Xanthi

Xanthi (Greek: Ξάνθη) is in Western Thrace. It's the capital city of Xanthi Prefecture.

History
The perhaps overly exciting history of Thrace, characterized by attacks by neighboring peoples, catastrophes, ethnic conflicts and civil wars, prevented a normal development of villages into cities. The city was conquered by the Ottomans in 1361. Unlike other parts of Greece that were affected by the population exchange between Turkey and Greece, Western Thrace was exempt from this agreement. Hence there is a higher proportion of Muslim population in this part of Greece.

By plane
The closest airport is "Alexander the Great" airport in Kavala, about 20 km away. Planes, mostly tourist charters, fly all over Europe.

Aegean (Flights to/from Athens daily)

By regional coach
The Interurban coaches ("KTEL" buses) are by far the most convenient way to travel around Greece, as well as for intra-regional travelling. There is frequent bus service from Athens Kifisos Station to Xanthi, as well as from Thessaloniki bus terminal "Macedonia" to Xanthi.

By train
- Trains OSE connect Xanthi to other cities in Greece. Travelling with ordinary trains can be cheaper, although a little bit slower, whereas choosing a fancy faster Intercity train will cost the same amount of money, or even more than a KTEL bus.

Get around
As Xanthi is a small town, it's easy to explore it on foot.

See


Outside the city:

Buy

 * Kariokes - A tasty praline with walnuts and chocolate, one of Xanthi's specialties, which can be found in all the sweets shops around the old town.

Drink
Because of the relatively high proportion of young people through the university, Xanthi has a good nightlife relative to its size. In and around the old town is the center of the nightlife. Many very nice bars are either directly in the streets or in backyards.

Connect
Most pubs and restaurants in the old town have free WIFI

Go next

 * Nestos: natural reserve area of special beauty in landscape, and archaeological site such as Abdera.
 * The villages and ancient ruins, such as Anastasiopolis (Peritheorion), around lake Vistonida
 * Stavroupoli - Traditional village set on a scenic valley among forests and waterfalls. Some 30 km northwest of Xanthi by scenic Drama road or by train and gate to the Rhodope Mountains
 * Kavala: one of the most beautiful towns of Greece
 * Komotini: provincial town with strong influence of Muslim architecture
 * Alexandroupolis: Harbour town with ferries to Samothrace Island