Zorbas Tavern – Fresh seafood, grilled meat and home-cooked Greek meals

Παράδεισος (Paradeisos) – One of Eleni’s favourites! Relaxed vibes, a great selection of Greek dishes and live traditional music every Sunday evening

Ta Tsilika – Gyros, souvlaki and grilled meats

Instead of everyone ordering their own dish, it’s common to order a selection of plates for the table and share everything family-style. This way you get to taste a little bit of everything.

Beers: Mythos, Alfa and Fix are the most popular Greek beers

Coffee: Traditional Greek coffee is served hot, but in summer most Greeks prefer frappé (iced instant coffee) or freddo espresso (iced espresso)

Spirits: Tsipouro (can be served plain or with anise), ouzo (best enjoyed slowly with ice or water) and retsina (you can have it plain or with coke)

Bakery near the train station – a great option for a wide selection of fresh breads, pastries and savoury snacks.

Katelas Bakery – Another local favourite

What to try:

Tiropita – feta cheese pie

Spanakopita – spinach and feta cheese pie

Bougatsa – a northern Greek classic: flaky pastry filled with custard, cheese, or mince.

Custard bougatsa with icing sugar and cinnamon is Ruari’s favourite breakfast when in Greece!

Koulouri – the famous Thessaloniki sesame bread ring

Tsoureki – soft sweet bread

Zdanis – Local supermarket

Γκάνιας – Local supermarket

Masoutis – National chain

Discount – National chain

Lidl – International chain

Dofundo – A large retail store with just about everything.

Tip: For gifts and souvenirs we recommend browsing the smaller local shops for something more unique.

Leptokarya beach is lined with coffee spots and beach bars. Most places provide free sunbeds and umbrellas as long as you order food or drinks.

At the top of the main shopping street (I. Metaxa) you’ll find several tour operator offices. From here you can book trips to Mount Olympus, Meteora, the Sporades Islands, Athens and more.

On-street parking is free, but please make sure you don’t park in disabled spaces.

You can pay by card almost everywhere in Greece - it’s a legal requirement for businesses to accept them. Most hotels, restaurants and shops take debit and credit cards.

Still, it’s smart to carry some euros in cash for buses, taxis, small shops, or local cafés, especially in smaller towns and villages. ATMs are easy to find, but a bit of cash always comes in handy.

If you’re driving from Thessaloniki to Leptokarya, note that some highways along the route have toll booths. Tolls can be paid in cash (Euros) or by credit/debit card. If you don't have a contactless card, it’s a good idea to have small change on hand to make the process quick and easy.

Leptokarya has several pharmacies located within the town centre, making it easy to access everyday medications, toiletries and travel essentials during your stay. Greek pharmacies are usually marked with a green cross and pharmacists are often able to provide advice for minor illnesses and common treatments.

For urgent but non-emergency medical needs, the nearest public health centre is the Litochoro Health Centre (Κέντρο Υγείας Λιτοχώρου), approximately 10–15 minutes by car from Leptokarya. It provides primary healthcare services, emergency assessment and referrals when required.

There are several private medical practices in and around Leptokarya offering consultations, treatment and assistance for visitors. Many doctors speak English and can assist with travel insurance claims if required.

Several local medical centres offer extended opening hours and emergency assistance for tourists, and many work directly with European travel insurance providers.

For more serious medical treatment, the nearest major public hospital is the General Hospital of Katerini, approximately 30 minutes from Leptokarya by car.

Emergency Numbers

European Emergency Number: 112

Ambulance Service (EKAB): 166

Police: 100

Fire Service: 199