20 Best Things to Do in Kavala (Greece)

kavala castle

With a population of 70,000, Kavala is a charming and lively tourist town.

Due to its location, the city is a great place to spend your vacation but it is also a convenient starting point to visit various interesting places in the North of Greece.

With its wide variety of cultural and historical sites, the town offers great opportunities to diversify your summer break.

If you’ve decided to spend a few days in the lovely coastal town, here’s a small part of what you can do and see.

1. Start with a day at the astonishing Ammolofoi Beach

ammolofoi beach
Ammolofoi Beach by stathis agelopoulos/YouTube

Kavala probably would never be such a tourist treasure without its fantastic beaches, scattered one after another along the shore.

One of the most remote but also among the most recommended is Ammolofoi Beach.

Located south of the village Nea Peramos in the southwest Kavala region, this is one of the Blue Flag beaches in the area.

It is family friendly and offers everything you need for a day on the coast.

With its fine golden sand and shallow pristine waters, it attracts visitors from all parts of Europe.

On the beach there are some really good beach bars to have a refreshing drink with your family or friends.

2. Visit the Kavala Aqueduct

the famous aqueduct
The Famous Aqueduct by mitko_denev/Flickr

One of the most famous structures in Kavala is the aqueduct.

With a total length of 250 meters and a height of about 25 meters, it spectacularly cross the central part of this old historical town.

The aqueduct is of Roman origin but the present stone structure was created by Byzantines in the 16th century.

As expected, its main purpose was to provide fresh water to the castle, located on the top of the coastal hill.

3. Enjoy the wonderful Palio Tsifliki Beach

palio tsifliki beach
Palio Tsifliki Beach by Facebook

Located 5 km southwest of downtown Kavala, Palio Tsifliki is a wonderful place if you are a beach lover.

It offers a 2 km long stretch of fine golden sand and crystal clear emerald waters.

The beach is well organized and offers all the amenities you may need.

Along the coast you can find a number of great beach bars to visit as well as some great tavernas to recharge your energy with a portion of grilled fish and vegetables.

4. Visit the Kavala Castle

kavala castle
Kavala Castle by Beth/Flickr

The fortress of Kavala is located on the top of a 64-meter high hill, right next to the sea.

The grand structure was built in ancient times, but today’s fortress was rebuilt and reconstructed in the 15th century by the Ottomans.

Today, it is considered the most important landmark, along with the city’s Roman aqueduct.

In addition, it is also one of the most remarkable castles in the country, along with the castle of Rhodes.

5. Take a tour around the Archaeological Museum

painted cist grave votive funerary banquet
Painted Cist Grave Votive Funerary Banquet by Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0

Kavala impresses its visitors with many things, and one of them is the large selection of museums to visit.

For such a small town, the choice is impressive, and the collections are very interesting and rich.

Start with a walk to the Archeological Museum, which is one of the most important in the Macedonia region.

Here you will find antique sculptures, earthenware, tools and decoration from different eras.

6. Explore the city of Thessaloniki

the city of thessaloniki
The City of Thessaloniki by Dave Proffer/Flickr

Kavala is a great starting point if you want to explore the beautiful Macedonia region.

And when it comes to must-visit sites, the second largest city in Greece – Thessaloniki, is one of the most important spots to think about.

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Being the fastest growing in the country, Thessaloniki is a lively and busy place which brings an incredible young and free spirit.

Attractive place for the young and educated people from all over the country, it offers a lot of different options to spend some high quality time here.

7. Visit the thematic Tobacco and Maritime Museum

tobacco museum
Tobacco Museum by JTI Target/YouTube

If you are a curious person and want to enrich your culture in different aspects, the popular Tobacco Museum is a good place to visit.

Even if very small, the museum is known for its rich collections and lovely location on the coast of the town.

It is a place where you will be able to learn a lot about the production and cultivation of tobacco from antiquity till modern days.

In the same old Ottoman-style historical building is based one more small but lovely museum – the Maritime Museum of Kavala.

You will get the most of your spare time in Kavala visiting them both at the same time.

8. Take a short trip to Halkidiki

halkidiki
Halkidiki by Herr Herrner/Flickr

In close proximity to Kavala is one of the most popular tourist areas in Greece – the Halkidiki Peninsula.

It’s so diverse that it offers a whole bunch of things to do and see.

Covered with dense forests, the peninsula offers fantastic beaches and azure waters.

This is where you will find one of the most unique and special places in Europe – the holy peninsula of Mount Athos.

It is known for its 20 monasteries, scattered around the green and covered with lush foliage piece of land.

9. Visit Halil Bey Mosque

halil bey mosque
Halil Bey Mosque by Wikivoyage

The Halil Bey Mosque is located in central Kavala, where most of the city’s other attractions are concentrated.

The building is extremely beautiful and its color reminds of the buildings one can see in the Moroccan city of Marrakech.

The mosque is one of Kavala’s valuable historic buildings.

According to scientists, it was built in the first half of the 16th century.

The biggest landmark here is the remains of the ancient church of Agia Paraskevi, which can be seen through the specially created glass floor.

10. Walk to the lighthouse

You will find the lighthouse on the rocky shore at the foot of the Kavala Castle, in the eastern end of the harbor.

It is one of the main sights of the city, and it is advisable to walk to it when you are here.

It is especially recommended to enjoy this beautiful and special place on the background of the setting sun.

Although it looks really well preserved, the lighthouse has been standing here since the 19th century.

11. Enjoy a great day at Kalamitsa Beach

kalamitsa beach
Kalamitsa Beach by Nikos1999/Wikimapia

Kalamitsa Beach has many advantages and that’s why it is one of the top beaches in the Kavala area.

It offers a fantastic 800 meter long stretch of fine gold sand.

The sea water is emerald and extremely clean.

Being one of the Blue Flag awarded beaches in the city, it offers all the needed amenities to spend a comfortable and fulfilling day here.

Clean and cozy, it is a great choice if you are planning to visit the beach with your family and kids.

In addition, it is located in the most communicative area in Kavala.

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12. Day trip to Thassos

aliki beach, thassos
Aliki Beach, Thassos by planetbass/Flickr

It only takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach Thassos Island by ferry from the port of Kavala.

Ferry lines are regular and prices are very good.

You can also travel by bus or car to Keramoti, in which case the distance is less than 1 hour.

Thassos will not disappoint you in any way.

Known as the Green Island, it is covered with lush vegetation.

The beaches are fantastic, covered with white sand or small oval white pebbles.

There are many archaeological sites on the island that are worth a visit.

Some of the most popular are the Ancient Agora (close to Thassos Town) and Aliki (in the southern part of the island).

13. Day trip to Bulgaria

rila monastery, bulgaria
Rila Monastery, Bulgaria by Dennis Jarvis/Flickr

Located less than 70 km from the border, Kavala is one of the most convenient locations to start from, if you want to experience an exciting day trip to Bulgaria.

In addition, this part of neighbouring Bulgaria is well-known for offering some of the most beautiful mountains, popular mountain resorts and historic towns and villages.

Due to the proximity between the northern Greek city of Kavala and Bulgaria, you can be sure that you will be able to return to your hotel in Greece before the end of the day.

You should consider the opportunity to go to Bansko (popular mountain tourist center), Melnik (incredible historical town), the Rhodopes (the southernmost Bulgarian mountain) as well as the mountains of Rila and Pirin whose beauty reminds of the Alps.

14. Visit the beautiful Panagia Church

panagia church
Panagia Church by mitko_denev/Flickr

One of the must-visit sites in Kavala is the Church of Panagia (or Holy Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary).

In theory, the church has been at this place since the 15th century.

However, in 1957, it was rebuilt because the old church was in a very poor condition.

You will find this beautiful building on the peninsula, on the southern side of the majestic Kavala Fortress and only about 100 meters from the lighthouse.

15. Explore the Waterway Trail

waterway trail
Waterway Trail by YouTube

Kavala is a beautiful city, and the same applies to the scenic surrounding area.

If you are a nature lover, you should explore the popular Waterway Trail, which offers some of the most fascinating landscapes in the vicinity of town.

Relatively easy to walk, the route is dominated by forested hills and is especially beautiful during the spring, mostly in late April and May.

The length of the entire route is just over 10 kilometers.

The main attraction along the route is the famous stone bridge.

The rivers and waterfalls along the trail will make your experience very relaxing and stress relieving.

16. Visit the beach of Bomo Tosca

bomo tosca beach
Bomo Tosca Beach by Facebook

Bomo Tosca Beach is located on the outskirts of Kavala in the direction of Paleo Tsifliki.

As a place on an exceptional natural beauty, the beach offers a superb 250 meters long strip of golden sand.

The beach is very well maintained, and if you need, there are sunbeds and umbrellas available for you.

The place is a great choice for families who want to get the maximum comfort while on the beach.

The crystal clear sea water is tempting with its shades of emerald green.

17. Walk to Asprovalta

village of asprovalta
Village of Asprovalta by Wikivoyage

If you visit Kavala during the peak tourist season, you shouldn’t miss the beautiful coastal village of Asprovalta.

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Small and quiet in winter, this is a tempting tourist center during the summer months.

Located less than an hour drive to the west, it is well-known for its great golden sandy beach as well as for its great bars.

The village becomes very lively after sunset because most travelers and holidaymakers prefer to avoid the hot midday hours.

18. Go to Nea Iraklitsa

nea iraklitsa beach
Nea Iraklitsa Beach by Facebook

Don’t leave Kavala before you go at least once to the outstanding Nea Iraklitsa beach.

This is a nearly 2 kilometers long stretch of fine golden sand, which becomes quite busy during the summer season.

If you rent a car and decide to come here, you will easily find a place to stop your car close to the beach.

In the southern end of the stretch of sand is the yacht harbour.

The area offers a good choice of tavernas to have a nice lunch or at least a refreshing drink.

19. Enjoy the secluded Psatha Beach

psatha beach
Psatha Beach by YouTube

If you need a more secluded and quiet place to swim, sunbathe and enjoy the beauty of nature, you should try Psatha Beach.

It is a bit remote from Kavala but it definitely worth a visit.

The beach is relatively small.

The stretch of fine golden sand is only about 100 meters long.

However, it is a great choice if you really want to have a high quality experience on the coast.

Nestled beneath the green overhanging slopes, Psatha Beach offers smooth and crystal clear emerald waters.

Although the beach is not as quiet as it was in the past, it is still more likely to find some privacy here than on the other beaches in the area of Kavala, except if you travel during the peak tourist season.

20. Join a wine tasting tour

wine tasting tour
Wine tasting tour by Uwe TheSailor/Flickr

While most people don’t know this fact, Kavala and the neighbouring small town of Drama are located in one of the most fertile regions of Greece.

The people in this area have been producing high quality wine for thousands of years.

Because of the rich soils, mild and humid winters and hot summers, Kavala region actually has been producing wine for more than 6500 years, which is amazing.

If you want to pick up a good souvenir for your loved ones at home, a bottle of wine is always a good idea.

You have two main options available if you want to find the best wine.

The first one is to join an organized wine-tasting tour in the region, including in the area of Drama.

The second option is to visit from the great local bars and tavernas and to follow the recommendations of the staff.

The advantages of Kavala

Kavala is a great place to spend your holiday. Its main advantages are:

Great golden sandy beaches;

Great starting point to visit a number of popular destination in the region;

Close to Bulgaria and its beautiful mountains;

Affordable prices;

Long summer season and stable weather;

Long wine producing traditions;

High quality food.

As you can see, the city combines great beaches and very rich choice of things to do and places to visit and explore.

Considering the pros of the coastal town, it is a very good option for both solo travelers and people who travel with families or friends.


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