Essentials
- City
- Ioannina, Epirus, Greece
- Population
- 112,000 (City), 167,000 (Metropolitan)
- Internet Speed
- Average 55 Mbps; 100-200 Mbps fiber available via COSMOTE in the city center
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.08 USD, 1 USD ≈ 0.93 EUR
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and generally high quality from the Pindus mountains
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- COSMOTE (best coverage), Vodafone Greece, Nova; €15-€20 for 10-20GB
- Banking for Expats
- Piraeus Bank, Alpha Bank; Revolut and N26 widely used
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local agencies like Spitogatos.gr
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, POS terminals mandatory by law; cards accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb averages €45-€70/night; boutique guesthouses in the Castle area
- Budget Accommodation
- Sabbioneta Suites (€50/night), or student-style rentals via XE.gr
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The Kastro (Ioannina Castle) for historic atmosphere and the Lakeside (Molos)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Ampelokipoi or Kallithea (modern apartments, quieter, near supermarkets)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Coffice Ioannina (Charilaou Trikoupi 2); approx €15/day or €150/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Chevalier (Castle area) or Route 66 (Aneksartisias St) - quiet mornings, good Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Innovation Park (Pfeiffer) meetups; University of Ioannina tech seminars
- Social Events for Expats
- Language exchange groups at 'The Spitaki' or local Erasmus Student Network (ESN) events
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Radio Taxi Ioannina (26510 46777); FreeNow does not operate here, use local dispatch
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- EasyBike Ioannina (Municipal bike sharing); €1/hour at various lakeside stations
- Best Beach Nearby
- Preveza/Parga beaches (Monolithi, Loutsa) approx 1 hour 15 mins drive
- Top Regional Airline
- Aegean Airlines / Olympic Air (Connections to Athens)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair (Seasonal flights to Europe via Aktion Airport/PVK, 1.5h away)
- Highway Access
- Egnatia Odos (East-West) and Ionia Odos (South to Athens)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Ioannina KTEL Bus Station (Connections to Athens, Thessaloniki, Meteora)
- Public Transport Passes
- Urban Bus Ioannina (Astiko KTEL); monthly pass approx €50; single ticket €1.10-€1.50
- Regional Travel
- KTEL Intercity Bus; Ioannina to Athens (approx 5.5 hours, €40)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- University General Hospital of Ioannina (UHI/ΠΓΝΙ) - highly rated research hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Namaste Yoga Studio (Napoleontos Zerva 2); drop-in classes €10
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Green Fitness Center (Leof. Dodonis); monthly membership approx €40
- Laundry Services
- EasyWash Self Service Laundry (Michail Angelou 49); approx €5 per load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- e-Food and Wolt (Both very active in Ioannina)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Frog Legs (Island of Lake Pamvotis) and Traditional Pies (Pites) like Galatopita
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Fysis & Onar (Vegan-friendly health food store and bistro); Phrosyne
- Best Dessert Spots
- Motley Coffeeworks or Kolionasios (Famous for Baklava and walnut pies)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Lidl Ioannina or Sklavenitis for groceries; local market on Saturdays
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Skroutz.gr (The Greek Amazon equivalent for all goods)
- Grocery Delivery
- e-Food Mart or Sklavenitis online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The 'Stoa Louli' area and Aneksartisias Street
- Local Brewery
- Stala (Epirus Local Craft Beer); Microbrewery of Ioannina
- Wine Bars
- Kyra Frosini (Lakeside) or Oinos ke Gefsis (Wine and Flavors)
- Street Food Stalls
- The Kantina 'O Vaggelis' for late-night souvlaki near the stadium
- Popular International Cuisine
- Mystagogia (Tapas/Meze merger) and No 13 for Italian-style pizza
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Ioannina Island (Nisaki) - the only inhabited lake island in the world without a name
- Museums & Art Venues
- Silversmithing Museum (inside the Castle - Itch Kale); Municipal Art Gallery
- Historical Sites
- Aslan Pasha Mosque and the Tomb of Ali Pasha
- Religious Sites
- Monastery of Agios Panteleimonas (on the island); Church of Agios Athanasios
- Annual Events
- Ioannina Lake Run (September); Winter Epiphany celebrations (January)
- Cultural Districts
- Inner Kastro (Old City walls/Cali-built area)
- Theater Venues
- Municipal Regional Theatre of Ioannina (DIPETHE)
- Local Markets
- Agia Marina central market for local cheeses (Feta) and herbs
- Music Scene
- Spitaki (Jazz/alternative); Polyhoros Agora for concerts
- Street Art
- Murals near the University campus and the Skala area
- Cooking Classes
- Epirus Gastronomy Center (Organized workshops for traditional pies)
- Art Galleries
- Technohoros Art Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- The Clock Tower (Roloí) in the central square; Zosimaia School
- Local Heritage
- Aromanian (Vlach) and Epirote silversmithing traditions
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Perama Cave (just 5km away); Vikos Gorge (45 mins away)
- National Parks Nearby
- Vikos-Aoos National Park (One of Europe's deepest canyons)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- 6-kilometer lakeside path circumnavigating the southern part of Lake Pamvotis
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Frontzu Forest (Dasillio) - panoramic view of the lake and city
- Birdwatching Locations
- Lake Pamvotis wetlands (Home to Dalmatian Pelicans and Pygmy Cormorants)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Technically restricted; check designated areas in Zagorohoria villages nearby
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- ACS Courier, Geniki Taxydromiki; ELTA (Hellenic Post)
- Tech Repair Services
- iRepair Ioannina (8-10 Leof. Dodonis)
- Table Tennis Spots
- University of Ioannina Gym; local athletic clubs
- Language Classes
- Centres of Foreign Languages (Frontistiria); HAEU for Greek as a second language
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Zosimaia Public Library; University of Ioannina Central Library
- Community Centers
- Municipal Cultural Center (Palaia Sfageia)
- Gaming Lounges
- GNET Ioannina (Napoleontos Zerva 25)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- OPAP Play venues (various locations); Nearest full casino in Thessaloniki
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €88,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,600 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €64,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €120,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,450 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €87,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,900 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €152,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,300 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €104,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 22%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents; specific incentives for new tax residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 44% (for income over €40,000)
- VAT
- 24% standard; 13% for food/pharmaceuticals
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable under EU ATAD guidelines
- Property Tax
- Yes, ENFIA (annual tax based on zone/size/age)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 3% transfer tax + lawyer/notary fees (approx. 2% more)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 50% income tax exemption for 7 years for those moving tax residence to Greece