Mount Olympus Coastline

Pieria is one of the regional units of the country and is located in the southern part of the Region of Central Macedonia. Its capital is the city of Katerini which took its name from a small chapel of St. Catherine who is also the patron saint of the city. In addition, there are many important archaeological sites such as Dion, Pydna and Platamonas, while in the southern part of Pieria is Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. Seaside settlements such as Paralia, Olympiaki Akti, Leptokarya, Panteleimonas Beach and Platamonas, among others, are equally popular especially during the summer.

Pieria was annexed to Greece in 1913, when it was liberated from the occupation of the Ottoman Empire. During World War II, Katerini strongly resisted but was conquered by the Germans, who remained in the city for 3 years. Pieria was part of the Prefecture of Thessaloniki until 1947 as a province. In recent years, PE Pieria has experienced great growth in the tourism sector, due to its coastal location.

Pieria has many attractions such as archeological sites, traditional settlements, mountainous and coastal places of exceptional beauty. The city of Katerini is a classic urban center, but which combines mountain and sea in a short distance. The Pieria Mountains dominate imposingly next to the city and are an ideal choice for winter getaways, while the Beach of Katerini is a popular tourist resort. A short distance from Katerini is the mythical mountain Olympus, where the Olympian Gods lived. The highest mountain in Greece is suitable for hiking, climbing and mountaineering. At a distance of 10 km from Katerini and at the foot of Mount Olympus, is the archeological site "Dion". There you can visit the sanctuaries of Olympian Zeus and Demeter, the villa of Dionysus, the Hellenistic theater of Zeus, the Roman theater and the Asclepieion. South of the city, is Platamonas, which is famous for its Venetian Castle and its sandy beaches.

In the northern part of Pieria is the natural bay of Methoni, next to one of the most important wetlands in Europe. The most important beaches in central Pieria are the Beach, which is not far from Katerini and has a port suitable for small boats, as well as the next in a row, Olympic Coast. In the southern part you will find Plaka Litochoro with its golden sand, Leptokarya and Panteleimon beach, next to the Byzantine castle of Platamonas which is a trademark of Pieria. Finally, Platamonas combines an excellent beach, shops and entertainment options and the southernmost beach of Pieria, Neoi Poroi, stands out for its natural environment as it is located in the northern part of the Pinios Delta.

In the city of Katerini you can find a wide range of restaurants and taverns, which cater to all tastes. From traditional Greek cuisine, street food to refined French and Italian cuisine. Most restaurants can be found in the city center area. Also, in the seaside restaurants you will find a wide variety of fish and seafood. Do not forget to try Pieria truffle and the traditional handmade sweets and drinks.

In the capital of Pieria, Katerini, especially in the city center, there are many cafe-bars, cocktail bars and clubs, which promise beautiful nights of fun. The music choices are varied, from relaxed lounge music to frantic pop, while contemporary Greek music has its place of honor until the early morning hours. However, in the other areas of Pieria you will find night shops for entertainment. During the summer, the theatrical events at the Byzantine Castle of Platamonas, in the context of the Olympus Festival, stand out.

The dialing code for Peria is 2351, -2, -3. The nearest airport is Thessaloniki (SKG), which is 95 km from the city of Katerini. Access to the wider Pieria is easy by road, in addition to the national network there is a complete railway network as well as the coverage of all settlements by the local bus network (KTEL Pieria).