Having talked with many foreigners about “ tourism destination Greece” while visiting their own country, I realized that it was very common between people that knew things about Greece but never made the trip to the south, the notion, that the country under discussion was supposed to be a flat place, if not an island.

Knowing that Greece can present 53 mountains higher than 2000 meters and some 138 more between 1500 and 2000 meters this common misconception gave me a smile.

Today I ‘m realizing that this false idea probably has to do with the marketing – positioning of the country for decades through a series of media campaigns which was the most concrete source of information for this people before the internet era, and was exactly the country’s own choice for self-promo that led the average foreigner to mistaken conclusions.

Crying over spilt milk never gave solid solutions, so here I am writing about this unknown side of destination Greece, the beautiful, virgin, untouched and most promising, the mountainous one.

Having a pile of options to talk about just before my very eyes, and each one of them yelling “me first”, the only fair deal to be offered seems the one of promising them that I will present only ten destinations this time but under the condition that it won’t be the only time.

So, here we are with the first -top- ten proposals, focusing mainly to the key factor ease-of-access that usually means straightly that these destinations are located near Athens (or Salonica) and its international airport or that they are adjacent to National Roads and don’t necessitate with extended use of the secondary road network that is rather common to be described as “demanding”.

1.Mount Kyllini -or Ziria- (2.376m) and the resort village of Trikala, at a distance of 150km from Athens. Disposing a small ski center and many interesting places to visit and things to do.

2.Mount Parnassus (2.457m) and the cosmopolitan ski resort of Arachova, at a distance of 197km from Athens. Disposing the largest ski center of Greece and the world famous ancient oracle of Delphi.

3.Mount Menalo (1.981m), at a distance of  183km from Athens. Disposing its own ski center and is located near many beautiful traditional villages, just in the heart of the Peloponnese.

4.Mount Chelmos -or Aroania- (2.355m) and the resort town of Kalavryta, at a distance of 210km from Athens. Disposing a modern ski center and a variety of amenities and options for activities.

5.Mount Parnitha (1.413m), at a distance of 40km from Athens is the closest mountainous destination to the capital. It’s a national park, disposes 2 shelters, a casino and offers tremendous view to Athens and access to many premises and facilities.

6.Mount Helicon (1.749m), at a distance of 90km from Athens. It’s the mythological mountain of the Muses and has been connected with the tales around Pegasus and Narcissus. Today offers breathtaking view to the Corinthian Gulf and hosts many beautiful villages.

7.Mount Oeta or Oiti (2.152m), at a distance of 220km from Athens. It’s a national park with lush vegetation and various traditional, untouched by the time, villages. Is the mythical place where the legendary hero Hercules died.

8.Mount Pelion (1.610m), at a distance of 350km from Athens (240km from Salonica). It’s the mountain of the mythical Centauri (half horse – half men). Disposes its own ski center, lush vegetation, traditional villages and offers breathtaking view to the Aegean Sea.

9.Mount Olympus (2.917m), at a distance of 105km from Salonica (435km from Athens). It’s the highest mountain in Greece, a national park and the residence of the Gods of the ancient Greeks. Offers great view to the Aegean and the mainland and is the site of the ancient sacred town of the Macedonians, the dedicated to the glory of Zeus, Dion.

10.Mount Verno -or Vitsi- (2.128m), at a distance of 210 km from Salonica (505from Athens).  Disposes its own ski center, an environmental sanctuary for the brown bear and the traditional village of Nymfaion which has been singled out as one of the ten most picturesque villages of Europe. Also offers many options for activities in nature.

Closing this limited reference by contemplating my visits to all these wonderful giants of the Greek mainland, fills me with happiness of having been there, and of course, with excitement and will of living the experience again and again in the future. In the end of the day, it’s quite certain that the Greek mountains have still many stories to share and blessed shall be the visitor who opens his eyes, ears, mind and heart to their whispers.