Lake Como in Italy is an incredibly popular tourist destination, with its stunning landscape attracting over 1 million visitors a year, but the crowds can be offputting for many people. 

As destinations across Europe deal with overtourism, many holidaymakers are looking to visit less crowded places.

So, if you were thinking of heading to Italy’s third-largest lake but don’t want all the hustle and bustle, Greece might have the dupe for you.

Ioannina, or Yannena as it’s often referred to within Greece, is the capital and largest city of both the Ioannina regional unit and Epirus, a northwestern administrative region in Greece.

The city boasts a population of 64,896, while the wider municipality is home to 113,978 residents.

The founding of the city is typically attributed to Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD. However, recent archaeological findings have unearthed traces of Hellenistic settlements predating this era.

Today, Ioannina is known for its lush parks such as Molos (Lake Front), Litharitsia Park, Pirsinella Park (Giannotiko Saloni), and its Suburban Forest.  

Lake Pamvotida, or Pamvotis, offers beautifully calm waters and stunning views of the mountains that surround it, making it the perfect alternative to Lake Como.

The conditions also make it ideal for sports lovers who want to partake in water skiing, rowing and canoeing, as the wind is usually very favourable.

The two main features of the lake are its peninsula with historic castle sat atop, and a small island that is the only inhabited Greek island without a name.

One person wrote on Tripadvisor: “Beautiful town. With its own view. Friendly people, historical places, amazing lake and nice restaurants! Visit this wonderful place!”

Another added: “The castle is the soul of Ioannina. If it was not for it, the development of the city would be completely different. It’s definitely a ‘must’, when you visit, alongside with the island on Pamvotida lake and the Perama cave.”

A third chimed in: “The city is located on a lake, with beautiful mountains in the background. The fortress is on a hill from where you can see the picturesque surroundings.

“There are three museums in the fortress, the largest of which is Archaeological as well as a cozy restaurant. Near the Ioannina is the Dodoni site, the famous oracle of Zeus.”