will dazzle you with its magnificence.

Pieria’s flavours

The local cuisine can indulge anybody’s tastebuds: it is rich in fish and other seafood, meat dishes, pastries and aromatic condiments.

Do not miss the wild boar sausages, the marmalades or the local drinks.