Demand drives up prices. In travel, if a city becomes one of the most sought-after destinations, it’s only natural that the cost of everything there keeps rising.
Arachova and Kalavryta are among the most popular spots throughout the winter, especially during every three-day weekend opportunity—or even without one—boasting occupancy rates above 90%.
Their ski resorts are packed, DJs flock there to spin tracks amidst snowy mountains, paving the way for mountain parties. When one city is in high demand and expensive, another might have fewer visitors, offer great experiences, and maintain reasonable prices. This has been the case with Kilkis, which we’ve mentioned here before.
You’d expect the same for Kastoria. However, while you wouldn’t exactly call it expensive, it’s showing an upward trend in prices—certainly at the early stages of it. Notably, for the March 25 weekend, particularly from the 21st to the 23rd, the city is seeing pre-booking rates as high as 90%. Renting a house for four nights costs around €417, meaning €150-200 per person, plus at least another €150 for food and other expenses.
We’re diving into this analysis because it’s genuinely surprising how every weekend we hear about overcrowded destinations where the minimum cost for the full experience—everything you’ll spend on the trip—starts at €300. If someone did this three times a year, plus a summer vacation and maybe some international trips, we’re talking about a minimum of €3,500 annually.
Aside from Kastoria the pair of Arachova-Kalavryta duo, the villages of Arcadia remain ever-popular, with pre-bookings hitting 100% in small spots like Zatouna and Karytaina. In Dimitsana, pre-bookings reach 86%, with the cost of renting a house for a family or group of four for four nights starting at €917. Stemnitsa also sees high demand, with 85% pre-booking rates and rental costs for four nights beginning at €632.
Also ranking high on the preference list for these days are Nafplio, Nafpaktos, Messinia, Karpenisi, and Ioannina. Among mainland destinations, Karpenisi and Ioannina lead with occupancy rates of 87% and 77%, respectively. As for the islands, nearby destinations like Aegina and Kea are quietly showing their appeal, though it’s still a bit early for the big crowds. In about a month, their moment will come.
As for the perennial favorites, Arachova recorded an 83% occupancy rate for what is essentially a four-day weekend, with the lowest prices on platforms starting at €250 per person—a relatively affordable rate considering the location—but the average hovers between €350-400 for four nights. That’s not including food and other expenses.
In Kalavryta, with some good last-minute searching, you can still find great rooms in hotels or Airbnb homes for two nights at €170-180 for two people—meaning €90-100 per person covers your stay. In Kalavryta, though, the real action revolves around the ski resort, where prices climb noticeably.
The broader takeaway is this: since we’re already spending so much on daily life in the city, why not occasionally splurge on the villages? At least there, we’re guaranteed to have a better time than we do cooped up in the urban grind.