Kastoria is a town in Northern Greece — built on a peninsula surrounded by Lake Orestiada, with a timeless old town, Byzantine heritage, and cosy winter charm. If you’re looking for a destination with beautiful lake walks, traditional architecture, great food, and a relaxed pace, Kastoria is the perfect short escape.

This guide covers the best things to do in Kastoria in 2–3 days, where to stay, and where to eat.

Kastoria lake in B&W with a blue boat — Overview of Kastoria lake with a traditional boat

Quick Info

Location: Western Macedonia, Northern Greece
Ideal length: 2–3 days
Best season: winter for atmosphere / spring for walking
Best for: lake walks, old town, food, photography
Nearest airport with international flights: Thessaloniki Airport “Makedonia” (SKG) - approx. 2 hours and 30 mins drive to Kastoria

Best Things to Do in Kastoria

1) Walk the Lake Orestiada Promenade

The #1 experience in Kastoria is the simple walk around the lake. The promenade gives you:

uninterrupted lake views
reflections of mountains and houses
benches and café stops
perfect photography conditions in the early morning mist

Morning mist over Lake Orestiada — Kastoria’s signature scene. (Photo tip: the earliest you go, the more misty photos you will get)

2) Explore Doltso (Old Town)

Doltso is Kastoria’s postcard neighbourhood — a fairytale old quarter with:

stone streets
traditional Macedonian mansions
wooden balconies
charming courtyards
hidden churches and corners

This is the best area to wander with your camera.

3) Visit the Dragon’s Cave (Spilaio tou Drakou)

A must-visit natural attraction very close to town.

4) Stop at Panagia Mavriotissa (Lakefront Monastery)

Right by the lake, this is one of the most peaceful places in the area.

5) Discover the Apozari neighbourhood

If Doltso is the romantic old town, Apozari is the elegant with impressive mansions and quieter streets

6) Byzantine churches + museums

Kastoria is one of Greece’s most important Byzantine towns. Even if you’re not into museums, the churches and icons are part of the town’s identity.

Macedonian museum in Kastoria — Museum of Macedonian Struggle in Doltso.

7) Dispilio Prehistoric Lakeside Settlement

Best Day Trips

If you can stay longer, the area around Kastoria is fantastic. Below you can find the top day trips from Kastoria.

Option A: Nymfaio

Approximately 1.5 hour drive from Kastoria, lies the well know village of Nymfaio. Home to Arktouros (an organisation for the protection of brown bears) and famous for its architecture, Nymfaio is one of the best 1-day excursions you could have when visiting Kastoria. On the way back from Nymfaio, at Sklithro, a visit to “Thomas” taverna is a must (book in advance).

Option B: Koresteia “brick villages” and Prespes Lakes

A photographer’s dream: atmospheric villages with a very distinctive look.

Koresteia “brick villages”

Tucked away in the mountainous landscape along the road from Kastoria to Prespes, the Koresteia brick villages — including Ano and Kato Kraniona, Gavros, Melas, Mavrokambos, Agios Antonios, Kottas and Vatohori — are among northern Greece’s most atmospheric hidden gems. Built with handmade mud bricks mixed with straw and set on stone foundations, their distinctive red-earth houses blend almost seamlessly into the surrounding terrain. Once lively rural communities, many were gradually abandoned in the mid-20th century, leaving behind hauntingly beautiful streets, weathered facades and a powerful sense of history. Today, these settlements stand as a rare example of traditional earthen architecture in Greece — raw, cinematic and deeply evocative for anyone who ventures off the beaten path.

Prespes

Set at the northern edge of Greece, where three countries meet, Prespes is a landscape of rare natural beauty and quiet authenticity. Dominated by the twin lakes, Mikri and Megali Prespa, the area combines dramatic mountain scenery with rich biodiversity, traditional stone villages and Byzantine hermitages carved into lakeside cliffs. Far from mass tourism, Prespes offers a slower rhythm of life — where pelicans glide across still waters, footpaths lead to hidden chapels, and every sunset feels untouched and deeply serene. Main villages include Psarades and Agios Germanos.

Where to Stay in Kastoria (Best Areas)

1) Doltso (Old Town) — Perfect for couples and traditional experience

Archontiko Orologopoulou

Doltso Luxury Hotel

Archontiko Kitsou

2) Resort-style outside centre — Perfect for spa breaks travellers who want modern comfort

Limneon Resort & Spa

Where & What to Eat in Kastoria

Where to eat

Kastoria has many great places to eat. Some of them are:

Kalnterimi
En Kairó
Palea Poli
Idees (perfect for desserts)
Thomas at Sklithro (on the way to/from Nymfaio)

What to order

bean dishes / legumes (Kastoria is known for them)
grilled meats
slow-cooked dishes
spoon sweets

Kastoria Travel Guide: Best Things to Do (2–3 Days)