What is Zagori?
Zagori is a mountainous area of Epirus in northwestern Greece, with dozens of stone villages, cobbled paths and arched stone bridges in the Pindus mountains. In 2023 the 'Zagori Cultural Landscape' was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to the Vikos Gorge and is a paradise for hikers. The nearest city is Ioannina, a lakeside university town with an old castle and a historic Romaniote synagogue.
When is the best time to visit Zagori?
Spring and autumn are best for hiking: comfortable weather, full streams and lovely colours. Summer is cooler than the lowlands, and winter brings snow, fireplaces in guesthouses and a special atmosphere; Zagori and Ioannina feature in our Greece in winter guide. In winter check road conditions before you drive.
How to get to Ioannina & Zagori
By air: Ioannina has an airport with domestic flights from Athens. We found no direct Tel Aviv–Ioannina flight confirmed for 2026 on airline or airport websites. Fly to Athens (or Thessaloniki) and continue by domestic flight or car. Check current fares from Tel Aviv on Yavanet's flights page, updated every morning. Seasonal summer routes sometimes open, so check close to your dates.
By car: motorways link Athens and Thessaloniki with Ioannina. From Ioannina to the Zagori villages the roads are winding mountain roads. See our guide to renting a car in Greece.
By bus: KTEL buses run from Athens and Thessaloniki to Ioannina. Public transport to the Zagori villages is very limited.
Top things to do in Zagori
- Vikos Gorge: hike along the gorge, or take in the views from Oxya or Beloi.
- Kalogeriko (Plakida) bridge with its three arches, near Kipi village.
- Kokkori (Noutsos) bridge and other stone bridges between the villages.
- Monodendri and Agia Paraskevi monastery on the edge of the gorge.
- Megalo and Mikro Papingo, beneath the Astraka cliffs.
- The natural pools of Rogovo (Ovires) near Papingo.
- Dragon Lake (Drakolimni): a long, demanding hike from Mikro Papingo.
- Walking the old stone paths between the villages.
- Kipi, Dilofo and Kapesovo: well-preserved stone villages in central Zagori.
Top things to do in Ioannina
- Ioannina's castle (Kastro) and the old quarter inside it.
- Lake Pamvotida: a promenade, cafés and a boat to the island (Nisi) with the Ali Pasha museum.
- The Romaniote synagogue Kehila Kedosha Yashan in the Kastro quarter (see below).
- The Silversmithing Museum, telling the story of the city's silver craft.
- Perama Cave, a stalactite cave near the city.
Ioannina: Jewish history & kosher
Ioannina was one of the main centres of the Romaniote Jews, the Greek-speaking Jews who lived in Greece long before the Sephardic exiles from Spain arrived. In the Kastro quarter stands the Kehila Kedosha Yashan ('the old synagogue'), rebuilt several times over the centuries. In March 1944 most of the city's Jews were deported to Auschwitz, and today the community is very small. To visit the synagogue, arrange it in advance with the Jewish Community of Ioannina, as opening hours are limited and change. Read more about the Romaniote community.
We have not verified a Chabad house, active synagogue or kosher restaurant in Ioannina or Zagori. Our Shabbat times & kosher in Greece page lists candle-lighting times and the kosher places we have verified around Greece. You can order kosher groceries and meals in advance from Chabad's e-kosher.gr, which delivers across Greece, including the islands. Order a few days before you arrive, especially ahead of Shabbat.
Where to stay
Zagori villages (Monodendri, Papingo, Kipi, Aristi): stone guesthouses, quiet and views. Best with a car.
Ioannina: a city with restaurants and nightlife, handy without a car or in winter.
What to eat in Zagori & Ioannina
Epirus is known for home-made pies (pites) with greens, cheese or meat, grilled meat and bean soup. Ioannina is also known for lake fish and traditional sweets such as baklava.
