Thassos is the most northerly Greek holiday island and lies off the Macedonian coast of mainland Greece. A good road rings the island to give easy access to the sandy beaches that dot the coastline.The pine trees that carpet most of Thassos lead to its being dubbed the ‘Emerald Isle’. Slightly off the main tourist trail, Thassos is still very easy to reach from the mainland airport at Kavala.
Thassos, the emerald island, is also the mythical land of the Sirens. From a beautiful sapphire sea setting, this predominantly green island peeks out like a jewel in the Aegean Sea.
Thassos lies very close to the coast of Thrace and the plain of the Nesto River. The island is alive with history and tradition. The natural beauty of Thassos is slightly overwhelming, with its wooded areas filled with plane trees, oaks, cedars, chestnuts, and fragrant pines. The landscape is alive with marble and takes on shapes and contours that are not found anywhere else on earth.
A visit to Thassos starts on the mainland. From the airport of Kavala you go by ferry to Thassos and you’ll arrive the main town of Thassos: Limenas, in the North of the island. A picturesque small town with a very nice atmosphere. Under the large lime tree of the the rural square you can watch the typical Greek tableaux. The old port is called Limanaki. You can find innumerable taverna’s and small bars and in the cosy small streets you’ll find a lot of shops with local food and souvenirs.
When you first embark on Thassos, you will be in Limenas, the capital of the island on the northern shoreline. Limenas, also known as Thasos, is built on the site of an ancient city. There are still marble ruins and monuments on the outskirts of the city from ancient centuries. There are marble factories located throughout Thassos which produce marble for areas around the world.
With beautiful nature and great beaches maybe Thassos is one of the most beautiful islands of the country. Tourism is still relatively in its infancy and everywhere you’ll feel that typical Greek atmosphere. It’s a very mountainous island with a lot of green vegetation. Thassos should be the greenest island of Greece. Thassos is known throughout the world as one of the loveliest islands in Greece, due to its beautiful and clean beaches and the wonderful hospitality of the island natives.
The island has more than hundred bays with the most beautiful sandy beaches.
Even in the summer months a lot of them are very quiet.
In the inner part of the island you’ll find runnels, water falls and authentic villages. Don’t forget to visit the ancient theatre of Thassos. And if you want to go to the continent for a while: you can visit the mainland of Greece by boat. The trip starts in Limenas and it takes only half an hour to reach the opposite site. There you find the interesting city of Kavala. But if you drive further, you could even visit Thessalonica.
Skala Potamias
To the East coast of Thassos you find the small town called Skala Potamias. It’s a fisherman village that has developed up to one of the most important touristcentres of the island. From this place you look up to the Ypsarion, the highest mountain of Thassos (1200 m.). If you want to hike, the area around Skala Potamias is a very good base. You can also find here the most beautiful beaches of Thassos.
Picturesque and villages
The green isle of Thassos is surrounded by a road of 100 km. At the eastside you’ll find the most beatiful part of the island. Here everything is green and you have a beautiful view on the bays and the small islands in front of the coast. In the inner part of the island you’ll still find picturesque villages. Kasavitis for example. This is a medieval village and it still looks if time stood still there. You’ll find a lot of small squares and old country houses, surrounded by a lot of fruit trees. Also visit a village called Skala Rachoni. And in the direction of Kinira you’ll find beautiful beaches.
Thassos is a great island for walking and hiking.