Xanthi is a unique city in Thrace, a place with thousand colors, center of diversity and mixture of many cultures...
This place is a unique center of conjoining different religions, races, cultures and languages, which combined together, make a beautiful puzzle. Xanthi is a place with amazing history, preserved traditional elements and cosmopolitan spirit. No matter how long do you plan to stay in this city, it won't be enough. This place intoxicates you with its miraculous magic upon your arrival, and gives you the urge of further exploration, walking and enjoyment. Xanthi has so much to offer, that you won't be able to decide where to start, what to see first and where to stay the longest. We suggest you to start your exploration of this amazing place in Old Town Xanthi.
The Old Town Xanthi used to be the place of living for many wealthy people, or aristocrats, who dedicated their life to selling and producing tobacco, which was known to be the best in the whole world. Today, you can still see the old and traditional architecture from those times, and while all the houses resemble one another, there are no two exact copies. The exterior and the interior of these houses depended on the taste and wealth of their owners. If you want to know what life was in those days in this region, you should visit the Folklore Museum of Xanthi, where you can see a large number of preserved and authentic objects, which clearly show us the mixture of Greek and dominantly Ottoman culture. Traditional architecture rules the streets of Xanthi, and especially in the Old Town. Architecture of that part of town perfectly matches the streets and alleys made from cobble stones. Those a little bit more luxury villas are located in the higher parts of this town, and hill climbing is an effort worth making. Today, Old Town Xanthi is decorated with magnificent and preserved houses, which perfectly depict traditional elements. Combined with cobble streets and alleys, these houses leave their visitors breathless and seem like they belong in a fairytale world.
This town is home to a large number of churches, which were built after the devastating earthquake which occurred in 1829. The most famous churches are Archangels, Metropolis and Akathist Hymn. Also, there are three famous Byzantine era monasteries, which used to serve as a defensive wall for this city. Those are Virgin Archangeliotissa, Virgin Kalamou and Archangels.
Adjacent to this town, Lake Vistonida is found, which is filled with amazing things to see. Lush vegetation makes this place especially interesting for those tourists who didn’t have a chance to see this kind of climate and eco systems. Lake Vistonida is the place where very numerous wild birds live. Here, you can see wild ducks, cormorants and even pink flamingoes.
A river named Nestos is the absolute ruler of this part of Greece. With its magnificent meanders and pristine water, it lures visitors of Xanthi to come and enjoy the adventure of a kayak ride, while enjoying the magical natural surroundings, which consists of magnificent mountains and unspoiled forests. If you at first get scared by the rocks and trees which you will see in the river, which are the natural magic of this river, in one moment, you will forget about them, and everything else, and just relax and enjoy the peace, silence and perfection of nature.
When we’re talking about Xanthi nightlife, in this town and especially in its old part, there are a lot of clubs, pubs, cafés and restaurants, whose offering is very diverse, so everyone can find what they like. Do not miss out on the chance to enjoy the traditional Greek coffee and ice cream. A few restaurants in this town are settled high up in the hills and have magnificent views of the entire city. That view, especially in the night, will create a memory in your head which you will never ever forget.
The city of Xanthi is known in the world for its carnival, during which a large number of people from all Greece come to this town. Every Saturday you have a chance to visit the interesting and colorful bazaar of this city, where you can buy basically anything – from exotic spices, fruits and vegetables, as well as traditional wardrobe and jewelry pieces.
There are a large number of hotels in this city, and one of the most luxurious is Hotel Casino, located on the hill. It has unlimited privacy and impeccable service. Beautiful city views, which go all the way to the seaside on clear days, are available from every hotel room and terrace.
If your journey takes you to the northern part of Greece, Xanthi is a place you simply must visit and stay in it for a few days. That way, you will have the chance to absorb its magical atmosphere and feel the true Greek hospitality.
