Ioannina

Ioannina (Ιωάννινα) (population: 112,486 (2011)) is a beautiful city in Northern Greece whose old town is surrounded by tall defensive walls.

Understand

Set atop a 100-metre cliff overlooking the Lake Pamvotida, the capital of Epirus contains an old town with an intriguing history. The city gained prominence in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, as the seat of an almost independent state ruled by Ali Pasha of Tepeleni, who successfully rebelled against the central government of the Ottoman Empire, and kept fighting until the end, but was killed by Ottoman soldiers during the siege of his fortress in January 1822, and his head cut off to be sent to Sultan Mahmud II. His grave still stands into the ancient citadel (the Kastro) and has became a popular tourist attraction.

Ioannina was also a significant trade center, hosting a Greek-speaking Jewish community observing their own tradition and religious rituals. They were neither Ashkenazi, nor Sephardic, but rather indigenous Jews of Greece who have lived on Greek soil for over 2,300 years. At the beginning of the 20th century these Hellenized Jews, known as "Romaniotes" immigrated to the US, mostly to the Lower East Side of New York City, where their little synagogue in Broome St. has remained unchanged from 1927. In March 1944, the Jewish Community of Ioannina was rounded up and deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Today the community numbers fewer than 50 members, most of them elderly.

Get in

KTEL Intercity Buses 📍

From Athens by air (45 min), by bus (6 hr, 430 km), by car (4.5 hr).
From Thessaloniki by bus (3.5 hr) or by car (2.5 hr).
From Albania via Kakavia, it takes about an hour from the border crossing.
From Gjirokastër by bus (4 hr).

Get around

The city is small enough to travel through via foot.

See

Castle (Greek: Kastro), 39.6717°, 20.8606°. The old town surrounded by tall defensive walls overhanging the lake Pamvotida. 2016-02-26
Archaeological Museum, 6, "25 Martiou" Square, 39.6666°, 20.8560°. It presents many of the findings from the excavations at Dodona area 2016-02-25
Municipal Ethnographic Museum of Ioannina, 8, Noutsou Str, 39.673556°, 20.86025°. Housed in the Mosque of Ali Pasha. The museum collections include craft of local silversmiths, guns, Epirote costumes, rugs and tapestries. The mosque dates from 1618 and still retains its decoration as well as a tall mihrab pointing towards Mecca 2016-02-25
Byzantine Museum, 39.6704°, 20.8627°. Collections of sculptures, icons and other artifacts retrieved from ruined churches and monasteries in Epirus countryside and housed in the inner fortress (Turkish: İçkale), where Ali Pasha built his palace. 2016-02-25
Fethiye Mosque, 39.670678°, 20.863069°. The graves of Ali Pasha and his first wife are located inside the mosque. 2016-02-25
Islet of Ioannina (Nissi), 39.6782°, 20.8745°. It is the only inhabited islet in the lake Pamvotida , with around 200 inhabitants. Green and peaceful, dotted with Byzantine monasteries, the islet can be reached by a 20-minute boat ride from Ioannina Fishers Wharf 📍. Its main attraction is the 16th-century Pandelimonos Monastery, now the Ali Pasha Museum, where the pasha was killed on January 17, 1822. 2016-02-26

Further afield

Perama Cave, 39.6961°, 20.8459°. A show cave that is 4 km from Ioannina.
Dodona, 39.546415°, 20.788211°. One of the oldest and most important Hellenic oracle sites in Greece with an amphitheater of exceptional acoustics. The well preserved theater is a must-see and hosts theatrical performances. It was built in the 3rd century BC, during the reign of Pyrrhus, and was destroyed by the Roman consul Lucius Aemilius Paullus, in 167 BC. Under Roman rule, it was restored and turned into an arena.
Panagia Tsoukas, 39.5553°, 20.9713°. Remarkable, historical, well-preserved monastery. Fantastic views!

Do

Football: PAS Giannina FC play soccer in Superleague, the Greek top tier. Their home ground Zosimades Stadium (capacity 7000) is central in town.

Buy

Ioannina is well known for its production of hand-made silver crafts. There are about 90 workshops in the city. Prices are quite high but can drop considerably as vendors expect a bit of bargaining.

Eat

Toros Steakhouse, 39.66782°, 20.85840°. 2016-02-25
Stoa Louli, 78, Anexartisias St., 39.66960°, 20.85396°, +30 2651 071322. 2016-02-26
Mystagogia, 44, Koundouriotou St., 39.67084°, 20.85607°, +30 26510 65325, +30 6977 748479 (mobile), +30 6972 871031 (mobile). 2016-02-26
Nousia, 1, "Konstantinou Karamanli" Str, 39.67243°, 20.85689°. 2016-02-26
Fysa roufa (Φύσα ρούφα), Averof, Ioannina 454 44, Greece, 39.6681°, 20.856°, +302561026262. Daily 07:00-23:30. From €9 per person 2019-08-31

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Limnopoula Camping, 10, "Konstantinou Kanari" Str, 39.6785°, 20.8427°, +30 26510 25265. Owned by Ioannina Nautical Club. 2016-02-26
Agapi Hotel, 6, Tsirigoti Str, 39.6690°, 20.8529°, +30 26510 27139. 1-star hotel 2016-02-26
Paradissos Hotel, 15, "21st Fevrouariou" Str, 39.65985°, 20.85547°, +30 26510 74124, +30 26510 25365. 1-star hotel. 22 rooms 2016-02-26
Hermes Hotel, 2, Sina & Tsirigoti Str, 39.66906°, 20.85224°, +30 26510 75992. 1-star hotel 2016-02-26
El Greco Hotel, 8, Tsirigoti Str, 39.6692°, 20.8533°, +30 26510 30726. Old hotel built in 1979 2016-02-26
Elpis Hotel, 10, Neoptolemou Str, 39.67039°, 20.85743°, +30 26510 26209, +30 6975-521573 (Mobile). 1-star hotel 2016-02-26
Dioni Hotel, 10, Tsirigoti Str, 39.66916°, 20.85378°, +30 26510 27032, +30 26510 27864, info@dionihotel.com. 2-star hotel built in 1999 and renovated in 2007 2016-02-26
Tourist Hotel, 18, Koleti Str, 39.66729°, 20.85464°, +30 26510 26443, +30 26510 25070. 2-star hotel built in 1957 and renovated in 2001 2016-02-26
Egnatia Hotel, 20, Aravantinou & Dagkli Str, 39.66833°, 20.85265°, +30 26510 25667, +30 26510 24886, info@hotel-egnatia.gr. 2-star hotel built in 1970 and renovated in 2005 2016-02-26
Bretannia Hotel, 11A, Dimokratias Square, 39.66532°, 20.85358°, +30 26510 26380, +30 26510 25174, +30 26510 29396. 2-star hotel built in 1985 and renovated in 2006 2016-02-26
Esperia Hotel, 3, Kaplani Str, 39.66764°, 20.85453°, +30 26510 24111, +30 26510 27682,. 2-star hotel 2016-02-26
Ke.Kop Hotel, 3, Acheronta Str, 39.66363°, 20.85953°, +30 26510 20188, +30 26510 32037. 2-star hotel 2016-02-26

Mid-range

Alexios Hotel, 14, Poukevil & Karaiskaki Str, 39.67025°, 20.84942°, +30 26510 24003, +30 26510 70030, +30 26510 77444, info@alexios.gr. 2-star hotel built in 1967 and renovated in 2003 2016-02-26
Astoria Hotel, 2, Paraskevopoulou & Averof Str (Archaeological Museum), 39.66714°, 20.85538°, +30 26510 20755, +30 26510 25438, +30 6937 207 474 (Mobile), info@hotelastoria.gr. 2-star hotel. 16 A/C double, bath or shower. 2016-02-26
Byzantio Hotel, Polytexneio Square, 39.65311°, 20.84759°, +30 26510 40453. €40 gets you a room with a balcony and a king size bed with breakfast for 2 people. It's approximately 25 min away from the city centre on foot. Free Wi-Fi. €40
Filyra Hotel Apartments,, 18, Andronikou Paleologou Str, 39.67050°, 20.85896°, +30 26510 83560, +30 6932 601240 (Mobile), info@hotelfilyra.gr. 2-star hotel 2016-02-26
Hagiati Traditional lodge, 11, Stratigopoulou Str, 39.67121°, 20.85860°, +30 26510 37570, +30 6940 815001 (Mobile). 2016-02-26
Kastro Hotel, 57, Andronikou Paleologou, 39.67046°, 20.85852°, +30 26510 22866, info@hotelkastro.gr. 2016-02-26
Palladion Hotel, 1, Noti Botsari & 28th October Str, 39.66782°, 20.85159°, +30 26510 25856, palladion@otenet.gr. 3-star hotel, built in 1957, renovated in 2001 2016-02-26
Siarava Hotel, 20, Garivaldi St, 39.66691°, 20.85849°, +30 26510 30820. 2016-02-25

Splurge

Du Lac Hotel & Congress Center, Akti Miaouli & Ikkou Str, 39.6582°, 20.8619°, +30 26510 59100, info@hoteldulac.gr. 5-star hotel built in 1998 and renovated in 2011 2016-02-26
Epirus Palace & Congress Center, 7th km of Ioannina - Athens National Road, 39.5876°, 20.8610°, +30 26510 93555, info@epiruspalace.gr. 5-star hotel built in 1999 and renovated in 2008 2016-02-26
Grand Serai Congress & SPA Hotel, 33, Dodonis Avenue, 39.65945°, 20.85153°, +30 26510 90550, info@mitsis-grandserai.com. 5-star hotel built in 2007 2016-02-26
Politia Traditional Hotel, 109, Anexartisias Str, 39.66991°, 20.85222°, +30 26510 22235, info@etip.gr. 4-star hotel built in 1871, renovated 2000 2016-02-26
Archontariki Traditional Guesthouse, 50, Zalokosta St, 39.66708°, 20.85795°, +30 26510 78010, +30 26510 78020. 4-star 2016-02-26
Kentrikon Hotel (info@hotel-kentrikon.gr), 5A, Koletti Str (Near Town Hall), 39.66699°, 20.85444°, +30 26510 71771, +30 6974-860378 (Mobile). 4-star hotel 2016-02-26
Metropolis Hotel, 33, Averof Str, 39.66781°, 20.85559°, +30 26510 30004, info@metropolishotel.gr. 4-star hotel built in 1934, renovated in 2012 2016-02-26

Connect

Many hotels and bars have wifi connections or you can use Instabridge application for finding available wifi connections.

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Ioannina - city of Epirus, Greece