5 Best Nightlife in Epirus and Thessaly, Greece

This is Kalambaka's hot spot, with live bands and pool tables drawing in the local youth. It's a good place to head if you need a break from the quiet austerity of monastic visits. Oh, and if you get peckish, the food here also rocks. It's typical bar fare: burgers, nachos, and the like.

This Ottoman-era arcade has been transformed into the nightlife hub of the city. Bars and clubs, all with differing styles and music, now occupy every nook and cranny, and attract Ioannina's hip and trendy crowd. One can hop from Stoa Bar, playing deep house and funky sets, to Route 66 with its alternative, soul, and funky grooves. If it's cool yuppie vibes you're after, head to trendy Montage with its breezy uptown decor. In summer the action gets combustible, as these bars merge and mingle, since most of the action is outside. In winter they become more autonomous, shutting doors and pumping up that volume.

In a creatively restored Ottoman-period marketplace, this cool bar-club is a mainstay of Ioannina nightlife. Theme nights, imaginative drinks, and a mixture of funk, rock, and dance music keep eclectic night owls flocking in.

If you're taking the bus up to Meteora, this busy café on the square next to the Kalambaka town hall is a good spot for that extra coffee boost, as it's right next to the bus stop. Melydron is also a decent watering hole at night.