The Water Paths of Macedonia and Thrace: 6+1 Days Road Trip

This northern Greece road trip is a tribute to water's beauty and life-giving importance. Rent a car with Simplybook and embark on a journey to discover the magic of the North. Explore the North Aegean coast, Nestos and Aggitis rivers, Kerkini lake, a cave carved by water, towns built on river banks, and thermal springs with therapeutic properties. Enjoy the ride!

Itinerary: Thessaloniki- Philippi-Kavala Nestos Delta – Xanthi – Stavroupoli- Livaditis- Drama- Alistrati-Serres- Kerkini-Thessaloniki

Duration: 6 days – 7 days

Distance: 632 km

The promenade of Thessaloniki. Image by pxfuel, licensed

Greece Road Trip Day 1: Thessaloniki

Dedicate the first day to exploring the 2nd largest city of Greece, Thessaloniki. Please read our article about Thessaloniki centre and old town, with suggestions of what to do and see. In addition, we have included information about the capital of the Macedonian region in our article: Northern Greece: A Road Trip Through Nature and History.

 The port town and castle of Kavala at night. Image by pxfuel, licensed

Greece Road Trip Day 2: Philippi-Kavala

There is no better way to start the exploration of Northern's Greece water wonders than a relaxing thermal bath, especially if you are travelling during winter. 42 km west of Thessaloniki, on your way to Kavala, you will find the Eleftheres thermal springs, where the water temperature reaches 35 ℃.

The next stop is the ancient town of Philippi in the prefecture of Kavala, named after Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great. In this Unesco World Heritage site, excavations have revealed the city's walls and acropolis, a 4th-century BC theatre, the temples and public buildings of the Agora and some beautifully decorated basilicas.

Continue to the coastal town of Kavala, where you will spend the night. This charming city is built amphitheatrically on the slope of Mount Symvolo. But first, start walking around and exploring the city! Start from the old district of Panayia, which was inhabited since the 7th century BC. Then, walk up to the ottoman acropolis. To get a feel of the local's everyday life, head to Eleftherias square and blend in! Have a bite at the coastal fish tavernas, and spend some time at the busy cafes and other shops on Megalou Alexandrou pedestrian street. 

Thessaloniki-Philippi 161km, Philippi-Kavala 18 km 

 Ancient town of Philippi, Kavala, northern Greece. Image by ChristianeB @wikimedia

Greece Road Trip Day 3: Nestos Delta – Xanthi

Get your binoculars, wear your hiking shoes, and discover the Delta of Nestos river! The Nestos Delta extends over 500.000 acres and is part of the National Park of East Macedonia-Thrace. This group of wetlands, reed beds, sand dunes, and a riparian forest provide an estuary for numerous bird species.

Start from the Nestos Delta Information Center in the area of Keramoti to learn more about the importance of the Nestos river, valley and delta through audiovisual presentations. Here you can also find all the necessary information on hiking trails and bird-watching towers which can be your next stop. We strongly recommend you dedicate this day to exploring the area's natural beauty. This is your chance to see herons, flamingos, ibises, storks, cormorants, and if you are lucky, the rare ring-necked pheasant.

Now it's time to visit beautiful Xanthi, where you can spend the night. During the evening, explore the old district with the cobbled streets and enjoy local dishes, incredible sweets and pastries, or a drink in one of the numerous cafes and restaurants. If you are looking for a late night out, Xanthi, accustomed to the needs of local University of Thrace students, is the best place to do this during this road trip. It is worth waking up there on a Saturday morning when the country's largest open-air market is held.

 Kavala-Nestos 72 km, Nestos-Xanthi 25 km

 Nestos river, National Park of East Macedonia-Thrace. Image by Adamantios @wikipedia

Greece Road Trip Day 4: Xanthi-Livaditis- Drama

If you feel like having a morning walk before driving off to the next destination, walk along the river crossing Xanthi and have your morning coffee or tea there.

Option: Do you want to add an archaeological touch to your road trip? This is your chance: Visit the archaeological site of Avdira, 20 km south of Xanthi. Legend has it that Hercules built the city to honour his battle partner Avdiros. It is also home to the great Greek philosopher Democritus. Explore the ruins of the ancient city, the old theatre and the Roman houses. The area's Archaeological Museum exhibits findings from the town and the cemeteries, covering a period from the 7th century BC to the 12th century AD.

Now let's head towards the city of Drama. There is a lot to see on your way there! First, stop at the old tobacco village of Stavroupoli and have a Greek coffee in the central square under the big plane tree. Stavroupoli is the ideal place to visit the straits of Nestos river, an area protected due to its ecological importance. You can hike, canoe or enjoy a short ride on the touring train.

If you don't mind driving more to the North, do not miss the Forest Village of Erymathos. Here you can ask for directions to the nearby trail that takes you through the oak forest to the impressive waterfall of Livaditis. It takes around one hour to reach the waterfall and a bit more to return to the car.

Spend the night in Drama, a town built at Mount Falakro. Walk around the old neighbourhoods with the neoclassical mansions and the byzantine walls, and enjoy your dinner in the park by the springs of Agia Varvara.

Xanthi-Stavroupoli: 32 km, Stavroupoli – Erimanthos:31 km, Livaditis-Drama: 70 km

Watersprings of Agia Varvara, Drama, northern Greece. Image by Theophilos Papadopoulos @flickr

Greece Road Trip Day 5: Alistrati-Serres

Off to the famous Alistrati cave, at the borders of Drama and Serres. It is located in Petroto, around 6 km from the town of Alistrati. This cave receives thousands of visitors for its natural limestone formations, the red stalagmites and the impressive helictites (stalactites following irregular shapes). The cave of Alistrati is part of the cave network eroded by the water of River Aggitis. Explore the natural beauties around Aggitis River before you drive to Serres, where you can spend the night.

Drama – Alistrati: 26 km, Alistrati-Serres: 52 km

Road Trip Day 6: Lake Kerkini-Thessaloniki

The next stop is Lake Kerkini. This artificial reservoir on the Strimonas river, created in 1932, is one of the most important wetlands of northern Greece and the Balkans. The area hosts more than 250 bird species: Eagles, falcons, pelicans, flamingos, a large cormorant colony and even the rare Pygmy Cormorant species. The riparian forests around host amphibians and reptiles. At the river banks, you can find a significant population of water buffalos. Whether you prefer to hike, drive or canoe, you will certainly enjoy the natural beauty of lake Kerkini. For more information on the lake, you can visit the Management Authority Information Centre in the town of Kerkini.

We recommend you spend one extra day to make the most of at least one of these northern Greece road trip destinations. Kerkini might be the perfect place to spend one extra day before driving back to Thessaloniki for those who enjoy bird-watching.

Serres-Kerkini: 62 km, Kerkini-Thessaloniki: 98 km

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Featured image by Vlahos Vaggelis @wikipedia