Thassos is a beautiful island located in the northern part of the Aegean Sea and separated from mainland Greece by only a 12-kilometer strait. The island of Thassos owes its name to the mythological hero - the son of the Phoenician king Agenor, who, at the behest of his father, went in search of his sister - the beautiful Europa, abducted by Zeus. The search was unsuccessful, and the young man could not return to his father without fulfilling his order, and therefore remained to live on a beautiful island, which was later named after him.
The first settlements on the island of Thassos appeared in about 2000 BC, in 1600-1500 it was colonized by the Phoenicians, who were attracted by the reserves of gold and marble, as well as the surprisingly mild climate. Further, the Persians, Spartans, Romans, Byzantines, Turks fought for the right to possess the island of Thassos, fertile lands rich in minerals, and only in 1912 Thassos became part of Greece.
There are many historical buildings in Limenaria, including the 19th century Turkish fortress and Palataki Palace, standing at the tip of the cape
In addition to snow-white marble, the island of Thassos is also famous for its excellent wines flavored with the resin of coniferous trees. According to legend, Tasios Inos grape wine was supplied to the palace of Cleopatra herself.
The cleanest beaches, the azure sea, the abundance of vegetation, thanks to which Thassos is nicknamed the "Emerald Isle", the marble cliffs, the historical sights of Thassos have long attracted both the Greeks themselves and numerous European tourists, while the Russians discovered the island not so long ago.
How to get to the emerald island of Thassos
If you are used to traveling by plane, then you should know that Thassos does not have its own airport, and the nearest one - Megas Alexandros - belongs to the city on the mainland -. There should definitely not be any problems with transport to Kavala - the city is connected by regular flights to Athens, and find convenient and cheap flights on the dates of the proposed trip.
Another alternative for air travel enthusiasts is to take a plane to Thessaloniki, and from there take a bus to Keramoti, in order to then transfer to the ferry to Thassos. During the high season, ferries from Kavala and from Keramoti leave for the island daily. About transport options from Thessaloniki Airport Grekoblog.
Thassos can be reached both by plane and by ferries, which depart daily from Kavala and Keramoti during the high season.
Find out more about the ferry schedule, as well as book a ticket. When booking via the Internet, we highly recommend our article, which describes in detail the process of buying and receiving tickets in hand.
Hotels
As in many other popular resorts in Greece, the hotel infrastructure of the island of Thassos is very well developed. Although the island is relatively small, there are over 200 hotels to choose from.
Climate and weather of Thassos
The climate on the island of Thassos is quite mild - winters are warm and humid, and summers are sunny and dry. Since the island is still northern, the cold period here is somewhat longer than in other popular island resorts, although not the same as on the mainland. Winter weather on Thassos begins in November - it rains, and in the mountains it snows until March, the air temperature drops to + 15C. The beach season on the island, respectively, is a little shorter - you can swim and sunbathe from late May to mid-September.
Summer weather on the island of Thassos is mild and pleasant, there is no sweltering heat, the daytime air temperature usually does not rise above + 30C. The peak tourist season is in July and August.
Attractions of Thassos
Limenas, the capital of the island of Thassos, is famous for its Archaeological Museum: here you can see numerous finds from all over the island: magnificent sculptures and Dionysus made of marble, ancient coins and jewelry. Many sights of the island of Thassos are located right in the open air - the ruins of the ancient theater, the agora - the central trading square, the acropolis.
In the old part of Limenas, you can see no less interesting ruins of the temples of Dionysus and Poseidon, dating back to the sixth century BC.
It is worth visiting the convent of Michael the Archangel, who is the patron saint of Thassos. The most important Christian shrine is kept there - a particle of the Holy Cross on which Jesus was crucified.
In the monastery of the Archangel Michael, a particle of the Holy Cross is kept, on which Jesus was crucified
Limenaria is another tourist center of the island of Thassos. There are many historical buildings erected by the Turks in the 19th century, a fortress built at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level, as well as the Palataki Palace with picturesque towers, standing at the tip of a cape that goes far into the sea.
Potamia is a small village in the mountains of Thassos, the birthplace of the sculptor Polygnotos Vagis. In the village there is a museum dedicated to the famous countryman - there you can see his sculptures, as well as paintings. Outdoor enthusiasts start their routes to Mount Ipsario from Potamia - the ascent takes about four hours, but the journey is worth it - amazingly beautiful views of the island of Thassos open from the top.
Not far from Potamia, there is another attraction of the island of Thassos - the village of Felogos - a traditional Greek settlement, where a folk festival is held annually, the purpose of which is to demonstrate ancient wedding rites.
Beaches
The island of Thassos is famous for its beaches - clean and well-groomed, which, in particular, is evidenced by the fact that many of them are marked with "blue flags".
Golden Beach - Golden Beach, stretching along the east coast of the island of Thassos, 12 kilometers from Limenas. This long beach with golden sand and crystal clear water, surrounded by vegetation descending from the mountains to the sea, is one of the most beautiful on the island. The gentle entrance to the water makes it an ideal place for families with children.
Paradise beach or Aliki Beach is white velvet sand and azure sea surrounded by mountains
Makriamos is a beautiful sandy beach located in the heart of the island - Limenas. Soft fine sand, gentle warm sea, emerald vegetation make the beach very attractive for tourists.
The paradise beach of Thassos stretches between the settlements of Aliki and Loutros. Paradise beach is soft white sand and clear sea surrounded by mountains. The beach is divided into three sectors: bikini swimmers, topless sunbathers and nudists.
Near Potos there is an amazing Pevkari beach, surrounded by a pine forest, near Potamya - Potamyas beach, distinguished by white sand. In general, there is no shortage of beaches on the island of Thassos - they stretch along the entire coast: long and open, romantic and secluded, located in secluded bays, equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay and completely wild.
