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Looking at travelling to northern Greece and don’t know where to go? You’re likely visiting Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city, but few travellers think to visit Kavala, a smaller city just a few hours away. Kavala is well worth visiting if you want to experience more of northern Greece, based on my experience.
Whether you’re seeking beaches to relax at, a cute old town to explore, or just want to soak up Greek culture, Kavala has you covered. The city was where I began my trip through northern Greece and I had no trouble keeping myself occupied with all the things to do in Kavala. Let me offer some reasons why visiting Kavala should be part of your Greece travel plans.
How to get to Kavala and get around
Kavala is located on the Thracian Sea in the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region. The city is a gateway to the island of Thassos, somewhere I considered visiting but couldn’t find last-minute availability.
Renting a car will be the easiest way to reach Kavala, regardless of where you’re coming from. That way, you can freely explore the region without much limitation. The only drawback to this approach is that you’d likely need to park outside of the old town if you choose to stay there.
Without a car, you’ll be relying on intercity buses. Regular buses travel from Thessaloniki to Kavala, with the trip taking roughly 2.5 hours. Bus timetables in Greece are all done through the individual bus stations, so look here for the Thessaloniki-Kavala timetables.
You can also take an international bus across the border from Sofia to Kavala, as I did. One bus service operates daily direct to Kavala, otherwise, you’d need to transfer through Thessaloniki.
Where to stay in Kavala
Although it isn’t one of the most famous places in Greece, Kavala has one of the largest accommodation selections anywhere in the country. That degree of options is great for tourists, but choosing where to stay in Kavala is tougher as a result.
The right area to stay in Kavala will depend on what you want to do there. I’m assuming you want to stay somewhere central and accessible; if not, you’ll probably have somewhere already in mind. Focus your accommodation search on the peninsula where the old town is and the areas to the west and northwest.
I had a great time at the homely Old Town Traditional Residence guesthouse, run by a sweet and helpful family. You get to experience the old town fully staying here and sightseeing is super easy. Most places to stay are guesthouses/family-run boutique hotels like this or apartments.
Other highly-rated places to stay in Kavala, to save you some time, are:
- Old Town Inn – central guesthouse
- Castello Boutique Rooms – central boutique hotel
- Forget Me Not – Old Town apartments
- Old Town Luxury Suite – Old Town apartment
Why Kavala is worth visiting
Now that you see that visiting Kavala isn’t all that difficult, let’s look at why you should go at all. Together, these reasons showcase the different things to do in Kavala and how the city appeals to many types of travellers. I’d be honestly surprised if you didn’t find something to do here that interests you, even if you only pop in for one day.
Old town streets
Kavala would be a very different destination without its old town. Covering a small and steep peninsula, Kavala Old Town is where so much of the city’s character comes out. Older houses line the narrow lanes and stairways that cover this dense neighbourhood, making it a joy to wander about as a visitor.
Much of the appeal of Kavala Old Town is just exploring, but there are several attractions there too to see. On its northern side, you’ll find a great big aqueduct that looks so sturdy and clean that you’d swear the city just built it. But no, this preserved aqueduct is from the 16th century.
Head deeper into the old town and you’ll find the Halil Bey Mosque, whose red and blue exterior is hard to miss. Step over sunken ruins and you can see the simple but elegant interior inside this Ottoman mosque.
Just down the street is a nice Greek Orthodox church, the Holy Church of the Dormition of the Virgin, right by the stunted Lighthouse of Kavala, which has seen better days. The best part about exploring this area though are the various viewpoints that show off the local coastline.
Visit Kavala Castle
One last attraction in the old town is Kavala Castle, the most obvious landmark in the city. You can’t miss it if you’re standing down in the city centre, as its crenellated walls pop over the top of the Old Town houses.
Walk your way to the very top of the hill and you’ll reach the understated entrance to the castle. Even though you only get limited information by paying to visit inside the castle (€4.5 in 2023), it’s still worth doing.
Not only is it fun to walk along the castle’s precarious and OHS non-compliant walls, but the views from this 15th-century hilltop fortress are unbeatable. You can see as far as the visibility that day will allow you to and start to appreciate how quickly the nearby hills drop into the water.
A scenic waterfront
Kavala is a seaside city and its waterfront is one of its best qualities. The city’s scenic waterfront was the first thing that struck me when visiting Kavala. After arriving, my route to my accommodation followed the waterfront and it made such a good first impression.
Throughout my time in the city, I found myself returning to the waterfront over and over. One reason I kept coming back was to capture some shots of Kavala Castle as seen from the harbour. Cloudy weather didn’t do it justice the first time, but I think the results below stand for themselves.
You’ll find restaurants and cafes along much of the waterfront, both in the old town and modern centre. In summer, the main promenade was packed with outdoor seating with marina views and the sunset off to the right. You feel like you’re on vacation strolling and dining here.
Kavala museums and city centre
While it’s the best place to start your visit, Kavala Old Town isn’t the only place visitors should explore. In the city centre, you’ll find several nice parks and squares, particularly the Dimotikos Kipos Park, which hosts a war memorial.
But to fully dive into the city’s history and culture, I think the best place to go is the Kavala Archaeological Museum. This excellent, but oddly quiet, museum is full of artifacts and information that tell the story of Kavala from the days that it was known as Neapolis.
I could get all deep and nerdy about Kavala’s history and connections with Thasos and Paros, but you can look that up or visit yourselves. I should say, this isn’t the only museum in Kavala.
A few blocks away lies the Tobacco Museum of Municipality of Kavala, which focuses on the city’s historic trade in tobacco. There’s also the Mehmet Ali’s Residence Museum in the Old Town, but I wasn’t clear on whether that was worth visiting.
Kavala beaches and swimming
If you’re after a destination that has both culture and beaches, then Kavala has you covered. Now, you won’t find much in the way of beaches around the old town, except for a small one behind the port.
No, the best beaches near Kavala are on either side of the city centre. Head east and you find Perigiali Beach, sometimes also described as Kavala Beach, with its nice long strip of golden sand. Go just west of the Kavala Dock and you have Rapsani Beach, considered the best beach in Kavala, or at least the most popular.
Local buses run along the road that connects the two with the city centre, so you don’t need a car for a beach visit. Rapsani Beach is even within walking distance of the city centre, something I tested for myself.
If you do want to swim while in the old town area, you’ll find several access points to the water on its eastern side. I went down one day to a spot for an afternoon dip, finding just a few locals there. They were quite pleased to hear I was from Australia and visiting Kavala rather than Greece’s famous islands.
The Archaeological Site of Philippi
You won’t come across too many day trips from Kavala, but there is one that’s sure to impress. Just outside the city to the northwest lies what’s left of the ancient city of Philippi. It’s an easy half-day trip from Kavala, with regular buses from the city’s bus station.
If you know your ancient Roman history, Philippi may sound familiar. The Battle of Philippi is where Brutus and Cassius fought Mark Antony after the assassination of Julius Caesar.
Before all that though, it was an important Macedonian city. You can quickly see that by the sheer size of the archaeological site. Walking through the complex feels like you’re exploring a city, just one that’s been reduced to rubble and ruin. This “small Rome”, as it was described, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Much of a visit here is walking through the site, visiting the city’s amphitheatre, admiring mosaics, and seeing the standing remains of basilicas. There’s also a small museum on the far side of the complex from the main gate.
Do you think you’d want to visit Kavala on a trip to Greece? Would you consider seeing more of Greece’s mainland rather than heading straight to its islands? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
