Paralia - Gateway to the Olympus Riviera

Tracie Cooke on 19 June 2019
We found the Olympus Riviera a few years ago and quite by accident, whilst visiting Halkidiki. We rented a car and decided to take the long drive south west to visit Mount Olympus. It didn't disappoint and we promised ourselves that we would return!

Paralia is found approximately 70kms south of Thessaloniki, it is the gateway to the Olympus Riviera and one of the closest beach resorts to the Mount Olympus National Park, which is within clear view of the hotel and creates a spectacular backdrop. Visiting in early summer meant that there was still snow on the mountain tops and we couldn't wait to explore. This area of Greece is not well known to British tourists and retains a more traditional feel to it, I sense that may change in the coming years. Visit now before the developers arrive, it's a beautiful part of Greece and not to be missed.

On arrival at our base for the week, the 5* Mediterranean Village, we were greeted with cooling face cloths and directed to a beautiful lounge for drinks. The guest concierge spoke to us about the hotel and organised a very relaxed and smooth check-in process for everyone, directly from the lounge. The hotel is fabulous! Every inch of it is spotlessly clean and the service throughout our stay was understated and efficient. The management here are very visible and are constantly monitoring processes to ensure a quality of service that doesn't disappoint.

The hotel is only two storeys tall and has eighteen small accommodation blocks of approximately ten rooms each. There are several swimming pools, including a livelier Beach Club, that plays great music throughout the day. The hotel occupies a 2km stretch of private Blue Flag white sand beach, gently shelving into the clear blue Aegean Sea, where you can swim with the fish as they come close to the shore.

We were staying in an Executive Swim Up Room, located in a quiet part of the resort (not that it is at all noisy). The décor was contemporary, and the colour palette was in restful shades of blue. There was tea and coffee in the room and a generous supply of toiletries, bathrobes and slippers were provided and a fridge for personal use too. There were several pieces of art, porcelain and artefacts that made the room feel very welcoming.

The hotel has three a la carte restaurants, each offering different menus and all excellent quality and value for money. We ate in all of them either for lunch or dinner and the service was very good. There is also a shop and boutique on site for daily essentials and a beautiful spa with indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Prices for treatments were excellent value for a 5* property.

The beach here seems to go on forever and there is space for everyone. The sunbeds and umbrellas are complimentary and there are private beach cabanas with butler service for just a few euros. They accommodate up to four people and your fee includes water. Drinks and food can be ordered for the standard hotel rates. We ordered a small pizza, which would easily feed four for lunch and it cost just 7 euros. After spending our first day on the beautiful beach, we headed into the little town of Paralia.

It is just a 20-30 minute (flat) walk along the beachfront pavement. There is a very pretty church at the centre of the resort and there are lots of shops, bars and restaurants to choose from. Walk a little further and you come to the traditional harbour with a couple of fresh fish restaurants too. The locals were warm and friendly and everywhere was very clean and neat. We stopped for an iced coffee and a light meal and got change from 10 euros! The cost of living here is low compared to elsewhere in Greece.

After a couple of days, we rented a car and took to the hills, that was the primary reason for being here after all; we headed to Litochoro, the gateway to Mount Olympus and just a thirty-minute drive from the hotel. After stopping at the visitor centre to gain advice regarding the weather and the best walking trails, we set off for the final drive higher into the hills, until we reached the highest parking area. Our first trail took us to a monastery and an open cave with a little church inside it. This walk was strenuous; narrow and steep and very uneven under foot. It is high altitude and not for the faint hearted. Our second trail climbed higher and yet we thought this one was easier; following a glacial river with stunning waterfalls, where we drank from the streams and paddled in the icy waters. The scenery is totally unspoilt, and the park is well maintained without appearing 'touristy'. If you are a serious walker, you can base yourself in Litochoro, which resembles an Alpine village and has all the same charm about it.

Following our time at Mount Olympus, we explored the hinterland a little more, discovering (by accident), the pretty village of Old Pantaleimon and then a 10th Century Castle on the coast. Our final day with the hire car took us to Ancient Dion, to view the ruins and the museum. There are numerous great beaches along the coast, each with its own character and charm and plenty of seaside villages where you can stop for a while.

For those that don't want to explore independently, there are several excursions available; including a train trip to Thessaloniki, a tour of Litochoro and Olympus, trips to both Meteora and Ancient Dion and even a boat trip to Skiathos.

After another day on the stunning beach at our hotel, we rented some bicycles and took to the cycle ways. The hotel provides cycle maps for guests with guidance on gradients and distance, along with an idea of how long you should allow for your journey. It was very easy to follow the routes and we found some great local eateries along the way. This is an ideal activity for families and a fun way to do your sightseeing.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end; our trip surpassed our expectations and proved beyond doubt that you don't have to travel too far to find fabulous beaches, great hotels and a certain amount of je ne sais quoi. We are already planning our next visit!