Northern Greece itinerary

Posted by liam on 01/15/25 12:17 AM

We are going to Greece in late April-early May and are planning on traveling in Greece as we have already done the Peloponnesus. This is what we are thinking:
Arrive in Athens & Take high speed train to Thessaloniki, stay 3 nights.
Rent a car in Thessaloniki & head to Meteora for 2 nights
Drive from Meteora to Igoumenitsa and take ferry to Corfu, spend 3 nights on Cofu
Leave Corfu & drive to Delphi for 3 nights
Back to Athens for last night & then leave next day.

Does this sound reasonable?
Where is a good place to rent a car in Thessaloniki?
Thank you for any advice, feedback, etc.

Posted by TexasTravelMom

TX, USA

01/15/25 12:42 AM

5100 posts

Your research may provide different options. In 2023, I did something a bit similar but ran into the fact that a one way rental more than doubled the price of the car. So I played around with the busses a bit, used a local car rental company, and ended up with this (which is backwards from you and doesn’t tick all your boxes).

My route:
Arrive Corfu (no car but going again I would rent one depending on where I stay)
Ferry to Igoumenitsa
Catch a bus to Ioannina for a couple of nights
Rent car and go to Meteora (and Vikos Gorge) over a week or so
Return car to Ioannina and take the bus to Thessaloniki
Fly out.

The only backtracking I had was about an hour’s drive Kastraki back to Ioannina.

If you don’t find a better option, you COULD fly from Athens to Corfu, then do something similar - ending with taking the train back to Athens. That doesn’t really address Delphi, though. (I had already been.) if you wind up renting in Ioannina, I rented from Red Fox Car Rentals and it felt like family.

Posted by johnt

Atlanta, GA area (USA)

01/15/25 12:55 AM

262 posts

If the one way rental is cost prohibitive you could get the car in Athens and maybe go to Meteora first and then Thessaloniki. Good luck!

Posted by hrcarol

Atlanta Suburbs

02/21/25 01:36 PM

8 posts

How did you like Corfu? I'm just starting to look at a trip to northern Greece. I loved the books/tv show about the Durrells and would love to see the island they lived on but, I've heard mixed reviews about Corfu.

Posted by Cherryplanter

Gothenburg, Scandinavia

02/21/25 06:12 PM

159 posts

Thessaloniki was a bit underwhelming, which is especially worth taking into account if you already know Europe. Either skip it or move one night to Athens.

Posted by valadelphia

02/21/25 06:26 PM

5627 posts

Have you purchased tickets yet? I know ATH may be easier, but I have scoped out flights to Thessaloniki and they were comparable (did not take the trip yet). Don't know where you are flying from, but Lufthansa is one provider with flights there.
I hope someone will share a recent outcome of researching a Thessaloniki-ATH rental car drop off--I've always done this in other countries and it would be very convenient!

Posted by Cat VH

London

02/21/25 07:34 PM

255 posts

I've only been to Thessaloniki and Corfu of these two places and highly recommend both. Thessaloniki has lots of fascinating Byzantine-era architecture, churches, etc that I loved exploring and a nice waterfront for strolling/eating/etc. It's a very different feel to Athens. Corfu Town is one of the most beautiful old towns in Greece and there are lots of lovely beaches as well. If you're less of a beach person I would stay in the town. There's a good bus network in case you don't want to drive.

Posted by ajlmv

02/23/25 03:48 PM

94 posts

Maybe you could change your route a bit? Rent a car in Athens, drive to Meteora first, then Thessaloniki (find an accommodation with a private parking space) then to Corfu, Delphi and back to Athens. You would need to find a car rental company that allows the rental car to be taken on to the ferry. The route from Thessaloniki to Corfu takes you almost past Vergina (Palace of Agai) and Metsovo (an interesting stop) and Ioannina (which would be nice to stay for 1 night before heading to Corfu).