Kavala travel guide
Panagia's headland, the Kamares aqueduct and ferries across to Thasos
Kavala is a port city in northern Greece with an Ottoman-era old town on a headland, a 16th-century aqueduct and ferries to Thasos. May, June and September bring warm sea without the peak heat. Two days covers the city and Philippi; add more for Thasos. Costs are above average, and many nationalities need no visa.
Facing the island of Thasos across its bay, Kavala is the main port of eastern Macedonia, 160 km east of Thessaloniki. Ancient Neapolis stood here as the harbour of Philippi, and by tradition Saint Paul first set foot in Europe on this shore. Later the city grew wealthy on tobacco, and the big old warehouses still stand in the centre.
The old town, Panagia, fills a rocky headland above the harbour. Lanes of Ottoman-era houses climb to a Byzantine castle, largely rebuilt in the 15th century, whose walls look across to Thasos. Muhammad Ali, founder of the dynasty that ruled Egypt, was born here; his house still stands, and the Imaret below it, the charitable complex he endowed, has been restored.
Stretching across the modern town, the Kamares aqueduct is the city's emblem: 280 m of stone arches up to 25 m high, built in the 16th century under Suleiman the Magnificent on older foundations. From its upper end, a path called the Water Road follows the old channel uphill towards its source.
Saint Nicholas church, on Kontouriotou Street, has a mosaic of Paul's arrival. The slightly run-down quarter around it is where to drink: ouzo bars and small cafes spill outside on summer evenings. For dinner, the street climbing from the port to the old town is the best bet, or walk east to the fishing harbour of Sfagia. Tables on the port itself charge more and serve less.
Eat late, as locals do. Many tavernas only get going after 21:00, though tsipouradika, which serve tsipouro with small plates, stay open all day. Quality varies more from kitchen to kitchen than prices do, so follow where the locals sit.
This is also a base for the outdoors. Sailing boats can be chartered at the harbour for Thasos and Samothrace, divers head out from the port and the suburb of Palio, and the Nestos river to the east is used for canoeing and rafting. Inland, the UNESCO-listed ruins of Philippi are a short drive.
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An Ottoman old town, a castle, a stone aqueduct, Philippi and boats to Thasos.
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Best time to visit Kavala
Month by month, so you can pick the weather and the crowds you want.
Highs of 23-27C and warm evenings on the headland, though early summer still brings around 50 mm of rain in short bursts.
Highs of 30-31C and the driest months; ferries to Thasos fill and the lanes around Saint Nicholas are busy every night.
Properly cold for Greece, with January highs near 10C and lows around 4C; quiet, with rain spread through the season.
Taxi meters switch to a double rate from midnight to 05:00; on late rides, check the right tariff is running.
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Getting there
KTEL coaches, airport and ferries
Kavala is easiest by road: it sits on the A2 motorway about 160 km east of Thessaloniki, roughly 1.5 hours away, with KTEL coaches about every hour from Thessaloniki's Macedonia terminal and daily services from Athens. Kavala's airport handles domestic and summer flights, and ferries cross to Thasos. It sits on the A2 motorway about 160 km east of Thessaloniki, roughly 1.5 hours away, and KTEL coaches from Thessaloniki's Macedonia terminal run about every hour; from Athens, daily services leave the Kifisos station for a much longer ride. Alexander the Great airport lies some 30 km east near Chrysoupoli, with daily flights from Athens and summer charters from around Europe, but public transport from it is minimal. Ferries tie up in the central port, linking Kavala with Thasos, Limnos and Mytilene, and a modern marina takes visiting yachts.
- Airport taxi
- Official flat fare to the city; confirm it before getting in, as overcharging happens
- Airport bus
- Only one a day to Kavala
- Budget route
- Short taxi to the KTEL station in Chrysoupoli, then a bus on to Kavala
- From Thessaloniki
- KTEL about hourly from early morning to evening, with a few faster express runs
- From Athens
- KTEL coaches from Kifisos station
- Ferries
- Thasos, Limnos and Mytilene from the central port; Thasos more often from Keramoti, near the airport
- Some airport drivers claim a double fare or hide the tariff; agree the price first and ask for a receipt.
- Hiring a car at the airport makes sense if you plan to see Philippi or take the Thasos ferry from Keramoti.
Where to stay
Harbour Front, Panagia or Irakliza
Base yourself by Kavala's harbour for buses, ferries and the Saint Nicholas bars, or in the old town of Panagia for quiet nights under the castle walls. Irakliza, just outside the centre, adds a sandy beach within a short drive.
- Harbour front
- Hotels such as the Galaxy look straight across the port to Panagia; traffic noise
- Panagia old town
- Quiet lanes under the castle, steep with luggage
- Irakliza
- Beach suburb with water sports, outside the centre
- Panagia's lanes are steep and partly stepped; if you stay up there, travel light or take a taxi to the nearest point the road reaches.
Getting around
Walking, buses and the old-town shuttle
Walk central Kavala, where the harbour, main square, aqueduct and Saint Nicholas quarter lie within a short stroll. The steep lanes of Panagia are served by a free shuttle styled as a little train, and city buses and KTEL coaches cover the beaches and Philippi. Further afield, the city bus network is efficient, with route details at the Astiko KTEL office on Filikis Etaireias Street near the harbour. Taxis are cheap and plentiful for hops across town.
- Free shuttle
- From the main square, in front of the National Bank, up to Panagia; mornings only, not on Sundays
- City bus
- Lines across the city and out to the beach suburbs; information at the Astiko KTEL near the harbour
- Taxi
- Meter rate 1 from 05:00 to midnight, double rate 2 after midnight
- On foot
- Port to Saint Nicholas, the aqueduct and the start of the Water Road walk
- Car
- Useful for Philippi, the Nestos and the beaches west of town
- If a taxi fare looks wrong, ask for a receipt, note the plate and call the tourist police on 171.
Know before you go
What makes Kavala worth the trip, and what catches visitors out.
Why travelers love it
- The castle walls, looking across the bay to Thasos.
- Walking under the Kamares, then climbing onto the aqueduct's end for a photo of the old town.
- Evening ouzo in the lanes around Saint Nicholas church.
- Fish at Sfagia, the little fishing harbour at the east end of town.
- Philippi, a Roman city on the Via Egnatia, a short drive inland.
Good to know
- Restaurants on the port are pricier and no better than those up the hill.
- Street sellers work the cafe tables; a firm ochi (no) is enough.
Trip fit
BookingMentor editorial ratings out of 5, based on a first-time visitor's experience.
Weather in Kavala, month by month
Tap a month to see what to expect. Figures are long-term averages for Kavala Weather Station.
Climate figures are approximate long-term averages for Kavala Weather Station (meteokav.gr, via Wikipedia).
Kavala's castle, the Kamares aqueduct and a morning at Philippi
Kavala needs two days, one in town and one inland. Ride the free shuttle up to Panagia, start at the castle for the view across to Thasos, wander past Muhammad Ali's house and the Imaret, then cross to the Kamares aqueduct; give the next morning to the ruins of Philippi, 15 km inland.
Day one, morning. Take the free shuttle from the main square up to Panagia and start at the castle while it is cool; from the walls you look straight across the bay to Thasos. Wander down through the lanes past Muhammad Ali's house and the domes of the Imaret.
Afternoon. Cross the centre to the Kamares aqueduct. From Konstantinidou Street, by the school, you can scramble a few metres onto its end for a view of the old town over the arches. If you have energy, follow the Water Road uphill along the old channel.
Evening. Head for Saint Nicholas church on Kontouriotou Street, look at the mosaic of Paul's landing, then settle at one of the ouzo bars in the lanes around it.
Day two, morning. Drive or take a taxi inland to Philippi, about 15 km away, the Roman city on the Via Egnatia where Paul preached. Allow two or three hours for the forum, the theatre and the basilicas.
Afternoon and evening. Come back for a swim at Irakliza, the beach suburb with water sports, then finish with grilled fish at Sfagia, the small fishing harbour at the east end of the city.
Tsipouro, fish and late dinners in Kavala
Kavala keeps Greek hours: tavernas fill between 21:00 and midnight, and some skip lunch entirely. By day, sit in a tsipouradiko, where each small carafe of tsipouro, the clear grape spirit, brings a plate of meze, and in the evening eat fish from the gulf around the harbour and the Saint Nicholas quarter.
Most tavernas, grill houses and restaurants fill between 21:00 and midnight, and some do not open at lunch at all. The answer during the day is the tsipouradiko, a type of place found all over northern Greece where you order small carafes of tsipouro, the clear grape spirit, and each round brings a plate of meze: grilled sardines, octopus, pickled vegetables, cheese or meatballs. They stay open from late morning onwards.
Where you sit matters more than what you order. The tables right on the port are the most visible and the least rewarding, with higher prices and indifferent food. Better choices line the street climbing from the port to Panagia and Muhammad Ali's house, and the lanes around Saint Nicholas church, where locals eat and drink on summer evenings.
For fish, walk or take a taxi east to Sfagia, a tiny fishing harbour with a few tavernas facing the boats. Order whatever the fleet brought in; sardines and anchovies from the bay are the everyday choice.
Leave room for a sweet. The village of Nea Peramos, just west of the city, gives its name to buttery almond kourabiedes dusted in icing sugar, sold in pastry shops around the region.
Philippi, Thasos and Kavala through the year
Kavala works best as a base. Philippi, about 15 km inland, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Via Egnatia, where by tradition Paul founded Europe's first Christian church, and its theatre hosts summer performances; Thasos lies across the bay by ferry, and summer is the season for both.
Philippi, about 15 km inland, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: a Macedonian and then Roman city on the Via Egnatia, where by tradition Paul founded the first Christian church in Europe. Thasos lies across the bay, with ferries from the central port and more frequent crossings from Keramoti to the east, and its beaches and mountain villages fill a day or more. East of the city, the Nestos river runs through a wooded gorge used for canoeing and rafting, and sailing charters from the harbour head for Samothrace and Limnos.
The climate is cooler than in southern Greece. January averages highs of only 10C and lows around 4C, and winter rain is spread fairly evenly at 50-70 mm a month. Spring warms quickly: April reaches 18C and May 23C. July and August are the hottest and driest months, with highs of 30-31C and around 20-25 mm of rain, often in short storms. September cools to a pleasant 26C with the sea still warm, and October drops to 20C with more rain. For walking Philippi and the old town, May, June and September are the most comfortable months.
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How we research our Kavala travel guide
Kavala details come from the city's website and Visit Greece, with Philippi's summer festival programme and Thasos ferry times confirmed each year.
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Checked against trusted sources:
Official website of KavalaVisit GreeceUNESCO World Heritage Centre
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Quick answers to the questions travelers ask most before visiting Kavala.
Getting there
Only one direct bus runs daily. Otherwise take a taxi at the official flat fare (agree it first), hire a car, or taxi to Chrysoupoli and catch the KTEL bus.
About 160 km, roughly 1.5 hours by motorway, with KTEL coaches about every hour from early morning until the evening.
About 15 km inland, an easy half-day trip by car or taxi.
You can climb a few metres onto its end from Konstantinidou Street for photos, and the Water Road path follows the channel uphill from its upper end.
General
Ferries run from Kavala port and, more often, from Keramoti to the east.
Yes, it leaves from in front of the National Bank, in the mornings and not on Sundays. The lanes themselves are walkable but steep.
Fares across town are low. Rate 1 applies from 05:00 to midnight and the double rate 2 after midnight; drivers must give a receipt if asked.
The port tables charge more for weaker cooking. The street climbing to Panagia, the lanes around Saint Nicholas church and the fishing harbour of Sfagia are better.
Yes, noticeably: January highs are around 10C with lows near 4C, and rain is spread through the season.
Not really. The city is relaxed day and night, and a polite ochi (no) is enough to send sellers on their way.
Walk central Kavala, where the harbour, main square, aqueduct and Saint Nicholas quarter lie within a short stroll. The steep lanes of Panagia are served by a free shuttle styled as a little train, and city buses and KTEL coaches cover the beaches and Philippi. Further afield, the city bus network is efficient, with route details at the Astiko KTEL office on Filikis Etaireias Street near the harbour.
Timing & weather
The best time to visit Kavala is May to Jun, Sep. Swimming weather and warm evenings in the old town, without the August peak.
- Best overall: May - June, September (Highs of 23-27C and warm evenings on the headland, though early summer still brings around 50 mm of rain in short bursts)
- Summer: July - August (Highs of 30-31C and the driest months; ferries to Thasos fill and the lanes around Saint Nicholas are busy every night)
- Winter: November - March (Properly cold for Greece, with January highs near 10C and lows around 4C; quiet, with rain spread through the season)
August is the warmest month in Kavala, with average highs of 31°C, and January the coolest, with lows of 4°C. March is the wettest month, at about 68 mm of rain; August is the driest.
Visa & documents
Greece is part of the Schengen area. Citizens of the EU and of many other countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia, can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; other nationalities need a Schengen visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU travelers' fingerprints and a photo at the border.
Health & safety
Greece is very safe. Heatwaves and wildfires in summer, and pickpocketing on the Athens metro, are the main concerns.
