Vradeto Steps Hike – A Walk Back In Time
The Vradeto Steps is a stunning hike in the Northern Pindos National Park right next to the world-famous Vikos Gorge. The stairs consist of 1200 steps and 39 turns, and are a sight to behold from all angles!
It is a hike that highlights the historic stone staircase used to connect the villages of Kapesovo and Vradeto, which was isolated from the road network until 1973.
The Hike
It is no surprise then that this hike starts in the picturesque village of Kapesovo and ends in the equally preserved Vradeto above you.
Beginning of the Vradeto Stairs Hike
The trail starts just outside/past Kapesovo and begins with a moderate downhill walk on a dirt road that gradually leads to two stunningly well preserved arched stone bridges. These bridges, which are named Pera and Dothe, are a hallmark of this area of the Pindos, and you will see dozens of them throughout your visit here.
Stone Bridges at the bottom of the Stone Bridges
Once you cross the second bridge, in the amazingly green bottom part of the valley, you will start to ascend the balconied Vradeto Steps.
It actually surprised us how well the whole stairway was maintained. There is a significant amount of stonework all the way up, both on the stairs themselves as well as the protection on the sides. They appear to be recently worked on and are in outstanding condition.
Just take a look below at the stairs on the way down, you can see all the stones stacked on the balustrading, and the intervals of the stairs on the way down.
Well maintained stairs
The most picturesque part of the stairs are towards the bottom half of the climb, so if you want to take some cool shots be on the lookout for nice angles and even get a drone up if you have one with you.
Vredeto Stairs winding down the cliff from above
Vredeto Stairs curving down
The hike up to Vradeto takes you about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on your condition and how many pictures you take along the way. And the return journey is a little faster as it is more downhill.
Not only are the steps themselves noteworthy, both from afar, above and while you are hiking, but the surroundings are jaw-dropping as well. You are at the beginning of the Vikos Gorge area here, so the mountains, valleys and stone around you are a sight to behold.
Vradeto Village
Vradeto village is a cute historic village at the end of the hike. And interestingly it is also the highest village in Zagori.
It features a small number of restaurants/taverns and cafes, and a limited number of places to stay. According to a sign I read in the town, it is no longer permanently populated, but seems that most of the tourist-related businesses run some or most of the time.
Continuing To The Beloi Viewpoint
You can actually extend this hike an hour to the Beloi viewpoint, a naturally made stone balcony. You can read more about that walk and viewpoint here, but in essence, you continue along the road out of town and then turn left along the hiking path to the viewpoint.
If you have time and the fitness to do it, it is definitely worth it. It is one of the best viewpoints with a panoramic view over the Vikos Gorge and actually has 3 places to get that view from.
Getting to Kapesovo
The simplest way to get to Kapesovo and the hike is by car, as there is parking outside the town (5min walk) or at the start of the hike on both sides of the road.
There does not appear to be any public transport to the hike, however, you can always come by taxi from any of the surrounding villages or even the nearby city of Ioannina.
Places To Stay
There are a few places to stay both in Kapesovo and Vradeto if you want to be close to the hike. There are also lots of other great things to see in the area too.