ABOUT THASOS
Description, information, ferries and sights on the island of Thassos.
Thassos is a Greek island located in the northern part of the Aegean Sea, a few kilometers from the mainland. The nearest point is Keramoti, and the water distance from Kavala is about 20 km.
The island of Thassos is rich in history, culture, scenery and last but not least hospitality. Sandy beaches, rocky beaches, marble beaches and an endless, blue and warm sea. Apart from being surrounded by the crystal blue waters of the Aegean Sea, Thassos hides many ruins of ancient cities and is shrouded in legends that give that mystical island another charm.
The green slopes of Thassos hide beautiful, old mountain villages, tucked away from the pirate raids of the past. Panagia – with houses close to each other, the colorful Kazaviti, where one can not only admire the ancient houses and churches, but immerse themselves in the silence echoed only by the swallows and the flowing mountain water and the remarkable Theologos preserved over times, in which the ancient architecture can be seen, and the traditions and customs are still alive.
The island is famous for its endless olive groves (more than 1 million trees), the milky white marble extracted from earth. Thassos is famous all over the world for its aroma of cold pressed olive oil. However, the wine, the honey and the hospitality of the local people deserve no less attention.
Thassos covers an area of about 385 square kilometers and you can drive less than a hundred kilometers around the island on a ring road, offering many scenic views. Due to the topography of the island, only a few roads enter the interior of the mountain, and none crosses it. A tour of the island should be a full day to enjoy the views of the sea and explore the settlements, to eat in a tavern on the beach or high in the mountains.
In its northern part Thassos is covered with unexpectedly dense for a Greek island pine forests. In the southern part of the island the vegetation is much poorer and the slopes are steeper and stony. On the other hand, most of the beautiful, albeit small, sandy beaches are right there – at the bottom of a deep bay cut into the land. Thassos is much calmer than the other popular Greek islands. It remains relatively unaffected by commercialization and with preserved nature. Even the “big” cities like the “capital” Limenas, as well as Limenaria, offer a relatively calm atmosphere.
From Keramoti to Thassos the ferry ride takes 30 minutes. You can reach Thassos from Kavala in an hour and 30 minutes by ferry. Information on current prices and ferry timetables can be found at:
http://www.thassos-ferries.gr/
The island of Thassos does not have its own airport due to its terrain – the mountain simply has not left room for an airport. Therefore, the island is served by Kavala International Airport (KVA), located 30 km east of Kavala, to Chrysoupoli – only 11 km from Keramoti. The other relatively close international airport is Thessaloniki (SKG), about 200 km away. It maintains regular lines with almost all European countries.
