Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
The town is modern and functional: a large pedestrian centre, a park, plenty of shops and cafes, and no particular sights. What surrounds it is the reason to be here.
The coast
A long, flat, sandy shore runs the length of Pieria, which is unusual on this stretch of the Aegean and makes it the beach coast for Thessaloniki and much of the Balkans.
- Paralia, five kilometres from town, is the busy resort strip: dense hotels, a promenade, and a great many visitors from Serbia, Bulgaria and North Macedonia in August.
- Olympiaki Akti and Korinos are the quieter versions of the same sand.
- Further south, Platamonas has a well-preserved castle on a bluff above the sea and the coast road.
The water is shallow a long way out, which is why families come.
Under the mountain
Inland the ground rises quickly to Olympus, and two of the region’s best things are within twenty minutes:
- Dion, the sacred city of Macedon, its sanctuary partly standing in water.
- Litochoro, the gateway town for climbing Olympus and for the Enipeas gorge walk.
Between them they make Katerini a legitimate two-night base: beach in the afternoon, mountain or ruins in the morning.
Getting there and how long
On the main Athens to Thessaloniki motorway and rail line, about 50 minutes from Thessaloniki. That connectivity is a large part of its function.
Two nights, as a base rather than a destination.
Last checked August 2026. Seasonal resort opening changes - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
What is Katerini known for?
Being the main town of Pieria, between Mount Olympus and a long sandy coast, and serving as the base for Dion, Litochoro and the beach strip.
Is there a beach at Katerini?
The town is inland; Paralia is five kilometres away and is the main resort strip, with Olympiaki Akti and Korinos quieter along the same sand.
What is near Katerini?
Dion and Litochoro, both within about twenty minutes, and the castle at Platamonas down the coast.
Who goes to the Pieria beaches?
Largely Greeks from Thessaloniki and visitors from Serbia, Bulgaria and North Macedonia, particularly in August.
How far is Katerini from Thessaloniki?
About fifty minutes on the motorway, and it is on the main rail line.
Next
Read Dion, Litochoro, or Thessaloniki.