Central Macedonia Hotels Greece

Central Macedonia is a part of Greece that borders Bulgaria, Albania and the region of the former Yugoslav Republic of the same name, Macedonia. It has coastline to the south on the Aegean Sea. Untypical of the rest of Greece, it is a beautiful coller region of mountains. However, like the rest of Greece, it is rich in historical monuments and archaeological sites. Its principal city is Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city and a major port protected by ancient walls.

Central Macedonia is the location of Mount Olympus, the renowned home of the gods of Greek mythology. What is less well-known is that Mount Olympus is rich in plant life and is an official World Biosphere Reserve site. The choice of visitor sites is extensive.

For those interested in archaeology, to the west of Thessaloniki at Vergina (Aigai) there are the fourth century BC ‘royal tombs’, allegedly belonging to the father of Alexander the Great. These are displayed in a first-rate underground museum, with one of the actual burial mounds. Fans of archaeology should not miss Thessaloniki’s Archaeological Museum with its must-see permanent exhibition entitled ‘Treasures of Ancient Macedonia’.

Those specifically interested in the Roman era should see Thessaloniki’s Arch of Galerius built in AD 297, and the ruins of the Roman Agora. Those interested in the Byzantine era should visit Thessaloniki’s White Tower, a massive Ottoman 16th century fortification on the sea-front, because it holds an impressive Byzantine art collection. The huge five-aisled Church of Saint Demetrius is a 1930s reconstruction after a massive fire in 1917.

However there are some mosaics dating from the post-Roman era. Aristolelous Square faces the sea on one side and bordered by grand architecture on the others. It’s a great place to find cafes and tavernas.

Inland, at Dion, you will find archaeological remains of this once impressive 5th century BC city. Katerini is a good place to stay if you are intent on exploring Dion. At Platamon, there are the remains of a Venetian castle.

If archaeology is not your scene, there are some excellent beaches at Korinos and Paralia. If you are interested in hiking, Litochoro is the town to head for the start of routes up Mount Olympus. As a tourist-oriented region, Central Macedonia has a vast variety of quality hotels and bed and breakfasts to suit all pockets.

Located in central Thessaloniki and near the principal museums and monuments is the five-star Classical Makedonia Palace. For a more modest pocket, the three-star Astoria Hotel is also close the main museums and monuments. A little further from the museums but modern and stylish, with an indoor pool is the five-star Met Hotel.

The four-star Anatolia is near Aristolelous Square and the Church of Saint Demetrius At Katerini there is the four-star Hotel Villa Sevasti or the three-star Dion Palace or the three-star Casa di Mare Poseidon. If you want to stay in Litochoro in style there is the four-star Olympus Mediterranean. Alternatively there is the two-star Nafsika.

There are also some very pleasant bed and breakfasts: the To Palio Litochoro and the LTI Dion Palace Resort.