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Helmos ski resort is the second largest resort in southern Greece and is inundated with skiers every weekend due to its proximity to Athens.

Helmos offers a wide range of runs, most of which are north-facing, meaning plenty of snow cover. The best-known run is the experts-only Styga, with the drop occasionally exceeding 45 degrees, while there are numerous gentler runs and off-piste areas. All runs are serviced by four lifts over a vertical drop of 450 metres.

Mount Parnassos, the biggest ski resort in Greece, is visible from the top of Mount Helmos, and there are numerous traditional Greek villages surrounding the resort that make for interesting daytrips. Kalavrita is home to great food, well-known caves, and a monastery.

Skiing is cheaper and much less crowded on weekdays as Helmos is flooded with day-trippers from Athens over the weekends. The ski season usually begins soon after Christmas and runs through to April. The best way to get here is to fly into Athens and hire a car.

Skiing in Helmos

Helmos resort’s predominantly north-facing runs receive excellent snowfall, while its proximity to Athens means it’s a popular weekend destination for varied powder action. The sweeping views of the azure Korinthiakos Bay from the 2,100-metre summit of Mt Helmos are simply breathtaking.

Helmos ski resort offers a wide range of runs; the best-known run is the experts-only Styga, with the drop occasionally exceeding 45 degrees. There are numerous gentler runs, including the runs from Artemis T-bar, and challenging off-piste areas. All runs are serviced by four lifts over a vertical drop of 450 metres.

Helmos is a popular daytrip from Athens, resulting in an absence of slope-side accommodation. However, there are plenty of options in surrounding townships as well as in Athens itself. Helmos is one of the few places you can ski while taking in views of the beautiful Greek coastline.

Weekdays are invariably cheaper and much less crowded than weekends. The easiest way to get here is to fly into Athens International Airport, which services flights across Europe, and hire a car for the scenic drive up to the slopes.

Après-ski in Helmos

The resort offers basic après-ski, with a bar providing various food and refreshments. There is a bar and restaurant at the top of Styga lift, nearby townships boast excellent dining with numerous traditional dishes, while Athens offers a myriad of dining and night-time entertainment options. Helmos provides basic facilities such as ski hire and repair and basic shopping.

The are several charming villages nearby that offer cosy bed-and-breakfasts and inns, while it is also possible to lodge in Athens and commute the three hours to the slopes. The capital offers near endless accommodation and entertainment options.

Transportation in Helmos

Helmos ski resort is about a three-hour drive or around 250kms west of Athens in the Peloponissos region of southern Greece. The most convenient way to get here is to fly into Athens and either seek lodging there and drive out to the slopes, or find some closer accommodation in one of the surrounding towns. There are also direct ferry links between Italy and Patrai, the western gateway to Greece.

Transportation by car is relatively simple but can get tedious and is prone to delays. From Athens, Gounari Dim Avenue winds along the northern coast of Peloponissos to Patrai, from where you’ll see signs for the 50-kilometre drive up to Helmos.

Regular trains leave the Stathmos Peloponnisou (railroad station for the Peloponnese) in Athens, bound for Patrai.

Athens International Airport is the nearest international airport and services flights to and from all major European destinations, including direct flights from the UK. There is a taxi service, as well as several car hire companies available for the beautiful drive west.

There are over a dozen daily buses leaving Stathmos Leoforia Peloponnisou (bus station for the Peloponnese) in Athens, for Patrai.

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