You can drive from Belgrade to the Olympic Riviera in a single day, which is exactly why this stretch of the Greek coast is the first stop for thousands of Balkan families every summer. Still, between deciding to pack the car and actually having a stress-free holiday there are a few questions worth answering: when to go, which route to take, what to bring and what to happily skip. Here is the list I wish someone had handed me before my first trip.
When to go
The season runs from May to October. June and September are, in my experience, the smartest picks: the sea is warm, the beaches half empty and accommodation noticeably cheaper than in peak season. July brings the longest days and the liveliest promenades. August means full beaches, because that is when the Greeks themselves head for the coast, and around the big holiday on 15 August the crowds peak and a table at a good taverna needs booking days ahead. May and October suit travellers who walk more than they swim: the sea can be brisk, but Litochoro and the trails around Olympus are at their finest.
The route: Belgrade, Nis, Evzoni, the sea
The standard route follows the motorway through Nis and Skopje to the Evzoni border crossing, then the Greek A1 motorway straight south, exiting for Katerini or Platamonas. Belgrade to Paralia is roughly 630 kilometres, which with breaks means seven to nine hours of driving. A few proven tricks: leave before dawn to clear the borders ahead of the longest queues, avoid Saturday departures in July and August when half the Balkans is on the road, and fill the tank in Serbia because fuel gets pricier as you go south. Tolls are charged in both North Macedonia and Greece at several plazas, so keep a bank card and some small cash within reach.
Getting around once you arrive
A car is worth more here than on any island, because the resorts are strung along the coast like beads: Paralia to Nei Pori takes about half an hour, so you can pick a different beach every day. Parking is free on side streets in most towns; only central Paralia at peak hours demands patience. On the beaches a simple rule applies: sunbeds in front of cafes are usually free with a drink, and all it takes is to walk in and ask. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but smaller tavernas and bakeries still prefer cash. Every resort has pharmacies and exchange offices, and taverna prices are displayed at the entrance, which makes comparing easy. Paperwork is minimal: passport, the green card for the car and travel insurance; there is no vignette, tolls are paid at the plazas. Wifi is standard even in modest apartments, and the mobile signal holds along the whole coast.
What to skip
A few things you will not miss:
- Front-row sunbeds without asking the price first: on the busiest stretches the bill can surprise you.
- Setting off on a Saturday morning in mid July: the Evzoni queues are at their longest.
- Restaurants with photo menus and a waiter tugging your sleeve: a good taverna never needs either.
- Buying towels and beach gear on the promenade on day one: the same goods cost less in supermarkets one street back.
- Exchanging large sums at stands advertising zero commission: the exchange rate usually tells a different story.
With kids it is easier than you think
The shallow, sandy, waveless sea is the reason families with small children keep coming back. The daily rhythm is simple: beach until lunch, a break in the apartment while the afternoon heat passes, then the promenade, pedal boats and ice cream in the evening. The funfair in Paralia and the mini clubs in larger hotels absorb the children's evening energy while parents get a quiet coffee. For days when the north wind picks up and stirs the sea, have a plan B ready: Platamon fortress, ice cream in Litochoro or shopping in Thessaloniki. And children handle the drive surprisingly well at night, which is why many parents leave around midnight and reach the beach by lunchtime. If you like the road-trip logic of this holiday, the same approach works for the Montenegrin coast, while Kavala and its surroundings offer a quieter Greek alternative.
What it all costs
The greatest advantage of the Olympic Riviera is that a Greek summer here does not demand a big budget. WAYLY packages start from 56.7 euros per person, and on-the-spot spending depends mostly on your taverna habits. A family that mixes cooking in the apartment with dinners out spends far less than it would on the islands. To see what is currently available and at what price, browse the current packages, and bear in mind that the best June and September dates sell out in spring. And if after Olympus you fancy something further south, the Peloponnese is the natural next step.
