Hiking in Greece: what it is, kinds, difficulty grades and how to start
Hiking is walking in nature over more than 5 km, on trails or dirt roads, without ropes or technical gear. In Greece most people start with an organized outing by a club or company: right now 64 organizers have 368 outings scheduled, 45% of them graded “Easy”.
What is hiking?
Wikipedia defines hiking as covering more than 5 km on foot. It needs no climbing skills or technical gear, just good shoes, water and clothes for the weather, which makes it the easiest way to get to know Greece's mountains, gorges and islands.
What kinds of hiking are there?
Wikipedia splits hiking into three kinds by distance, ascent and terrain:
| Kind | Distance | Duration | Ascent | Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple hiking | 5–20 km | 1–5 hours | 150–300 m | no difficulties |
| Mountain hiking | 10–25 km | 3–10 hours | 300–600 m | some difficulties |
| Mountaineering | 10–20 km | 3–10 hours | 1,000 m and more | many difficulties |
Source: Greek Wikipedia, “Πεζοπορία”
Mountaineering is the next step: bigger climbs, summits and, in winter, snow, where you need crampons, an ice axe and experience.
What do the clubs' difficulty grades mean?
There is no single scale. Of the 64 organizers we follow, 51 publish a grade of their own, written in different ways:
| How it's written | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ΒΔ 1, ΒΔ 2, ΒΔ 3… | Difficulty grade: the higher the number, the harder the route | ΠΟΑ, ΦΟΠ |
| Β.Δ. · Ω.Π. · Υ.Δ. | Difficulty grade, walking hours without breaks, and total ascent in metres | ΕΟΣ Lasithi, ΕΟΣ Heraklion |
| Α, Α+, Β, Γ | Letter categories, from the easiest (Α) up | ΕΟΣ Corinth |
| 2/5, 3/5… | A grade out of 5 | Trekking Hellas, Antara |
| Easy, Moderate, Hard (in Greek) | Words instead of numbers | ΕΟΣ Rethymno, ΕΟΠ |
| Χ1, Χ2, Χ3 | Winter ascents: the higher the number, the more snow and technique | some clubs |
On Pezoparea every outing gets one of four common grades, so you can compare across clubs. We derive it from the organizer's own grade together with distance, ascent and hours, and keep the club's original grade next to it.
How do I start hiking?
- Pick a day outing graded “Easy”, with up to 4–5 hours of walking.
- Go with a club or company: they arrange transport and the route, and a leader who knows the trail walks with the group.
- Wear shoes with a good sole and take at least 1.5 litres of water, snacks and layers.
- Sign up with the organizer and read their terms. Some club outings are for members only.
Hiking in Greece in numbers
- scheduled outings
- 368
- in the next 30 days
- 212
- graded “Easy”
- 45%
- typical day-trip price (half between €15 and €38)
- 25 €
- are on a Sunday
- 67%
- with the organizer's coach
- 161
Outings by region
Source: Pezoparea, from the programmes of 64 clubs and companies, updated 5 November 2026.
All hikes in GreeceHiking FAQ
What is the difference between hiking and mountaineering?
Hiking uses trails, with moderate ascent and no technical gear. Mountaineering means big climbs, usually over 1,000 metres, rough terrain and, in winter, snow and ice.
How much does an organized hike cost?
Of the day trips with a published price, the typical one is €25 and half cost between €15 and €38, usually including transport. Many club outings are much cheaper for members.
When do most hikes take place?
At weekends: 67% of outings are on a Sunday. For low mountains and gorges the best season is autumn to spring; high mountains such as Olympus are best in summer.
Do I need experience to go hiking?
Not for the easy outings, which are 45% of those with a grade. Start there, with a club or company, and build up.
Where do I find organized hikes?
On Pezoparea: every outing by 64 clubs and companies in one calendar, with filters for region, date and difficulty.