Day trips from Kavala: a Roman city

We name the trips and say what each is. We print no ferry times, opening hours or prices, because those change every season. Check current site hours before an early start, and check the sailings before you plan a day on the island.

Philippi

The one to take. Philippi is a short drive inland and is among the more substantial archaeological sites in northern Greece: a Roman forum, a theatre cut into the hillside, several basilicas, and the line of the Via Egnatia running through the middle.

It matters twice over. A decisive Roman battle was fought on the plain here, and the earliest Christian community in Europe was founded on this spot, which gives the site a weight out of proportion to its visitor numbers.

Give it a morning and more time than you expect, because it is large and spread out with little shade. The finds are in the archaeological museum back in Kavala, so the two work as one day.

Thassos

Offshore, and the reason the port fills with cars in summer. Thassos is a round, densely forested island a short crossing away, with a single ring road that has almost everything on it and a mountainous, pine-covered interior.

For a day, aim at Limenas, the main town, which is built on top of the ancient city: an agora, a theatre cut into the hillside above the harbour and an archaeological museum holding the finds. The acropolis walk above the theatre is the best hour on the island.

If you want a beach instead, Saliara on the north-east coast is the marble one, where the sand is ground marble and the water reads almost white.

Take the car if you have it. The island is built around the ring road.

The coast, east and west

Both directions run long and low-development. West towards Nea Peramos there are sandy stretches and small resorts; east towards the Nestos delta the coast is emptier and the river mouth is a protected wetland with birdlife.

The Nestos gorge further inland is the more interesting version of that day: a river cutting through wooded hills, with a railway line along it and walking routes above.

Drama and the north

Inland north, Drama sits at the foot of the mountains with a park of springs at its centre, and the country beyond it climbs towards the Bulgarian border with forests and, in winter, snow.

It is a modest day rather than a headline one, and it suits a trip that has run out of ruins.

Where this leaves you

From Kavala: Philippi inland is the day worth planning around and pairs with the city museum, Thassos offshore is the island day and wants a car, the coast in both directions is quiet and easy, and Drama and the Nestos are the inland options when you want something gentler. The order for the city itself is in the Kavala itinerary.

Quick answers

What is the best day trip from Kavala?

Philippi, a short drive inland. It has a Roman forum, a hillside theatre, basilicas and the Via Egnatia running through it, and it receives a fraction of the visitors that comparable southern sites do. Pair it with the archaeological museum back in the city.

How do you get to Thassos from Kavala?

By car ferry, a short crossing offshore. It is why the port is busy with vehicles in summer. Take a car if you have one, because Thassos is built around a single ring road with almost everything on it.

Can you do Thassos as a day trip?

Yes. Aim at Limenas, the main town, which sits on top of the ancient city with an agora, a hillside theatre and a museum, and take the acropolis walk above it. A beach day is possible too, though the ring road is long enough that you should pick one coast.

Is there anything to do inland from Kavala?

Philippi first, then the Nestos gorge with its river, railway line and walking routes, and Drama at the foot of the mountains with its springs. The north of this region is forested and genuinely cold in winter, unlike anywhere in the islands.