Epirus, Greece · Europe
Ioánnina works well as a base: 5 minutes from Eksochí, 28km from Vikos Gorge.
Ioánnina is a town located in Epirus, Greece. With a population of 65,574, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Ioánnina sits in Greece, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Athens time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Ioánnina to your route.
Ioannina (Greek: Ιωάννινα, romanized: Ioánnina, pronounced [i.oˈanina] ), often called Yannena (Γιάννενα Giánnena [ˈʝanena]) within Greece, is the capital and largest city of the Ioannina regional unit and of Epirus, an administrative region in northwestern Greece.
According to the 2021 census, the city populationRead more
was 64,896 while the municipality had 113,978 inhabitants. It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 metres (1,640 feet) above sea level, on the western shore of Lake Pamvotis (Παμβώτις). Ioannina is located 410 km (255 mi) northwest of Athens, 260 kilometres (162 miles) southwest of Thessaloniki and 80 km (50 miles) east of the port of Igoumenitsa on the Ionian Sea.
The city's foundation has traditionally been ascribed to the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD, but modern archaeological research has uncovered evidence of Hellenistic settlements. Ioannina flourished in the late Byzantine period (13th–15th centuries). It became part of the Despotate of Epirus following the Fourth Crusade and many wealthy Byzantine families fled there following the 1204 sack of Constantinople, with the city experiencing great prosperity and considerable autonomy, despite the political turmoil. Ioannina surrendered to the Ottomans in 1430 and until 1868 it was the administrative center of the Pashalik of Yanina. In the period between the 18th and 19th centuries, the city was a major center of the modern Greek Enlightenment. Ioannina was ceded to Greece in 1913 following the Balkan Wars.
The city is also characterized by various green areas and parks, including Molos (Lake Front), Litharitsia Park, Pirsinella Park (Giannotiko Saloni), Suburban Forest. There are two hospitals, the General Hospital of Ioannina "G. Hatzikosta", and the University Hospital of Ioannina. It is also the seat of the University of Ioannina. The city's emblem consists of the portrait of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian crowned by a stylized depiction of the nearby ancient theater of Dodona.
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Ioánnina offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Ioánnina is located in Epirus, Greece, Europe. The coordinates are 39.6634 latitude, 20.8519 longitude.
Ioánnina has a population of approximately 65,574 people, making it a town in Greece.
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Essential numbers in Greece
Tourist police (English-speaking): 171.
Full driving guide for Greece8 notable places within an hour's drive.
ancient ruins
The oldest oracle in Greece, where priests read the will of Zeus in rustling oak leaves. Its 17,000-seat 3rd-century-BC theatre, among the largest in antiquity, sits in a quiet valley south of Ioannina.
14 km · about 25 min drive
bridge
A graceful single-arch stone bridge over a clear river epitomises Zagori's old packhorse crossings.
23 km · about 25 min drive
bridge
The largest single-arch stone bridge in the Balkans spans the Arachthos in mountainous Epirus.
23 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
A cluster of 46 traditional stone villages in the mountains of Epirus connected by arched stone bridges and cobbled paths.
26 km · about 30 min drive
natural wonder
One of the world's deepest gorges relative to its width, plunging 1,000 meters through the wild Pindus Mountains of Epirus.
28 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
An alpine Vlach town of slate roofs, woodcarving and cheese high on the Pindus road to Ioannina.
31 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Stone-built Zagori villages beneath the Towers of Astraka, gateway to alpine pools and trails.
35 km · about 40 min drive
mountain pass
The historic 1,690 m Pindus crossing, the highest paved road pass linking Epirus and Thessaly.
35 km · about 40 min drive
April to October
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