The Cave of Perama lies on Goritsa Hill in the suburb of the same name in Ioannina. It is part of an underground riverbed that opened during the Early Tertiary; its age is estimated at about 1,500,000 years. Visitors who want to focus on the landscape and geological history will find a clear thematic anchor for Perama in the cave.
Arriving at and visiting the cave
A tourist train takes visitors from the entrance to Perama Cave. It consists of two enclosed, heated carriages with a total of 50 seats. There is a large car and bus park at the entrance. The entrance is therefore the shared point of reference for parking and the ride to the cave. When planning your arrival, you can take both details into account.
After the liturgy, a procession carrying the relic and icon of Saint Charalambos passed through the streets of Perama.
Island and lake in Ioannina
In the Ioannina destination, the Pamvotis Lake Information Centre is located on Ioannina Island, in a traditional stone building protected as a historic monument. It presents information about the lake’s main plants and the fish, birds, amphibians and mammals that live there. The island is one of only two inhabited lake islands in Greece. The village on the island is designated as a settlement of outstanding natural beauty and probably dates back to the 16th century. Two monasteries were founded on the island during the Byzantine period: the Monastery of Saint Nicholas Philanthropenon, also known as Spanou, and the Monastery of Saint Nicholas Strategopoulou, also known as Diliou.
In the Ioannina destination, the Perama Cave Visitor and Reception Centre features audiovisual materials and rare palaeontological finds.
Castle and museums in Ioannina
Ioannina Castle stands on a naturally fortified rocky peninsula. The earliest traces of settlement discovered in archaeological surveys date to the Classical and Hellenistic periods; at the same time, the castle is one of Greece’s oldest continuously inhabited fortified settlements. The Byzantine Museum is inside the castle, in the southeastern acropolis of Its Kale. It displays silverware in the so-called Treasury at the centre of the citadel, as well as an exhibition on the city’s history in the Fethiye Mosque.
The Silversmithing Museum is located in the western bastion tower of the northeastern acropolis of Its Kale. Visitors can learn about traditional techniques for shaping and decorating silver objects there. The Tomb of Ali Pasha of Tepelena lies in the innermost part of the castle, in the Its Kale area, and is one of the city’s important historical sites. Underground caves within the citadel were formerly used as storerooms and prisons; they can be accessed from within the citadel. Check local access conditions before visiting.
More routes in Ioannina
A walking and cycling path runs from Mavili Square to the village of Katsikas. The established route around Pamvotis Lake is 30 kilometres long. This gives you two distinct ways to plan: a path between named endpoints and a lake circuit with a specific total distance.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Metsovo, Tiria, Kipoi, Aristi, Koukouli, Anatoli, Kastania, Ano Pedina
Return to the main travel guide: Ioannina.
