A leisurely weekend walk in Kavala
- nadezhda3010
- Mar 31
- 8 min read
One of my favorite cities in Greece, and not only mine, but also many Bulgarians, is the city of Kavala. Small, calm, neat, built amphitheatrically, which allows you to have a view of the sea from almost everywhere. This is Kavala.
The city of Kavala is a starting point and choice for overnight stays for many Bulgarians during their summer vacations, as the area has many nice beaches, but I would also recommend it for a leisurely stroll outside the summer tourist season, when it is much less popular.
The spring months are extremely suitable for a short walk in Kavala and the surrounding area, as the temperatures in Northern Greece are slightly higher than those in Sofia and Northern Bulgaria, and our southern neighbor also has many more hours of sunshine year-round.
How to get to the city of Kavala?
My starting point is the city of Sofia, and for this I will use the Capital as a starting point.
The distance between the city of Sofia and Kavala can be covered via 2 routes:
Route 1: Through the Kulata - Promahon border checkpoint - The distance is about 330km and almost the entire distance from both the Bulgarian and Greek sides can be traveled by highway.
Route 2: Through the Ilinden - Exochi border checkpoint - The distance is about 300km and the highway can only be used from Sofia to Simitli, where it turns onto the road to Bansko and from there through Gotse Delchev it crosses into Greek territory. The road from the border to the city of Kavala passes through settlements and main roads, but there is no highway.
I personally prefer the second option, because the road is very picturesque, especially on the Bulgarian side. Unfortunately, on the Greek side, due to my carelessness, I was once photographed speeding on one of the sections, where suddenly at an intersection with no traffic, the speed limit becomes 50 km/h, but that was a lesson for me, not to get lost in the beautiful scenery anymore, but to watch my speedometer carefully! Of course, the only drawback of the first route is the possible difficulty, if it is very busy at Kresna, the rest of the road is a "sing your heart out", especially since we will no longer be waiting at the borders, as it was until recently.
What to visit in Kavala?
The city of Kavala is located on the coast of the Aegean Sea with about 50,000 inhabitants, but in the summer it is, to put it mildly, "bursting at the seams" with vacationers and resort guests, the most significant part of whom are Bulgarians, as is the case everywhere on the Greek northern coast.
Among the popular attractions in Kavala are:
The Port and the Old Town - Around the port of Kavala are located the pleasant coastal promenade, several kilometers long with a park and an amusement park, as well as numerous shops, cafes and restaurants. The old town is located on the hills around the port and is dotted with narrow, romantic, cobblestone streets with incredibly beautiful and well-preserved old houses.
The top and bottom photos clearly illustrate the "mood" the sun creates. I took the same photo on a cloudy day and the same photo on a sunny day. The positive thing is that in the city of Kavala, sunny days are much more common than cloudy days.
The Fortress of Kavala - Kastro - The fortress is located on a hill right next to the sea and therefore offers breathtaking views of the coast and the city. It is one of the key tourist attractions in the city. The fortress was built during the Byzantine period and during the Ottoman rule.
The Kamares Aqueduct of Kavala - the aqueduct is a colossal structure, built around 1550 during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, which supplied the city with water for many years. The structure consists of 60 arches of various sizes, the largest being 52 meters high. An interesting fact is that it was built on the site of a long wall, which at that time served as a protective wall and an aqueduct, which after its destruction was transformed into the facility that we can see today.
Church of Saint Nicholas - located in the central part of the city, the church is the most important Christian site in the city, as well as one of the oldest religious buildings.
The House of Mehmed Ali - Surprisingly, the founder of the Egyptian dynasty, Muhammad Ali, was born in Kavala. His house is open as a museum. It will introduce you to his life, as well as the key historical importance of Kavala during the Ottoman Empire.
The Aquarium of Kavala - this place would be of interest to marine life enthusiasts, as well as children. The aquarium was created to showcase the rich marine biodiversity of the Aegean Sea.
The Museum of Kavala - a fairly small museum, but with enough items to introduce you to the rich history and culture of the region.
What to see in the area of Kavala?
The ancient city of Philippi - The city of Philippi is located 13km from Kavala and can be reached if you choose the route via the Ilinden-Exochi border crossing. The archaeological site is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. There you can see ruins from Roman and Byzantine times, including a theater, a basilica and fortress walls.
Thassos Island - from the port of Kavala there are regular ferries to the island of Thassos throughout the day. The journey takes about an hour each way. The island offers beautiful beaches, historical sites and picturesque villages. Of course, if you don't have a car, you can only explore the main town and visit some of the city beaches, but one day is certainly more than enough. The landscape of the island of Thassos is significantly more exotic than in the city of Kavala.
The picture shows one of my favorite beaches I've visited on the island of Thassos.
Thermal baths - there are several thermal springs in the area that are used for relaxation and health improvement. One of the popular ones is the thermal spring in Keramoti.
Lake Kerkini with the pink flamingo - the area also includes the beautiful Lake Kerkini, where during a certain period of the year you can observe the extremely colorful pink flamingo. In the national park around the lake you can also see interesting birds.
What and where to eat in the city of Kavala?
The most popular local specialties are kebabs, moussaka, sardines and seafood. On the promenade and around the port there are dozens of wonderful restaurants with good cuisine and a wonderful view of the sea.
My favorite waterfront establishment is called Nemesis. - https://www.nemesis-kavala.gr/ .
Nemesis Taverna is located at the very end of the promenade right in front of the port. The cuisine is great, the portions are huge and the prices are extremely affordable, especially compared to the prices on the islands, which we also like to visit. I think you can find a table almost at any time, as the place is extremely large. Our usual menu at Nemesis Restaurant includes Greek salad, fresh grilled sea bream and French fries with cheese. We have eaten there at least 7-8 times and have never been disappointed. What more do you need to enjoy your day off, besides delicious food and a beautiful view?
Proven hotels in the city of Kavala and the surrounding area.
First of all, I can recommend 2 hotels in the city of Kavala and one in the surrounding area, although the variety is truly enormous. You can certainly find hotels and apartments for every budget in and around the city of Kavala.
2 years ago I stayed in a wonderful apartment in the neighboring village of Palio, which was located on top of a hill and had an incredibly long veranda, from which there was a great view of the bay from above, but unfortunately I can't find it on booking. It is possible that they have ceased operations. The accommodation was rented out to Bulgarian tourists.
This photo was taken from the apartment balcony.
Hotel Oceanis
In the very center of Kavala, no more than a 3-minute walk from Taverna Nemesis, is the Oceanis Hotel. The hotel's rating on booking is 8.6, which shows that it is at a good enough level. The main advantages are the central location, the modernly furnished rooms and if you choose a room with a sea view, you will be truly impressed. The hotel has its own underground parking, but the places are quite few and it is pure luck to get to it. However, there are several paid parking lots around the hotel, where you can leave your car at decent prices without worrying.
Lucy hotel
Lucy Hotel is located on the seashore, but not in the Central part. To get there, you have to walk at least 30-40 minutes along the beautiful promenade, so even that will be pleasant for you. The biggest advantage of the hotel is that it is located on a strip between 2 bays and the views that open from it are incredible. It is certainly not a budget hotel, it is suitable for people who like to pamper themselves during their vacation.
The hotel's rating on Booking.com is 8.4, which is a high rating in my opinion.
Tosca Beach
Tosca beach is one of my favorite hotels in Northern Greece. It offers All inclusive and its rating on booking is 8.9. The hotel is located near Kavala, but outside the city limits, it is located in a beautiful forested area on the seashore and has both a main building and cottages that are perched on a hill overlooking the incredible beach, which you can visit without being a guest of the hotel.
Beaches in and around Kavala
It's still early to look for beaches, but I can't help but mention them, since Bulgarians visit the area en masse in the summer, when they usually spend their free days on the beaches. In Kavala and the surrounding area you can enjoy sparkling blue sea, fine sand and really clean beaches where you can relax during the hot days.
The city of Kavala has a few city beaches that are good for an afternoon, but they are still city beaches and there is nothing particularly impressive about them. I have never seen them crowded, which may be an advantage.
Popular beaches are Bavaro, Ammoudia and Longos.
My favorite beach in the area is Toska, which is next to the hotel of the same name.
The favorite beach in the Kavala area for many Bulgarians is Nea Peramos. A long, wide beach, with many modern establishments with all kinds of sun loungers, poufs, tents, etc. The beach of Nea Peramos has all the amenities that the modern tourist is looking for. It is more suitable for young people, as most establishments play loud rhythmic music to create a mood. Each establishment has a large parking lot with parking spaces with shelters, which are extremely valuable on hot summer days.
The city of Kavala is an incredible place where history, nature and culture meet. For me, in recent years, Kavala has been one of my favorite places to escape from everyday life outside the summer tourist season, when it is not so crowded with people.
You won't regret spending your next free weekend in Kavala and the area! It will definitely make you feel like you're on vacation, even though summer hasn't arrived yet!
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