After the Thessaloniki Marathon: Edessa and Pozar

The Route: Thessaloniki → Edessa → Pozar → Thessaloniki Airport Logistics: Road transfer or hire car. Edessa is about 1.5 to 2 hours from Thessaloniki, and Pozar is about 40 km beyond Edessa and roughly 110 km from the city, according to official tourism pages. Marathon Month: April Duration: 3 nights

Thessaloniki ──(1.5-2 hrs by car)──> Edessa (1 night) ──(about 40 km by car)──> Pozar (2 nights)
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Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) ◄──────────────(about 110 km, car/transfer)────────────┘

The Alexander the Great Marathon finishes on the Thessaloniki waterfront on a Sunday in April. This is the slow version of a trip west, with a night at the waterfalls and two in the hills, and it relies on a car or a driver rather than on bus connections.

April in the hills. Edessa and Pozar are higher than the coast, and April can be cool and wet, with snow still on the higher ground in some years. Daytime temperatures are usually mild, and evenings are cold, so pack a warm layer and a waterproof. Services at small hill resorts can be limited early in the season, so confirm that your places are open.

Use a hire car or a driver. Public transport to Pozar is limited and planning a sequence of bus changes with luggage is not worth the effort. Collect a car in Thessaloniki, or arrange a transfer for the day and confirm the pick-up time the night before.

Night one: Edessa

Edessa is built on the edge of a plateau, with the River Vodas dropping through the town in a series of cascades. The waterfall park is a short walk from the centre and mostly level, with paved paths, bridges and benches. The upper viewing area is easy to reach and the lower paths involve steps, so you can choose how far to go. A short circuit at slow pace takes 30 to 40 minutes. The old quarter on the cliff edge has cobbled lanes and views over the plain. See the Edessa itinerary for the town in more detail.

Nights two and three: Pozar

Pozar is a thermal baths area in the hills above Edessa, and the official tourism pages put it about 40 km from Edessa and roughly 110 km from Thessaloniki. A soak in warm water is a pleasant idea in the cool April air, but do not treat it as a medical treatment, and do not assume a long hot soak is suitable straight after a hard effort. Keep it short, drink water and sit down afterwards. Check the current opening hours, any seasonal closure and the entry price before you go, because small thermal sites keep changing schedules.

Wear shoes with grip around the pools, since wet rock and steps are slippery, and take care entering and leaving the water. A walk in the surrounding hills is optional and need not be long.

Where to stay

Choose a hotel or guesthouse that is open in April and ask about a room close to the baths or with level access. Confirm breakfast and dinner arrangements, because small places keep short hours outside the summer.

Where to eat

Local tavernas in the villages serve grilled meat, pies and seasonal vegetables. Ask what is cooked that day and book ahead for an evening meal.

Getting to the airport