“Greece has everything!” We have known this since childhood. Greece has a gentle sun, a warm clean sea, good sandy beaches, delicious fruits, delicious food, fur coats and much more. Relaxing there is a pleasure. Greeks are very friendly and hospitable.
We went to Greece on a last-minute tour. It turned out very budget holiday in Greece. We got together literally in 4 days. We needed to book a hotel with instant confirmation and the tour operator offered us Edem Holiday Club Hotel, which is located on Paralia Katerini (they write Katerina and even Katerina). This budget hotel located in the area Pieria, whose capital is the city of Katerini. At first we couldn’t understand all this - Pieria, Paralia...
Pieria, translated from ancient Greek - fertility. The Pieria region is actively involved in farming. There are many gardens and vegetable gardens there.
Paralia- this means embankment or, some even translate it as beach, in essence in this case it is the same thing. Paralia Katerini is a town on the shores of the Gulf of Propontis on the Aegean Sea. The distance from the city of Katerini is 8 km, from the city of Thessaloniki about 100 km, from the city of Athens - 500 km.
Hotel Edem Holiday Club located between two small towns. One town is called , and the second Olympic. Between these towns there is an embankment, and behind it the beach and the sea. The embankment has a pedestrian path, a bicycle path and a road for cars. Many people ride bicycles and rollerblades along the embankment. All this can be rented. Bicycles are available for 2 and 4 people with a canopy from the sun and rain.
This is what the embankment looks like between the towns of Olympic and Paralia Katerini. On the left is our hotel, on the right is the sea.
Hotel photos Edem Holiday Club.
From Hotel Edem Holiday Club Paralia Katerinis is about 2 km away, you can walk in half an hour, and Olympic is 500 m away, you can walk in 10 minutes. If you look at the sea, then Olympic is to the right, and Katerini is to the left. In the towns of Katerini Paralia and Olimpica there are many shops with clothes, souvenirs, fruit, and many taverns where you can have a delicious meal. There are many fur coat shops in Katerini Paralia. The towns are very nice, and I would say cozy. It's quite pleasant to walk there.
Prices vary from tavern to tavern. You can get soup from 2 euros, a hot dish from 6 euros. Drinks from 2 euros. The wine is very cheap and tasty. Look, where there are more people, there will be the best price-quality ratio. You can't go wrong. This works all over the world! 🙂 Near almost all taverns there are stands with photographs of dishes and prices. Almost always, gifts are given at the end of dinner. It will be either ice cream, or cut and peeled watermelon, or something else.
We often went to these towns along the embankment, along the sea. There are always a lot of people on the embankment, until late at night and in any weather. In the evening there are more people on the embankment than during the day. Many people do race walking or jogging on the embankment between the towns. Shops, taverns and travel agencies in the towns are open until late.
IN Edem Holiday Club Hotel we arrived at 10 am and were checked in at 11, although the website stated check-in time was 2 pm. We really liked the hotel, despite its 2* service, the service was at a fairly good level - they cleaned the rooms and changed towels every day, and changed the bed every 3 days. The quality of the bed and towels is impeccable, very good quality and immaculately clean. The rooms had good quality liquid soap. There was no hairdryer or kettle in the room, but there was a refrigerator. The hotel has a swimming pool, sun loungers, a restaurant, and a children's playground.
We only took breakfast. The restaurant seemed expensive to us and we did not have lunch or dinner there. Those who ate there were, in principle, satisfied with the cuisine. From the restaurant windows there is a view of the sea or the pool.
Breakfasts are quite sufficient - excellent natural yogurt, milk, tea, coffee, juices, boiled eggs, 4 types of muesli, 2 types of cheese, ham, sausage, jams, honey, olives, sometimes fresh vegetables, peaches blanched in syrup , butter... It is prohibited to take food with you. The hostess is watching this.
At the hotel, and almost everywhere in Greece - in shops, taverns, travel agencies, there are Russian-speaking staff - Greek women from the CIS countries.
Safe in the hotel only at the reception for 1 euro per day. There are no safes in the rooms.
The sea is across the street from the hotel. Very comfortably. The sea was different. There were algae near the shore, one evening there were jellyfish and large fish right off the shore, and the next morning the sea was quiet, clean and without a single algae, without fish or jellyfish. The water in the sea was both very warm and cool, but not cold. We were there from September 6 to September 15. The sea seemed beautiful to us.
WITH weather in early September We weren't very lucky. First there were showers. The showers were as if water was pouring from the sky from an upside-down, huge - all over the sky - troughs, umbrellas and shoes were meaningless. Umbrellas were twisted in the wind, and there was a lot of water on the streets, rivers - and that’s all. Raincoats and knee-high rubber boots could help. Basically, everyone wore flip-flops. But there were gaps between the showers and we swam. There were also storms, and we admired them and walked around the towns and along the embankment. It was wonderful. There are always a lot of people on the embankment, day and night. We thought it was safe there. And the girls from the travel agency said that they are safe and don’t get stolen. But in big cities - in Athens and Thessaloniki, you need to be careful, there are a lot of thieves and scammers there.
Then the weather improved. It was sunny and not very hot.
Beaches of Paralia TO atherini equipped with fresh water showers, volleyball courts, sun loungers and sun canopies. Having bought a drink or something else from the menu, you can use the sun lounger all day. Some people did not buy drinks and were not touched or kicked out from under the awning. Possibly due to the end of the season. Many were lying on their mats right on the sand, next to the sea. The sun was not hot, gentle and not everyone needed a canopy.
They carried sweets and souvenirs along the beach, and also massage therapists walked around and did a good, according to the reviews of those who used their services, Chinese massage.
Book cheap flights to all destinations.
6,0
There is nothing to do here in May.
There is nothing to do here in May. There are only 3 restaurants, the rest are souvlaki and gyros. The beach line is endless) It’s nice, you can take a walk, but it’s clear that already in June it will be like we have in Sochi - there’s nowhere to throw a towel. Apart from hotels, there is almost nothing in the city - only a couple of stadiums and some kind of children's institution. There's Lidl. Pay attention to the cafe at the pier - they sell fish there from the pier side; if you rented an apartment with a kitchen, you can stock up on fish and seafood there.
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Anonymous Abkhazia
8,0
A small resort town with a long beach.
A small resort town with a long beach. We visited in June 2019. There are many vacationers in the city from Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania. A few Russians and Poles. You can choose a fur coat. The taverns are cheap and the food is delicious.
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Sergey Russia
A small town with access to the sea.
A small town with access to the sea. The Aegean Sea is incredibly beautiful, the descent into the water is smooth, the bottom is sandy. The city is green, the buildings are decorated with geraniums, and locals keep parrots on their balconies. Paralia Katerini is suitable for those who love shopping. Lots of shops, restaurants. By the way, the prices are not outrageous: dinner in a restaurant for 2 people in 2018 cost 33 EUR. The main (and only) attraction is the church. Mount Olympus is visible from Paralia Katerini. The city beach is dirty. It is difficult to get to the airport: you have to do it with 2 transfers. For a Russian person, travel seems expensive: to the airport it costs about 14 EUR with all transfers by public transport. City transport runs on schedule, and there is an electronic sign at the stop. Locals speak good English. There were no communication problems when purchasing tickets, in stores, on the street, or in a restaurant.
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Victoria Russia
4,0
Targeting package travelers, for the first time during the entire trip...
Targeting package travelers, for the first time during the entire trip I felt that it was peak season - crowds everywhere. the beach is crowded from horizon to horizon with people, the sea is dirty and muddy. Nearby Halkidiki is simply a paradise, clear sea, no crowds, and not more expensive (of course, if you are not a bag-taker :) The advantages are inexpensive food and fruit. The choice is huge
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Anastasiia Russia
Water sports are very popular in Paralia Katerini: water skiing and banana boating, diving, surfing and windsurfing, swimming, boating, fishing and much more. Water skiing will cost you about 20 euros for 15 minutes, and the best time to practice this sport is early in the morning. Diving in Paralia Katerini is also very popular. Diving to depth will cost from 25-30 euros, depending on the equipment required for this. Those who already have their own masks and fins will pay a little less for the dive.
Due to the fact that Paralia Katerinis is located a few kilometers from the legendary Olympus, there is a wonderful opportunity to go rock climbing under the supervision of experienced instructors and with the necessary equipment. And in winter, when the mountain is covered with snow, thousands of tourists in Paralia Katerinis engage in winter sports: skiing, snowboarding and skating.
Transport links in Paralia Katerini are not very well developed and are represented by the following types of transport: buses, taxis, car rentals. Paralia Katerini has a lot of bus stops, but the buses don't run often enough. It is better to buy bus tickets in advance; it is also advisable to plan your route carefully, since drivers and conductors do not speak English well.
There are also taxis in the city, but, as a rule, traveling by taxi is expensive. You can rent a car or motorcycle in Thessaloniki; there are no rental offices in Paralia Katerini itself.
Dion is an open-air museum, an “island” of ancient history, which can be easily seen in the ruins of the sanctuaries of the goddesses Demeter and Isis, the ancient odeon and, of course, the perfectly preserved remains of Roman baths.
In 168 BC, when the Macedonian state was destroyed, a Roman colony settled in Dion. At the same time, thermae (Roman baths) were built in the city, which are very well preserved to this day.
The baths were beautifully furnished and equipped with the latest technology of the time. They housed changing rooms, with cabins with cold and hot water, rest rooms and even swimming pools. The heating of the bathhouse, the water supply system, the interior decoration, everything was thought out to the smallest detail. Today, more than two thousand years after the construction of this thermal complex, you can clearly see its marble decoration and mosaic floor.
During excavations, marble statues of the daughters of Asclepius, the god of healing, were found, which makes it clear what an important role the Romans assigned to baths in caring for physical and moral health. All statues found during excavations are exhibited in the local museum.
Vergina
Vergina is a town in Central Macedonia, which became famous thanks to the found burials of the rulers of Macedonia.
Vergina is located near Eges - the place where the first capital of Macedonia was in ancient times. The most important attraction of Vergina are the Royal burial grounds of the ancient necropolis of Eges. Now a museum has been built in this place with artifacts found during excavations. The museum has many exhibits, but the most important and most famous is the golden bowl with the star of Macedonia, which contains the bones of King Philip II - the father of Alexander the Great and the golden wreath that was on Philip's head. Here you can also visit the archaeological excavations of the ancient city with the ancient theater, the Temple of Euklia and the ruler’s palace.
What sights of Paralia Katerini did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.
Ancient village of Dion
Ancient Dion is famous for its interesting archaeological excavations and a museum with valuable historical artifacts. Dion is a village that used to be called Malatria. As of 2001, the population in the village was 1,336 people.
The first mentions of the village are found in the mentions of Thucydides. In the 5th century BC, Dion began to actively develop thanks to festive sports competitions dedicated to Zeus, which were organized by Archelaus of Macedon.
The first excavations in Dion were carried out in 1806 by the British colonel and explorer William Luke, and archaeological research was carried out here in 1928. During the excavations, a Greek theater, ancient baths, the temple of Zeus, the villa of Dionysus, sanctuaries, statues, and mosaics were found. Since 1938, a museum has been operating in Dion, where all the objects found during the excavations are exhibited.
Every visitor to Pieria never ceases to be amazed by the unique nature of these places and stunning landscapes. Life here is in full swing, and all this is organically combined with the majestic wisdom of the monumental monuments of antiquity. One of these monuments is the Monastery of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Kalivyani. Its eventful history dates back more than one century. The monastery houses the relics of many holy martyrs, which are sometimes displayed for veneration. The name of the monastery comes from the miraculous icon, which is now kept in the main monastery church.
Royal tombs of Vergina
The Royal Tombs are a significant landmark of Vergina, a small town in Greece.
During the excavations of the burials, many artifacts were found, which were then placed in a museum built nearby. The most important and most famous exhibit in the museum is the golden bowl with the star of Macedonia. This very bowl contains the bones of King Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great, and the golden wreath that was on Philip’s head.
The most popular attractions in Paralia Katerini with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit the famous places of Paralia Katerini on our website.
There are many places in the world that every traveler should visit. Every year new resorts appear on the sea coasts, attracting the attention of tourists. For many Russians, Greece has become their “summer home”. Paralia-Katerini collected the most positive reviews. This young resort invites thousands of people ashore. Here, in the eastern part of the Pieria prefecture, there is a huge number of cozy hotels, restaurants, clubs and bars.
A holiday at this resort is suitable for everyone: newlyweds, large families and seniors. You can and should come to Paralia Katerinis for shopping, clean beaches and a variety of entertainment.
Paradise place
Reading reviews about the resort of Paralia-Katherini (Greece), you want to quickly run for tickets and go to this city. This is a kind of capital of Pieria, a cute village with a well-developed infrastructure. There are also many other places around this resort that are no less picturesque and beautiful. The residents of the town are very hospitable and friendly.
Despite civilization, which has long “reached” the resort of Paralia Katerinis (Greece), reviews from those who have visited here indicate that the spirit of Ancient Greece still remains in this place. By the way, the town itself received a historical name, which reminds us of St. Catherine. There has been a temple in honor of the ruler here for four hundred years.
Path to the sea
Many European countries have become popular holiday destinations. Among them is Greece. Paralia Katerinis, which has only positive reviews, is located on the Aegean coast. Not far from the village there is an equally popular place - Soloniki. It is from here that you can get to the resort.
The distance between these two cities is 70 kilometers. Trains and buses depart daily from Thessaloniki towards Katerini. There is also a highway between them for those traveling by car.
In general, there are many flights from Russia to Greece. If suddenly you haven’t found tickets to Thessaloniki, you can fly to Athens. From here it is 350 kilometers by train or bus to Paralia Katerinis. On average, a trip by express train takes 5 hours.
Transport
If you finally get to the resort, you should immediately think about how to get around the city. The fact is that the transport interchange here is “weak”. The only public transport available is buses. Moreover, drivers and conductors practically cannot speak English. It is better to immediately think carefully about the route to follow.
There is an option to take a taxi, but, as in any resort town, its services are very expensive. All that remains is to rent a car. This option is the most comfortable, but the only problem is that this cannot be done in Katerina itself. Upon arrival in Thessaloniki, you will have to immediately rent a car and go to the resort.
What to pack in your suitcase?
This country is always the most comfortable holiday. In Greece (Paralia Katerinis), reviews regarding the climate are only positive. Those familiar with geography will be able to guess what weather conditions to expect. For others, it is worth noting that the Mediterranean climate has always been characterized by comfortable temperatures. In winter, despite the rain, the weather is mild, in summer it is always warm and dry.
At this resort, as at nearby ones, the year is divided into two seasons: rainy and dry. The first begins in October and goes away with the beginning of spring. The second one pleases from April until the end of September. Despite the fact that winter in many regions of Russia is associated with snow and frost, in Katerini January and February are considered the coldest months. At this time the temperature drops to +5 degrees.
But the warm season is hottest in August. At this time the temperature rises to +35 degrees. But since we are talking about coastal resorts, thanks to the fresh sea breeze, even on the hottest day, tourists feel comfortable. In addition, the town is surrounded by mountains, which significantly influence the weather.
Let's go to the beach
The main attraction of all resorts is the beach. UNESCO has marked with the Blue Flag the waters of the Aegean Sea just in the area of the town (Greece) of Paralia Katerinis. Reviews about the beach are not always positive. If in the morning the shore is very clean and the sea is clear, then in the afternoon the water becomes cloudy. Of course, this is due to the number of tourists in a given season.
The coast near the resort is flat, so holidays with small children are safe. The sand is fine and pleasant to walk on. It is very easy to find entertainment on the beaches of Katerini. For example, you can explore the depths of the Aegean Sea and get diving lessons. As at all resorts, there are classic parachute flights, jet skiing, relaxation on a catamaran, etc. There is an option to go to the nearest water park and get a dose of adrenaline and positive emotions.
Where to live?
Of course, independent travelers can also find private accommodation options, but it is best to choose safer accommodation - hotels. Paralia Katerinis (Greece) receives the most flattering hotel reviews. The fact is that since the resort is young, all the hotels here are new and well-maintained. They are represented by a huge selection of categories and are located on the first coastline. It is better to book in advance, because despite there being a sufficient number of them in the city, there may still be no places available, much less rooms with a view of the Aegean Sea.
Of course, in a short time, the resort was able to highlight its leaders in the hotel business. The most visited hotels were Villa Sevasti, Dion, Eva Hotel, Hotel Strass and Kymata. You can find information about these hotels on the Internet.
Villa Sevasti is a great place for those who appreciate style. The exterior is very elegant and modern. The hotel belongs to the Four Star category. There is everything you need in the room. The staff is friendly and always ready to help.
Dion is a two-star hotel located right on the shores of the Aegean Sea. Everyone who has vacationed in this place is advised to take a room with a view of the shore. The hotel is close to all necessary shops and restaurants. There are also many attractions nearby.
Eva Hotel is a great budget option, with rooms starting at $55 per night. The price includes breakfast and snacks. Inside the hotel there is an excellent tennis court and a casino. It is possible to arrange a hike or fishing.
Hotel Strass is a stunning hotel overlooking the sea. Located just 80 meters from the beach. This three-star hotel is a great budget option for the whole family. The center is 2 kilometers away, the famous Mount Olympus is 4 kilometers away. The hotel has everything you need: restaurant, bar, spa, fitness center, etc.
Kymata is a comfortable three-star hotel. Located on the beach, there are shops and restaurants nearby. Hotel "Kumata" (Greece, Paralia Katerinis) received positive reviews. Vacationers liked the cuisine; the breakfasts were varied and fresh. The hotel service is excellent, the rooms are cleaned daily. There is free internet. By the way, most tourists were pleasantly surprised that the staff communicated in Russian.
Entertainment
Holidays in Paralia Katerinis, reviews from tourists and stories about which are the most vivid, are primarily based on beach activities. Not all travelers rush out to buy excursions and go on hikes. Most people go straight to the beach to swim in the Aegean Sea and bask in the Greek sun.
At the resort it is easy to find the most famous beaches, including Korino, Paralias, Olympakis, etc. The sea is a beautiful turquoise color, especially enchanting in the morning, until a crowd of tourists comes. Therefore, for sleep lovers, it is better to go to bed earlier to see the beauty of Thermaikos Gulf at an early hour.
Well, for those who came to Greece not to lie in the sun, the city has many places and opportunities to delve into the history of the country and the culture of the population.
Ghost town
Quite often they give advice on which places are best to visit in a town like Paralia Katerinis (Greece), reviews. What to see? The first thing you need to see is the city of Dion. This ancient village daily attracts many tourists from all over Greece. The unique archaeological site is located 20 km from Katerini, so it doesn’t take long to get here.
When archaeological excavations took place in Dion, many things were found that scientists dated back to 1100 BC. This complex contains not just the ruins of ancient buildings, here you can visit sanctuaries, tombs, theaters and basilicas.
Exhibits
Not far from Dion, a museum was built that collected all the things found in the “ghost town”. Everyone who decides to relax at the resort (Greece) Paralia Katerinis comes here. Reviews of the unprecedented beauty of this archaeological miracle further fuel interest. In the museum you can find ancient vases, urns, statues and other unknown things.
Up to the gods
It is known what the holiday features of a resort like Paralia Katerinis (Greece) are. Thanks to the rich culture and history of the country, tourists will not be bored even on the cloudiest day. From the town you can go to the village of Litochoro. After driving just 25 kilometers, you will be closer to the famous landmark - Olympus. It is from this settlement that the excursion to the summit departs.
Probably, the traveler will not be so amazed by what he sees at the peak. The main thing in this excursion is the path there. There are incredible landscapes around, laurel groves and extraordinary mountain air. And having risen to the top, the earth will be hidden under the clouds, and it will seem that you are soaring in the sky.
Gourmets
Many people are interested in where the best restaurant in Paralia Katerinis is located. Reviews say a lot about this. But you should be prepared for the fact that for all tourists the best restaurant is not the same establishment. For example, for seafood lovers, Nautilos Taverna is suitable. The restaurant is located at 56 Olympou Street. Everyone who was there was very pleased. First of all, it’s very tasty, reasonable prices and friendly service, by the way, “as a gift” - Russian-speaking staff.
Another establishment is Poseidonio Tavern. Located at 41. Despite the fact that seafood is also served here, the main feature is that you can dine right on the beach, at the edge of the sea.
But you can try national cuisine at Babis and Babis. The restaurant received top marks for food quality, freshness, preparation and reasonable price. By the way, this establishment is very popular among tourists, and everyone who has visited here at least once is sure to return.
Peculiarities
Paralia Katerinis is an excellent resort that will delight you not only with the beach, entertainment and attractions, but also with shopping. It turns out that many come here for shopping. The fact is that prices here are much lower than in the CIS countries. The main thing that travelers go for in the fall is fur coats. Of course, there is not such a huge selection here as in Kastoria, but the “fur business” is thriving here and will soon become even larger.
By the way, the best time for shopping is in August and February. It is during these months that sales begin in Greece and discounts reach up to 50%. There are a huge number of stores that sell fur coats. Moreover, most of the sellers here are Russian, and therefore it is easy to bargain with them.
In addition to fur coats, tourists are also pleased with the low prices for souvenirs. Unlike Spain, France, Italy, at the resorts of Greece you can inexpensively buy magnets for relatives, beautiful sets, amphorae vases, shells or olive oil. Local alcohol Metaxa is also inexpensive.
