The beaches of Southern Pieria
Variko, Gritsa, Plaka Litochoro, Leptokarya, Skotina Beach, Panteleimonas Beach, Platamonas, Neoi Poroi
Gritsa is a standard beach frequented by residents of Litochoro, at the foot of Mount Olympus near the archaeological site of Dion. It is ideal for small craft.
At Plaka Litochoro the visitor will come across alternating natural bays where the classic landscape of golden sand is interspersed by rocks and pebbles.
Leptokarya, a traditional holiday location, stretches out close to the site of the mythical Orphea.
Yet another beach with golden sands at the foot of Mount Olympus is Skotina Beach near the traditional village with the same name. During the summer a festival is held here with concerts and dance performances.
The vegetation sweeps right down to the sea at the neighboring Panteleimonas Beach near the traditional village of Paleos Panteleiomonas, which lies next to the Byzantine Castle of Platamon.
Platamonas has a remarkable beach, commercial stores and a harbor for small craft while also offering many options for entertainment.
Neoi Poroi is Pieria’s most southern beach next to the traditional village of Paleoi Poroi and the endless, picturesque wetlands in the northern sections of the Pinios Delta.
Variko Beach
A Tranquil and Peaceful Spot for the Whole Family
Variko Beach is located near Platamonas and Neos Panteleimonas. It’s a quiet and less touristy beach, perfect for those seeking peace and relaxation. The beach features fine sand and clean, shallow waters, making it ideal for swimming and families with children. The natural beauty of the area is enhanced by the lush green landscape surrounding it.
Although not highly organized, there are some basic amenities, such as a few beach bars and taverns where visitors can enjoy fresh fish and local delicacies. Due to its small size and serene atmosphere, Variko Beach mainly attracts those who want to escape the busier beaches of Pieria. It offers a peaceful and natural experience, perfect for relaxing moments away from the hustle and bustle of more popular destinations.
Gritsa Beach
The Blue Flag Gem of Litochoro
Gritsa Beach is located near the seaside village of Litochoro. This beautiful and well-organized beach attracts both locals and visitors, thanks to its clean waters and peaceful environment. The beach is primarily a mix of pebbles and sand, with clear, relatively shallow waters that are ideal for families with children. It has been awarded the Blue Flag, certifying its quality and safety.
The beach is well-equipped with sunbeds, umbrellas, and beach bars. Additionally, there are taverns and restaurants in the area serving fresh seafood and traditional Greek cuisine. Gritsa Beach is just a short distance from Litochoro, making it perfect for those who want to combine a day at the beach with a stroll through the picturesque village or a visit to Mount Olympus.
Offering an excellent spot for relaxation and swimming, Gritsa Beach provides easy access and all the amenities a visitor might need.
Plaka Litochoro
Pebbles and blond sand in the shadow of Olympus
A short distance from Litochoro, the area of Plaka has one of the most beautiful beaches on the Olympic Riviera. Combining rocks, pebbles and blond sand, the wide strip that is bathed by the transparent waters of the Aegean is a popular destination for swimming and long stays, as it is surrounded by many hotel units, organized campsites, and all kinds of accommodation options.
As a developed tourist resort, the area has many dining options, with fish taverns, Mediterranean restaurants, cafes, bars, and beach bars hosting all-day and all-night parties. The beach is organized in several places, while the “free” part is comfortable, with many meters wide for sunbathing, games, and swimming. It is awarded a Blue Flag for its quality and is easily accessible from the highway, at a distance of about 20 km from Katerini.
Leptokarya Beach
Natural Beauty with Modern Amenities for All Ages
Leptokarya Beach, located near the eponymous village, is one of the most popular destinations in the region for summer vacations. Known for its beautiful sandy shore and serene atmosphere, it offers a perfect retreat for relaxation.
The beach features an extensive coastline with golden sand and clear waters, ideal for swimming and sunbathing. It includes both organized areas with sunbeds and umbrellas and free zones for those who prefer to bring their own equipment.
Surrounding the beach, visitors will find cafés, tavernas, and shops offering local delicacies and refreshing drinks. The area also provides opportunities for water sports, such as kayaking and jet skiing. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, the beach offers opportunities for leisurely walks along the shoreline and exploration of the nearby areas.
Leptokarya Beach combines natural beauty with modern amenities, providing a pleasant and relaxing experience for visitors of all ages.
Skotina Beach
The awarded Blue Flag Pieria coastline
Skotina is one of the most beautiful parts of the Pieria coastline, located in the southern beaches of the Thermaic Gulf, between Leptokarya and Platamonas. It stretches for about two kilometers, featuring a vast sandy beach, which is mostly wide and comfortable.
It overlooks the Kassandra peninsula of Chalkidiki, situated in the shadow of Mount Olympus and close to the medieval Castle of Platamonas.
The beach is well-organized and popular among tourists. Within its extensive area, there are plenty of open spaces for bathers who prefer to bring their own equipment, and the road access is very convenient. The waters are crystal clear, and the entire infrastructure is consistently awarded the Blue Flag. The coastline is covered with sand that continues for many meters into the water, with some areas featuring pebbles.
The area has significantly developed, due to tourism, resulting in a variety of hotel accommodations and dining options.
Panteleimon Beach
A beach below mount Olympus
Diving and playing in clear blue waters, sunbathing on the sandy beach, next to a legendary Venetian castle and in the shadow of the most mythical mountain – where else could one find such a combination? Panteleimon is the definition of “mountain and sea”, a beach below Mount Olympus and next to the Castle of Platamonas, on the shores of Thermaikos, which unites the two elements so harmoniously, water and mountain, blue and green, being a very popular destination for vacationers.
The beach is organized and safe, with beach bars and water sports, while the surrounding area offers several options for accommodation (hotels, campsites, rentals, hostels) and food in taverns, ouzo, restaurants, and snack bars abound. A special activity that the area offers, due to its geographical location, is the paragliding, which starts at the traditional settlement of Paleo Panteleimon and ends at the beach.
Whether in combination with a visit to the Castle or the picturesque Paleo Panteleimon or Olympus or as a simple day trip to cool off at sea, this rare strip of land that meets the Aegean carves a memory that the visitor cant compare.
Platamonas Beach
In the shadow of history and mythology
One of the most fascinating beaches in Greece, in the middle of a wooded area below Mount Olympus and under the “surveillance” of the Middle Byzantine Castle on the hill. It is a set of small, consecutive beaches along the coast of Pieria, with straight lines and “petals” protected from the wind, “free” for the most part, and organized in several places, with shops of all kinds.
Platamonas Beach is a top holiday destination, as it provides many options for multi-day vacations for all budgets and in summer the area sees its population increase tenfold thanks to its visitors.
The sandy beach in some places has fine pebbles, while in the crystal-clear waters the sandy dominates the sea bottom. The beach is part of the peculiar natural beauty where the coast is at the same time the foot of the highest mountain in the country and one of the highest in Europe, from Neos Poros to up high, in Alykes Kitros, but the part of Platamonas stands out for its uniqueness, combining its natural location with the history of the Castle, the mythology of Olympus, the tradition and the modern, leaping tourist development. In the taverns of Platamonas, with fish from the boats that empty their nets on the beach which is an interesting spectacle for those who are on the beach early, one will find the freshest options to complete a perfect day at sea.
Neoi Poroi Beach
Five kilometers of sand below Mount Olympus
The wide sandy beach of more than five kilometers long available, place the beach of Neoi Poroi at the top of the list of the most “spacious” beaches in the area.
Ideal for families, and for those looking for comfort and quiet in their summer getaways, as it offers manysandy areas, with large openings between beach bars and shops from which visitors can relax without the crowds observed on busy tourist beaches.
In the south of Pieria, just before the verdant Valley of Tempi, the long strip of sand magically combines the green in the shadow of Olympus with the blue of the crystal clear, award-winning waters. Along the way, visitors find places of coolness and food, beach equipment, and water sports, while in the settlement of Neoi Poroi, with its exemplary housing plan that invites visitors for an after swim stroll, there are facilities for every taste, for food, drink fun but also accommodation, this beach requires more than one visit to be discovered and enjoyed.
Where the green meets the blue!
