Stacked up on the hillside on the north side of the city, Xanthi's picturesque historic district is a web of winding lanes and stairs lined with pastel-coloured timber-framed houses and grand neoclassical mansions. Although some of the buildings could use a bit more restoration, it is scenic. It's a functioning neighbourhood, not an outdoor museum with public schools, grocery stores, a 16th-century mosque and a lively bar scene.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
26.77 MILES
Looking like an alien creature from the sci-fi movie Avatar, a 5m-tall 6th-century-BC kouros (male statue of the Archaic period) carrying a ram greets…
11.72 MILES
About 6km south of modern Abdera lies the acropolis of the ancient town, inhabited in the 7th century BC but wracked by various invasions, until it was…
10.06 MILES
Set amid fields of cotton and mustard seed on the plain southeast of Xanthi, this is the burial spot of a dervish of the Bektashi order, the primary…
28.7 MILES
Named for the Panagia church, this historic peninsula's narrow, tangled streets are lined by pretty pastel houses. A calf-stiffening walk leads up to the…
27.05 MILES
Across Orfeos north of Plateia Eirinis, Komotini’s Ottoman-era neighbourhood, still predominantly Turkish, has old homes, barber shops and teahouses. Its…
28.78 MILES
Dating to around 1770, this superb example of late-Ottoman architecture was birthplace and home to Pasha Mohamed (or Mehmet) Ali, wali of Egypt and an…
29.74 MILES
This inland village just south of Limenas is nothing if not photogenic. Its characteristic architecture includes stone-and-slate rooftops and the elegant…
16.32 MILES
In the marshlands between Lake Vistonida and the sea, this monastery, associated with Vatopedi on Mt Athos, is set on two islets linked by a pedestrian…
Nearby Thrace attractions
0.05 MILES
Most signage at this museum is in Greek, so consider it more an excuse to poke around two linked 19th-century mansions, built for tobacco-baron brothers…
0.08 MILES
Triandafyllos Vaitsis works scrap metal and other findings into surprising sculptures that cast contradictory shadows. It's a relatively short visit, and…
10.06 MILES
Set amid fields of cotton and mustard seed on the plain southeast of Xanthi, this is the burial spot of a dervish of the Bektashi order, the primary…
4. Archaeological Site of Abdera
11.72 MILES
About 6km south of modern Abdera lies the acropolis of the ancient town, inhabited in the 7th century BC but wracked by various invasions, until it was…
5. Archaeological Museum of Abdera
11.8 MILES
This fine small museum exhibits the findings from ancient Abdera, with a focus on daily life: medical tools, for instance, and clay figurines, made in a…
16.32 MILES
In the marshlands between Lake Vistonida and the sea, this monastery, associated with Vatopedi on Mt Athos, is set on two islets linked by a pedestrian…
26.73 MILES
Komotini’s 4th-century-AD Byzantine fortress was built by Emperor Theodosius. Remnants include one of 16 original towers and a portion of the wall…
26.74 MILES
Visit here for information on the ancient Thracians, plus Roman coins, clay figurines, delicate gold wreaths and glazed ceramics. The street address is…