The trip, in order
Follow the route day by day. Times and prices can change, so check official information before you travel.
Philippi and Kavala
Kavala
- 1
Archaeological Site of Philippi
Ancient and early Christian city near Kavala, with theatre, forum, basilicas and associations with the apostle Paul. Philip II of Macedon refounded the city in the fourth century BCE near valuable mines and strategic routes. It became a Roman colony after the Battle of Philippi in 42 BCE and later an important early Christian centre. The visit is strongest when you focus on ancient theatre, roman forum and early christian basilicas.
- Duration
- 150 minutes suggested
- Price
- Admission is normally charged for the principal visitor area; check the current official rate.
- Start time
- Choose a start time that suits your day.
- 2
Kavala Fortress
Hilltop fortress above Kavala's old Panagia quarter, with walls, towers and wide views over the Aegean. Fortifications on the hill have Byzantine origins and were rebuilt after Ottoman conquest in the fifteenth century. The citadel guarded the harbour and land routes, while later Ottoman structures reshaped the surrounding old town. The visit is strongest when you focus on central tower, defensive walls and panoramic harbour views.
- Duration
- 90 minutes suggested
- Price
- Admission is normally charged for the principal visitor area; check the current official rate.
- Start time
- Choose a start time that suits your day.
Nestos Straits
Xanthi
- 1
Nestos Straits
River gorge and protected landscape where the Nestos winds through forested hills between Macedonia and Thrace. The Nestos has shaped settlement and transport through the region for millennia. Modern railway engineering opened a dramatic route through the gorge, while conservation measures protect riparian forests, wetlands and wildlife along the river. The visit is strongest when you focus on meandering river views, riverside trails and historic railway landscape.
- Duration
- 240 minutes suggested
- Price
- Mostly free public access; particular museums, organised activities, parking or managed areas may charge.
- Start time
- Choose a start time that suits your day.
Old Town of Xanthi
Xanthi
- 1
Xanthi Old Town
Preserved hillside quarter of mansions, narrow lanes and religious buildings reflecting Xanthi's multicultural tobacco-era prosperity. Xanthi expanded strongly in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries through tobacco trade. Wealthy merchants built eclectic mansions beside older Orthodox and Muslim landmarks, creating the architectural character preserved in the Old Town. The visit is strongest when you focus on merchant mansions, cobbled lanes and historic churches and mosques.
- Duration
- 150 minutes suggested
- Price
- Mostly free public access; particular museums, organised activities, parking or managed areas may charge.
- Start time
- Choose a start time that suits your day.
Evros Forest
Dadia
- 1
Dadia–Lefkimi–Soufli National Park
Forest and raptor habitat in Evros, internationally important for vultures and other birds of prey. The Dadia forest became a protected area in the late twentieth century because of its exceptional raptor diversity. Severe wildfires, especially in 2023, affected large areas, and recovery, access and visitor routes continue to evolve under conservation management. The visit is strongest when you focus on raptor habitat, forest trails and evros landscape.
- Duration
- 240 minutes suggested
- Price
- Mostly free public access; particular museums, organised activities, parking or managed areas may charge.
- Start time
- Choose a start time that suits your day.
Sanctuary of the Great Gods
Samothrace
- 1
Sanctuary of the Great Gods
Atmospheric ancient sanctuary on wooded Samothrace, associated with mystery rites and the famous Winged Victory. The sanctuary developed from the Archaic through Hellenistic periods as a major centre for initiation into the Mysteries of the Great Gods. Kings of Macedon and other patrons endowed monumental buildings, and the Nike of Samothrace was discovered here in 1863. The visit is strongest when you focus on hieron, arsinoeion and wooded ravine setting.
- Duration
- 120 minutes suggested
- Price
- Admission is normally charged for the principal visitor area; check the current official rate.
- Start time
- Choose a start time that suits your day.