Getting from Mykonos to Katerini

Katerini sits at the foot of Mount Olympus on the Pieria coast in northern Greece and is one of those towns that most visitors pass through rather than stop in, which means the ones who do stop tend to find it a pleasant surprise. The town itself is lively and unpretentious with a good food scene and a local energy that has nothing to do with tourism. What draws people here is what surrounds it. Mount Olympus is right on the doorstep, the highest peak in Greece and one of the most famous mountains in the world, with trails ranging from gentle forest walks to serious summit ascents. The beaches along the Pieria coast just south of the town are long, sandy and popular with Greeks in summer.

Take the ferry

There is no ferry connection to Katerini. The town sits on the mainland coast but is not served by any ferry routes. Getting there from Mykonos means flying or travelling by land.

What about flying?

Katerini does not have its own airport. The nearest airport is Thessaloniki's Makedonia Airport, around 70 kilometres to the north. The journey from Mykonos goes Mykonos to Athens and then Athens to Thessaloniki, with total travel time around 3 to 4 hours door to door. From Thessaloniki Airport you can rent a car or take a bus south to Katerini, which takes around an hour.

Your best option

Fly to Thessaloniki via Athens and rent a car for the drive south to Katerini. Having your own transport makes sense here because the main reason most people come is Mount Olympus, and getting to the trailheads at Prionia or Litochoro requires a car. Give yourself at least two or three days, get up into the mountain and make time for the beaches on the Pieria coast if the season is right.