5 Reasons why you should visit Kavala
Kavala is a Greek beauty, lying on the shores of the Aegean sea, in the north eastern Macedonian parts of Greece, 2 hours to the east of the Metropolitan city of Thessaloniki and about 1.5 hours away from the closest borders with Bulgaria.
The city has quickly become a favorite place of mine. Though not too large, it has enough history, beauty and things to do to keep me enthused for over 3 weeks, and wanting to come back!
So if you are somewhere close by and wondering if you should give it a shot, here are 5 reasons why I think you should!
1. A lot of the world’s History took place there
Kavala’s unique location at the entrance of Europe from the east makes it a city very rich in history across all ages.
Ever since the Roman era, Via Egnatia, or Egnatia road passed through it linking the east to the west, and helping commerce flourish along it’s path.
Later it witnessed the arrival of St. Paul, during his first visit to Europe, and where he baptised the very first European lady and her family: St. Lydia of Philippi. A mosaic depiction of the story where he saw the vision of the old man seeking for him to pass to Macedonia to help can be found on the outer walls of St. Nicholas Church, Kontouriotou Street, just off Panagia.
Down the lines of history, in the 14th century the city was captured by the Ottoman turks, and contianed the birth place of Mohamed Ali, who later ruled Egypt under the Ottoman Empire (yes! that was one thing that definitely caught my interest :D). Mohamed Ali’s home, now turned into a museum, can be visited for EUR 5. The Imaret, originally a theological school for Imams bulit by Mohamed Ali, has recently been restored into a boutique hotel which you can see on your way up through Panagia.
The fortress of Kavala, dating back to the 15th century, still holds ammunition bombs from that era, walking through it, you cannot help but realize how this Aegean main port was kept fortified against invaders. You will find directions all the way up through Pangaia that lead you to the fortress, but I personally found it inevitable to have to ask around for directions a couple of times my first time up there. An extra tip here.. if you have an Aegean airlines Miles & Bonus account, you can get a 50% discount on your entrance fees to the Fort. Can’t say no to saving another EUR 2, can you? And don’t miss going up the tower to get a full view of the whole region!
2. Beautiful Scenery everywhere you look
Whether you are in Panagia overlooking the port, or you are strolling down along the sides of the docking boats, ships and yachts, there is always an amazing frame to capture.
My favorite spots for good photos are, in no particular order:
- Infornt of the and at the back of the house of Mohamed Ali (Mehmet Ali) and St. Mary’s church (Ikklisia Kimisi Theotokou).
- Up the top of the tower inside of the Kavala Fort, you can get a 360 degrees view of the whole area. Breathtaking!
- Going to the top part of the Aqueduct in Palaiou Idragogiou street.
- Down at the corner of the docks looking up at Panagia (morning, sunset and night photos look very different and all simply mesmerising)
- At the extension right after the sailing boats parking and before the Luna Park, walk right inside for beautiful views of Kavala’s Panagia as well as the montains on the other side.
3. A diversity of things to do
Whether you have a thing for sight seeing, history, local gastronomy, shopping or just want to relax by the beach, Kavala offers all of this and even more.
You can visit places like the aqueduct, Kavala fort, Panagia, house of Mohamed Ali, the beautifully architected churces of St. Nicholas and St. Mary the Theotokos all within a walking distance from each other.
The city also boasts a variety of local restaurants, whether in between the two major streets Omonias and Erithrou Stavrou, where you find tavernas almost always full with diners, especially in the evenings all the way till after midnight. In weekends, some tavernas host small bands that perfom live all night.
You will also find tavernas closer to or overlooking the marinas, lining all along Eirthrou Stavrou street starting form the Ferry port, all the way to Luna Park.
If you are in for some shopping, you will be able to find some very good local clothes and shoes shops along Omonias street, and Kavala’s shopping center which has western brands like M&S, Calliope, Terranova, and Sephora along with their Greek couterparts. Not very far away, you will be able to also find Zara and Nike store.
If you have a thing for thrift shopping, then Saturday morning Bazari (a.k.a. open market) is just for you, with a long line of stands that show varieties of clothes, swimware and footware at prices typically lower than branded stores, and bargaining is definitely not out of the question.
Further into the Bazari, you will get to the farmers stalls where a huge variety of very fresh and colorful local produce is sold. Fruites and vegetables there are of much better quality and freshness compared to the ones you will find in supermarkets for convenience. So if you are staying for a few days (including a Saturdy), I highly recommend you go
Can you grab the freshness?
4. Access to a large variety of Beaches
Once in Kavala, you have access to a huge variety of beaches. And with variety I mean you get soft sandy beaches, pebbly beaches, rocky beaches and anything in between. The two public services beaches closes to the center are Rapsani and Kalamitsa.
- Rapsani is right next to Faliro Park, it has umbrellas and cabins for changing, but no toilets
- Kalamitsa is a bit further down but you can take buses 4, 5 or 8 from the town center to there. It has ready umbrellas, cabins and toilets.
Other beaches I’ve tried and will definitely recommend, yet they will require a ride:
- Peponi beach: highly serviced with music playing, best for upbeat summer vibes. It’s in Omolofoi and you are expected to order something from their menu as you stay.
- Psatha beach: in Nea Iraklitsa, a hidden small bay. They also have floaters, rowing boards, a kayak and a pedalo for you to enjoy a little adventure into the waters and back.
5. Kavalan people (Καβαλιωτης) are super nice and welcoming
If I’m to give Kavalas somewhere close to its full credit, I won’t be able to do so without mentioning its people. It struck me as refreshing having passers by, or onlookers from windows and balconies call out “Yasiu!” wherever I went.
The laid back, stresss-free culture definitely shows as you walk around and interact in shops, bazaris and tavernas. Kavalans are very welcoming, warm hearted and open to other people and cultures. I cannot count the number of times I was asked where I came from, and the chearful, excited “Oh!!” when I replied back: Egypt.
How about you?
Have you been to Kavala? Tell me more about your experience there.
Planning to go? Let me know if you have any questions I can help with! 🙂
MarianneToma 
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