Karpenisi sits in Evrytania, the most mountainous and least visited regional unit in mainland Greece, in forested terrain that looks more like parts of northern Greece than the coastal image most visitors expect. The town itself is a modest mountain centre, but the reason to come is the surrounding landscape - river gorges, chestnut and fir forest, and the Monastery of Proussos reached by a dramatic mountain road - rather than any single monument in Karpenisi. Given the distance from Athens, this is a long day rather than a relaxed one, and it suits travellers who want mountain scenery more than another archaeological site.
| Distance | 240 km from Athens; 110 km from Lamia |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 3 hours from Athens; 1.5 hours from Lamia |
| Getting there | Car from Lamia via E65 then local mountain road; KTEL Karpenisiou bus from Lamia (2 hr, €10/~$11; limited daily services) |
| Address | Karpenisi town centre, Karpenisi 36100, Greece |
How to get there
- Car from Lamia (essential for visiting forest villages and Proussos)
- KTEL bus Lamia to Karpenisi (check schedule at ktellami.gr)
Location
Karpenisi town centre, Karpenisi 36100, Greece
38.9196, 21.7858 View on map
Highlights
- Proussos Monastery - a monastery built into a cliff face above the Karpenisiotis river gorge, reached by a narrow mountain road that is itself part of the experience
- Karpenisiotis river - the river through the gorge below Proussos is used for rafting trips by local operators based around Karpenisi
- Krikello and the surrounding chestnut forests - the hills around Karpenisi are covered in chestnut and fir woodland that turns color in autumn
- Karpenisi town centre - a small mountain town with tavernas built around trout and mountain cooking rather than coastal Greek food