About Katerini and the region of Pieria - Central Macedonia

Pieria - Central Macedonia - Greece

Katerini is a town in Central Macedonia, Greece, the capital of Pieria prefecture. It lies on the Pierian plain, between Mt. Olympus and the Thermaikos Gulf, at an altitude of 14 m. The town, which is one of the newest in Greece, has a population of over 70.000. It is near the city of Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, which has been beneficial for Katerini's development over recent years. Katerini is accessible from the main Thessaloniki–Athens highway GR-1/E75 (with two interchanges near the town) and the Egnatia Odos to the north. It is served by both Intercity and local trains on the main railway line from Athens to Thessaloniki and there is a comprehensive regional and national bus service with its hub in the town.

District of Pieria

A popular tourist destination, Katerini is close to the sea (6 km) and to several archaeological sites of great interest such as the ancient city of Dion (5th century BC, 17 km away) and the Venetian Castle of Platamon. The beaches of Korinos, Paralia and Olympiaki Akti are visited by both Greek and international tourists during the summer. The roots of Mount Olympus (it was the first area to be declared as a national park in 1932. It is a UNESCO heritage site as well) and the town of Litochoro, are in a distance of around 20 kilometres away from the centre of Katerini.

The city of Katerini itself has its own distinct character. Several years ago its high street was repaved with brick and dedicated only to pedestrians. Today, the pisodromo (as we call the high street) is full of shops and cafes and gets very busy in the morning (when everyone is out doing their shopping) and in the evening (particularly during summer), when everyone is out having a drink. Katerini has also a famous park resort with thousand of tree and plant species and a cultural centre and library that provides any kind of events and cultural opportunities. 

Over recent years, a major effort by the Greek government, using European Union cohesion funds, was made to redistribute Greek tourist activities in terms of time and space. At a local level, those policies led to the development of the Elatohori ski resort. In that way, tourist accommodation started being developed in the interior of Pieria. Tourism is an activity which is significantly developed. Foreign tourists comprise 70% of the total tourist figures. As well as mass tourism from abroad, several forms of tourism are being developed, with second home development playing a key role in the growth of the local economy. The easy accessibility of nearby urban centres enables another form of tourism, that of daytrips and school excursions, etc. Total accommodation provision consists of forms of supply beyond hotels and second homes. The number of organized campings, hostels etc. is equally significant. A large number of pretty villages surround Katerini are worth a visit. Most of the people living in the villages work in agriculture (tobacco, cotton, etc.).