Xanthi

Xanthi (Greek: Ξάνθη) is in Western Thrace. It's the capital city of Xanthi Prefecture.

Old Town

Old Town Street Pubs

Understand

History

The changeful history of Thrace, characterized by attacks by neighboring peoples, catastrophes, ethnic conflicts and civil wars, prevented a normal development of villages into cities. When the Ottomans conquered the region in 1361, they devastated the few settlements and infrastructures that had developed up to that point, settling populations from Asia Minor into the almost deserted region of Thrace. Hence the high proportion of Muslim population in this part of Greece.

Get in

By plane

The closest airport is "Alexander the Great" airport in Kavala, about 20 km away. Planes, mostly touristic charters, fly all over Europe.

Aegean (Flights to/from Athens daily)

By regional coach

The 🌍 Bus stand Interurban coaches ("KTEL" buses) are by far the most convenient way to travel around Greece, as well as for intra-regional travelling. There is frequent bus service from Athens Kifisos Station to Xanthi, as well as from Thessaloniki bus terminal "Macedonia" to Xanthi.

By train

🌍 Railway station - Trains OSE connect Xanthi to other cities in Greece. Travelling with ordinary trains can be cheaper, although a little bit slower, whereas choosing a fancy faster Intercity train will cost the same amount of money, or even more than a KTEL bus.

Get around

As Xanthi is a small town, it's easy to explore it on foot.

See

• 🌍 Folk Art Museum, 7, Antika St. The museum is housed in two three-story buildings, built next to each other and dating back to 1860. They were the private residence of two tobacco tradesmen and still have their inside walls decorated by remarkable paintings (updated Feb 2016)
• 🌍 Public Paint Gallery, Orfeus & Pindaro St. (updated Feb 2016)
• 🌍 Old town. Xanthi is famous for its old town with many pubs and restaurants. A walk through the old town combined with pub visits along the streets or in the backyards is a really worthwhile experience. Once a year, in the end of summer, the Old town Festival takes place, with music, food and drinks everywhere along the old streets. (updated Mar 2018)
• 🌍 Monastery of Taxiarchon & Kaliva Castle (Ιερά Μόνη Παμμεγίστων Ταξιαρχών). The Byzantine castle ruins are uphill of the Taxiarchon monastery. The drive on the dirt track is worthwhile because of a small chapel on the hill, above the ruins. The view of the surroundings is more beautiful than the ruins itself. (updated Mar 2018)
• 🌍 Monastery of Panagia Archaggeliotissa (Ι.Μ. Παναγίας Αρχαγγελιώτισσας). (updated Mar 2018)
• 🌍 Monastery Panagia Kalamou. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 House of Shadow. Very worth seeing art museum, in which the shadow cast of the exhibited objects creates fascinating impressions. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Rock chapel of St. Georg. Interesting chapel at the end of the trail along the river. (updated Jun 2018)

Outside the city:

Porto Lagos

• 🌍 Porto Lagos. About 30 km east of Xanthi lie the well-known monasteries of Porto Lagos worth seeing on islands in the lagoon. These are among the "must see" attractions in the area. In the immediate vicinity is the Byzantine 🌍 Castle ruin Poroi from the 9th to 14th century, which is also worth a visit. (updated Jun 2018)

Anastasopolis

• 🌍 Anastasiopolis (Peritheorion). a Byzantine archaeological site with a special atmosphere on Lake Vistoni, not far from Porto Lagos. Anastasiopolis was founded as a military and trading point on the Via Egnatia and probably got its name from Emperor Anastasius (491-518 AD). It was located on the north shore of Vistonis Lake (between Xanthi and Komotini) with a major port with access across the lake to the sea. Because of the silting down by the nearby river, the ruined city is now some distance from the lake. The city was destroyed in the early 13th century, but later rebuilt under Andronikos III (1328-1341). Most surviving remains date from this phase, although earlier phases are relatively easy to spot. The Via Egnatia had at that time significantly lost importance as a trade route in favor of maritime trade (especially by the northern Italian cities, such as Venice). As a result, many places along the Via Egnatia were deprived of their economic base and their decline was unstoppable. Since no archaeological dig was carried out, the city is in a completely overgrown state, but this has a special charm, so it is definitely worth a visit, if you are traveling in the area. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Medieval bridge in Polyanthos. The bridge dates to 17th-18th century and despite heavy damage is still impressive and worth seeing, if you're traveling in the area (updated Nov 2018)

Polystylon Abdera

• 🌍 Abdera. 08:30-15.00. was a significant ancient Thracian port city and home to the philosophers Democritus and Protagoras. But it lost its importance in Roman times. The reason for building the settlement in this area was the strategically important location on the Via Egnatia, the most important trade route from Rome to Constantinople. In addition, the city was on the major shipping route to the Black Sea: The Roman Empire took part of its grain from today's Ukraine. On the other hand, the Thracian hinterland contributed to the prosperity of the colonists and the city of Abdera with fertile fields and pastures, rich forests in the valleys of Nestos and its tributaries, fish-rich waters and precious metal deposits in the mountains. Today, there are some interesting ruins and an archaeological museum in the modern village of Avdira. In addition, the nearby beaches are among the best in the region (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Thracian Meteora. Rock formation at Iasmos, which reminds of the well-known Meteora near Kalambaka. (updated Nov 2018)

Do

Foot path along the river

Chapel of St.George

• 🌍 Walk along the river. next to the pedestrian bridge, which connects the old town with the district to the east of it, begins the approximately 500 m long promenade and plant path called "Monopati tis zois". Plants are labeled in Greek. The path leads along the river through beautiful countryside. (updated Jun 2018)
• Carnival of Xanthi. A two-week-long event held every year since 1966. It features a vast array of concerts, dance, drama and visual arts. The parade and the traditional puppet burning takes place to end the carnival event. (updated Jun 2018)
• Old town festival. In the first week of September, the Old Town Festival takes place with a lot of music, dance performances, food and drink. (updated Jun 2018)

Buy

• Kariokes - A tasty praline with walnuts and chocolate, one of Xanthi's specialties, which can be found in all the sweets shops around the old town.

Eat

• 🌍 Fanarakia tavern, Georgiou Stavrou 18 (1 minute walk from the central square of the city), ☎ [phone]. Traditional tavern since 1948 
• 🌍 Xanthippi, 1st km Xanthis-Stavroupolis (northern part of the city). Xanthippi is a modern restaurant with traditional flavours from Greece and the Balkans. It offers a spectacular view of the city and the valley of Xanthi. 
• 🌍 Palia Poli. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 To Vareli. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 O Kipos (on the edge of the old town in a small park). Nice seats in the shade of tall trees (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Melathron. In the summer with beautiful seating under tall trees (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Taverna Kottani (60 km from Xanthi). Exceptional local cuisine in a 200 year old traditional house in the Rhodope Mountains. Worth the very arduous approach (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 To Pilima. popular restaurant destination in beautiful surroundings about 10 km north of Xanthi (updated Aug 2018)

Drink

Because of the relatively high proportion of young people through the university, Xanthi has a good nightlife relative to its size. In and around the old town is the center of the nightlife. Many very nice bars are either directly in the streets or in backyards.

Sleep

Budget

• Filoxenia Hotel, Toxotes (village of Toxotes, 10 km from Xanthi). Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon. Filoxenia hotel is next to Nestos river. 
• Xanthi Hotel, Lefkippou 14, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]. (updated Feb 2016)
• Xanthipio Hotel, 28 Oktovrìu, ☎ [phone], [phone]. (updated Feb 2016)
• Orfeas Hotel, 40, M. Karaoli, ☎ [phone]. (updated Feb 2016)

Mid-range

• 🌍 Elena Hotel, Leoforos Stratou 2 (next to the river Kosinthos), ☎ [phone]. Elena hotel is a 3-star hotel, a few steps from Emporiou square. from $63 par night. 
• 🌍 Nestos Hotel (in the west entrance of Xanthi). Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00 - 13:00. A 3-star hotel. from 36 euro. 

Splurge

• 🌍 Z Palace and Congress Center, Georgiou Kondili street (in the entrance of the city), ☎ [phone]. Z Palace is a 5-star hotel. 
• 🌍 Elisso Xenia Hotel, Vas. Sofias 9 (next to the river Kosinthos), ☎ [phone], [phone]. Elisso hotel is a 4-star hotel. 85$ par night (2016). 
• 🌍 Hotel Casino Xanthi, Latomia (next to the casino), ☎ [phone] -84813. 5-star hotel. 

Connect

Most pubs and restaurants in the old town have free WIFI

Go next

• Nestos: natural reserve area of special beauty in landscape
• Stavroupoli - Traditional village set on a scenic valley among forests and waterfalls. Some 30 km northwest of Xanthi by scenic Drama road or by train and gate to the Rhodope Mountains
• Kavala: one of the most beautiful towns of Greece
• Komotini: provincial town with strong influence of Muslim architecture
• Alexandroupolis: Harbour town with ferries to Samothrace Island