Regional Guide of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace

20/05/2009
Prefecture of Kavala: Tourism-Modern life

Stefania Christianou
Source: ILSP
© ILSP

The Prefecture of Kavala is in East Macedonia and covers 2,110 sq. km. The islands of Thassos and Thassopoula also belong to the prefecture. The prefecture of Kavala borders the Prefectures of Xanthi to the east, of Drama to the north, of Serres to the West and abuts the Aegean Sea to the south. The capital of the prefecture is Kavala, the second biggest city of Northern Greece. The prefecture is bounded by two rivers, Nestos to the east and Strymonas to the west. The population of the prefecture is 145,054 (2001 census).
The prefecture is administratively divided into 11 municipalities, after the implementation of Kapodostrias Law:

Municipality of Kavala, with Kavala as the seat and capital of the prefecture

Municipality of Eleftheroupoli (seat Eleftheroupoli)

Municipality of Eleftheres (seat Nea Peramos)

Municipality of Thassos (seat Thassos)

Municipality of Keramoti (seat Keramoti)

Municipality of Oreino (seat Lekani)

Municipality of Orfani (seat Galipsos)

Municipality of Pangaio (seat Nikisiani)

Municipality of Pierion (seat Moustheni)

Municipality of Filippoi (seat Krinides)

Municipality of Chrysoupoli (seat Chrysoupoli)

The city of Kavala, the capital of the prefecture, is located on Egnatia National Road and the distance from Thessaloniki is 160 km (around 2 hours by car).
The Prefecture of Kavala is well organized to cater for summer and winter holidays. The traditional settlements (district of Panagia in the Castle of Kavala), the landscape with beautiful beaches, the island of Thassos, the historical and archaeological sites attract many visitors.
Kavala is a beautiful city, with the port and the castle dominating on the hill, picturesque districts and magnificent beaches. The medieval castle, the old tobacco warehouse, the town hall, the public library, the Municipality Museum, the Ottoman building Imaret, which has been altered into a luxury hotel and cafeteria - restaurant, the bridge Kamara, the district Panagia in the old town, the churches, the monastery of Agios Syllas, the sand dunes in Aspri Ammos (white sand) are only few of the sights worth a visit. Other popular destinations in the prefecture are Eleftheroupolis, a beautiful town, Keramoti, a picturesque fishing village where boats depart for Thassos, the tower of Apollonia, the thermal springs and the biotope in Eleftheres, Nea Heraclitsa, a cosmopolitan resort with impressive beach, the coastal settlements of Nea Karvali, Nea Peramos and the town of Chrysoupolis. The sightseeing in the prefecture also includes visits to the Nestos Delta, a place of amazing natural beauty, with the river forest, the famous archaeological site and the museum at Philippi, the nearby mud baths, the baptistery of Agia Lydia, the marvelous Mount Pangaion and the evergreen island of Thassos with its impressive beaches. There is a wide choice of various activities offered in the prefecture, such as walking and trekking in the Nestos Delta, water sports on every beach of the prefecture, ski on Mt Pangaion. At Akontisma in Nea Karvali, the visitor can revive the allure of Cappadocia.
The prefecture is connected by the Egnatia National Road to Thessaloniki and by air to Athens, Heraklion and Germany. The airport 'Alexander the Great' is at a distance of 35 km to the SE of Kavala in Chrysoupolis. There are many boat connections to Kavala: from Piraeus, the islands of east Aegean, Cyme in Euboea, Agios Konstantinos in Phtiotis, Rhodes, and with ferries from Kavala and Keramoti for the port of Thassos.
The capital of the prefecture is also the administration centre and many public services and authorities are located in the town of Kavala, such as the Police administration of Macedonia and Thrace, the Port Authority, the agricultural inspectorate and a court. The administration of the Technical Education Institute of Kavala is also based in Kavala and most of the Institute's departments are located here.