Sivota & Meteora: A Week on Greece’s Ionian Coast with a Day Trip to the Monasteries
In the past I’ve done one destination holidays and this is an example of that. This week-long Sivota itinerary covers Greece’s stunning Epirus coast with a day trip to Meteora. Best time: May-June or September-October. Highlights: crystal-clear Ionian beaches, the clifftop village of Perdika, and the extraordinary cliff-perched monasteries of Meteora. A bus service connects Sivota to Igoumenitsa and Preveza.
Sometimes the best Greek destinations aren’t islands at all. Sivota sits on the Epirus coast, a small village with a yacht-filled marina, hidden beaches accessible only on foot, and that particular Ionian light that makes everything glow. I’d spotted an aerial photograph years earlier and couldn’t shake the image—turquoise waters, scattered islands, mountains tumbling to the sea.
Combining Sivota with Meteora makes perfect sense. The rock pillars of Meteora rise from the Thessalian plain like something from another world, crowned with monasteries that have clung to their summits for six centuries. It’s the day trip that transforms a beach week into something unforgettable.
What Makes This Itinerary Special
Mainland Magic
This trip changed how I see Greece. The mainland delivers landscapes that rival any island—verdant mountains plunging to crystalline seas, ancient sites without the crowds, and a pace of life that feels genuinely Greek rather than tourist-Greek.
One Base, Multiple Adventures
Sivota works perfectly as a base. The village itself is compact and walkable. Beaches scatter along the coast, each requiring a short walk to discover. And the journey to Meteora—while long—returns you to your same comfortable room each night.
Hidden Beaches Worth Finding
Forget the organised beach clubs. Sivota’s best beaches reward those who walk—Mega Ammos down a steep path, Gallikos Molos via steps from the marina, Zavia tucked into the coastline. Each offers crystal-clear Ionian waters and, in October, blessed solitude.
Meteora: Bucket List Fulfilled
The monasteries of Meteora had been on my list for years. Standing beneath those impossible rock pillars, watching monks go about their ancient routines in buildings perched on summits that seem to defy gravity—some experiences live up to every expectation.
Clifftop Sunsets
Perdika village sits above Sivota, accessible by the last bus of the day. Time it right and you’re rewarded with sunset views over the Sivotan islands that demand a long evening in the village square with local wine.
Designed for Relaxed Travel
This isn’t an island-hopping adventure requiring ferry logistics. Stay in one place, explore at your own pace, and let the beaches and day trips come to you. Perfect for those who want depth over breadth.
The Route at a Glance
Route: UK → Corfu/Preveza Airport → Sivota (1 week) → Meteora day trip → return
Duration: 1 week (October 2014)
Transport: Transfer from airport, local buses, taxis, walking. We went out of season, so the tours to Meteora and Albania had stopped meaning we had to hire a local driver to take us to Meteora. It was worth it!
Best Time: May-June or September-October for warm weather, swimmable seas, and fewer crowds. July-August is busy with Greek and Italian holidaymakers.
Who It’s For: Beach lovers seeking something different, those who appreciate mainland Greece, bucket-list Meteora visitors, anyone wanting a relaxed base with day-trip options
Throughout this post, you’ll find links to excerpts from my travel diary. Feel free to click through and follow the journey exactly as it unfolded.
The Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Sivota
The journey to Sivota became an adventure in itself. A taxi from Parga wound through mountain roads where a fox crossed our path and a bull stood stubbornly in the road—welcome to mainland Greece, where the unexpected is routine.
Sivota revealed itself as the village I’d imagined: a compact marina filled with bobbing yachts, tavernas lining the waterfront, and those impossibly blue Ionian waters stretching toward scattered islands. Small enough to explore in an evening, but with enough hidden corners to reward a week.
Getting There: Fly to Corfu or Preveza Airport. Taxi or pre-arranged transfer to Sivota (approximately 1-1.5 hours from either airport via Parga).
Where to Stay – My Personal Recommendation: Hotel Albatros, Sivota – A small family-run hotel with the warmth of a guesthouse but excellent standards. The breakfast alone is worth the stay—a proper Greek feast each morning. Maria’s hospitality sets the tone for the entire trip.
→ A Hair-Raising Journey to Sivota
Days 2-3: Rainy Day Explorations
October weather can be unpredictable, and the gods were indeed angry during our first full days. Heavy rain swept in from the mountains, transforming the landscape into something lush and dramatic. But rainy days have their own rewards.
We took the bus to Igoumenitsa—the regional capital and ferry port for Corfu. Not a tourist destination, but authentic Greek life continues regardless of visitors. The Isabella travel agency in Sivota helped sort options for excursions, though many had finished for the season.
Getting Around: Local buses connect Sivota to Igoumenitsa (the regional hub) and Perdika village. Taxis fill gaps when buses don’t run.
The Reality Check: Late October means some excursions to Albania, Corfu, and the Sivotan islands may have ended for the season. Check with local agencies early in your stay. The rain also reveals why this coastline is so verdant—moisture feeds the mountains.
→ And the Gods Were Angry
→ More Rain and a Bus Trip to Igoumenitsa
Day 4: Meteora Day Trip
Finally—the day I’d been waiting for. Meteora had been on my bucket list for years, and Maria arranged for Giorgios the taxi driver to collect us for the 400km round trip. It’s a long day, but every kilometre is worth it.
The drive through mainland Greece reveals landscapes that rarely feature in tourist brochures—rich and verdant countryside, traditional villages, the Thessalian plain stretching to distant mountains. Then the rock pillars appear, rising from the ground like the fingers of buried giants, and nothing prepares you for the scale.
We visited the Holy Monastery of Grand Meteoron—the largest and most accessible, now serving as the main museum. Climbing the steps (women must wear wrap-around skirts; trousers aren’t permitted), we explored the wine cellar, antique kitchen, refectory, and a sobering collection of monks’ skulls. The views from the monastery defy description.
Getting There: Hire a taxi from Sivota for the day (approximately 400km round trip). No public transport makes this journey practical as a day trip.
Don’t Miss: Grand Meteoron monastery, the viewpoints Giorgios stopped at for photographs, watching sunset over the Sivotan islands on the return journey.
The Reality Check: It’s a long day in a car—leave early, pace yourself. The monasteries involve steps; dress appropriately (no shorts, covered shoulders, skirts for women). If you suffer from vertigo, some viewpoints may challenge you—but the monasteries themselves feel secure.
Where to Eat: Restaurant Parasole (Italian) in Sivota for the celebratory dinner—watching pizzas being made after a perfect day.
→ At Last – We’re Going to Meteora!
Days 5-6: Beach Discoveries and Perdika Village
The sun finally arrived, and Sivota’s beaches revealed themselves. This coastline rewards exploration on foot—each beach requires a walk to discover, and each offers something different.
Zavia Beach lies tucked into the coastline, accessed via a path from the main road. Mega Ammos is the largest beach, a 1.5km walk down a steep path. Mikro Ammos sits nearby. Gallikos Molos—the town beach—stretches as a narrow ribbon of sand and stone with crystal-clear waters and views to the Sivotan islands.
But the real discovery was Perdika—a clifftop village above Sivota, accessible on the last bus of the day. The House of Sweets serves homemade cakes with views over the entire bay. Time your visit for sunset and you’ll understand why some places demand to be lingered in.
Getting Around: Walking for beach access. Bus to Perdika (note: last bus means you’ll need a taxi back, or arrange with Giorgios).
Don’t Miss: Zavia Beach, the walk to Gallikos Molos via the marina steps, sunset from Perdika village, House of Sweets for cakes and views.
Where to Eat:
• House of Sweets, Perdika – Homemade cakes with spectacular bay views
• Marina tavernas – O Faros, Vangelis, and others line the waterfront
• Parasole – Italian option for variety
→ Exploring the Beaches and up to Perdika Village
→ Sunset from Perdika Village and News of a New Baby!
Day 7: Final Beaches and Farewell
Our last full day became a beach day—proper appreciation of what Sivota does best. The morning brought Gallikos Molos and its crystal waters (too cold for swimming in October, but beautiful for walking). We spotted Zeri Beach with its colourful water park slides—evidence of summer crowds now peacefully absent.
The evening meant one final dinner at the marina, watching the yachts bob in the harbour and the sun dip toward the islands. Maria at the Albatros sent us off with a farewell gift—the kind of gesture that transforms a good trip into one you’ll remember.
The Reality Check: October water temperatures make swimming bracing rather than refreshing. But the beaches remain beautiful for walking, and the absence of crowds means you’ll often have them to yourself.
→ More Beaches and our Last Night in Sivota
Day 8: Departure
One final breakfast feast at the Albatros—the kind that spoils you for ordinary hotel breakfasts forever. Then the taxi back through those winding roads, past villages where life continues as it has for generations, to the airport and home.
Is This Trip Right for You?
This itinerary is perfect if you:
• Want to experience mainland Greece beyond the islands
• Love hidden beaches and coastal walks
• Have Meteora on your bucket list
• Prefer a single base over constant packing and moving
• Appreciate authentic tavernas and family-run hotels
• Enjoy the Ionian’s particular light and landscape
Think twice if you:
• Want organised beach facilities and water sports
• Need guaranteed sunshine (October is unpredictable)
• Prefer island-hopping variety
• Don’t enjoy long drives (Meteora is 400km round trip)
• Want bustling nightlife
Final Thoughts
Sivota taught me that mainland Greece has been waiting patiently while I chased islands. The Epirus coast delivers everything the islands promise—crystal waters, traditional villages, unhurried pace—with the bonus of Meteora just a day trip away.
Yes, the rain came. Yes, some excursions had finished for the season. But the best travel adapts, and those rainy days made the sunshine sweeter. Standing beneath the rock pillars of Meteora, years of anticipation finally fulfilled, I understood that some destinations earn their place on the bucket list.
The beaches of Sivota required walking to discover—and rewarded the effort. The sunsets from Perdika demanded patience—and delivered beyond expectation. The breakfast table at the Albatros felt like joining a family—and the farewell gift from Maria confirmed it.
This trip changed how I think about Greece. The mainland isn’t the consolation prize when you can’t reach the islands. It’s a destination in its own right—rich, verdant, dramatic, and still blissfully uncrowded. Sivota and Meteora proved that sometimes the best journeys aren’t about covering distance, but about staying put long enough to truly see.
