A historic Macedonian city with double waterfalls cascading 70 meters through its center. The surrounding parks and Ottoman-era buildings tell stories from 3000 BC.
Water defines Edessa, a city in northern Greece perched on a steep plateau. You can walk behind the thundering 70-meter Karanos waterfall, explore hidden caves beneath cascading water, and stroll past 19th-century mansions with wooden balconies in the Varosi district. The city's network of streams runs through streets and gardens, creating an unusual urban landscape where water and stone meet.
Walking Behind the Waterfalls
The main Karanos waterfall drops 70 meters from the city's edge, creating a constant mist and rainbows on sunny days. A concrete walkway takes you behind the water curtain, giving you views through the falling water to the Macedonian plain below. At the base, you'll find a geological cave partially concealed by the cascade. The nearby Lamda falls split into two streams that end in blue-green pools perfect for photographs.
Exploring the Water Museum Complex
The Open Air Water Museum (open daily 9:00-17:00) occupies former industrial buildings from the 1900s, including restored water mills and textile machinery. One of the old flour mills now houses Greece's only freshwater aquarium, where you can see fish species from Lake Agra-Niss. Interactive displays explain how water power shaped Edessa's industries from the 1800s to the present day.
Walking the Varosi Quarter
The Varosi district contains rows of 19th-century houses with distinctive yellow and blue painted walls and wooden upper floors. The cobblestone streets lead to the Byzantine church of the Assumption of the Virgin, where you can see well-maintained frescoes from 1380. The nearby church of Peter and Paul displays icons from the 1700s. Many houses in the quarter maintain their original wooden balconies and stone foundations.
Getting Around and Transportation
Trains connect Edessa to Thessaloniki eight times daily, with the two-hour journey passing along Lake Vegoritida. Buses run every hour between 6:00 and 22:00 to Thessaloniki. Within Edessa, you can walk between main sites in 15-20 minutes. The Byzantine-era Kourpi bridge, built as part of the ancient Via Egnatia road, crosses a small stream near the city center.
Weather and Best Time to Visit
Temperatures reach 30°C (86°F) in July and August, making morning visits to the waterfalls more comfortable. Winter temperatures drop to 5°C (41°F) in January. November averages 14 rainy days. The waterfalls flow consistently throughout the year, with the strongest flow during spring snowmelt in March and April. May and September combine moderate temperatures around 25°C (77°F) with fewer tourists.
