Resort guide · Greece

Vasilitsa: Our Ski Guide

Greece’s National Ski Centre of Vasilitsa, high in the Pindus between Grevena and Epirus: runs through Bosnian pines with views to Smolikas, Gamila and Samarina, night skiing on Elimeia, a permanent halfpipe, and some of the cheapest lift passes in Europe, from €15 a day.

Plan your trip:Official resort site

The back story

Operator: National Ski Centre of Vasilitsa (Εθνικό Χιονοδρομικό Κέντρο Βασιλίτσας), Grevena; open since 1975 · Season 2026/27: No opening date published yet; the centre ran in 2025/26 with prices published for the season · Mountain: Vasilitsa, 2,249 m, the 18th-highest mountain in Greece, between Grevena and Ioannina · Lifts: Filippos triple chair, Megas Alexandros double chair, Elimeia, Migdanis and Tymfaia drag lifts, baby lift · Top lift station: 2,115 m, Megas Alexandros chairlift · Lift pass: Adult day €15 weekdays, €17 weekends and holidays, 2025/26 (vasilitsa.com) · Distances: Grevena: 420 km from Athens, 180 km from Thessaloniki (vasilitsa.com)

The back story

Vasilitsa: the back story

Vasilitsa·In depth: history

A mountain on the border of Macedonia and Epirus, Bosnian pines and a UNESCO geopark, Greece’s highest village, and a ski centre open since 1975: the story of Vasilitsa.

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Lift passes, ski schools and hire

Open since 1975

National Ski Centre of Vasilitsa

Vasilitsa·Ski resort·€

Runs for every level through the Bosnian pines, from the baby lift to the Megas Alexandros chair at 2,115 m, with floodlit night skiing on Elimeia and a permanent halfpipe.

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Official prices, 2025/26

Vasilitsa lift pass

Vasilitsa·Lift pass·€

Among the cheapest days in Europe: adults €15 on weekdays and €17 at weekends and holidays, students and over-13s €10/€13, children 6–12 €5/€7, and a two-day holiday pass at €32.

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First turns

Baby lift and beginners’ runs

Vasilitsa·Beginner area·€

A 360-metre beginners’ run on the baby lift, with the gentle Filippos runs to follow; ski schools and equipment rental work at the centre.

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Licensed coaches

Ski academies and clubs

Vasilitsa·Ski clubs & coaching·€

Ski academies and clubs train at Vasilitsa with coaches licensed by the General Secretariat for Sport; groups of ten or more children get reduced tickets.

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Where to stay, every budget

Who it suits. On a budget: Adult day passes of €15 on weekdays (2025/26), children 6–12 at €5, and family guesthouses in Smixi and Samarina. Mid-range: Valia Nostra Escape Hotel in Smixi, with an indoor pool, maisonettes and suites close to the slopes. Luxury: A suite at Valia Nostra or a family apartment at La Noi in Samarina, the highest village in the Pindus.

Indoor pool near the slopes · In depth

Valia Nostra Escape Hotel

Vasilitsa·Mountain hotel·€€€

A mountain hotel in Smixi, very close to the Vasilitsa ski centre and the Valia Calda forest, with an indoor pool, sauna, steam bath and jacuzzi, maisonettes and lofts for up to six, ski hire and lessons.

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In Samarina, 11 km from the lifts

La Noi

Vasilitsa·Traditional guesthouse·€€

A traditional Vlach guesthouse in Samarina, welcoming guests for more than 20 years, with 22 rooms and 3 apartments, balconies over the snowy Pindus and a famous home-made breakfast.

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Next to the ski centre

Koukounari Guesthouse

Vasilitsa·Guesthouse·€

A guesthouse in Smixi next to the Vasilitsa ski centre, with a small, cosy café-restaurant.

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At the ski centre

Ski centre chalet

Vasilitsa·Mountain chalet·€€

The ski centre’s own modern chalet, which the Greek National Tourism Organisation lists among the area’s places to stay.

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Restaurants and mountain huts

Next to the slopes

Koukounari café-restaurant

Vasilitsa·Café-restaurant·€

The small, cosy café-restaurant of the Koukounari guesthouse beside the ski centre.

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Pies, trahanas and jams

Breakfast at La Noi

Vasilitsa·Guesthouse breakfast·€

Samarina’s famous guesthouse breakfast: trahanas with cheese, home-made pies, baked rice pudding and home-made jams.

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Après-ski and bars

Floodlit pines

Night skiing on Elimeia

Vasilitsa·Night skiing·€

Vasilitsa’s après is on the slopes: floodlit night skiing on the Elimeia runs among the Bosnian pines.

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Shops

The land of mushrooms

Grevena mushrooms and local produce

Vasilitsa·Local produce·€

Grevena is known as the land of mushrooms; take home the area’s rare flavours and traditional recipes.

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Spas and wellness

For hotel guests

Indoor pool at Valia Nostra

Vasilitsa·Hotel pool·€€€

The indoor pool at Valia Nostra Escape Hotel in Smixi, the place to unwind near the slopes.

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Getting there

The closest major airport

Thessaloniki Airport (SKG)

Vasilitsa·Airport·€

Northern Greece’s main airport; Grevena is about 180 km west of Thessaloniki along the Egnatia Odos motorway.

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Three routes to the lifts

Driving to Vasilitsa

Vasilitsa·By car·€

From Grevena, turn at the Polyneri junction left for Smixi or right for Aetia and Filippaioi (the Samarina road); from Epirus, come via Distrato.

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About 420 km

Athens International Airport

Vasilitsa·Airport·€

For visitors from abroad flying into Athens, Grevena is about 420 km north by road; most skiers from the south combine Vasilitsa with a stay in the north.

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Property: the neighbourhoods

The closest village

Smixi

Vasilitsa·Neighbourhood

The village on the Grevena side closest to the lifts, with Valia Nostra and Koukounari.

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The highest village in the Pindus

Samarina

Vasilitsa·Neighbourhood

The Vlach mountain village 11 km from the ski centre, with guesthouses and views over the Pindus.

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The regional town

Grevena town

Vasilitsa·Neighbourhood

The regional town about 45 km away, the widest choice of services and shops, and the gateway from the Egnatia Odos.

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Share your Vasilitsa tips

Been there? Share your runs, huts and tips with other skiers.

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