Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Dragon's Cave (Spiliá tou Dhrákou)
1km along the anticlockwise lakeshore route • Tues-Sun 10am-5pm • €5
Given its name because the entrance resembles the mouth of a dragon and an old
legend claimed there was a resident one that spouted fire if anyone approached, the
Dragon's Cave
was discovered in 1940 but only opened to the public in 2010. The
interior is festooned with an impressive array of stalgmites and stalactites and there are
some patches of lake within, around which walkways have been carefully constructed.
Dhispílio prehistoric lake settlement
5km from Kastoriá in the village of Dhispílio • Museum daily 9am-2pm & 5-8pm • €3
On the southern shore of the lake lie the remains of a fascinating
prehistoric lake
settlement
, which is thought to date from around 5500-5000 BC during the Neolithic
Period. First excavated in 1992, finds include a range of household goods and a
wooden tablet, inscribed with an early linear script. A modern re-creation of the
original huts and an eco-museum help bring to life what the area must have looked like
in these distant times.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
KASTORIÁ
By plane
The airport is 10km south of town, while the
Olympic Airways office, connected by an airport bus, is at
Megálou Alexándhrou 15. The only destination served is
Athens (2 weekly; 1hr 15min).
By bus
The KTEL bus station is at A Dhiákou 14 (
T
24670
83633,
W
ktel-kastorias.gr), near the western edge of the
peninsula. There are services to: Ioánnina (6 weekly; 2hr)
and Thessaloníki (6 daily; 2hr 30min).
By car
Coming by
car, beware of the fee-parking scheme in
effect across much of the city centre, operated by ticket
machines; only a couple of the more expensive hotels have
free or off-street parking.
Tourist o
ce
There is a municipal tourist kiosk (May-
Sept 9am-9pm;
T
24670 26777,
W
kastoriacity.gr) in the
lakeside park, 150m from KTEL, but staffing problems
mean it is often shut.
4
ACCOMMODATION
Many of Kastoriá's hotels, especially those within easy walking distance of the bus station, are rather noisy with prices
above average. Advance booking is a good idea for weekends, although a string of identikit modern business hotels along
the airport road takes care of the overspill.
Allahou Guesthouse
Panayiás Faneroménis 18
T
24670
27058,
W
kastoria.allahou.gr.
Beautifully converted
mansion with five comfortable, brightly decorated ro
oms
and
an airy conservatory for breakfast, which is included.
€55
Ì
Arhondiko tou Vergoula
Aïdhítras 14, Dóltso
T
24670 23416,
W
vergoulas.gr.
Delightful boutique
hotel, housed in a handsome mid-nineteenth-century
mansion. Rooms with a view are pricier but all are
faultlessly done out in traditional yet comfortabl
e st
yle,
albeit with midget bathrooms. Breakfast included.
€55
Idiston
Megálou Alexándhrou 91
T
24670 22250,
W
idiston.gr.
Self-catering apartments in a prime location
over one of the town's trendy bars, with lake views. Run by
a returnee from Canada whose
pass
ion for his native town
is contagious. Book well ahead.
€50
Kastoria
Leofóros Níkis 122
T
24670 29453,
W
hotel
-kastoria.gr.
At the far end of the northern waterfront, the
town's smartest hotel offers lake views from its balconied,
air-condit
ione
d front rooms, plus free parking. Breakfast
included.
€60
Keletron
11-Noemvríou 52
T
24670 22676,
W
www
.anastassiou-hotels.gr.
Simple but perfectly adequate
hotel with its entrance on a side street and some r
oom
s
overlooking leafy Platía Van Fleet. Breakfast included.
€35
Pension Filoxenia
Y Paleológou 23
T
24670 22162,
W
filoxeniakastoria.gr.
Well located and thoughtfully
decorated, this welcoming place has rooms of varying
sizes, th
e pr
icier ones with lake views. Breakfast
included.
€50
EATING AND DRINKING
Ì
Faros
Leofóros Níkis 6
T
24670 23501.
Seafood
taverna with very cheap
gávros
, sardines and mussels, as
well as lots of grilled meat and a fine pork
tiganiá
. Nice
harbour view from the long covered courtyard.
Daily
noon-2am.
Krondiri
Orestiádhos 13
T
24670 28258.
This slightly
upmarket taverna dishes up some of the town's best food,
especially fancy mezédhes, gratins and “soufflés” in
attractive clay pots for €5-12, and has tables on the lake
shore.
Daily 11am-1am.
