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What to see in Alexandroupoli

The towering Lighthouse, which is 27 metres tall and the beams of which can be seen 23 miles away! It was built in 1850 by the French Mediterranean Lighthouse and Beacon Company, after a request from the Ottoman administration. The administration’s aim was to assist sailors as they entered and exited the Hellespont. The Lighthouse, which stands proudly next to the coast, remains a symbol of the city to this day.

The Ethnological Museum of Thrace (63 14 Maiou Street, Alexandroupoli, https://www.emthrace.org) which offers a wealth of fascinating information on the history and populations, traditions and customs and the popular culture of the wider region, as well as the Historical Museum of Alexandroupoli (335 Dimokratias Avenue, https://www.ismo.gr).

The presence of rich biotopes and protected areas in the region led to the creation of the Natural History Museum of Alexandroupoli (in Platanotopos Maistrou), where the visitor can learn all about the unique natural riches of this part of Greece.

In the city’s buildings the European element coexists in harmony with the Eastern one, the best example being the neoclassical building of the Zarifios Educational Academy. Close by is Metropolis Square, with the church of Agios Nikolaos and the Ecclesiastical Museum of Alexandroupoli.

The church of the Agioi Theodoroi at Avanta, which is located inside a cave, has a built icon screen and frescoes painted directly onto the cave walls. The style is very reminiscent of that found in the churches of Cappadocia.

Unique experiences in Alexandroupoli

If you find yourselves in the region, it is definitely worth enjoying a unique wellness and rejuvenation experience in the medicinal baths of Traianoupoli (tel. +30 25510 - 61215). The city’s hot springs have been known since antiquity. Admire the domed tiled roof of the ancient baths (the “Hana”) in the archaeological site of the city that was founded by Emperor Marcus Ulpius Traianus, otherwise known as Trajan (98-117 AD).

Trace the steps of the Sarakatsani in the Sarakatsani Folklore Museum, which is located in the village of Aisymi, 23 kilometres north of Alexandroupoli (tel. +30 25510-93262).

In Soufli (66 km from Alexandroupoli), famed for its textiles and silks, you can admire the famous Cocoon Houses (also known as “bitziklikia”), and also visit the Silk Museum (73 Eleftheriou Venizelou St, Soufli), where you can learn all about sericulture (silkworm rearing) and the complex process of silk production.

Each summer one of the most popular music festivals in Greece is held near Alexandroupoli. The Youth Meeting – Ardas Festival is held close to the village of Kastanies and next to the banks of the River Ardas, and has been attracting leading performers and young people from all over the Balkans since 1995.

Discover the areas near Alexandroupoli

With a coastline of 25 kilometres, the beaches of Alexandroupoli can satisfy the preferences of every visitor. There are sandy and rocky beaches, organised beaches and more isolated ones. A great advantage for the city’s beaches is the wonderful view over the Aegean, especially over Samothrace. Kyani Akti, Mesimvria, Makri and Agia Paraskevi are a few of the best-known beaches in the region.

Just outside the city you can admire the amazing wetlands of the River Evros. At the Evros Delta, the sweet waters of the river run into the sea, creating a unique habitat that is today home to 300 of the 400 bird species of Greece, as well as dozens of species of fish, reptiles and mammals. The tourism centres of Feres (tel. +30 25550-24310) and Traianoupoli (tel. +30 25510-61000) offer guided tours of the Delta in boats. Try it! It is an experience you will remember forever

Just sixty kilometres from Alexandroupoli is Dadia forest, a stunning natural environment that is a feast for the eyes – especially if you live in a city! Covering a total area of 428 square kilometres, the protected area of the forest is home to rare reptiles and birds of prey, such as the Cinereous vulture, vultures, golden eagles and imperial eagles. The forest can be visited at specific hours. Learn more at the Information Centre (tel. +30 25540-32209, https://www.dadia-np.gr).

At Feres, next to the bridge that separates Greece and Turkey, is the wonderful 12th-century church of the Panagia Kosmosoteira, a fine example of Byzantine church architecture worth admiring up close.

Escape (by boat from Alexandroupoli) to wild, mountainous and verdant Samothrace. Samothrace is very different from the typical image we have of the Greek islands, as it harmoniously combines mountain and sea and is more reminiscent of a lowland area than an island.

Entertainment in Alexandroupoli

The city’s beach is filled with restaurants, bars and luxury hotels to satisfy every need and taste. The café bars as well as the beach bars are quiet during the day, so you can enjoy a coffee while relaxing and taking in the view of the sea, while in the evenings they are transformed into nightlife hotspots.

In the tavernas, you can order fresh fish, fried vato (a fish that resembles a batoid), lachania (meat cooked with cabbage, cherry tomatoes and spicy red peppers), kavourmas (preserved meat) and tzigerosarma (rice, liver, entrails, onions and herbs wrapped in lamb suet). Local specialties include babu, a dish made of pork intestines stuffed with finely chopped meat, rice, leeks, entrails and spices, and langites, a type of crepe that is cooked on a stone.

Buy a silk scarf as well as the city’s traditional dessert, which is none other than “farouk”, puff pastry drizzled in syrup and filled with chocolate cream, dipped into melted baking chocolate! You can also buy local honey and walnut spoon sweet.

Travelling from Alexandroupoli International Airport “Democritus”

To get from Alexandroupoli International Airport “Democritus” to the centre of the city, just 7 kilometres away, you can take the local buses #5 or #6 (buses depart once an hour and journey time is 20 minutes). Alternatively, you can take a taxi as the city centre is not far and the taxis use a meter, so the fare will not be that expensive. If you wish to explore the city and the surrounding areas then it is recommended that you hire a car.

Travel to Alexandroupoli with Olympic Air and discover a crossroads of civilizations that will charm you with its natural beauties every season of the year!