Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Loutrá Edhipsoú
LOUTRÁ EDHIPSOÚ is one of Greece's most popular spa towns, with a line of grand
hotels gracing the front. If your wallet doesn't stretch to services at the Thermae Sylla
Spa (see opposite), you can bathe for free at the adjacent public beach , where
geothermal water pours into an artificial set of cascades. There are more free, open-air
hot springs at Ília , 8km east, where sulphurous water boils up at 65°C on the pebble
beach, then is channelled at more bearable temperatures into ad hoc pits dug by
shovel-wielding locals.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
10
LOUTRÁ EDHIPSOÚ
By ferry Ferries arrive on the central seafront.
By bus The bus station is a couple of blocks south on
Thermopotámou, which runs inland by the Aegli hotel.
Taxis The taxi stand ( T 22260 23280) is directly opposite
where the ferry docks.
ACCOMMODATION
Aegli Water front T 22260 22215. A rather magnificent
1930s hotel that has clearly seen better days - they claim
that Greta Garbo and Winston Churchill were among
former guests. If faded grandeur is your thing, look no
further. It's just north of the fe rry d ock, and also has a good
waterfront terrace restaurant. €50
Avra Water front T 22260 22226, W avraspahotel.gr.
Grand old hotel, similar in style to the next-door Aegli (see
above) if rather less interesting. Here the rooms have been
recently refurbished , ho wever, and there's a variety of
treatments on offer. €70
Thermae Sylla Water front T 22260 60100,
W thermaesylla.gr. Five-star pentagonal complex at the
northern end of the seafront promenade that's by far the
grandest of the surviving hotels, with indoor and outdoor
pools. Pricey treatments, available to non-guests too,
include a 45mi n “orie ntal bath” for €131 or 90min mud
therapy for €95. €250
The north and west coasts
Northern Évvia's north and west coasts are home to most of the island's resorts - none,
however, that is particularly attractive or sees many foreign visitors. On the whole they
consist of long, exposed pebble beaches, backed by scrappy hamlets of second homes
and small hotels. Heading clockwise from Loutrá Edhipsoú, you come first to
AYIÓKAMBOS , with regular ferry connections to Glýfa on the mainland. OREÍ and
NÉOS PÝRGOS , next up, pretty much merge together into a single resort; the former
with good restaurants around its harbour, the latter quieter, but with only a tiny beach.
PÉFKI is another small, pleasant resort with extensive beaches either side. At Psaropoúli ,
steeply below the town of VASILIKÁ , there's a vast, barely developed bay of grey sand
and pebbles. PARALÍA AYÍA ÁNNA , by contrast, is a substantial resort on a couple of
kilometres of brownish sand, with showers and loungers at the resort end, and plenty
of empty space beyond. Finally, at the tiny hamlet of KRÝA VRÝSSI , there's a lovely
brown-sand beach with the ruins of ancient Kirinthos at its southern end.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
NORTH AN D WEST COASTS
Agali Hotel Paralía Ayía Ánna T 22260 41208,
W hotelagali.gr. Modern hotel at the northern end of the
beach with an attractive, designer look. Rooms are less fancy
than the exterior might lead you to expect, b ut co mfortable
and well equipped. Buffet breakfast included. €70
Galini Hotel Péfki T 22260 41208, W pefkigalinihotel
.gr. Right in the centre of the beach area, this is the largest
and, in yellow and dark red, most brightly coloured of the
beachfront hotels here, with a café-bar and restaurant out
front. Standard, modern a/c rooms. €60
To Pirofani Néos Pýrgos T 22260 71448. A good
psarotavérna overlooking the fishing harbour, serving all
the usuals at waterfront tables and on a substantial roof
terrace across the road. Daily lunch & dinner.
To Steki tis Yiannas Oreí T 22260 71540. Excellent
taverna with a lovely seaside setting by the harbour,
serving fresh fish, octopus and calamari, plus daily oven-
baked specials. Daily lunch & dinner.
 
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