Three themes take centre stage in the immediate surroundings of Pikrolimni: shallow Lake Pikrolimni, seasonal mud baths on its shore and a thermal spa complex. They differ in focus and give you a concrete basis for deciding what interests you during your stay. Birdwatching and the landscape draw visitors to the lake, while the mud baths and therapy centre offer a different focus.

Lake Pikrolimni Through the Year

Lake Pikrolimni lies in the southwestern part of the Municipality of Kilkis, near the village of the same name. It is shallow: its average depth is one metre, and its area ranges from 3.7 to 4.5 km². It usually dries up in summer. This seasonal change is part of the lake’s character; if you plan to include it in your trip, you should therefore take the time of year into account. The lake is also a place for birdwatching. This offers a way to explore the area not only through its thermal attractions, but also through its natural features.

In summer, mud baths are held at Lake Pikrolimni in a specially designed area on the shore. This seasonal offering differs from birdwatching at the lake and is available only on specific dates, which you should take into account when planning your trip. If you would like to include the mud baths in your plans, check in advance whether they will be available during your stay.

The Pikrolimni thermal spa complex is also located nearby. It combines modern peloid therapy and hydrotherapy with saline, heated water. Treatments take place in a specially designed indoor hydrotherapy centre with a communal pool and private areas. This means the lakeside and centre offerings differ both in form and setting. If you would like to include the complex in your travel plans, check access arrangements in advance.

Nature and Places to Visit in the Wider Kilkis Destination

Within the wider Kilkis destination, Lake Doirani has a different landscape character from Lake Pikrolimni: it is a wetland with dense reed beds and shoreline vegetation. Numerous resident and migratory birds use it as a habitat or stopover. These features add a wetland perspective to the natural landscape of Kilkis, while Lake Pikrolimni is characterised above all by its shallow depth and its tendency to dry up in summer.

Visitors can follow the lakeside path from the village of Doirani to the Forest of a Thousand Trees. This forest is also known as the Mouries Forest, is designated as a natural monument and covers 590 stremmata. The path and the designated area offer different ways to explore the landscape within the wider Kilkis destination.

The Lake Doirani Museum in the wider Kilkis destination is open daily from 08:00 to 14:00 for visits and guided tours for student groups. It is also open to residents and visitors to the municipality. Check the opening hours again before your trip.

The clay soil of Pikrolimni is another distinctive feature of the wider Kilkis destination: it contains sulphur compounds and nitrates, and is attributed with healing and cosmetic properties. Together with the thermal spa complex, seasonal mud baths and the lake, this makes the area appealing both for nature observation and for its range of thermal attractions.

Discover more destinations: Agios Petros, Agios Markos, Doïráni, Axioupoli, Stavrochori, Goumenissa, Eptálofos, Pontokerasia

Go to the wider travel overview: Kilkis.