Arachova

Arachova is a mountainous village nestling picturesquely at the foot of Mt. Parnassos in Viotia, Central Greece. It is the most cosmopolitan winter destination in Greece, a great favourite for passionate ski lovers and celebrities, or just first-time visitors who wish to relax in a dreamy mountainous setting with modern tourism facilities. Its modern ski resort, its close proximity to Athens, and its breathtaking mountainous landscape are the strongest reason why. Apart from the mountain activities, Arachova is also famous for its bustling nightlife and as the favorite mountain resort of Athenians. It is located 35 km west of Livadeia.

It was in Arachova that Georgios Karaiskakis (1780-1827) defeated the Turkish army led by Moustafabei in November 1826.

Must visit: The Byzantine churches of the village with their well preserved frescos.

Activities on offer: Get involved in outdoor activities such as hiking or ski down the slopes of Mt. Parnassos at the biggest downhill ski resort in Greece. The mountain’s high altitude offers ski lovers long-lasting snow cover at the peaks.

Hot tips:

• Discover the traditional character of the village by taking leisurely walks through its narrow cobblestone streets. Enjoy hot and sweet or soft and fruity drinks in cafés, or traditional kafeneia (coffee shops).
• Stay up all night and enjoy the village’s bustling nightlife. There are a plethora of bars and clubs up and down the streets of Arachova.
• Visit the nearby archaeological site of Delphi.
• Visit Parnassos National Park

Accommodation: Various elegant first-class hotels or traditional guest houses offer luxurious accommodation.

Activities:

• Skiing, snow board, sledging as well as other winter sports at the ski resorts of mountain Parnassos at “Gerontovrachos” (17 km N), "Kelaria" (23 km N) and "Fterolakka" (26 km N).
• Hiking from the archaeological site of Delphi to the cave of Korykeio Andro.
• Mountain tours (jeep, enduro, mountain bike) at the mountain of Parnassos.

Famous local products: Arachova offers a memorable gourmet experience; taste local specialties: kontosouvli (big hunks of pork skewered and put on a rotisserie with onions, tomatoes, peppers and seasoned with salt and pepper, garlic and oregano), kokoretsi (the intestines of the lamb stuffed with offal), sarmades (stuffed grape leaves), traditional pies, handmade trahanas (pasta soup, can be sweet or sour), and hilopites (egg noodles made in linguine-sized strips, cut into small pieces).

The region of Arachova is well-known for its textiles, woodwork, dry wines and the local cheese, called formaela. It also produces a sweet smelling hard rind cheese with a relatively mild flavour that you should definitely taste!

Have a sip of the divine Parnassos local wine, the red Mavroudi, which achieved Protected Designation of Origin status in 2006. The Black Arachova vine is a full-bodied prolific variety that produces wines of a deep red hue with a high alcohol content.

Complete your meal with traditional spoon-sweets, or even better, try yogurt with honey, a dessert served compliments of the house. Before you leave Arachova, pick up some hand-made beautifully coloured woven carpets (flocati rugs) and textiles to take with you as a going-away present.