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Eastern Macedonia-Thrace: a magical Region. Where history embraces the ‘today’, where time travel alternates with the vibrancy of the ‘now’ and natural beauties become splashes of color on a multi-dimensional canvas. The destination will enchant you with its diversity, rich past, and current proposals for action, recreation and relaxation.
Travel around its beautiful and wild forests, taking deep breaths inside the unspoiled nature, get to know its protected Natura wetlands, lose yourself in the magic of its rivers, Nestos and Evros, discover the natural wonders of its rushing waterfalls, explore its caves and its gorges, enjoy the benefits of its thermal baths, feel the imposing presence of its mountains, dive into its magical waters. An “Embrace full of Greece”, the Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace is waiting for you to be captivated by its beauty, be drawn into the spirit of adventure and get to know its history. Here are five options that will blow your mind:
1. ALEXANDROUPOLI: A cosmopolitan city which gazes at the sea
A cosmopolitan destination but simultaneously ideal for family holidays, Alexandroupoli is a modern tourist town – with dozens of hotels, restaurants, taverns, cafes and bars – waiting for you to discover it. Its Lighthouse is its trademark as it stands proudly on the beach, while the Metropolitan Church of Agios Nikolaos and the Zarifio Academy building are two top attractions. On summer evenings, the “heart” of the city beats on the esplanade, which is pedestrianized and welcomes thousands of visitors. Finally, don’t neglect to swim in some of Alexandroupolis’ wonderful beaches, such as Agia Paraskevi, Kyani Akti or Mesimvria, which belong to an impressive 25 km coastline.
- The Evros Delta
A destination of incomparable beauty awaits you a little further from Alexandroupolis: the Evros Delta, one of the most essential ecosystems in Europe, an internationally recognized wetland. At the double mouth of the river in the Thracian Sea, small islands, sand dunes, lagoons, and freshwater lakes create an incredible landscape where you will not stop admiring the birds, thinking you are in paradise.
-Samothraki with two faces
Only 24 nautical miles from Alexandroupolis stretches the green and enchanting Samothraki, the wonderful island of the Thracian Sea and birthplace of the Νike of Samothraki. A place of exceptional natural beauty has two faces that will fascinate you: wild unspoiled nature, steep rocky slopes, rich flora and fauna, forests that reach the beach, abundant running water, waterfalls, small lakes – the well-known “pedestals” – and enchanting beaches.
2. KOMOTINI: Youthful joy, flavors and fun until early in the morning
A city full of youthful joy, thanks to the Democritus University of Thrace, known for its intense nightlife and welcoming residents, but also famous for its gastronomic variety, where you can enjoy its fragrant coffee, taste its syrupy sweets, sudzouk lokum and her stragalia.
A city where the element of multiculturalism is reflected in the corners and streets, traditional products, customs and traditions, and local gastronomy.
A green city, known for its natural environment, ideal for walking or cycling, thanks to the pedestrian streets, organized cycle paths, and topography. Nearby, you can enjoy a swim at Arogis Beach in Fanari.
3. XANTHI: The magic of the Old Town
Get lost in the Old Town’s narrow streets, walk on its pavements, discover its mansions and be magically transported to another era. Indulge in the sweetness of its syrups and cariocas, find its gastronomic suggestions, stop at its Municipal Art Gallery, in the old mansion of the Kalevras family with its impressive wooden ceilings, and end your day with the sounds of music and the youthful vibrancy of its bar.
With ancient origins and contemporary presence, it is a city that will win you over from the first moment.
-The fascinating Nestos
And when you arrive in Xanthi, it is impossible not to visit the river Nestos, a natural paradise. In the Strait of Stena, indulge yourself in the beauty of the landscape, the aesthetic forest, the steep rocky slopes and the impressive geological formations. Spot rare birds, walk along the landscaped trails, and enjoy the thrill of canoeing and rafting. Continue to the Delta of Nestos, a natural reserve of rich fauna of rare and unique birds. Discover the hiking and cycling routes and breathe nature.
4. KAVALA: A… Siren calling you
It could be an island. With its natural harbor, unique from Thessaloniki to Alexandroupolis, Kavala attracts visitors like a… Siren. Climb up to its Byzantine fortress and enjoy the incredible view. Stop at the famous Imaret Hotel and drink your coffee while gazing at the sea. And during summer, swim in one of the beautiful, crystal-clear beaches located just a breath away from the city, such as Nea Iraklitsa, Ammolofi and Vrasida.
A center of intense tobacco trading activity in the 19th and the first half of the 20th century and the protagonist of marble to this day, Kavala is multi-dimensional and charming. Among the must-sees is the Khalil Bey Complex, known as the “Mosque of Music”.
-The Ancient Philippi, in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul
On the way to the city of Kavala, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage monument is waiting to amaze you: the archaeological site of Philippi, the most important city of Eastern Macedonia in Roman times. The Apostle Paul also passed through there, founding in Philippi the first Christian church on European soil, while near the archaeological site is the Holy Baptistry of Agia Lydia, the first European Christian baptized by the Apostle Paul.
- Thasos: The Riviera of the Balkan Peninsula
And if you want to live on the Riviera for a while, you only have to visit Thasos, where “winter looks like spring”, as Hippocrates said. An island of dreams and sensations, multifaceted, idyllic and cosmopolitan, mountainous and coastal, filled with aquatic paradises, such as the natural, rocky pool Giola, immersive and extroverted, a joy for nature lovers and mountaineers.
5. DRAMA: The magical Saint Barbara and the unique cave of Agitis
With Mount Falakro under its… protection, Drama resembles a city that runs effortlessly, like… water, with its springs and streams, its parks, and its smiling people being the protagonists.
Its trademark is the springs of Agia Varvara, a magical wetland and a beautiful 60-acre recreation area in the “heart” of the city, which is among the 60 best parks in Europe. Enjoy your walk along the landscaped paths with the local residents, cross the wooden bridges and enjoy your food or drink in the restaurants and bars.
During your wanderings, stop at the archaeological museum, where the local history unfolds, and at the “Marble House”, the oldest and most valuable historical and architectural place preserved in Drama from the Turkish occupation.
Just 23 km from Drama, you will find the Aggiti Springs cave, the only exploited river cave in Greece, full of giant stalactites and stalagmites. The arched opening from which the river’s waters pour out into the plain creates an oasis of plane trees, poplars and willows in front of the cave’s entrance, which will leave you speechless. Inside the cave on the passage above the river, let yourself be enchanted by the white and red stalactites.
And the journey through space and time continues
The archaeological site of Abdira, the Tower of Thymonias in Thassos, the Archaeological exhibition of Spylaio, the Vranokastro in Paleochori, the Megalithic city of the ancient Ismara in Maronia, the Ancient Egnatia Road are just some of the archaeological must-visits of the Region. Together with its archaeological, Byzantine and folklore museums – Archaeological Museum of Thasos, Municipal Art Gallery of Didymoteicho, Petra Museum in Petrota – and also its religious treasures, such as the Monastery of Panagia Kosmosotira in Feres, compose an unforgettable journey through time.
Ιn case you visit Alexandroupoli, don’t miss the opportunity to get to know Soufli, the source of silk, just a few kilometers away. Visit the Soufli Silk Museum, a neoclassical building from 1886, to experience all the phases of sericulture and silk-making and learn about natural silk’s history. And, of course, don’t leave without at least one silk purchase.
And, of course, don’t resist the breathtaking Wine Route of Dionysos, which starts from the Sanctuary of Dionysos in the Kali Vrysi of Drama and runs through the entire Region up to Northern Evros, highlighting its wine richness.
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