Lake Pamvotida (or Pamvotis) is the largest lake in Epirus — about 8 km long and 5 km wide, at an altitude of nearly 500 metres, ringed by mountains. The old town and the new town of Ioannina spread along its western shore; the small inhabited island sits off the castle promontory.
The lakeside Mavili promenade is the city's evening passeggiata, lined with cafés, ouzeris and restaurants serving lake fish — trout, carp, eels, and frog legs. A 22-km path goes all the way around the lake for cyclists and walkers, with views of misty mornings, snow-covered peaks in winter, and birdwatching in the surrounding reedbeds. Swimming is not generally recommended (the water is murky and full of weeds), but on hot days a few locals take a dip from the southern shore.