At a glance
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| What it is | Natural 37°C hot springs + waterfalls in a wooded gorge near Aridaia |
| From Thessaloniki | ≈110 km · ~1.5–2 h by car; KTEL bus to Aridaia + short taxi (13 km) |
| Cost | Open-air river pools free; the organised spa complex charges a small fee |
| Best time | Autumn–spring (soak in cool air); busiest on winter weekends |
| Bring | Swimsuit, towel, water shoes for the rocks |
| Best for | Thermal springs, relaxation, families |
| Time needed | Half to full day (often paired with Edessa, 40 km) |
Greece's favourite hot springs
Tucked into a wooded gorge below Mount Voras near the town of Aridaia, Pozar — properly Loutra Loutrakiou — is among the most loved natural thermal sites in Greece. Mineral-rich water surfaces at a steady 37°C and spills down the rocks in a series of waterfalls and turquoise pools, right alongside a cold mountain river. The contrast is the whole point: you slide from a steaming pool under a waterfall into the cold stream and back again, wrapped in greenery and rising steam.
There are two sides to a visit. The open-air setting — the river, the falls and the rock pools where most people bathe — is free and wonderfully wild. Next to it, an organised spa complex offers indoor and outdoor pools, private baths, hammams and hydrotherapy for a small fee, handy in colder weather.
When to go
Counter-intuitively, the springs are best in the cool months — autumn, winter and spring — when soaking in 37°C water with cold air on your face is at its most magical, and the gorge is quiet on weekdays. Winter weekends get busy with Greek visitors. Summer works too, but the hot water is less of a draw in the heat. Bring a swimsuit, a towel and water shoes for the slippery rocks.
How to do it from Thessaloniki
Pozar is about 110 km / 1.5–2 hours west by car on the Edessa–Aridaia road. By public transport, take a KTEL bus to Aridaia and a short taxi for the last 13 km. Because the Edessa waterfalls lie only 40 km east, the two pair naturally into a single day of water and waterfalls — many guided tours run exactly that combination.
